They

Dating their rise from about the year 1803, they appeared, it seems, in NewEngland, Ohio, and Kentucky, some say also in the South, nearly about the same time. They boast of having no founderno Luther or Calvin, no Whitefield or Wesley-that can claim any special influence among them. They are the largest nocreed sect in America, and had their origin in the dissatisfaction that existed in some minds with what they called the "bondage of creeds," and still more, with the bondage of discipline that prevails, as they insist, in all other churches. This may be easily accounted for. Many of the most active promoters of the new sect had been excluded from other communions because of their denial of some important doctrine, or their refusal to submit to discipline and government.

a century later, had there been an eccle- | tians is of purely American origin. siastical government to which all the are more generally called in the United churches owed obedience, Stoddard's doc- States Christ-ians, the i in the first syllable trine of admitting the unregenerate to full being pronounced long, though this procommunion would have been enforced nunciation, I need hardly say, is rejected upon all; for numbers and influence were by themselves. in its favour. And when Edwards, after the great revival of 1740, reproclaimed the ancient doctrine concerning church membership, had there been an ecclesiastical tribunal having authority over all the churches, he and his Reformation would have been put down at once, and the admission of the unregenerate to the Lord's table would have been required of all. And, finally, consider, they still farther say, the state of things in 1815, when conclusive proof was first obtained of the existence of Unitarianism among the Congregational clergy in Eastern Massachusetts. The Unitarians had the majority in the ecclesiastical bodies of which they were members. Had these bodies possessed jurisdiction over all churches within their bounds, they might have established Unitarianism in them all, and might have forbidden all efforts for the revival or preser- The Christ-ians, according to some of vation of orthodoxy. If there had been a their leading authorities, had a threefold body representing all the churches in the origin. The first members of their sociestate, and having authority over all, the ties, or churches, in New-England, were majority would have been orthodox; but originally members of the Regular Bapthe Unitarians were numerous and power- tist connexion; in the West they had been ful enough to have thrown off its jurisdic- Presbyterians, and in the South Methotion, and to have subsisted by themselves, dists. Their churches have all along been as they now do. If the civil government constituted on the following principles: had been invested with power to enforce "The Scriptures are taken to be the only religious uniformity, it could have prevent-rule of faith and practice, each individual ed such a result; but it would not have done it; for the most important powers of the civil government were then, and, with few exceptions, have been ever since, wielded by Unitarian hands.

In all these instances, the independence of the churches, its friends firmly believe, secured to the most orthodox the privilege of adhering to the whole truth, both in doctrine and practice, and of exerting themselves in its defence and for its diffusion. This privilege there have always been some to claim and to use. Error, therefore, has always been held in check till truth could rally its forces and regain its ascendency.

CHAPTER IV.

THE CHRIST-IAN CONNEXION.

THE body that assumes the title of Chris

but for the isolation of ministers and congregations under the Congregational system, error must have been much sooner discovered, and checked in its beginnings. The same remark applies to the apostacy of many nominally Presbyterian ministers and congregations in England. These never were Presbyterians in fact. Error thus had leave to work its way unchecked by the oversight either of bishop or presbytery.

being at liberty to determine for himself, in relation to these matters, what they enjoin; no member is subject to the loss of church fellowship on account of his sincere and conscientious belief, so long as he manifestly lives a pious and devout life; no member is subject to discipline and church censure but for disorderly and immoral conduct; the name Christian to be adopted, to be exclusive of all sectarian names, as the most appropriate designation of the body and its members; the only condition or test of admission, as a member of a church, is a personal profession of the Christian religion, accompanied with satisfactory evidence of sincerity and piety, and a determination to live according to the divine rule or the Gospel of Christ; each church is considered an independent body, possessing exclusive authority to regulate and govern its own affairs."*

Although their founders continued to least, of the peculiarities of the various cleave more or less closely to some, at bodies in which they had been brought up, a process of assimilation to each other has been gradually going on, and has at

* See an "Account of the Christian Connexion, or Christ-ians," by the Rev. Joshua V. Himes, in the Encyclopædia of Religious Knowledge.

