90 RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 
The Western Book Depository is doing a large business in Saint 
Louis—Hircucock & WALDEN, agents. These gentlemen also pub- 
lish for the Church, the Central Christian Advocate, a weekly 
journal of church news. The editor is appointed by the General 
Conference, which meets quadrennially, and which will meet in 
Saint Louis in 1876. The present editor is Benj. Sr. JAMEs Fry, 
DD. ; B. STINsoN, assistant. 
M. E. CHURCH SOUTH. 
By Rev. Wm. M. Lertwicn, D.D., 
Presiding Elder, St. Louis District M. E. Church South. 
The Rev. Joun Travis was the first Methodist minister who was 
regularly appointed to what is now the State of Missouri. He received 
his appointment from Bishop Aspury at the session of the Western 
Annual Conference which was held in Green County, Tennessee, 
September 15, 1806. 
The first Methodist society was organized near Florissant, in St. 
Louis County, by Rev. Joun Ciark, in 1803. In 1820, Rev. 
JessE WALKER came to St. Louis, preached for a time in a carpen- 
ter shop, and, in Jan. 1821, organized the first society in the city. 
Soon followed BEAucHAMP, Monroe and others, who traversed the 
new State in every direction, keeping pace with the new settlements, 
and laying broad and deep the foundations of the Church in the 
hearts and homes of the early pioneers. The growth of the Church 
has been steady and uninterrupted — except during the late war — 
until her creed and Christian life have been incorporated into the 
social, intellectual and moral phases of society in every part of the 
State. The Church has ministers and an organization in every 
county in the State; but the statistics do not give the number and 
value of the churches and other property. 
The General Minutes of 1871, furnish the following general 
statistics: 
Annual Conferences, 3; Presiding Elder’s districts, 20; travel- 
ing preachers, 230; local preachers, 341; making the whole num- 
ber of ministers 571. Members, 44,352. 
The statistics for 1872, now in the hands of the publishers, show 
a large increase in ministers, members, churches and Sunday 
schools; but the writer has no access to the unpublished minutes. 
‘ In 1850 the Church established a book and publishing concern 
in St. Louis, and began the publication of the S¢. Louis Christian 
Advocate. This paper wasa power for good in the State, under 
the editorial management of Rev. Dr. McAnatty, until it was 
suppressed by military authority in April, 1862, and after its pub- 
lication was resumed in 1865. In 1869 the Southwestern Book 
and Publishing Company was organized, to which was transferred 
the book and publishing interests of the Church in the State. This 
house, located in St. Louis, is now issuing the following periodicals: 
Southern Review, a quarterly, edited by Rev. A. T. BLEDsoE, 
LL. D.; the St. Lous Christian Advocate, edited by Rev. D. R. 
McAnaLty, D.D., and the Children’s Advocate, a semi-monthly 
Sunday School paper edited by Rev. Wm. M. LErtwicu. 
The literary institutions of the denomination are as fo:lows : 
Central College, located at Fayette, Howard County, was founded 
in 1852, and is in a highly prosperous cordition. Rev. J. C 
WILLs, President. 
St. Charles College, St. Charles, Mo., founded in 1835, the 
oldest chartered college west of the Mississippi. J. J. Ports, 
President. 
Howard Female College, Fayette. 
SmitH, Mrs. FuLLER and Miss Cooper, 
Arcadia College, Arcadia. Rev. J. C. BERRYMAN, President. 
Central Female College, Lexington. Rev. SULLIVAN, 
President. 
Pritchett Institute, Glasgow. 
Conducted by Mrs. Dr. 
Rev. Carr W. PRITCHETT, Pres- 
ent. 
Belleview Collegiate Institute, Caledonia. 
NEY, Principal. 
Shelby High School, Shelbyville. 
cipal. 
Macon High School, Bloomington. 
Springfield Chey Institute, Springfield. Rev. C. D. Jones, 
D. D., Presiden 
Sicuticatic | School, Monticello. 
Principal. 
Kansas City Female College, Kansas City. Rev. A. G. Sracy, 
Principal. 
Charleston High School, Charleston, and several smaller insti- 
tutions in different parts of the State, and of different grades and 
degrees of usefulness. 
Prof. S. J. McKrn- 
Rev. J. W. ATKIsson, Prin- 
Rev. M. McI.uHany, 
PRESBYTERIAN. 
By Rev. 8. J. Niccoits, D.D., 
Pastor Second Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, and Moderator of 
the General Assembly of the United States. 
The Synod of Missouri is conterminous with the limits of the 
State and is in connection withthe General Assembly of the Pres- 
byterian Church, in the United States of America. It was first 
organized by order of the General Assembly, in October, A. D., 
1832. It has several times in its history been divided, and other 
large and flourishing Synods have been formed out of it. It is now 
divided into six Presbyteries, and the following is the report of 
their present condition, as given to the General Assembly, A. D., 
1872; 
Osage Presbytery contains: ministers, 29 ; churches, 37; mem- 
bers, 1,600; and contributed in 1871, $32,979. 
Ozark Presbytery contains: ministers, 10; churches, 29; mem- 
bers, 554: and contributed in 1871, $9,519. 
Palmyra Presbytery contains: ministers, 22; churches, 43; 
members, 1,446; and contributed in 1871, $22,267. 
Platte Presbytery contains: ministers, 18; churches, 41; mem- 
bers, 1,363 , and contributed in 1871, $29,906. 
Potosi Presbytery contains: ministers, 5; churches, 13 ; mem- 
bers, 494; and contributed in 1871, $3,299 
St. Louis Presbytery contains: ministers, 43; churches, 39; 
members, 3,012; and contributed in 1871, $112,726. 
Total for the Synod: ministers, 127 ; churches, 202 ; members, 
8,469; with contributions for 1871, $210,696. 
