New-York tribune., 1870-10-19
UNITARIANISM.
SKETCH OF THE CHuRCu-ITS GROWTH IN AMER
ICA-THE NATIONAL C0NFERENCE-SERMOr
RY THE REV. DIR. ELIOT.

SKETCH OF THE CHURoH-Irs GROWTH IN AMER
ICA-THE NATIONAL C0NFERENCE-SERM0N
BY THE REV. DIR. ELIOT.
The National Conference of Unitarian and
Other Christian Churches holding s fourth meeting in
the Church Of the Messiah, corner Of Parkave. ana
Thirty ourths As its sessions will be OF vital import
apce to the body it represents and ts dongs viii be
watched with interest by people of all denominations
brief sketch Of the rise development and present cond
ton Of Unarausm in this country will be of interest
OF course Untarans In common with all other denom-
nations claim that their peculiar enets were taught ny
Christ and his Apostles and the early Fathers ol the
Church. they point 10 the shining links OF an apoS
tolc chain Of believers stretching all the way from fa
I'm the first century TO 1heodOtus in the second
and servetus the MARTYR in the sixteenth Ariansm,
which came very near being voted orthodox by the first
great Council Nicea in subimated form OF
Untarauism The intellectual ferment that preceded
aud followed the Reformation developed good zeal OF
Unitarianism in Germany Switzerland Poland, aud the
Netherlands, but successive sanguinary prosecutions
nearly suppressed it In these places and drove most OF
its adherents into Transyvana for refuge 1t appeared
in England in the reign Of Edwardi W. and spread
widely the church well out OF it, notwithstand
ing that four burned at the stake for confess
ing Il and il was adopted by Locke Milton, Newton
Watts Samuel Clarke Hentley. Belsham. Prestey and
other wellknown authors But English Unitsriansm
early became identified with mateTalistc philosophy
and measures OF political reform which hndered its pro
gress at home and cut of from vital sympathy with the
Unitariansm OF the Continent II had very little infu
ence in planting or developing the doctrine III TINS
country
AMERICAN UNT1ARIASI-m.
The Unitariansm of this country is substantially indg
enOus II sprung from the soil nobody knows exactly
where, how when In the early part OF the eigh
teenth century Puritan NewEng gland that
underlined and indefnabe medley Of opinions known as
Arminansm term which represents Calvanism in every
in this nebulous Of opinion that Unitarianism
born. whiteed found all the elements % IL in l'O
In $780, John Adams wrote that the doctrine preached
by his pastor a Quincy, Drs Gay and Shue of bingham,
and many other ministers Boston vicinity soon after
the Rev. John Rogers driven from his pulpit at Leo
minister for preaching IT, and the Odor Of Arianisin
strongly attached to Drs Chancey. Mayhcw. and
other Boston ministers. Positive Unitarianism first
preached by Dr. James Freeman minister OF Kings
Chapel the first Episcopal Church in that city; most Of
his congregation adopted lis sentiments and that be-
came the first nominally Unitarian Church in this
country The friends Of Dr Prestly. who fled from En-
gsh persecution to this country in 179I formed society
in Philadelphia in 1795.
The development of Unitarianism among the COngrc-
Cationalsts OF NewEngland rapid 100 old
Puritan parishes pronouncing for the doctrine aud
in 1904 Unitarian Dr. Ware chosen Professor al ar
ward College. The movement stl, however, chiefly
recOf FROM and protest against dogmatsm. in the in
terests Of practical reG GiOn against sectaranism the
interests ofndivdual liberty against cTeed and ecceS
asties authority the interests OF free inquiry aud the
was held in allegiance 10 the religious and ethical and
strong the Tepugnance 10 everything that looked
pathizers with the movement objected 20 being called
Unitarians. and opposed a separate organization.
