File:The religious denominations in the United States- their history, doctrine, government and statistics. With a preliminary sketch of Judaism, paganism and Mohammedanism (1854) (14777423622).jpg

Identifier: religiousdenomin00belc (find matches)
Title: The religious denominations in the United States: their history, doctrine, government and statistics. With a preliminary sketch of Judaism, paganism and Mohammedanism
Year: 1854 (1850s)
Authors: Belcher, Joseph, 1794-1859
Subjects: Sects Sects Religions
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. E. Potter
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ton and for a long series met there annually. In 1833 this
body was changed into the present United States Convention. It
only possesses advisory powers, and its fellowship is constituted by a
delegation of four ministers and six lay-men from each State Conven-
tion. This important body has done very much to extend the system
it professes, especially in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. In the Southern States it has
made but slow progress.
It is said that the first preachers of Universalism in this country
were almost all converts from other religious denominations ; and that,
as might be expected under such circumstances, a considerable diver-
sity of opinions, considered apart from the doctrine of universal salva-
tion, were introduced among them. The system, however, allows of
full and free toleration. Only let a man take what they consider cor
-rect views of their distinguishing doctrine, and he may hold the faith
in connexion with whatever other doctrines he may see fit. In refer-
Text Appearing After Image:


REV. HOSEA BALLOU.

935


THE UNIVERSALISTS. 937

ence even to their main doctrine, differences of opinion have sprang up,
at more than one period, among themselves, and divisions, to a greater
or less extent, have been the result. In Massachusetts and elsewhere,
it is believed, societies now exist who, on account of peculiarities of
doctrine, have no connexion with the general body ; but the large
number of those who only partially agree with their theological views
are found in peaceful association with the Unitarian or other similar
denominations.
Those who are desirous of farther information as to the faith of
the Universalist body may be told, that they hold little in common with
the churches usually called orthodox. In regard to the being of God
they are Unitarians, discarding the doctrine of the Trinity, denying the
Godhead of Jesus Christ, and the personality of the Holy Spirit. They
reject also the doctrines of the total depravity of man, and the vica-
rious nature of the atonement.

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