Schwenkfelders, from which they were unexpectedly relieved by Frederick, the king of Prussia, making a conquest of all Silesia, who immediately published an edict, in which he invited, by proclamation, in 1742, all the Schwenkfelders to return to Silesia, who had emigrated, and promised them their estates, with toleration and protection not only in Silesia, but in all other parts of his dominionsbut none of those who had emigrated to Pennsylvania, ever returned. Still they kept up an important correspondence with European friends, near half a century, up to the time of the French Revolution.

of their excellent Catechism, Compendium of Christian Doctrine and Faith, and Hymn Book. The late Rev. C. Shultz was much esteemed, as a sound divine, and a man of undoubted piety, by all surrounding denominations. And on account of his devotedness and his eloquence, he was repeatedly called by the Reformed, Moravians, Mennonites, and others, to preach to them the gospel of everlasting salvation. His motto was "Soli Deo Gloria, et Veritas vincet."

The present young candidates in the gospel ministry of the upper district, in Berks county, are the Rev. Joshua Schultz and William Schultz. In the middle and lower districts, the Rev. B. and A. Hucbner, and Rev. David Kriebel of Worces ter, Montgomery county. Their pastors are chosen by casting lots; but after being chosen great attention is paid to their education: they are instructed in all the necessary branches pertaining to the gospel ministry.

Having obtained permission from the crown of England to emigrate to Pennsylvania, and their protection in Germany being withdrawn, they left Berthelsdorf and Gorlitz in April, 1734, for Altona, in Denmark, where they arrived May 17th; thence they sailed for America, and after a tedious and long voyage they arrived at Philadelphia the 22d Sept., 1734, and on the 5th of October of the same year, several other families arrived. They settled principally in Montgomery, Berks, Bucks and Lehigh counties, Pennsylvania, where their grandchildren chiefly reside at present, on the branches of the Skippack and Perkiomen rivulets, in the upper, middle, and lower end of Montgomery, lower east part of Berks, and south corner of Lehigh. On their first arrival in Pennsylvania they held a "festival in grateful memory of all mercies and divine favors, manifested towards them by the Father of mercies;" on which occasion, Father Senior George Wise, their pastor, conducted the solemnities. This commemorative festival has since 1734 been annually observed by their descendants. Father Wise labored in sacred things but six years amongst them in Pennsylvania; he departed this life in 1740. His successors were the Rev. B. Hoffman, A. Wagner, G. Wiegner, Christopher Shultz, sen., C. Kriebel, C. Hoffman, G. Kriebel, Mr. Kriebel, Mr. Shultz, B. Shultz, A. Shultz, and D. Shultz, assistants; I. Shultz, and last, the Rev. C. Shultz, who died in March, 1843, aged 66 years. The latter was the grand-lent arrangements, an election is held son of the Rev. Christopher Shultz, sen., of Hereford, who was distinguished as a scholar, and writer; he was the author

They number at present about three hundred families; eight hundred members; have five churches and schoolhouses. They form a respectable part of the German community of the counties above named. Some of them pursue agriculture, some manufactures, others are engaged in commercial enterprise. Fy their strict church discipline, they keep their members orderly, and pure from the contaminating influence of the corruptions. so prevalent. They are a moral people; pious and highly esteemed by all who know them. They pay great attention to the education, the religious and moral training of their children. Many of them possess a respectable knowledge of the learned languages, Latin, &c. There is scarce a family among them that does not possess a well selected and neatly arranged library, among which you find manuscript copies from their learned forefathers of the size of Mell's or Erasmus Weichenhan's Postill, which they hold sacred on account of the purity of doctrine contained therein.

In order fully to carry out their excel

among them annually, in May, either for elders, or trustees of schools, or overseers of their poor, and sometimes other officers.

They have not long since had their lite rary and charity funds incorporated, entrusted to a number of trustees and others, constituting a body corporate. Church meetings are held, when young and old attend, every Sunday forenoon, once in the upper, and once in the middle or lower district; and every other Sunday afternoon, catechetical instruction is held, indoctrinating the young and old in the truths of the gospel. Their marriages and funerals are conducted as becomes Christians, upon strict temperance principles. At present, all teaching or preaching is principally, if not wholly, conducted in the German language.

We introduce here what might, perhaps,

have been more appropriately mentioned before. There is an existing ordinance among us not common with other Christian denominations: the ordinance respects infants. As soon as a child is born, a preacher or minister is called in to pray for the happiness and prosperity of the child, admonishing the parents to educate their tender offspring; to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, according to the will of God. Parents generally bring their little ones into the house of worship, where the same service is performed; praying, and singing some appropriate verses. We hold the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.

HISTORY

OF

THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST.

BY THE REV. WILLIAM HANBY, CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO.

THIS denomination took its rise in the United States, about the year 1755, and is distinguished from the Old United Brethren or Moravian Church, by the additional phrase of "In Christ."

In 1771,

ing the doctrines of the Reformation, he
virtually withdrew from his mother church,
and commenced laboring for the conver-
sion of souls in connexion with two Ger-
man divines by the name of Beohm and
Geeting, who had also deeply engaged in
the work of Reformation.
Messrs. Asbury and Wright, came over
from England, under the direction of the
Rev. J. Wesley, and commenced as co-
workers with these German brethren; and
so united were they at that time, in their
labors of love, that one branch was called

In 1752, William Otterbein, a distinguished German divine, came to America, being at that time a minister of the German Reformed Church; he soon became convinced, after his arrival in this country, of the necessity of a deeper work of grace being wrought on his heart than he had ever, as yet, received. He accordingly rested not, day nor night, until he found" Methodist," and the other " German Methe Lord precious to his soul, in the full and free pardon of all his sins. He immediately commenced preaching the doctrines of a spiritual and holy life. After having been persecuted for some years, for preach

thodist ;" though the German brethren, at that time anticipated an organization of their own. In 1784, at the request of the Rev. F. Asbury, William Otterbein, assisted Dr. Coke, in his (Asbury's) ordina