158 THEOLOGY. 



The first professedly Universalist Church in the United States, was 

 organized at Gloucester, Mass., under Mr. Murray, in 1779. 



The Moravians, or United Brethren, are a branch of the persecuted 

 Waldenses ; but their present organization was effected by Count 

 Zinzendorf in 1727, when they had settled the village of Hernhut on 

 his estate in the east of Saxony. Hence they are sometimes called 

 Hernhuters. They are a small but devoted and evangelical denomi- 

 nation. The Swedenborgians, or New Jerusalem Church, are 

 followers of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish baron, who died in 

 1772. He professed to have received a new revelation, of the true 

 meaning of the Scriptures, which he interpreted in a mystical sense ; 

 and he held to a spiritual communion with angels and departed 

 friends, as a source of consolation and improvement. The Quakers, 

 or Friends, are the associates and followers of George Fox, who first 

 began to preach their doctrines, about 1648. They believe in the 

 Trinity, but reject the Sacraments, and allow any of their members 

 to preach, who think themselves moved by the Holy Spirit. The 

 Hicksites, who have seceded from the Orthodox Quakers, incline to 

 the doctrines of the Socinians. The first society of Quakers in the 

 United States was founded by William Penn. The sect called 

 Christians, or the Christian Connexion, originated about the year 

 1800, among seceders from various other denominations ; their lead- 

 ing tenet being entire freedom of opinion in all religious matters. 

 They have no established creed : but profess to make the Bible their 

 sole guide ; leaving every individual to interpret it according to his 

 own judgment. 



