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 party continuing attached to him, till they became insulated from all other Christian societies, and are now a kind of nondescript Baptists.

The great majority, however, retained their original sentiments, and have lately formed themselves into a Congregational Union of Independent Churches. Their tenets are Calvinistic, but they have no formal confession of faith. Their infants are baptized, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper is administered the first day of every week. In religious matters they own no authority but that of the Word of God, but in civil affairs they believe it to be the duty of Christians to submit to the powers that be. The total number of churches in the connection is eighty-two.

George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends, was born at Drayton, Leicestershire, in 1624. He appears to have been of a thoughtful and serious turn from his youth, and at the age of nineteen, having persuaded himself that he had received a divine command to devote himself solely to religion, he forsook his relations, and wandered about from place to place, leading a life of itinerancy, in which he fasted much, and walked abroad in retired places, studying the Bible. In 1648, he began to propagate his opinions, and commenced public preacher. At Derby his followers were first called Quakers, from their tremulous manner of delivery. He was repeatedly imprisoned by the country magistrates for his frequent interruption of ministers while performing divine service. In 1666, he was liberated from prison by order of Charles II., and immediately commenced to form his followers into a distinct and united society. His efforts were attended with great success; and in the course of a few years, meetings of Friends were established in almost every part of England, and in many places in Scotland and Ireland.

The Society of Friends advocate the principle, that human learning, though highly valuable in itself, is altogether insufficient to make a minister of the gospel; and that the gift of publicly preaching or praying ought never to be exercised except under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit. Hence, when they assemble for worship, if they believe this gift is not called forth into exercise by the great Head of the Church, they continue during the whole time of their meeting in silence. The work of the ministry devolves on the women as well as on the men, the Society considering it the sole prerogative of Christ to call into his service whomsoever he sees meet for it.