once or twice, and some four times, in a year, and care is taken to admit none to communion but such as make a credible profession of Christianity. They never accept of a sum of money as a commutation for any offence, as is done in the established kirk, but every offender is subjected to public admonition or exclusion. Yet notwithstanding the strictness of their discipline, and their rigid adherence to the original principles of Presbyterianism, it is apprehended that many of the present generation of Seceders fall considerably short of their predecessors in knowledge, piety, and zeal. The increase of both parties in the Secession has however been rapid and extensive; they now have upwards of two hundred congregations, and some of them consist of full a thousand members.
In the year 1820 a union of these two bodies was effected; and they are now designated "The United Associate Synod.
In 1799 a division took place in the Burgher branch of the Secession, in reference to the 23rd chapter of the Confession of Faith, regarding the power of the civil magistrate in religious matters. The party who considered this portion of their Standard as an infringement on liberty of conscience, were by far the most numerous, and were designated "New Light Burghers; whilst the other party, who adhered literally to the disputed requirement, were denominated "Old Light;" and assumed, as their distinctive appellation, the name of "Original Burghers."
In 1806, a division also took place in the Anti-Burgher branch of the Secession, upon the
