The union in 1782 of the Reformed Presbytery, representing the old Scotch Covenanters, and the Associate Presbytery, representing the Associate Synod, Anti-Burgher, of Scotland, in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,' was followed by a steady increase in the strength of that body, until it included four synods which were organized under a general synod. One of these synods, the Synod of the Carolinas, became somewhat doubtful of the loyalty of the general synod to the distinctive principles of the Scotch churches, and withdrew in 1821, becoming in the next year an independent body-the Associate Reformed Synod of the South, so called to distinguish it from other Associate Reformed synods in the North. By the union of 1858, which formed the United Presbyterian Church, there ceased to be any other Associate Reformed synods in the North or elsewhere, and there being no longer need of the distinction, the synod, in 1913, dropped the phrase "of the South," and adopted the name Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

In doctrine the synod is thoroughly Calvinistic, having the same symbols of faith as the other Reformed Presbyterian churches. In polity it is presbyterian, in close accord with other similar bodies. Its distinctive feature, it claims, is the exclusive use of the Psalms in praise.

WORK.

The home missionary work of the synod, carried on through its Board of Home Missions, founds and fosters churches in southern cities and towns. The report for 1916 shows 40 missionaries employed in this work, 51 churches aided, and contributions amounting to $13,344.

The foreign work, carried on by the Board of Foreign Missions, is in Mexico and India. The report for 1916 shows 23 stations occupied; 11 missionaries; 26 native helpers; 19 organized churches, with 900 members; 2 schools, with 35 pupils; and 2 hospitals, in which 3,246 patients were treated during the year. The synod has property in the foreign field estimated at $80,000, and the amount contributed for this work in 1916 was $21,517.

The educational institutions in the United States include 1 male college, 1 female college, and 1 theological seminary, with a total of 290 students. The value of the property devoted to this work is estimated at $125,000, and there are endowments of $150,000. There is 1 orphanage, valued at $10,000. During the year there were 51 inmates, and $1,856 was contributed for its support.

See Associate Synod of North America (Associate Presbyterian Church), p. 596.

The Young People's Christian Union has about 60 societies, with a membership of 2,142.

From this table it appears that the denomination has suffered a loss in number of organizations and in church edifices, but has grown in other particulars. There were 133 organizations reported in 1916 as against 141 in 1906, but the membership rose from 13,201 to 15,124, or 14.6 per cent. There was a considerable gain in the number of churches reporting parsonages and in the value of parsonages reported. The number of Sunday schools rose from 131 to 146, or 11.5 per cent, and the number of scholars from 9,732 in 1906 to 13,411 in 1916, or 37.8 per cent. Contributions for missions and benevolences increased from $33,563 to $36,717, or 9.4 per cent, divided about equally between domestic and foreign work.

Certain items not included in the above summary are church expenditures and number of members under 13 years of age, reported for the first time in 1916, and the languages used in church services.

Church expenditures amounting to $178,138, reported by 133 organizations, cover running expenses, outlay for repairs and improvements, benevolences, and such other items as passed through the church treasury.

The number of members under 13 years of age, as reported by 114 organizations in 1916, was 1,197,

HISTORY.

The Presbyterian Church of Scotland was organized by John Knox on his return from a conference with Calvin at Geneva, in 1560. As it became evident that the Stuart dynasty was bitterly opposed to the organization, because of its asserted independence of state control, a movement was started in 1580, though apparently not fully organized, for covenanting together in defense of the Presbyterian Church, and this movement secured a quasi indorsement from James VI. On the 28th of February, 1638, in Grayfriars Church, Edinburgh, the Covenant, with important additions, to adapt it to the times, was renewed. Not less than 60,000 people were present and entered enthusiastically into the compact. During the following days During the following days it was signed by multitudes in all parts of Scotland.

