Unitarianism in America | Page 2

its teachings. The
Unitarian body is a small one, but it has a history of great significance
with reference to the future development of Christianity.
The names of those who accept Unitarianism have not been given in
this book in any boastful spirit. A faith that is often spoken against may
justify itself by what it has accomplished, and its best fruits are the men
and women who have lived in the spirit of its teachings. In presenting

the names of those who are not in any way identified with Unitarian
churches, the purpose has been to suggest the wide and inclusive
character of the Unitarian movement, and to indicate that it is not
represented merely by a body of churches, but that it is an individual
way of looking at the facts of life and its problems.
In writing the following pages, I have had constantly in mind those
who have not been educated as Unitarians, and who have come into this
inheritance through struggle and search. Not having been to the manner
born myself, I have sought to provide such persons with the kind of
information that would have been helpful to me in my endeavors to
know the Unitarian life and temper. Something of what appears in these
pages is due to this desire to help those who wish to know concretely
what Unitarianism is, and what it has said and done to justify its
existence. This will account for the manner of treatment and for some
of the topics selected.
When this work was begun, the design was that it should form a part of
the exhibit of Unitarianism in this country presented at the seventy-fifth
anniversary of the formation of the American Unitarian Association.
The time required for a careful verification of facts made it impossible
to have the book ready at that date. The delay in its publication has not
freed the work from all errors and defects, but it has given the
opportunity for a more adequate treatment of many phases of the
subject. Much of the work required in its preparation does not show
itself in the following pages; but it has involved an extended
examination of manuscript journals and records, as well as printed
reports of societies, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and books.
Many of the subjects dealt with, not having been touched upon in any
previous historical work, have demanded a first-hand study of records,
often difficult to find access to, and even more difficult to summarize
in an interesting and adequate manner.
I wish here to warmly thank all those persons, many in number and too
numerous to give all their names, who have generously aided me with
their letters and manuscripts, and by the loan of books, magazines,
pamphlets, and newspapers. Without their aid the book would have
been much less adequate in its treatment of many subjects than it is at
present. Though I am responsible for the book as it presents itself to the
reader, much of its value is due to those who have thus labored with me

in its preparation. In manuscript and in proof-sheet it has been read by
several persons, who have kindly aided in securing accuracy to names,
dates, and historic facts.
G.W.C.
BOSTON, October 1, 1902.

CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION.--ENGLISH SOURCES OF AMERICAN
UNITARIANISM Renaissance Reformation Toleration Arminianism
English Rationalists
II. THE LIBERAL SIDE OF PURITANISM The Church of Authority
and the Church of Freedom Seventeenth-century Liberals Growth of
Liberty in Church Methods A Puritan Rationalist Harvard College
III. THE GROWTH OF DEMOCRACY IN THE CHURCHES
Arminianism The Growth of Arminianism Robert Breck Books Read
by Liberal Men The Great Awakening Cardinal Beliefs of the Liberals
Publications defining the Liberal Beliefs Phases of Religious Progress
IV. THE SILENT ADVANCE OF LIBERALISM Subordinate Nature
of Christ Some of the Liberal Leaders The First Unitarian A
Pronounced Universalist Other Men of Mark The Second Period of
Revivals King's Chapel becomes Unitarian Other Unitarian Movements
Growth of Toleration
V. THE PERIOD OF CONTROVERSY The Monthly Anthology
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Piety, and Charity
General Repository The Christian Disciple Dr. Morse and American
Unitarianism Evangelical Missionary Society The Berry Street
Conference The Publishing Fund Society Harvard Divinity School The
Unitarian Miscellany The Christian Register Results of the Division in
Congregationalism Final Separation of State and Church
VI. THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION Initial Meetings
Work of the First Year Work of the First Quarter of a Century
Publication of Tracts and Books Domestic Missions
VII. THE PERIOD OF RADICALISM Depression in Denominational
Activities Publications A Firm of Publishers The Brooks Fund
Missionary Efforts The Western Unitarian Conference The Autumnal
Conventions Influence of the Civil War The Sanitary Commission
Results of Fifteen years

VIII. THE DENOMINATIONAL AWAKENING The New York
Convention of 1865 New Life in the Unitarian Association