CHURCHES.    141

in these divisions, the exact numbers in the State cannot be determined from the reports. Its
general institutions are 3 mission societies, an anti-slavery society, a biblical school and insti¬
tution at New Hampton, N. H., and a seminary in this State.

Tlie ff’rlends or Quakers have, since 1827, been divided into 2 distinct branches, known
as “ Ilicksite” and “ Orthodox.” The Hicksites have a general meeting for the United States and
Canada, which is divided into 6 yearly, 33 quarterly, and 138 monthly meetings in the U. S., and
2 half-yearly and 6 monthly meetings in Canada. This State is embraced within the New York
and the Genesee yearly meetings, the former of which extends into New Jersey and the latter into
Canada. There are of the New York yearly meeting in this State 7 quarterly and 31 monthly
meetings; of the Genesee yearly meeting 2 quarterly and 8 monthly meetings.

The Orthodox Friends divide the United States and Canada into 8 yearly, 1 half-yearly, 65
quarterly, and 222 monthly meetings. The New York yearly meeting comprises 1 half-yearly,
15 quarterly, and 43 monthly meetings, of which 9 entire and a part of 1 other quarterly and
28 monthly meetings are within the State, the remainder being in adjoining States and Canada.¹
„, Tlie German Methodists² originated in the year 1800, and number about 20,000. Th6y
have in New York about 15 churches and 3,000 members.

Tlie Mennonites have in the Union 300 churches and 36,280 members: of these, 6
churches and 442 members were reported in Western N. Y. in 1855.

Tlie Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States was divided in 1844 into the
Church North and the Church South, forming two independent organizations, differing only upon
the question of slavery. The Church North embraces 49 annual conferences, 5,365 traveling, 769
superannuated, and 7,169 local preachers, and 820,514 members and probationers. The
total number of preachers in both divisions is 20,644, and of members 1,476,291. This State
embraces 5 entire and parts of 4 other conferences, which are subdivided into districts and cir¬
cuits, each with definite boundaries. The Sunday School Union of the M. E. Church North re¬
ports 11,229 schools, 120,421 officers and teachers, 639,120 scholars, and 2,054,253 volumes in S. S.
libraries. Its Tract Society has auxiliaries in each conference, and distributes large quantities of
tracts and a small paper called “ The Good News.” Its Missionary Society supports 44 foreign mis¬
sionaries and 76 helpers, and 302 missionaries and 214 helpers among the Indians and foreign
populations. Its “ Book Concern” carries on an amount of publication equaled by that of few
private firms in the country, including books, papers, and magazines. This denomination has
within the State 1 college and 10 seminaries, in connection with annual conferences.³

Tlie Methodist Protestant CSiurcli was formed Nov. 1830. It divides the Union
into conferences, stations, and circuits. The census reports as belonging to this denomination in
this State, in 1855, 46 churches and 1,605 members.

T'lse Presbyterian Church existed as one body until 1837, when it was divided into
“Old School” and “ New School,” which form two distinct organizations, with similar professions
of faith but different views of discipline. The Old School General Assembly of the U. S. report
33 synods, 159 presbyteries, 2,468 ministers, 3,324 churches, and 259,335 communicants. During