This denomination call themselves Christians; but as the name does not distinguish thorn from other Christians, and as the public must have a distinguishing appellation, the first part of the name is commonly pronounced as we pronounce the word Christ, when written by itself. Hence they are commonly called Christ-ians. One of their own writers gives the following account of their origin:

      "About fifty years ago, several Methodist preachers in the State of Virginia and in the Carolinas, became dissatisfied with the discipline of that church, and withdrew. They then agreed to search the Scriptures for a rule of life, and to believe, preach, and walk as they should direct. The result was, they soon became agreed that Christian was the appropriate name for all the followers of Christ, as all true believers hold; and that while others go farther, and take some sectarian name of human origin, they ought not, and would not, receive or use among themselves any other. By thus searching the Scriptures for a rule, [152] they became satisfied that as that book contained the whole of the rule of duty and faith, so no other was necessary; and all others, if authoritative, served to divide and lead astray. Here they settled down upon the broad plan of the name all believers take--Christian; and the rule they all acknowledge--the Bible.

      "A few years after this, several ministers of the Presbyterian order, in the State of Kentucky, broke off from that body because of the government under which it acted; and several of their usages appeared to them both unscriptural and oppressive. This act threw them upon the Bible, as the like act had thrown the seceders from the Methodists in Virginia; and with the same result--for they soon agreed to be nothing but Christians, and to have no discipline or rule but the Bible.

      "About the same time, a few ministers in New England, who had been connected with the Baptists, were led to see that human creeds were both useless and hurtful, and, in relinquishing these, they too were thrown upon the Bible alone. As they found there none of their names but Christian, and none of the modern denominational titles, they also soon agreed on that name, and on the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice.

      "Here, then, were three companies in the United States, all agreeing in these two points. But they were strangers to each other, and even to the fact that such companies existed. But in a few years each learned that others existed, and by means of letters, and a periodical which was soon commenced among the Now England Christians, a correspondence was opened, and a union created, so that the three became one, and have to this day been known as the 'Christian Connection in the United States of America.' [153]

      "They are Unitarians in doctrine, and Baptists both in respect to the mode and the subjects of baptism.

      "The education of many of the ministers of the connection, who universally preach extempore, is defective. Their maxim has been, 'Let him who understands the gospel teach it;' yet the sentiment is fast gaining ground among them, that literature and science are very useful auxiliaries in the illustration and enforcement of divine truth; and a charter was obtained, in 1832, from the legislature of Indiana, for a Christian College, to be located in New Albany.

      "They are Independents in Church polity, yet represented in associations composed of ministers and laymen, after the manner of presbyteries and synods, but without judicial authority. For the purpose of promoting the general interest and prosperity of the connection by mutual efforts and joint counsels, associations were formed, denominated conferences. Ministers and churches, represented by delegates, formed themselves, in each State, into one or more conferences, called State Conferences, and delegates from these conferences formed the United States General Christian Conference. This general conference has been given up. The local or State conferences are still continued, possessing, however, no authority or control over the independence of the churches.

      "They number 40 associations, or conferences, 1100 ministers, 1200 churches, and 80,000 communicants."

[RDW 152-154]

      Vincent L. Milner's "Christians" was published in his Religious Denominations of the World (Philadelphia, PA: J. W. Bradley, 1860), pp. 152-154. The unsigned statement quoted by Milner is from Elijah Shaw's Sentiments of the Christians (1847). The electronic text has been produced from a copy of the book held by St. Vincent College Library.

      This article is reprinted without alteration in the "new and improved edition" (Philadelphia, PA: Bradley, Garretson and Company, 1872), pp. 165-166. The following note by J. Newton Brown appears in the Appendix of the later edtion (p. 557):

      CHRISTIANS. It is an error to suppose that all this denomination are Unitarians. Many of them, especially in New England, are orthodox and evangelical in their creed. They accept the doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement, and only object to the use of the word "person" in reference to that sublime mystery. These are the views expressed in the denominational organ.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
373 Wilson Street
Derry, PA 15627-9770
724.694.8602
stefanik@westol.com

Created 20 December 1998.
Updated 24 January 1999.