12. The Reformed Presbyterian Synod. — Dur- ing "the persecuting times," some members of the Cov- enanting or Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland settled in Pennsylvania. In 17-13 these met at Middle Octorara, and again solemnly subscribed the Old Scot- tish Covenant. In 1752 the Scottish Church sent the Rev. John Cuthbertson to be their minister. In 1774 he was joined by the Rev. Messrs. Linn and Dobbin from the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland, when a Reformed Presbyterian Presbytery was formed. In 1782 these three ministers and a portion of the people joined with the Associate Church in forming ''The As- sociate Reformed Church." The members who were opposed to this union kept together as praying societies until 1792, when the Scottish Church had appointed a committee of their number to take the oversight of them judicially. In 1798 a presbytery was organized at Philadelphia, and in 1800 the question of slavery forced itself upon the consideration of the newly or- ganized "Reformed Presbytery of the United States of America," when it enacted that no slaveholder should be retained in its communion, a position since then faithfully maintained. In 1806 it issued a Testi- mony defining its position on several points not men- tioned in the Westminster Confession. In the follow- ing year it undertook the theological education of its ministry by opening a seminary at Philadelphia, and in 1809 organized itself into "The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America," with three constitut- ing presbyteries. Subsequent to the war of 1812 the relations of the Covenanting Church to the national government were much discussed. A variety of senti- ments was apparent as to the extent to which the sev- erance between the Church and that other ordinance of God — the State — should be carried. The result of these discussions was a rending of the Church in 1833, and the formation of an independent synod. The large losses which the synod — a representative, not delegated
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES 540 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
court— sustained in 1833 noways disheartened ir. More homogeneous than ever through t lie separation, it thenceforth proceeded rigidly to enforce the principles and practices thai have ;ii all times been accepted by the Church. M< rubers of this Church therefore neithi r nor acl as American citizens: they neither vote . ,1 elections, enlisl in the army, accept ofgov- ituations, serve on juries, nor in any way iden- tify themselves with the political system of the United States. In 1*71 this Church, in accordance with its principle of the moral duty of religious covenanting, by its ministers and members entered into a solemn cove- nant with God and with each other to serve faithfully the greal God and to keep Ids commandments, and to adhere to the Reformed Presbyterian principles and tes- timony. The theological seminary of the synod was organized in 1840, and is situated at Allegheny City, Pa,, having at present a faculty of three professors.
Missions. In 1856 the synod commenced a foreign mission al Latakiyeb, in Syria. Since then stations and schools have been opened in different localities. The missionary and benevolent contributions lor the year 1876 77 were as follows l
I l'u missions $<\522
Home missions 3,008
Freed men 3,409
Education 2,505
Church erection 27.301
Total $44,955
13. The General Synod oi nn Reformed Pres- byterian Church.-— The minority of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at the disruption of 1833 is now
known by this name. (See No. 12 above.) Steadily adhering to the other distinctive principles of the Cove- nanters, it yet allows its members to discharge the du- ties and enjoy the privileges of citizens, and is popu- larly known as the New-Light Covenanting Church. The theological seminary, organized in Philadelphia in 1809, adhered to this portion of the Church at the time of the separation, and is still in connection with it. Re- cently a number ol its ministers and congregations have withdrawn from its fellowship, leaving the General Syn- od greatly enfeebled. See Reformed Pkesbyterians.
14. United Presbyterian Church ok North Americ v. -This body is composed of the Associate and the \- "date Reformed churches which were united in 1858. We give here an outline of the history of each of these bodies up to the time of their union.
1. Associate Church. This Church in the United Stales had its origin from a number of Scotch and Irish Covenanters exiled for conscience' sake to the American colonics, where they maintained worship in a distinct form to the best of their ability. In 1680 Lord Cardross took measures for the establishment of a colony in South Carolina, with a view to furnish a place of refuge to his persecuted brethren. This was formed at Port Royal; but, in consequence of an invasion by the Spaniards, the colony was abandoned in 1688. Many, however, remained in Carolina, who were gath- ered into congregations under the care of a presbytery, which existed until about the close si the 18th century. The only one of these churches now remaining is the old Scots' Church in Charleston. From 1660 to 1688 a large number of Presbyterians (amounting, according to Wodrow, to about 3000) were- transported to the Amer- ican plantations and sold as slaves. They were for the most part sent to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jer- sey; but scarcely any traces of their history now- re- main. As early as 1 7:i<; those American Presbyterians who sympathized with the Scottish Seceders applied to