Generally speaking, their ministers are men of little education, but a laudable desire for improvement in this respect has been showing itself. The State of Indiana granted them a charter some years ago for a college at New Albany, but whether it has taken effect I know not. They have no theological seminaries. For some years past they have had a religious journal called "The Christian Palladium," published in the State of New-York, and two other journals, one published in New-Hampshire, the other in Illinois. They have a Book Association also. Upon the whole, much inferior as the Christians are to the Unitarians in point of wealth, the size of their churches, the learning and eloquence of their ministers, and the rank and respect-ability of their members, yet being far more numerous, and having doctrines of quite as elevated a character, their influence upon the masses, whlie kindred in nature, is perhaps greater in extent.

length brought them to a considerable de- | 1841 there were in the United States and gree of uniformity on most points of doc- Canada forty-one conferences, embracing, trine. Trinitarians for the most part at the it was estimated, 593 ministers, 591 churchoutset, they have now almost unanimously es, and about 30,000 members. The poprejected the doctrine of the Trinity as un-ulation supposed to be under their influscriptural; and although they refuse to be ence is estimated at 300,000, which is mantied down to a creed, the following may be ifestly too high, for many of their conconsidered as a fair outline of the doctrines gregations are very small, particularly in that prevail among them: "There is one the West. living and true God, the Father Almighty, who is unoriginated, independent, and eternal, the Creator and Supporter of all worlds; and that this God is one spiritual intelligence, one infinite mind, ever the same, never varying: that this God is the moral Governor of the world, the absolute source of all the blessings of nature, providence, and grace, in whose infinite wisdom, goodness, mercy, benevolence, and love, have originated all his moral dispensations to man: that all men sin and come short of the glory of God, and, consequently, fall under the curse of the law that Christ is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and Saviour of the world, the Mediator between God and man, by whom God has revealed his will to mankind; by whose sufferings, death, and resurrection, a way has been provided by which sinners may obtain salvation-may lay hold on eternal life; that he is appointed of God to raise the dead, and judge the world at the last day that the Holy Spirit is the power and energy of God-that holy influence of God by whose agency, in the use of means, the wicked are regenerated, converted, and recovered to a virtuous and holy life, sanctified and made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light; and that, by the same IN our chapter on the Unitarians we ex-Spirit, the saints, in the use of means, are pressed our views of the moral influence comforted, strengthened, and led in the path of the doctrines of the Universalists. The of duty: the free forgiveness of sins, flow-latter were little known as a sect in Amering from the rich mercy of God, through the labours, sufferings, and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: the necessity of repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ: the absolute necessity of holiness of heart and rectitude of life to enjoy the favour and approbation of God: the doctrine of a future state of immortality: the doctrine of a righteous retribution, in which God will render to every man according to the deeds done in the body the baptism of believers by immersion and the open communion at the Lord's table of Christians of every denomination having a good standing in their respective churches."*

CHAPTER V.

THE UNIVERSALISTS.

ica until about the middle of the last century, when a few persons of reputation partially or wholly embraced their doctrines. These were afterward preached by the Rev. John Murray, who came from England in 1770, and were embraced by the Rev. Elhanan Winchester, a Baptist minister of considerable talent. Both Murray and Winchester held the doctrine of restoration, that is, that after the resurrection and the judgment, the wicked, after suffering in hell for a time, and in a measure proportioned to their guilt, will eventually be recovered through the influences of the Spirit, and saved by the atonement of Christ. About the year 1790, the Rev.. Although each church is wholly inde- Hosea Ballou appeared as a Universalist pendent of all others in the management preacher, and taught that all punishment of its affairs, yet, for the promotion of their is in this life, and, consequently, that the mutual prosperity, they have associations souls of the righteous and the wicked alike called "State Conferences," composed of pass immediately at death into a state of delegates from the clergy and the churches, but with only advisory powers. In *See "Account of the Christian Connexion, or Christ-ians," by the Rev. Joshua V. Himes, as above.

happiness-a doctrine which, being, much more acceptable to the unrenewed heart, became much more popular than that of restoration as above described. The res-

torationist preachers in the United States | and all haters of evangelical religion. hardly exceed twelve or fifteen in number, Their preaching positively exercises no and their churches are even fewer; where- reforming influence on the wicked, and as the Universalists, properly so called, what worse can be said of it ?*

THE New Jerusalem Church, or Swedenborgians, are not numerous in America. Their doctrines were first propagated here, I believe, by some missionaries from England. Their churches, which are small, are about thirty or forty in number, and isoThe doctrines of the American Univer-lated members of the sect are to be found salists are well expressed in three articles adopted as a "Profession of Belief" by the General Convention of Universalists, held in 1803. It is said to be "perfectly satisfactory to the denomination," and is as follows:

If this be so, their increase throughout the world The only Universalists whose preaching must be slow indeed. The late Judge Young, of seems to have any moral influence, are the Greensburg, in Pennsylvania, and a few other men handful of Restorationists-the rest are of some influence, have been reckoned among their heard with delight chiefly by the irreligious, tired of the coldness of Unitarianism, have betaken In some instances men who have grown the profane, Sabbath-breakers, drunkards, themselves to Swedenborgianism.

