Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/804

* CHRISTIANITY. 706 CHRISTIANS. BlBUOGR.PliY. Chatcaviliriaiul. Lc gcnic thi chrisliaiiisnie (5 vols., Paris, 1802) ; Konigsdor- fer. Kdtholische Chrislciilehre (5th ed., Doiiau- wiirth, 1S3S) ; Feuerbach, Das llVseii des Cltris- Icntums (Leipzig, 1S41 1 : I'llniaiin, Das ^'cscn dcs Christciitiinis (Hamburg. 184.')) ; Palcy, Eli- doiccs of Christianity (ed. by Birks, Xew York, 1848) : Sehlcierniaehcr, Dir christliche (Ihmhe nach den Gruiidsiilxn der evangclischen Kirche ill! Zusammciihange daryeslellt (new ed., Halle, 18!l7) ; Renan, Histoirc des origlnes du christian- isme (Paris, 1802-83) ; Fisher, SuiJcrnatural Ori- gin of Christianity (Xcw York, 187.>) ; Bonder, Das ^'esen der lictigion (4th ed., Bonn, 1888) ; Dreycr, I'ndogiiialischcs Christentum (4th ed., Brunswick, 1890) ; Lipsius, Die Hauptpiinkte der chrisllichcn Gluubcnslehrc (Brunswick, 1801); Drummond, The Programme of Chris- tianity (London, 1892) ; Harnack, What is Christianity.' (Eng. trans., London, 1901). CHRISTIAN KNOWLEBGE, Societt for PlioMoriNG. (liic of the great religious associa- tions connected with the Church of England, and the oldest of them all. It was foimded in Ui98, although it did not receive its present name till 1701 and had for its object: "(1) To pro- mote and encourage the erecting of charity schools in all i)arts of England and Wales; (2) to disperse, both at home and abroad. Bibles and tracts of religion: and, in general, to advance the honor of God, and the good of mankind, by pro- niiiling Cliristian knowledge, botli at home and in other parts of the world, by the best methods that should otfer." These objects it has never ceased to pursue, chiefly directing its efforts to the British dominions; partaking at once of the nature of an educational association, a mission- ary society, a Bible society, and a religious tract society; and notwithstanding the operations of other "great societies in these several de[)artmcnts of Christian benevolence, its revenue anumnts to about £100.000 a year.' The Protestant mission- aries who labored in the south of India in the last eentviry were supported chiefly by this soci- ety, which has also contributed largely of its funds for the establishment of Christian schools in that <'ountry. CHRISTIANS, Christian- Coxxectiox, and CiiRisTi.^x C'hlrch, Soutu. The religious so- cieties known as Christians originated near the close of the Eighteenth Century in three uncon- nected movements : ( 1 ) James O'Kelly and others, in Virginia, withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Cluirch in 1793. and in 1704 adopted the name of 'Christians,' and substantially the principles now held by the Christian coimection: (2| Abner Jones, a Baptist, led a movcmcni in 1800, under which a church was formed in Lyn- don, Vt., and other churches followed. The third movement was begun by Barton V. Stone and other ministers, Presbyterians, in Kentucky and Ohio. A religious magazine was started in 180.5. and the Ilrraid of (lospel Liberty, siill the chief organ of the Christian Connection, beg-an publica- tion in 1808. General meetings have been held since 1810. The Southern Christian Association was formed in 1847, and gave place in 185G to the Southern Christian Convention. The American Christian Convention (Xortbern) w'as formed in 18.50 and incorporated in 1872. The Christians hold to the cardinal i)rinci|iles of the Christian faith as generally accepted by the churches, with the Scrijitures of the Old and New Testaments as the only and suflicient rule of faith, and the interpretation of the same in the exactness of verbal accuracy; insist that the name 'Christian" is the only appellation needed, while partisan or sectarian names are excluded; maintain that Christian cliaracter or vital piety is a just, and should be the only, test of fellow- ship or cluirch nieml)ersliip ; upluild the riglit of private judgment and liberty of conscience; and teach baptism of believers by immersion, but admit all believers to the communion table. Their seventy-two conferences have power to re- ceive and ordain ])astors, but not to pass regula- tions binding on the churches. I. Christian Connectio.v. The American Christian Convention, as this body is oflicially designated, is composed of the conferences of the northern United States and Canada, with .some of the Southern conferences represented in it as coijperative, not subordinate bodies. The func- tion of this convention is to work with the con- ferences for the common good, and furnish direc- tion and leadership. It meets every four year.s, and is therefore currently called 'the quadren- nial.' The Mission Board and Church Extension department is an incorporated department of it, through which home missions ( from 20 to 25 missionaries), a foreign mission in Japan, and a new mission in Turkey are sustained; and is assisted by the Women's Home and Foreign ilis- sion Boards. The educational institutions com- prise a Biblical Institute at Stanfordville, N. Y'., six colleges, a seminary and a correspondence school, and a publishing house at Dayton, Ohio. It has (1900) 984 ministers, 1200 churches, and 84,830 members. Its organs are: The Herald of Gospel Liberty, Christian Missionary (both Day- ton, Ohio) ; The Christian Mes.ienger (New Bed- ford, Mass.); The Christian Vanguard (Cana- da) ; and conference and local papers. Consult: N. Summerbell, Christian Principles: or, Why I Prefer the Christian Chnreli (Dayton, Ohio, loth ed. 1901) ; J. J. Summerbell, Life and Writings of y, Snmmrrbcll (Dayl(m, Ohio, 1901). II. The Christian Ciukcii, South. The Christian churches in the South withdrew from the American Cliristian Convention in 1854, and formed a separate convention in 185(5. They were much disturbed during the Civil War, and were reorganized in 1SG. The principles of this branch are nearly identical with those of the American Christian Convention. It has six conferences, with 15,328 members; and colored conferences, doing their own work, are mentioned. The Convention has an active home mission asso- ciation, and coiiperates with the American Chris- tian Convention in missions in .Japan and Syria. An orphanage is to be established. The institu- tion of learning is Elon College, N. C, where the book depository is also located. Periodical, The Christian Sun, Elon College, N. C. CHRISTIANS, or Disciples of Saint John, ur ili.ND.KANS ( Mand(rans) (Lat. Johunnitm, from Johannes, John; the name applied to them by the Carmelites in the Seveiitcentli Century). A sect in Persia, in the country around Basra. They seemingly deify .lohii the Baptist and con- sider Jesus an imiiostor. They saj' that they dwelt on the Jordan in the time of Jesus, but were driven from Palestine by the Mohamme- dans. Their name "Christians' is wholly a mis- nomer. They consider the Jehovah of the Jews a