In Scotland Independency may be traced back to the days of the commonwealth, during which it was imported by the chaplains and soldiers of Cromwell. But the present Independent churches in Scotland owe their origin mainly to a missionary move ment in the end of the last century chief among the leaders of which were the brothers Robert and James Haldane, Graville Ewing, John Campbell, and John Aikman. The lialdanes became Baptists in course of time—a circumstance which greatly divided and weakened the new community. The formation of an academy for the training of min isters in 1811, and of the Congregational union about the same time, did much to restore the lost vigor of the body. There are about 100 churches at present in this "union." It should be added that the Baptist churches, both in England and Scotland, are as strictly "Independent" as those which bear that name.
In America the first Independent church was founded by John Robinson at Ply mouth, New England, in 1620. In 1637 the spread of Antinondan doctrine caused much discussion in the church. By a synod convened in New England Ant inomianism was unanimously condemned. • In 1638 Harvard college was founded. In 1658 the Savoy confession was adopted. It still remains in force. About 1750 Unitarian prin
ciples spread widely in the Congregational churches of America. In 1785 a separation took place between the Unitarians and the Trinitarians, but both still retain the Congre gational form of church government. Harvard college is Unitarian. "Congregational ism," according to Dr. Schaff, "is the ruling sect of the six north-eastern states, and has exerted, and still exerts. a beneficial influence upon the religious, social, and politi cal life of the whole nation." At present the number of Congregational churches in the United States is upwards of 2,500, with more than 320,000 church-members, and nearly 400,000 children in Sabbath-schools. Exclusive of Harvard and other colleges, in the administration of which they have a share, the American Independents possess theo logical seminaries at Andover, Bangor, New Haven, Oberlin, Hartford, Oakland (Cali fornia), and Chicago. The reader may consult the following works with advantage: Dr. Vaughan's History of English Nonconformity; J. Fletcher's History of Independency; Waddingtou's Early History; Banbury's Nemo/la/3; Neal's History of the Puritans; Dr. Stoughton:s Ecclesiastical History of England; and Mosheim's General Church History.