the general conference to solicit a union. They hold what is commonly understood by Armenian doctrines, denying the doctrine of personal election and the inadmissibleness of grace. They have a book concern and printing establishment at Dover, N. H. Its trustees are appointed by the general conference.

If we reckon in the statistics of the denomination those who have been disowned on account of their connection with slavery, we shall find that they had, according to the Baptist Register of 1846, 115 quarterly meetings, comprised in 25 yearly meetings, 1249 churches, 1076 ministers, and 55,323 communicants. They have now 133 associations, 1720 churches, 965 ordained ministers, 158 licentiates, and 56,026 communicants.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

THE Church established by Christ and his Apostles was a unit, and was designed to remain so through all time. It had the one sure "foundation," and the one Divine rule for building thereon. The gospel was preached to the people; they heard it, believed it, and obeyed it. These obedient ones were instructed to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," to "continue steadfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and of prayers.”

Now, it is evident that there have been many innovations upon and departures from the teaching and practice of the primitive Church as laid down in the New Testament Scriptures. Divisions, strifes, and speculations exist; and while these exist, the world cannot be con

verted to Christianity. The aim of the Disciples of Christ is to restore the faith and practice of the Apostolic Church, to unite all of God's people on the " foundation," and to have the gospel preached among all nations.

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As individuals, this people wear the name of "Disciples of Christ," or "Christians." In their organized capacity they are known as "The Church of Christ," "Church of God," or simply "The Christian Church,” believing that these names are authorized by the Word of God, and were, by the Holy Spirit, applied to the Church in the days of the Apostles.

Scarcely fifty years have transpired since the reformatory movement began, yet it has attained large proportions already, and is rapidly extending its influence. Churches of this faith are found in all parts of the United States, in the Dominion of Canada, in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and Jamaica. They number fully 600,000 communicants. They have 3000 preachers in the field, many of whom are distinguished for their talent and scholarship. They publish 30 periodicals: 9 of these are weeklies, 1 quarterly, and the rest monthlies. 1 is published in Canada, 2 in England, 1 in Australia, and the rest in the United States.

The Disciples are distinguished for their interest in education. Their oldest literary institution is Bethany College, founded by Alexander Campbell, who for many years presided over it. Kentucky University, at Lexington, Kentucky, has 800 students in attendance. The university at Indianapolis, Indiana, is in a flourishing condition. Besides these, they have 12 or 15 colleges and a large number of academies and seminaries under their control. They have taken steps to found a college in Australia to meet the wants of the Church in that locality.

They are a missionary people. They have a general missionary society, directed by a "Board of Managers," through which the offerings of the brotherhood are applied for the extension and upbuilding of the Church. They have also State and local organizations of a missionary character, which co-operate with the General Society.

The following statement, taken from the writings of Mr. Campbell and others, is a very explicit declaration of the object and principles of the Disciples of Christ:

"The constitutional principle of this Christian association and its object are clearly expressed in the following resolution: 'That this society, formed for the sole purpose of promoting simple evangelical Christianity, shall, to the utmost of its power, countenance and support such ministers, and such only, as exhibit a manifest conformity to the original standard, in conversation and doctrine, in zeal and diligence; only such as reduce to practice the simple original form of Christianity, expressly exhibited upon the sacred page, without attempting to inculcate anything of human authority, of private opinion, or inventions of men, as having any place in the constitution, faith, or worship of the Christian church."

"But to contradistinguish this effort from some others almost contemporaneous with it, we would emphatically remark, that, whilst the remonstrants warred against human creeds, evidently because those creeds warred against their own private opinions and favorite dogmas, which they wished to substitute for those creeds, — this enterprise, so far as it was hostile to those creeds, warred against them, not because of their hostility to any private or favorite opinions which were desired to be substituted for them; but because those human institutions supplanted the Bible, made the Word of God of non-effect, were fatal