2. Associatt Reformed Church. — The earliest settle- ments of the Associate Reformed Church were in Penn- sylvania, within the Cumberland valley ; but colonies from these emigrated to South Carolina and Georgia, New York, Kentucky, and even to New Hampshire and Maine. One of the lirst acts of the synod, after its or- ganization in 1782, was the adoption of a series of arti- cles, afterwards published under the name of The < ''in- stitution of the Associate Reformed Church ; but these articles were severely attacked both by the Seceders and Covenanters, and were finally laid aside for a fuller ex- position of the Church's faith. The result was that t lie Westminster Confession and Catechisms, after a care- ful revision at several successive meetings of synod, in the articles relating to the power of the magistrate, were published in a volume in 1799, entitled The Con- stitution and Standards of the Associate Reformed Church in North America. In 1802 the synod organized itself into a general synod, with four subordinate synods — New York, Pennsylvania, Scioto, and the Carolinas. In I 1804 the plan of the theological seminary was framed. ! Dr. John M. Mason was chosen professor of theology ; and the sessions of the seminary began in the autumn of the same year in the city of New York. This was the second theological seminary established in the
United States. Dr. Mason's work on Catholic Commun- ion, published in 1810, was regarded as being in con- flict with the Church's principles and practice; and this, in connection with some other grounds of com- plaint, led the entire synod of Scioto in 1820 to with- draw from the superintendence of the General Synod. In 1821 the Synod of the Carolinas petitioned the Gen- eral Synod to be erected into an independent synod, on the ground that they were so distant fronl the'place at which the General Synod usually assembled that it was impossible that they should be represented in it. The request was granted. For many years after that the Southern Synod gained but little in' numbers, though in later years it became more prosperous; while the Sci- oto Synod rapidly extended itself and became more vig- orous every year. About the time of the separation of this Western Synod, an unsuccessful attempt was made to unite the Associate Reformed and the Reformed Dutch churches, under the name of "The Reformed Protestant Church of North America." Immediately after this, that is, in 1821, a union was effected between the Asso- ciate Reformed and the General Assembly of the Pres- byterian Church; the consequence of which was that a portion of the former Church became incorporated with the latter, and the library of the Associate Reformed Church was immediately removed from New York to Princeton; though, as the result of a legal process, it ultimately fell back into the hands of its original own- ers. The act of union by the General Synod of the As- sociate Reformed Church was irregular, being con- trary to the express will of a majority of the presby- teries. However, many of the ministers and congrega- tions who had remained under the care of the General Synod went into this union. The Synod of Pennsylva- nia with but few exceptions was merged in it. and that synod never met again. The Synod of New York, bow- ever, survived the dissolution of the General Synod, be- coming separate and independent, like its two sister syn- ods of the West and South. But its interests languished till 1829. when it resolved to revive the seminary, whose operations had been suspended in 1821, and to establish it at Newburgh, under the care of the Rev. Joseph M'Carroll, D.D., who was at the same time chosen pro- fessor of theology. An attempt was made in 1827 to re- vive the General Synod on the old footing, but it proved a failure. However, the Synod of the West, having di- vided into two, erected a General Synod, which lirst met in 1841, and under which a union was formed with the New York Synod in 1855. This united body num- bered 4 synods. 28 presbyteries, 253 ministers and li- centiates. 307 congregations, and 31.284 communicants. Its name then became "The General Synod of the As- sociate Reformed Church." They adhered to the West- minster standards as adopted in the Testimony of 1799, and held t lie doctrines of close communion, anti-slavery, and the exclusive use of the Psalms in praise.
In May, 1858, the Associate Reformed and the Asso- ciate churches, having been separated for more than three quarters of a century, were reunited upon a com- mon basis, under the name of -The United Presbyterian Church in North America," a Church which i.- now the largest representative of those distinctive views for which all the preceding churches have more or less con- tended. In addition therefore to its acceptance of the Westminster standards, which it modified, it has issued a Testimony whose adoption is a condition of commun- ion both with ministers and members. In this Testi- mony are articles adverse to slavery and to secret soci- eties, and in favor of close communion, the exclusive use of the Psalms, and of the moral duty of covenant- ing. A few years ago a new metrical version of the book of Psalms was adopted by this body. A small number protested against the union, and have since then continued under the name of "The Associate Syn- od of North America." (See No. 15 below.) In 1875, after the union, "The United Presbyterian Church of North America" embraced a General Assemblv, 8 svn-