CHURCH, EVANGELICAL. See Prussia.
CHURCH FATHERS. See Fathers.
CHURCH, FRENCH REFORMED. See Fbanob, Reformed Church op.
CHURCH, 6ALLICAN. See Gallioah Church.
CHURCH, GERMAN REFORMED. See Gbr- MAN Reformed Church. ,
CHURCH, GREEK. See Greek Church; Rus-
8IA.
CHURCH HISTORT. See Ecclbsiaoticajl His-
TORT.
CHURCH, LUTHERAN. See Lutheraw Church. CHURCH, METHODIST (EPISCOPAL AM) oth- «'r). See Methodists.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETT. See M» sioKART Societies.
CHURCH, MORAVIAN. See Mobatiaxs.
CHURCH MUSIC. See Music; PaAucoDT.
CHURCH, NEW JERUSALEM. See Swedbs* BOROLAKS; New Jerusalem.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND. See Esglisi^ Church of.
CHURCH OF GOD, a denomination of Baptists m the United States, organized iiftl880 by John Wioe- brenner, formerly a minister of we German BefonDd Church at Harrisburg, Pa.
1. JETiftory. — During the period of WinebienBer's pastorate, revivals of religion were frequent witkk the bounds of his charge, and extended from H gn^ ually to other churches and congregations, althos^ some ministers of the German Reformed Chnrcfa c^ posed the movement. As, in the mean time, Mr.HVln*- brenner*s sentiments in regard to theology and chcrck government underwent a change, and other {veachos were raised up fh>m among the converts whose vievi agreed with his, a call was made in 1880 for a Convcs- tion to <»ganize an association. Mr. Winebrenner w chosen moderator of the Convention, and it was n- solved to form a separate denomination, under tbi luane'' Church of God,'* The Church took root dnd^ ly in Pennsylvania and the Western States, haviag (in 1867) no eldership in the New En^and States and in New York, and but one eldership in the Sootben— Texas. The latter, at the beginning of the war, sep- arated from the General Eldership because of the aati- slavery doctrines professed by it At an annual meet- ing held in 1866, the Texas eldership expressed a de- sire to reunite with the General Eldenhip, but no def- inite resolutions were passed.
The eighth triennial General Eldership of the Cfamdi was held at Decatur, Illinois, on May 81, 1866, and tbt following days. The following Annual Elderships wen represented : East Pennsylvania, West Pennsylvaaia, East Ohio, West Ohio, Indiana, Southern Indiana aad Illinois, Iowa, German, Michigan. A. F. 8ho*m#^»' was elected speaker. Centralia College, in Kansas, was recognised as an institution of the Church, and it was resolved to establish another college in Ohio, West Pennsylvania, Indiana, or Illinois. The snbscriptioo list of the weekly denominational organ, the Chunk Adpoeate^ was reported to be 2700, and resolutions wen passed in fkvor 'of the establishment of a Sundar- school paper by the Board of Publication, and of* German paper by Rev. J. F. Weishampel. A seriei of resolutions was also adopted on the duty of loyalty, against slavery, and in fiivor of equal rights of all men, irrespective of color.
II. Z>oc^rMef.— (Gorrie, cited below.) The folknr- ing is a fall statement of the views of the denomiBs- tion :
L She beUeres the Bible, or the canonical boofa of the OU and Neir Testament, to be the Word of God, a rereUtioo froD God to man, and the only aathoritative role of faith and pnc- tice.
2. She beUerea in one Sapreme God, oooelating of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that theee three an oo-eqoal and co-eternal.
8. She believes in the Call and depravity of man; that b to ■ay, that man by nature is destitote of the £ivar and iiMft of God.
4. She beltevea in the redemption of man Uirongh the atooc^ ment, or vicarious sacrifice of Jonu Christ.
6. She believes In the gifts and office-work of tiie Holy Spirit ; that is. In the Mill^tenlng, regenerating, and saacti- fying influence and power of the Spirit
6. She believes in the free moral agency of man : that be has moral ability, becaose ooromanded to repent and bcHem in order to be saved ; and that the doctrine of onoooditkesl election and reprobation has no fimndation In the orades of God.
7. She believes that man is justified by faith In Christ aod not try the works of law, or by iroiks of his own rigfateoiuiMML
8. She brieves In the necessity of r^eneration, or the m* birth ; or in the change of man's moral natnr«, ajR^r tlK iia- aire of God, by the Influenoe and powo: of the word and dpbit of God, throngfa iaith in Christ Jesus.
9. She believes in three positive ordinances of pevpstosl
CHURCH OF GOD
839 CHURCH, STATES OF THE
itendfag In the Church, tIs. Baptiam, Feet-wuhfaig, and the Lord's Sapper. —————
la She helievee two things essential to the validity of hap. tom, viz. faith and immerBfon— tliat faith shonld always pre- cede immersion ; and that where either is wanting there can be DO scrtpioral baptism.
11. She helieTes that the ordinance of fieet-washing, that i^ the literal washing of the saints* feet, according to the words and example of Christ, is obligatory upon all Christians, and ooght to be obeerred hy all the churches of God.
12. She heUeves that the Lord*s Snpper should he often ad- ministered, and, to be consistent, to Christians only, in a sit- ttog poatore, and always in the evening.
13. She believes in the institntion of the Lord*s day, or Christian Sabbath, as a day of rest and religious w<nBhlp.
14. She believes that the reading and preaching of God*s word, the sin^ng of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and the offioing up ofprayers, are ordained of Ood, and ought to be regularly and devoutly observed by all the people and chorches of God.