CHAPTER VIII.

RAPPISTS, SHAKERS, MORMONS, ETC.

THE Rappists are a small body of German Protestants, who came to the United States from Wurtemburg, about the year 1803, under their pastor, a Mr. George Rapp, who has recently deceased. They settled at a place called Economy, on the Ohio, about fifteen miles below Pittsburgh. From Economy part of them, headed by Mr. Rapp, went to the Wabash River, in Indiana, and on its banks formed a new settlement, called Harmony, but this they afterward sold to the well-known Robert Owen, and returned to Economy, in Pennsylvania. Their distinguishing principle is an entire

some others, they show a strong leaning towards Romanism. They allow marriage, but make much account of celibacy; in Baptism they hold that the immersion should be repeated thrice, and observe the seventh day as their Sabbath. Their church order is like that of the Regular Baptists, except that every brother is allowed to speak, and the most fluent is generally chosen the regular minister. Most of the men in this communion wear their beards long, and dress in long coats, or tunics, reaching to their heels, and bound | at the waist with a girdle. They are but a small body, having some churches, but in many places meet in private houses. Some of them appear to possess piety. Their ministers are supposed to be about" community of goods," upon what they equal in number to their churches, and the aggregate amount of their members may be about 3000 or 4000.

CHAPTER VII.

THE JEWS.

WHATEVER may have been the early legislation of the Anglo-American colonies in regard to the descendants of Abraham, it is certain that the Jew now finds an asylum, and the full enjoyment of his civil rights, in all parts of the United States. Yet I know not how it has happened, unless it be owing to the distance of our country from Europe, and its presenting less scope for the petty traffic which forms their chief employment in the Old World, that it has been only at a comparatively recent period that any considerable number of Jews have found their way to our shores. So much have they increased, however, among us during the last ten years, that it is now computed that there are no fewer than 50,000 in the United States. They have about fifty synagogues, and the same number of Rabbies. Five or six synagogues are now to be found in New-York, instead of one, as a few years ago. There is one in which the service is conducted in English, at Charleston, in South Carolina, and no doubt in other cities also. A few instances of conversion to Christianity have taken place, but only a few, the attention of Christians, we may truly say, not having been sufficiently turned to that object. This may have been from the fewness of the Jews, until of late years, causing them to be overlooked, or from the want of suitable persons to devote themselves to the work. We are pleased to see that some interest has begun to be taken in this subject during the last year

or two.

suppose to have been the example of the primitive Christians. The whole scheme, however, of this small community, for it comprises but a few hundred members, seems mainly of a worldly and merely economical character, though they keep up the form of religious observances and services.

The Shakers are a fanatical sect of English origin. About 1747, James Wardley, originally a Quaker, imagining that he had supernatural dreams and revelations, founded a sect which, from the bodily agitations practised in some parts of their religious services, were called Shakers, or Shaking Quakers; it is not, however, to be supposed for a moment that they are connected with the respectable people called Quakers or Friends. Ann Lee, or, rather, Mrs. Standley, for she had married a man of that name, the daughter of a blacksmith in Manchester, England, adopted Wardley's views and the bodily exercises of his followers. From the accounts we have of her she must have become a thorough adept during the nine years which she spent in convulsions, fastings, &c.; for she is said to have clinched her fists in the course of her fits so as to make the blood pass through the pores of her skin, and wasted away so that at last she had to be fed like an infant. About 1770 she discovered the wickedness of marriage, and began "testifying against it." She called herself" Ann the Word," meaning that the Word dwelt in her. And, to this day her followers say that "the man who was called Jesus, and the woman who was called Ann, are verily the two first pillars of the Church, the two anointed ones." In other words, they hold that, as the first Adani was accompanied by a woman, so must be the second Adam.

