Rev. M. L. M. PEIXOTTO, officiated at the head of the synagogue for upwards of fifty years.

INDEPENDENT OR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

Between these and the Presbyterians, the difference is not great. They profess their belief in the sacred scriptures and their adherence to the doctrine therein contained, as set forth in the Westminister Confession of faith and in the larger and shorter catechisms. They only differ in the article of church government, each congregation having exclusive jurisdiction over its own members and being amenable to no other earthly tribunal; and in fine, they declare themselves, to be actuated by the same principles as the people called INDEPENDENTS in Great Britain and CONGREGATIONALISTS in the Eastern States. In this city, there are four congregations, belonging to this connexion, which are represented in an AssOCIATION held monthly for the management of their general concerns.

The first of these, a frame building with a brick front, was erected in Thompson, near Broome-Street, in 1823. It is 40 by 60 and contains 2400 square feet. The Reverend Mr. JOSEPH HARRISON is pastor.

The second, at present worship in the AFRICAN FREE SCHOOL in Mulberry-Street, where divine service, is in general performed in the Welsh language; but sometimes in English Their pastor is the Rev. Mr. JAMES DAVIES.

The third, which is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. JOHN DICK, have completed in the present year a frame building with a brick front in Fourth-Street, near Avenue D. It is 40 by 64-2560 feet square.

The fourth was organized in August 1825 and worships, at present in a school house, in Broadway near the HOUSE OF REFUGE. Having no fixed pastor, divine service is performed by the ministers of the three churches in connexion with them; but as the congregation is rapidly increasing, it is expected that they will soon have a settled pastor and a place of their own for public worship.

LUTHERANS.

The Lutherans have two churches in this city. The first is Christ church, a stone building at the corner of William and Frankfort-Streets, 34 by 60=2040 feet square, and was erected in 1767. In this church, divine service is performed in the German language, and the Rev. Mr. F. W. GEISENHAIMER İS pastor. The other, St. Matthew's church, which is a handsome brick building, in Walker-Street, 60 by 95-5700 feet

square, was finished in 1822, and is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. F. C. SCHEFFER.

METHODIST EPISOCPAL CHURCHES.

To which is prefixed a brief account of the introduction of Methodism in this city and its subsequent progress.

In the origin and progress of this denomination of christians amongst us, there is something peculiarly interesting. In the year 1766, Methodism made its appearance in America, when a few members, with Mr. Philip Embury a local preacher, having emigrated from Ireland, settled in this city. Being few in number, surrounded by strangers and neglecting the assembling themselves together for divine worship, on the first day of the week, they all, except Mr. Embury, soon abandoned their religious principles and gave way to the allurements of the world. In this hopeless state, they remained, till the following year, when another family from Ireland, formerly connected with those above mentioned, likewise arrived here. Mr. Embury, at the earnest entreaty of the mother of this family, began to preach in his own house and to his own people, the congregation being at first composed of himself and five others. By persevering in the good work, however they began to attract public attention, and the increase of hearers was so rapid, as to 'render it soon necessary to rent a larger room. This small society was soon after greatly assisted by the labours of Captain WEBB of the British army. His commission as an officer did not prevent him from becoming a zealous preacher of the blessed gospel and by his exertions, many were added to the church. The novelty of his appearance as a preacher of Christ, in his regimentals excited no small surprise; but the energy, with which he spoke in the name of the Lord convinced many, that he was commissioned from God, to shew them the way of salvation.

To remedy the inconvenience arising from the smallness of their room, a rigging loft was hired and fitted up for public worship. Here they assembled for a considerable time, and Mr. Embury continued to preach with success, being occasionally assisted by Captain Webb, who was, at intervals, absent upon Long Island and at Philadelphia, in both which places as well as others, he was a zealous minister. Through the faithful labours of these two preachers, the society greatly flourished. In consequence of the increase of members and hearers, they found that this place was too small, and began to think of building a permanent house of worship. Many difficulties, however, occurred to prevent the execution of this pious design.

The society being in general poor, had not the means adequate to such an undertaking. For some time, a painful suspense seemed to occupy their minds; but they, at last, resolved to throw themselves on the benevolence of their fellow citizens.They accordingly issued a subscription paper, went to the Mayor and other opulent citizens, from whom after they had explained their design, they received liberal donations. Captain Webb also lent his assistance. Thus encouraged, they purchased a lot of ground in John-Street, on which they erected a stone building, 42 by 60=2520 feet square, calling is from respect to their venerable founder, WESLEY CHAPEL. Such, however, were at that time the municipal regulations of the city and province of New-York, that they were not allowed to devote the house exclusively to divine worship. They therefore appropriated a small part of it for domestic purposes.— This was the first house of public worship erected by a Methodist congregation in America, and was built in the year 1768, on the same spot, on which their church as rebuilt and enlarged in 1817 now stands.

From this very small beginning, they have increased, in a astonishing manner; as according to "The minutes of the several annual conferences. of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the year 1825" their number amounted to 341,114 and it is highly probable, that they have full as many hearers, who are not in communion with them.