Anticipating hostile action from the king, the Covenanters prepared for war, and the following years were signalized by constant hostilities, which continued until 1640, when an agreement was signed for commissioners to settle the points in dispute, and the "Solemn League and Covenant" was received by "the English Parliament and the Assembly of Divines in 1643." This covenant consisted in an oath to be subscribed by all sorts of persons in both kingdoms, whereby they bound. themselves to preserve the Reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, wor

ship, discipline, and government

accord

ing to the word of God and practice of the best Reformed churches; and to endeavor to bring the churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church government, directory for worship, and catechising; to "endeavor, without respect of persons, the extirpation of popery, prelacy (that is, church government by archbishops and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy), and whatsoever should be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness;" to "preserve the rights and privileges of the parliaments, the liberties of the kingdom, and the king's majesty's person and authority in the preservation and defense of the true religion and liberties of the kingdom;" to "endeavor the discovery of incendiaries and malignants hindering the reformation of religion and dividing the king from his people, that they may be brought to trial and receive condign punishment;" finally, to "assist and defend all those that enter into this covenant and not suffer ourselves to be divided or to be withdrawn from this blessed union, whether to make defection or to give ourselves to a detestable indifference or neutrality in this cause."

It was signed by members of both Houses and by civil and military officers, and, very reluctantly, by

Charles II, in 1650, when he was hoping to recover the English throne. After his restoration, a majority in the House of Commons in 1661, ordered it to be burned by the common hangman. In the same year the Scottish Parliament renounced the covenant and declared the king supreme. The Covenanters protested against these wrongs, and, under the name of "Conventiclers" and sometimes "Hamiltonians," were subjected to a fierce and cruel persecution. Without having any special ecclesiastical organization, they formed societies for worship, meeting often in houses, barns, and caves, and continued to do this even after the accession of William and Mary in 1689. At that time there was established what was known as the revolution settlement, which again made the Presbyterian Church the state church of Scotland. Some, however, believing that in this settlement Reformation principles had been seriously compromised, refused to recognize any longer the authority of the General Assembly, and identified themselves with the Covenanters of the previous years; but it was not until 1743 that they perfected an organization called the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland.

1

This

The first minister of this body came to this country from Scotland in 1752. As others joined him they constituted, in 1774, the Reformed Presbytery. Eight years later, 1782, this Presbytery united with the Associate Presbytery in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. As in the case of the Associate Presbytery, there were some who were dissatisfied, and in 1798 the Reformed Presbytery was reorganized. At the meeting of the presbytery held in 1800 it was stated that in some of the congregations there were members who owned slaves, and it was resolved that no slaveholder should be retained in their communion. action was enforced, and accounts for the fact that at the time of the Civil War there were only three Reformed Presbyterian congregations south of Mason and Dixon's line, and these were in the border states. By 1809 the presbytery had grown so that a synod was constituted. Somewhat later, there arose a difference of opinion as to the practical relation of the members to the Government of the United States, which culminated in 1833 in a division of the church. One party, the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (Old Light), refused to allow its members to vote or hold office under the present constitution. The other, the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (New Light), imposed no such restrictions on its members. The discussion resulted in the

framing of a new covenant embodying the engagements of the National Covenant of Scotland and of the Sol

1 See Associate Synod of North America, p. 596, and United Presbyterian Church, p. 583.

emn League and Covenant, so far as applicable in this land, and, in 1871, in Pittsburgh, Pa., the synod engaged for the first time in the act of covenanting.

DOCTRINE.

The synod maintains that God is the source of all legitimate power; that He has instituted civil government for His own glory and the good of men; that He has appointed His Son, the Mediator, to headship over the nations; and that the Bible is the supreme law and rule in national as well as in all other things. Its members pledge themselves to "promote the interests of public order and justice; to support cheerfully whatever is for the good of the commonwealth in which they dwell;" and to "pray and labor for the peace and welfare of the country, and for its reformation by a constitutional recognition of God as the source of all power, of Jesus Christ as the Ruler of Nations, of the Holy Scriptures as the supreme rule, and of the true Christian religion." They, however, "refuse to incorporate by any act with the political body until this blessed reformation has been secured," and explain thus their refusal to vote or hold office.

