The doctrine of Universalism was preached in America as early as 1636 by Samuel Gorton, the New England Mystic, and put forth in the speeches and writings of Sir Henry Vane, the younger, Governor of Massachusetts; by Dr. George de Benneville about a century later; by eminent Episcopalians; by prominent Congrega tionalists, such as Chauncey and Mayhew of Bos ton, and Huntington of Conneetieut; and by many German Baptists. John Murray (q.v.), 'the father of Universalism in America.' came to New Jersey in September, 1770. On January 1, 1779, 15 persons who had been suspended from the First Parish Church in Gloucester, Mass., for becoming regular attendants on the preaching of Murray, united under "Articles of Association as the Independent Christian Church in Glou cester" for the defense and promulgation of their Universalist faith. Murray was not long with out ministerial helpers. Elhanan Winehester, who had been an eminent Baptist preacher in Philadelphia, with more than 100 of his church in that city, was excommunicated for having be come believers in Universalism; Adams Streeter and Caleb Rich, in New England, became preach ers of the common salvation before they saw or knew Murray. Later, Hosea Ballou, repudiating all the old notions connected with trinitarian dogmas, became the first openly avowed American advocate of Unitarian views of Christ; put the emphasis of Christian theology on God's Father hood of the human race; and interpreted the teachings, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus as designed, not to effect any change whatever in God, but to change man and bring him into harmony with his Heavenly Father. These views prevail in the Universalist Church to-day.
In 1803, at the annual session of the General Convention, in view of 'diversity of opinion' as to how universal salvation was to he the result of God's government, three 'Articles of Belief' were agreed upon as stating the basis of fellow ship. At the session in 1899 the following action was taken in regard to profession of belief and the conditions of fellowship: "I. The Profession of Belief adopted at the session at Winchester. N. 11., A.D. 1803, is as follows: Article 1—We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments con tain a revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest, and final destination of man kind. Article 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 family of mankind to holiness and happiness. Article 3—We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order and practice good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men.
"II. The conditions of fellowship shall be as follows: (1) The acceptance of the essential principles of the Universalist faith, to wit: (a) The universal fatherhood of God; (b) the Spiritual authority and leadership of His Son, Jesus Christ; (c) the trustworthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; (d) the certainty of just retribution for sin; (e) the final harmony of all souls with God. The Winchester Profession is commended as contain ing these principles, but neither this nor any other precise form of words is required as a con dition of fellowship, provided always that the principles above stated be professed. (2) The
acknowledgment of the authority of the General Convention and assent to its laws." During the first hundred years of its existence, the denominational polity was congregational or independent, the several conventions possessing only advisory powers. Since 1870 the General Convention has had authority to make laws on the subject of fellowship, ordination, and disci pline. to which all subordinate conventions, churches, and preachers must conform. Since 1890 a mission has been sustained in Japan with good success in conversions, the establishing of theological and literary schools and planting churches, and the distribution of literature. Four colleges and five academies erected and managed under the auspices of the denomination had in 1902 249 professors and teachers, 1896 students. The following theological schools are maintained: (1) The Canton Theological School, opened at Canton, Saint Lawrence County, N.. Y., in 1858.
Although affiliated with Saint Lawrence Uni versity. the theological school is a separate in stitution in its management and property. (2) Tufts Divinity School, a department of Tufts College, located at Medford, near Boston, opened in 1809. (3) At the beginning of the college year in 1881• a theological department was opened in Lombard College, Galesburg, Ill.
In honor of the late Rev. William Henry Ryder, who had endowed the school, its name was changed to the Ryder Divinity School in 1890.
The Church statistics for 1903 show 871 church organizations with 53,508 communicants, 773 Sunday schools with 57,529 members, and church property valued at $10,158,453. The number of preachers is 750. The Young People's Christian Union has about 10,000 members.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. The denominational literature Bibliography. The denominational literature is very extensive. The following works may he mentioned: Winchester, The Unirersal Res toration, Exhibited in Four Dialogues be tween. a Minister and His Friend (Phil adelphia, 1792) ; Murray, Universalist?! Vin dicated (Charlestown. 1797) : Foster, A Crit ical and Candid Examination of a Late Pub lication Entitled the Doctrine of Endless Misery Reconcilable with the Infinite Benevolence of God (Walpole, N. H., 1803) ; Tlosea Ballow, A Treatise on Atonement (Randolph, Vt., 1805) ; Hosea Ballow, 2d, The Ancient History of Uni versalism (Boston, 1829) ; Whitemore, The Mod ern History of Universalism (ib., 1830) ; Smith, Historical Sketches and Incidents Illustrative of the Establishment and Progress of Universalism, in the State of New York (Albany, 1843 44) ; Cobb, A Compend of Christian Divin ity (Boston, 1846) ; Thayer, Theology of Uni-, versalism (ib., 1862) ; Thomas. A Century of Unirersalism in Philadelphia and New York (Philadelphia, 1S72) Eddy, Universalism in America, 1836-1886 (Boston, 1884-86), with full bibliography; id., Universalism from Apostol ic Times to 1S93, vol. x. of the "American Church History Series" York, 1894). There are also a number of published discussions and debates between advocates and opponents of Uni versalism, as those by Ely and Thomas (New York, 1835) ; by Campbell and Skinner (Utica, N. Y., 1840) ; by Holmes and Austin (Auburn, N. Y., 1848) ; by Sawyer and Westcott (New York, l854). The chief periodical of the Church is the Universalist Leader, issued weekly by the Universalist Publishing House, Boston.