CONGREQATIONALISTS 411
CONGREGATIONALISTS
Axnong its important acts were a Declaration of Faith And s reTised Platform of Church Polity. Partial synods of importance have been held— of Massacha- aetts in 1662, which recommended the disastrons, and now long since abandoned '* Half-way Covenant,** by -vrliich baptised persons might '*own the covenant" o£ the Church, Init without coming into ftill commu- nion ;— of Massachusetts in 1679-80, called the *' Re- forming Synod :" that synod readopted, with some al- terations, the Confession agreed upon by the Congro- gmtioiial Synod which met at the Savoy, in London, in 1658, which was itself that of the Westminster Con- fession, with slight alterations, the variations of the three documents being careftilly shown in the Oonffre- ffoHonal Quarier^, Boston, 1866;— and the Synod of Connecticut, which met at Saybrook in 1708, and firamed the "Saybrook Platform*' of DisdpUne, which established the ** consociation'* system in that state. All of these synods disclaimed authority over the churches to impose either a platform of polity or a creed ; they declared only what were the sentiments and nsagee of the churches in their understanding of the Scriptures.
Oiier OrgaxkalioM, — ^In each state and territory irhere Congregationalists exist in sufficient numbers, there have been formed General Associations or Confb^ Slices, which are without any ecclesiastical authority, and not allowed to hear causes or give advice in any ecclesiastical affairs. All are now composed of both ministers and lay delegates, except the General Asso- ciations of Massachusetts and Connecticut, which are purely bodies of ministers ; but that of Massachusetts voted unanimously in 1866 to unite with the Confer- ence of the same state, ai^d admit laymen. The Cren- eral Conference of Maine, where the ** Conference" ^eluding laymen) system originated, was organized in 1826 ; New Hampshhe, 1809 ; Vermont, 1796 ; Mas- sachusetts, Association in 1803, Conference in 1860; Rhode Island, 1809; Connecticut, 1709; New York, 1884; Ohio, 1852; Indiana, 1858; Illinois, 1848; Mich- igan, 1852 ; Wisconsin, 1840 ; Minnesota, 1855 ; Iowa, 1840; Missouri, 1865; Nebraska, 1857 ; Kansas, 1855; Oregon, 1868; CaUfomia, 1857; Canada, 1858; Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 1847. These bodies all held annual meetings. In addition, a " Convention" of the Congregational ministers of Bfassachusetts has met annually since near the beginning of the 18th century, of which Unitarians are a component part, which holds funds, mainly contributed before the division, for tlie relief of widows and orphans of ministers of either de- nomination. A " Triennial Convention of the North- west" was formed in 1858, mainly to supervise the affiurs of the Chicago Theological Semfaiary. Local Conferences of churches covering groups of (usually) fh>m ten to thbrty churches have been voluntarily formed, "and embrace nearly all the churches : they generally meet semi-annually for religious conference, and are denied every power of jurisdiction. Nearly all the ministers are grouped in local associations of convenient size fbr purposes of mutual improvement, but with no ecclesiastical authority ; but the churches look to them to examine and recommend candidates for the ministry. These associations began in the 17th century. ** Ecclesiastical CouncUs" are occa- sional bodies, which will be noticed under ** govern- ment."
•*P/(B» of Union'' with Presbyterians.— Congrega- tionalists and Presbyterians, holding the same doc- trinal views, have always had more or less intimate re- lations. When Western New York and the territories beyond were becoming rapidly settiod, a formal " Plan of Union" was adopted by the Presbyterian General Assembly and the General Association of Connecticut hi 1801. To prevent division into small and weak churches, it was arranged that Congregationalists and Presbyterians in any locality could unite in one church, its character to be settied by the minority; and, if
Congregational, the church could, whUe retaining pow- er of internal government, hold a qualified relation to Presbyteries. The result was that large numbers of Congregationalists and of Congregational churches were finally absorbed in the firesbyterian Church. The Plan grew into disfavor, and was abrogated by the Congregational Convention of 1852. Many churches which still hold that abnormal relation are now drop ped from the Congregational statistics.
UnUaT%€mmi, — Owing to various cau8es-^[Murticu- larly the *' Half-way Covenant," the connection of Church and State, and opposition to the great revivals of the middle of the 18th century — there grew up in some of the churches a dislike to the doctrines of the denomination, which developed itself into Unitarian- ism. The first church to become such, however, was the Ei^scopal church of King's Chapel, Boston. Sharp controversy ensued, which resulted in an entire sepa- ration. The division was going on from about 1810 to 1825 by the steady withdrawal of fellowship from the churches and ministers which had become Unitarian. The change of doctrine was chiefly confined to Massa- chusetts, and, in a great degree, to Boston and vicini- ty. In 1825 there were found to be 95 Unitarian diurches (a part of which were new churches organ- iced as such), and 810 Congregational ; while in the other states ti^e defection was hardly known. Many churches were deprived of their property by adverse majorities in parishes, and were forced to begin anew. The trials of the churches awakened a vigorous life in the denomination, which added 146 new churches in Massachusetts in the following 25 years, and increased the number of communicants fh>m 87,987 in 1880 to 64,830 in 1850. The terms " Unitarian Congregation- al" and " Trinitarian Congregational" have been some- times used in Massachusetts; but the latter, titie has never been allowed by the denomination, while the Unitarian National Conference has refused to insert the term ^ Congregational" in its official name.