CHRISTIAN CONNECTION (ante), an organization of American Christians drawn mostly from the Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in various parts of the United States. The earliest organizations were "Republican Methodists," seceders from the Methodist church in 1793, who took the name of " Christians." In 1800, there was a secession from the Baptist churches in Vermont, which soon grew to considerable importance. Nearly at the same period there was a secession from the Presbyterian church in Tennessee and Kentucky, and a separate synod was formed. These three organizations finally merged in one body, and adopted the common name of "Chris tians." Each congregation is independent, and they take the Bible as their standard of doctrine. They bold that the Scriptures are inspired, and are of divine authority; that every man has the right to interpret the Bible for himself, and that therefore differences of theological views are no bar to church fellowship; that there is one God, but the doctrine of the Trinity is not generally received; that Christ is a divine being, that he pre-existed, and is the mediator between God and man; that the sufferings of Christ atone for the sins of all men, who, by repentance and faith, may be saved; that immer sion is the only proper form of baptism, and believers the only proper subjects for that ordinance; that communion at the Lord's table is open to believers of all denomina tions. In government and usage they are congregational, each church being indepen
dent, although there are annual or state conferences which receive and ordain pastors, but can pass no laws that will be actually binding on the several churches. They have 011. American Christian convention, which has a regular constitution, officers, and departments. Among their institutions of learning are Hesperia and Pierce Christian colleges in California; Eureka college in Illinois; Bedford college, Butler university, 4ind Union Christian college in Indiana; Oskaloosa college in Iowa; Eminence college and Kentucky university in Kentucky; Christian university in Missouri; Christian col lege in Oregon; and Bethany college in West Virginia, besides a number of theological seminaries and academies. Antioch college in Ohio, though not officially known as belonging to this connection, has had much favor in the denomination.