In May, 1774, Ann Lee, otherwise Mrs. Standley, together with three elders, and others of the sect, emigrated to America, and two years after formed a settlement at Niskayuna, a few miles from Albany, in the State of New-York. From that, as from a centre, they put forth shoots, until

at length there are now about fifteen Shaker | "Notebook,” while in the United States nosettlements, or villages, in different parts body thinks it worth while to bestow much of the United States, comprising some 6000 thought upon them. So long as they reor 8000 souls. Their doctrines are a strange spect the persons, rights, and property of mixture of the crudest errors with some others, the government suffers them to gratfew Gospel truths, but it would be a sad ify their fancies undisturbed. Accordingmisnomer to call them Christian. They ly, they remain a small and quite obscure call themselves the Millennial Church. community, that must in time utterly disThey hold that the millennium has begun, appear instead of growing into something and that they are the only true church, and like importance, which would be the probhave all the apostolic gifts. They insist able result if they were persecuted. Were that Baptism and the Lord's Supper ceased the Shakers to appear in some European with the apostolic age; that the wicked countries, a very different, and, in my opinwill be punished for a definite period only, ion, a far less prudent course would be folexcept such as apostatize from them, and lowed. Accustomed to meddle with evethese will be punished forever; that the rything, even with conscience itself, their judgment has already commenced; that governments would probably interfere, unChrist will not again appear in the world, der the plea of saving the children from except in the persons of his followers, that being brought up in such delusion. But is, the Shakers; that marriage is sinful, we prefer letting them alone, under the and that "they that have wives should be conviction that, all things considered, it is as though they had none," even now, and better to do so, and with the hope that the that thus alone purity and holiness, and light that surrounds them, and with which the consequent beatitude of the heaven- they must come into contact in their interly state, can be attained; that sin com- course with the world, will, in God's own mitted against God is committed against time, reach their minds. To interfere with them, and can be pardoned only for Christ's those parental ties, and that consequent sake through them. Such are some of responsibility which God himself has estheir absurd tenets. The discipline of tablished, must always be a difficult and their churches rests for the most part with dangerous task even for the best and wi"their elders," who follow the instructions sest of governments.* left by "Mother Ann Lee." In their religious worship, they range themselves at intervals in rows, and then spring upward a few inches; sometimes, however, they become so excited in this exercise as to throw off their upper garments, and jump as if they would touch the ceiling-all, as they say, to express their joy in the Lord. After this they sit down and listen a while to their preachers, and then, when tired of hearing, resume their dancing freaks.

They maintain the doctrine of a communion of goods. The men and women live apart. The children of proselytes are instantly separated, by the boys being sent into the male apartment, and the girls into the female. Of course it is only from such recruits that a community of this kind can keep up its numbers.

* A book of a character somewhat remarkable has titled, "A HOLY, SACRED, AND DIVINE ROLL AND lately been published by these deluded people. It is enBOOK, FROM THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH; REVEALED IN THE UNITED SOCIETY AT NEW-LEBANON, COUNTY OF COLUMBIA, STATE OF NEW-YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Read and understand all ye in mortal clay. Published at Canterbury, N. H., 1843."

The history of this strange production is as follows: A certain Philemon Stewart asserts that a holy angel from the Lord came to him in the morncommanded him to appear before the Lord on the ing of the 4th of May, 1842, at New-Lebanon, and Holy Mount, bowing himself seven times as he approached. He obeyed the heavenly messenger, and met a mighty angel on the summit of the hill or mount, who read to him six hours every day from Philemon Stewart, might write down the sacred the Roll which he had in his hand, in order that he, revelation.

The contents of this volume are various. First, The Shakers have the reputation, in gen- dwell on the earth, announcing that he was going to there is a PROCLAMATION of the Almighty to all that eral, of being honest and industrious, but I make a great revelation through his holy angel, who have had no means of ascertaining what is Jesus Christ. Next comes a proclamation from their interior life and conduct may be, be- God to his holy angel. Then follows a proclamation yond this, that no small number of their of the angel himself. After this, we have the intromembers have left them in disgust, and are duction to the SACRED ROLL by the holy angel, givfar from speaking well of them. The read-written), on the 2d of February, 1843, at twelve en also at New-Lebanon (after the volume had been er will perceive their insignificance in point o'clock, M. Then comes the "Sacred Volume and of numbers, yet, to believe some European Sealed Roll, opened and read by the mighty angel," travellers, there is cause to fear that the consisting of 33 chapters, each of which is divided United States may one day be overrun into verses, after the manner of the Scriptures. with this ignorant and deluded sect. But the absurd importance which such writers would fain attach to the Shakers is easily accounted for; their eccentricities afford a topic sufficiently marvellous and amusing to fill a chapter or two in a "Diary" or

tents in a short space is impossible. I will only say, To give anything like an adequate idea of its conthat it proposes to give an account of the character of God; the creation of man; of his fall through the temptation of the serpent [irrational or animal proChrist; of the departures from the Gospel; of the pensities]; of God's dealing with mankind; of Jesus second advent, or the Christ in the female (Mother