The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are accepted as the very Word of God, and as the supreme standard in all matters relating to faith and practice. Their teachings with reference to doctrine are summarized in the subordinate standards, the Westminster Confession and Catechisms, and the Reformed Presbyterian Testimony; and their teachings with reference to order and worship are summarized, in substance, in the Westminster Form of Church Government and Directory for Worship. The covenant of 1871 is recognized as binding on those who took it, and on those they represented.

Only members in regular standing are admitted to the Lord's Supper. The children of church members only are admitted to the ordinance of baptism. The metrical version of the Psalms alone is used in the service of praise. Instruments of music are not allowed in worship. Connection with secret societies is prohibited.

POLITY.

Presbyterianism is considered as the "only divinely instituted form of government in the Christian Church." The church courts are the session, the presbytery, and the synod, there being no general assembly. The officers are of two classes, elders and deacons. Elders include both those who rule and those who also teach; the deacons care for the poor, and are usually intrusted with the temporalities. To the latter office women are eligible. In the church courts the ruling elder and the minister are on an equality.

WORK.

The missionary work of the church is carried on in the home department by the Central Board of Missions, with offices in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the foreign department by the Foreign Mission Board, with offices in Philadelphia, Pa.

The home mission work is chiefly among weak congregations of the denominations, the Indians of Oklahoma, and the Negroes of Alabama. There is also a Jewish mission in Philadelphia, and a Syrian mission in Pittsburgh. The report for 1916 shows 9 persons employed in the Indian work, 18 in the southern work, and 2 in the Jewish mission; 47 churches aided; and contributions amounting to $26,930, including $5,568 for church erection.

The foreign missionary work is carried on in southern China, northern Syria, Asia Minor, and Cyprus. The report for 1916 shows 5 stations occupied by missionaries, and 10 outstations; 48 American missionaries, including wives; 73 native helpers; 3 organized churches, with 522 church members; 1 theological school, with 12 students, and 19 other schools, with 570 pupils; and 5 hospitals, treating annually 4,818 patients. In 1916 collections for foreign work totaled $42,438, or $5.18 per member, which is claimed to be the largest amount per capita contributed by any denomination for foreign missions. The church has an endowment fund of $50,271 for the foreign mission work.

The educational work in the United States includes 1 college, with 546 students; 1 theological seminary, with 8 students; and an enrollment in the southern mission of 639 pupils. The amount contributed in 1916 toward the support of the college and seminary was $4,222. A large part of the expense of the mis

sion schools is included in the amount contributed for home missions. The value of property devoted to educational work is $243,000, and the endowment, $301,085.

The church has a home for the aged, with 19 inmates. The amount contributed for its support in 1916 was $1,123. It has property valued at $50,000, and an endowment of $5,000.

There are 47 young people's societies, with a membership of 1,970.

STATISTICS.

The general statistics of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church for 1916 are given, by states and presbyteries, on pages 604 and 605, and the relation

The above table shows that there has been a decrease in almost every particular in the returns from the synod. As against the 114 organizations reported in 1906, there were 103 in 1916, a loss of 9.6 per cent, and the membership had fallen from 9,122 to 8,185, a decrease of 10.3 per cent. There was a similar decrease in church edifices, in the value of church property, and in the debt on church property. The number of churches reporting parsonages increased from 23 to 27, while the value of the parsonages increased from $52,800 to $74,400, or 40.9 per cent. The total contributions for missions and benevolences advanced slightly, from $74,176 to $74,713. Contributions for domestic work showed a considerable decrease and those for foreign work a marked increase.

Certain items not included in the above summary are church expenditures and number of members under 13 years of age, reported for the first time in 1916, and the languages used in church services.

Church expenditures amounting to $225,263, reported by 103 organizations, cover running expenses, outlay for repairs and improvements, benevolences, and such other items as passed through the church treasury.

The number of members under 13 years of age, as reported by 87 organizations in 1916, was 425, constituting 6.2 per cent of the 6,858 members reported by these organizations. Assuming that the same