Methodist Episcopal Churches. Their first church as ha been already observed, was erected in John-Street in 1768 an rebuilt and enlarged in 1817. Its dimensions are 62 by 78 feet

4836 feet square. A second 50 by 70=3500 feet square, was built in Forsyth-Street in 1780; a third in Duane-Street 56 by 75=4200 feet square in 1795; a fourth in Allen-Street 55 by 70=3850 feet square in 1809. The above four are stone buildings; a fifth 42 by 60-2520 feet square, was built in BedfordStreet in 1809; a sixth in Nicholas-William-Street, 33 by 56=1,848 feet square, in 1818. These two last are Frame buildings, and the seventh a stone bui ding, in Willet, near Broome-Street, 55 by 76-3960 feet square, was finished this year (1826.)

No pastor in this connexion is to be considered as minister of any particular congregation, as they preach by rotation in all the churches, within the station in which they have been assigned. The following are the preachers now officiating in this city. Rev. Mr. LABAN CLARK, presiding elder of the district; the Rev. Messieurs PETER P. SANFORD, H. STAND, WILLIAM JEWETT, I. YOUNGS, D. DEVINNE and HENRY

CHASE; Rev. Messieurs NATHAN BANGS and JOHN EMERY, book agents, and the Rev. Mr. JOHN M. SMITH, president of the Wesleyan Seminary.

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The Methodist Society. In the year 1820, a number of members, in the aforesaid connection, becoming dissatisfied with the nature and practice of its ecclesiastical government, withdrew from its communion, adopted a mode of discipline more congenial to their ideas of propriety and formed themselves into a separate body under the name of "The Methodist Society. In this city, they have three churches, all of which are built of brick and incorporated as the law directs. Of these, there is one is Christie-Street, 50 by 78-3900 feet square, built in 1821 and of which the Rev. Mr. WILLIAM STILLWELL is pastor; one at the corner of Pitt and Delancey Streets, in 1823, 25 by 60 = 1500 square feet, of which the Rev. Mr. SAMUEL BUDD is minister, and the third in SullivanStreet, built in 1824, which is under the pastoral care of the Rev. Messieurs JAMES COVELL and ISAAC LENT.

African Methodists. Of these, there are three congregations in this city, which till within a few years, were likewise, in union with the Methodist Episcopal Church; but though still agreeing with that body in doctrine, they then deemed it expedient to withdraw from their connection and to assume such mode of government as to each might appear proper.Their first place of worship being 55 by 70=3,850 square feet, is a stone building, called THE ZION METHODIST CHURCH, at the corner of Church and Leonard Streets, which was erected in 1800 and rebuilt and enlarged in 1820. The ministers are the Rev. Messrs. JAMES VARRICK, JAMES SMITH and CHRISTOPHER RUSH. The second is a wooden building in Mott Street 28 by 38-1,160 feet square and was erected in 1806. Ministers the Rev. Messieurs HENRY HARDIN and WILIAM WOOD. And the third, which is, likewise of wood, 40 by 55 2,200 feet square, was erected in Elizabeth Street 1809. Pastors the Rt. Rev. Mr. WILLIAM MILLER, bishop, and Mr. STEPHEN DUTTON.

MORAVIAN CHURCH.

A brick building in Fulton near William-Street 33 by 441,452 feet square erected in the year 1751, of which the Rev. Mr. BENJAMIN MORTIMER is pastor.

NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.

A wooden building in l'earl near Cross-Street erected in 1796, 35 by 50=1750 feet square. This house has been

used as a place of public worship, by different religious societies, the last of which was a presbyterian congregation, under the care of the Rev. Mr. I. S. C. FREY, and from them it was purchased by its present occupants, in the year 1821. The Rev. Mr. CHARLES I. DOUGHTY is minister.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

Of these there are 22 in this city, of which the first 20 are under the direction of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES and are closely connected with the Reformed Dutch Church; as the ministers of both denominations freely exchange pulpits, and have no essential difference in respect to doctrine or discipline. They are divided into two presbyteries viz: The presbytery of New York, consisting of 17 congregations and the second presbytery of New York. This last was formerly a part of the AssociATE REFORMED CHURCH; but in or about the year 1801, that body united with the general assembly. The two last, viz: the Asssociate Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church are under different ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

1st. The Presbytery of New York.

1st. THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is a stone building, which was founded in Wall Street in 1719, enlarged in 1768 and rebuilt in 1809 It is 68 feet in front by 97 feet square and has a handsome spire. The Rev. Mr. WILLIAM W. PHILLIPS is pastor.

2d. The BRICK MEETING, under the pastoral care of the Rev. GARDINER SPRING D. D. was erected in Beekman, corner of Nassau Street in 1797 and has since been ornamented by a handsome spire. Its dimensions are 65 by 83=5395 feet square.

3d. RUTGER STREET Church is a spacious frame building, 64 by 86-5510 feet square was erected in 1797. It has a cupola and public clock. The Rev. THOMAS MCAULEY D. D. and L. L. D. is pastor.

4th. CEDAR-STREET Church, a stone building, between William and Nassau-Streets, 66 by 81=5346 feet square was erected 1807. Vacant by the death of the late Rev. JOHN B.

ROMEYN D. D.

5th. SPRING-STREET Church, a wooden building at the corner of Varrick 60 by 80-4800 feet square was erected in 1810. Pastor Rev. HENRY G. LUDLOW.

6th. ORANGE STREET Church, a wooden building 40 by 60-2400 feet square was erected in 1808. Vacant, since the