A New Guide for Emigrants to the West

by John Mason Peck

The Methodist Episcopal Church, in addition to their regular system of circuits, are extending the influence of their denomination on the frontiers, by missionary operations, and their labors are prospered.

The Baptist denomination have made some important movements in the Western Valley within the last three years. Their Home Mission Society has nearly 100 missionaries in the West. In November, 1833, the "General Convention of Western Baptists," was organized by more than 100 ministers and brethren, assembled from various parts of the West. It is not an ecclesiastical body, claiming jurisdiction either over churches or ministers, nor is it strictly a missionary body. Its business, according to the constitution, is "to promote by all lawful means, the following objects, to wit:—Missions both foreign and domestic;—ministerial education, for such as may have first been licensed by the churches; Sunday schools, including Bible classes; religious periodicals; tract and temperance societies, as well as all others warranted by Christ in the gospel."

At its second session, in 1834, the "Western Baptist Education Society" was formed. Its object is "the education of those who give evidence to the churches of which they are members, that God designs them for the ministry." The executive committee are charged temporarily, with establishing the Central Theological Seminary, already mentioned, at Covington, Ky.

Many other interesting associations for humane, philanthropic, and religious purposes exist in the Valley, which are necessarily omitted.

VII. The Periodical Press.

The number of different periodicals published in the Valley of the Mississippi, must exceed 400, of which 12 or 15 are daily papers. There are 25 weekly periodicals in Mississippi, 116 in Ohio, 38 in Indiana, 19 in Illinois, 17 in Missouri, 3 and probably more, in Arkansas, 2 at least in Wisconsin Territory. The Western Monthly Magazine, edited by James Hall, Esq., and published at Cincinnati is well known. The Western Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, edited by Daniel Drake, M. D., Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine in the Cincinnati College, is published quarterly, in Cincinnati. There are a number of religious weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly periodicals, devoted to the interests of the principal denominations through the Valley. There are known to be at least one in Western Virginia, 2 in Western Pennsylvania, 7 in Ohio, 4 in Kentucky, 4 in Tennessee, 2 in Illinois, 2 in Missouri, and one in New Orleans. Supposing the average number of copies of Western periodicals equalled 750, this, estimating the different periodicals at 400, would give 300,000. We see no marked and essential difference in the talent, with which the editorial press is conducted, betwixt the Eastern and Western States. The limits of this work will not allow me to add further evidence that our Western population is not all "illiterate," and that "not more than one person in ten can read," than the following epitome of the issues, of one of the publishing houses in Cincinnati, as exhibited in the Cincinnati Journal:

"Western Enterprise.—The enterprise of the West is not generally appreciated. As a specimen, we have procured from Messrs. Corey & Webster the following LIST OF BOOKS published by them within the last three years. These books, with the exception of the Life of Black-Hawk, are of sterling value.

The Western Primer, 60,000; Webster's Spelling Book, 600,000; the Primary Reader, 7,500; the Elementary Reader, 37,000; Western Reader, 16,000; Webster's History of the United States, 4000; Miss Beecher's Geography, 15,000; Pocket Testament, 6,500; Watts' and Select Hymns, 8000; Dr. Beecher's Lectures on Scepticism, three editions, 1000 each; Prof. Stowe's Introduction to the Study of the Bible, 1500; the Christian Lyre, 2000; Mitchell's Chemistry, 1000; Eberle on the Diseases of Children, 2000; Ditto Notes of Practice, 1500; Young Lady's Assistant in Drawing, 1000;, Munsell's Map, 3,500; Chase's Statutes of Ohio, three volumes, 1000; Hammond's Reports, 6th vol. 500; total, seven hundred and seventy eight thousand two hundred and fifty!!! Probably some of the many other publishers in the city have got out nearly or quite as many books. Truly, we are a book-making and book-reading nation."

VIII. Religious Denominations.

In exhibiting the following statistics, entire correctness is not attempted. In some of the States, the latest reports have been had,—in others, the author has taken data of two or three years date. Of the numbers of some of the numerous sects existing, the opinions of individuals have been the chief data he could obtain.