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Unitarianism entered into this century in the din Of
controversy and with array brilliant names and for
25 years attracted very attention by the culture
and social position of its adherens and the learning and
eloQuence with which it set forth s views Worcester
Thatcher Buckminster, Holey, Norton and Ware, r
were among in It's armament and the less
bright partly Obscured by the uscr OL Chan
ninSs national ana now wOrd-wldc iainc. ~ the
sanctity he attached 10 the human reason and con
~ ~ nd ~ he cIe,on of men ana 6y The liraf9nud
sympathy awakened in the poor the suffering and en-
saved less than by his theological teachings he gave
Untarianism a type, and impaired a progressive
impulse and adherent that half century mas
scarcely abated While his theological opinions allied
rationalistc principles and his phianthTope syInPa
minds. In 1925 the American Unitarian Association was
formed to spread Unitarian views ana ara new -oces
take kindly that sort Of thing But little was done TO
build up the denomhaGn mat ana M .eauhg ihHgaas arnd
teature was It's vocation and il had such names
sparks Edward Everett. story Pafrey. John Quincy
Adams Alexander H. Everett, VIM. Ware FrOihinglhin,
and Dewey on its roll and Harvard College its back
Te Tnitarians werc-the welcome and appreciate
the results of German criticism aud speculation Emer
SON. finding his views uneongenlal 10 most oi ms
coueTegatiOn, withdrew from the ministry that
he might minister the more and To- more
in another sphere Margaret Fuller, Ripley, Perkins,
Francis Dwight, w. II. Charming Hedge, and a score
Of Others of common mold and make We're worn To
the views which found their Doldest champion III
Theodore Parker whose famous South Boston sermon
preached in 1871 and af5erward eiaboTated n volume
in Unitarian history. He gave its ratlOnallsuc ana
humanitary elements marked Development and left
the stamp OF his vigorous persOnally anu lc ~.
his refOrmatory spirit IN the literature ana Ie oi the
The controversy has gone for these years and its
clements enter an important feature INTO the Dusleso
wears there has denOmnational activity and
growth than before. New men have appeared ana new
leaders with denOnlnat0nal Zeal In 1850, tue
churches which had before been absolutely independent
brought into closer relations ny means OF & M
pay OF Dr.. Bellows of this city and the Rev H. H. Hale
Boston. Nearly 100 new societies have been formed
$50 ministers two Divinity schools lone at Cam6ridge
snrings Ohio beside prepOnderang social intellectual,
and moral influence Harvard; two weekly religious
naners two monthly magazines, o publishing house III
to5 which issues about 2OOOO volumes books year
leading interest in many charities ana pllantnrOllc
and has two in india; and every Winter II carries on
public services in the tbeaters OF our principal cltes
B ~ ae1e n o generaIv feel little denomnationaI zeal
hut are rather proud Of showing their interest IN oter
denominations, and still more IN objects OF puGne coz coz
cern and human welfare II is this In connection Win
the literature and high culture OF the BODY Wch mas
given il an interest which does not attach 10 lts
Unitarians generally hold to the personal oneness oi
Deity distinction from HIS threeness IN tne ~ Ia
ton OF the Son 10 the fatner, WHO ud no' nov ~ an
interceded with on mans account nor requre q' sn IN
atonng sacrifice for his childrens SINS ana VINO VIII pun pun
lsh no whit more than ms good REQUIRES ai1 TIL W
finally bring all souls TO Himself, whole and molly Ihcy
claim 10 he Christians according to their undersahug
of Christianity, OF them regarding IL ss suPeI
natural religion and Christ official authority ana
head while others look dpon II as nattral rellgioh' @
diviner than all others, because truer ana Detter man
tbey Hitherto they have worked and worshiped to-
gether In spite Of the greatest diversity OF oo pH %
sIs seems TO have arrived and this session OF the Con
rence has 10 decide whether the difference between the
Conseyatjves and the RaOnasts is radical as 10 re-
auire a separation.
THE OPENING SERMON
Tie opening delivered last evening before
large congregation by the Rev Dr. Eliot OF 81. Louis