Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-22
Religious Progress.


Religious Progress.
The following is copy Of tho articles
Of faith and Church government. OF an
association in Cincinnati. Among the
membership may be found some Of the
most eminent persons Of that city. The
copy is furnished Us in manuscript by
one Of tho members.
The government, il will be observed,
is purely democratic, or congregational;
"WE the undersigned, for the purpose
Of promoting the cause Of true religion
among men, do hereby agree TO form
ourselves into an association, under the
name and title of "Ihe Universal and
Fraternal Church Of Man,"
Believing ii to be the reasonable duty
Of the creature 10 love and worship the
Creator, by the study and practice ol
his laws ns taught in his word and ex'
cmplifed in his world Of nature. That
man being a social being, and happiness
his highest attainment and destiny, II is
r;sh. and proper that societies should be
formed as we'll for mutual instruction
and edifcation, in the truth, os the pro.
motion and practice Of the general
good.
Freedom and Equality Of Rights be.
ing the natural birth.right Of all man.
kind. we do sevorally and as a body
agree that each member shall be ac'
knowledged and held by US perfectly
free to think, act, and speak for him OF
herself, as their sense Of reason and
right may dictate. being amenable only
to God and the laws OF our common
country for the same. As a bond ol
union we propose the following articles
for general acceptance, and representa-.
ton Of our present sense Of the truth.
ARTICLE 1st. There is one God, the
Universal Creator. the Author Of oil
Truth and the Giver Of all Good, perfect
in his nature and worthy Of our highest
Love and Veneration.
ARTICLE I'd. The duty Of man con-
sists in tho promotion Of his own good
and is 10 be attained only by yielding
obediencs to the laws Of his nature, and
consists in loving his God with all hi
mind, soul and strength, and his neigh
Dor as himself, firmly believing that on
ly in proportion as we are disposed te
promote tho welfare Of others. can ou
own be permanently advanced.
ARTICLE Sd. AS a means Of loading
men to the good, the truth should b
thoroughly studied and every mean
sought 10 attain i, both by the reading
Of the scriptures and other writings, ant
the study Of the works Of nature; eacl
individual being left free TO use sucl
means as they may be best qualified II
profit by,-acknowlsdging always .ha
the truth wherever read or found, is tn
word Of God and his gift.
ARTICLE 4th. Order being "Heaven'
first law" should always be observed
The law Of the Decalogue being adapte
4 to mans nature, its observance as wei
q. the precepts Of Christ and a. taugh
on the Mount and elsewhere, are hghl
commendable.
ARTICLE 5,h. All societies have
right to lay down their own rules Of Of
ganization and government, and willis
we claim the right for ourselves "
cheerfully accord it to others, agreein
with ourselves that we will annually az
point FIVE Directors or Deacons, who
under the general advice Of the Churcl
shall have the direction and supervisio
of its affairs and who shall from time t
time secure such persons for lecturers G
teachers as the society may desire or the
shall think needful, natural fitness q
adaptation to their calling being in ou
opinion the natural ordination and al
that is requisite.
| ARTICLE 9th. In the progressive d'
velopment Of time and circumstance
these articles may be repealed or othe1
added, as the good sense Of this societ,
by majority or general consent may di'
tate. All subscribers to these articles {
amendments, being recognised and Al
knowledged as members in good stan'
t ing, and entitled to all the privileges
J.. tho Church.