Chap. 9. 



RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. 



193 



U51TERSAI.IST CHURCHES. 



ARTICLES OF FAITH. 



Bennington. The Green Mountain As- 

 sociation includes the counties of Wind- 

 sor and Rutland. 



We, at this time, have about 92 socie- 

 ties, in this state, 62 ineeting--honses, 

 owned wholly or in part by Universalists, 

 and not far from 40 preachers. 



The Universalists in this state have a 

 periodical, which is owned and published 

 by the Rev. Eli Ballon, at Montpelier. 

 It is published weekly on a super-royal 

 sheet, folio. This paper is the continua- 

 tion of a pamphlet periodical commenced 

 in the year 1S20, which has been publish- 

 ed in duodecimo, quarto, or folio form 

 from that time to the present. 



The early believers in the final salva- 

 tion of all men, were not very tenacious, 

 respecting outward forms, such as form- 

 ing churches, societies, practicing bap- 

 tism, and the Lords supper. From the 

 joy of their own hearts in believing, 

 they were much disposed to conclude, 

 that whoever possessed the same faith of 

 universal love, would not only come to 

 the same religious enjoyment, but that 

 these sentiments would lead to all those 

 happy practical results, that should super- 

 cede the necessity of outward forms. But 

 experience shows that a thing without 

 a form is an anomaly : and that no body 

 of men can form a concert of action that 

 shall be of a durable nature, without a 

 regular organization. The want of a suit- 

 able attention to these things in the first 

 promulgators of our faith is by many now 

 sensibly felt. It extends its influence to 

 the present day, and may for a period yet 

 to come. 



By these remarks, we wish the reader, 

 however, not to understand that the form- 

 ing of churches and societies have ever 

 been altogether neglected among us. Our 

 accounts of churches in this state, extend 

 as far back as the year 1800 ; and from 

 that period to the present time, we have 

 Jilways had a few. In towns where there 

 is a number of believers, they have gen- 

 erally organized themselves as a society 

 for the purpose of united action in the 

 support of preaching. And these obtain, 

 at this day, in many places where we 

 have no organized churches. We have 

 Sabbath schools and Bible classes, in pla- 

 ces where a stated ministry is enjoyed. 



Yielding to each individual the rights of 

 conscience with regard to religious tenets, 

 the Universalists have not been disposed, 

 to much extent, to countenance written or 

 printed creeds. We have never deemed 

 it proper for one man to decide what shall 

 be the faith of another. But, as in con- 

 formity to the old maxim, that tico cannot 

 icalk together except they he agreed, there 

 Ft. II. 23 



are certain leading points, in which we 

 are very generally united. The belief of 

 universal salvation is the great and lead- 

 ing item of faith that distinguishes us 

 from other denominations in the Chris- 

 tian world. This, we believe to be clear- 

 ly supported by the sacred pages. The 

 doctrine of punishment or suffering be- 

 yond the grave, is not so generally em- 

 braced as formerly ; yet there are instan- 

 ces of this peculiarity of faith among us. 



No Universalists are known who em- 

 brace the doctrine of a trinity of persons 

 in the Supreme Being. We are altogeth- 

 er unable from scripture or reason, to di- 

 vide the godhead into personal distinc- 

 tions. In a similar light, we view the 

 common doctrine of original sin, total de- 

 pravity, imputed or substituted righteous- 

 ness, particular election and reprobation. 

 A portion of these, with infant damnation, 

 seemed based on the old long ago forbid- 

 den proverbs that '■'■the fathers kate eaten 

 sour grapes, and the children's teeth are 

 set on edge." 



Baptism is administered on profession 

 of faith, when required. The celebration 

 of the Lord's Supper, often called the 

 Eucharist, is universal among cur church- 

 es. Instances of publicly dedicating in- 

 fant children, in imitation of our Lord's 

 taking them in his arms and blessing 

 them, have been known ; but they are not 

 numerous. The practice is much more 

 frequent amon^ our brethren in Massa- 

 chusetts. 



Respecting articles of faith, the general 

 convention at Winchester, N. H., in the 

 yearl503,adopted the three folio wiag,from 

 which none of our churches or societies 

 have been known to dissent, and which 

 may be considered as the standard arti- 

 cles of the order : 



Article 1. We believe that the Holy 

 Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments 

 contain a revelation of the character of 

 God ; and of the duty, interest, and final 

 destination of all majikmd. 



Article 2. We believe that there is 

 one God, whose nature is love; revealed 

 in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy 

 Spirit of grace, who will finally restore 

 the whole human family to holiness and 

 happiness. 



Article 3. We believe that holiness 

 and true happiness are inseparably con- 

 nected : and that believers ought to be 

 careful to maintain order, and to practice 

 good works ; for these things are good 

 and profitable unto men. 



Frieyids or Quakers. — There are =ome of this de- 

 cociination in Danl.v, Ferrisburgh, Lincoln, acd 

 sRTerEl other towns, 'but we hare net succeeded iu 

 pri'CuriD§ anr particular account of their history. 



