2. In Ireland there are three distinct bodies of Sep- aratists. The Walkerites, founded by Rev. John Walk- er, who seceded from the Established Church of Ireland and formed a small Church in Dublin on the principle of holding no communion with any other sect. They profess to found their principles entirely upon the New Test., and to be governed wholly by its laws. On doc- trinal points they agree with the Sandemanians (q. v.). They hold that by his revealed word the spirit of God works in them, both to will and to do; that God is the sole author and agent of everything that is good ; and maintain that everything that comes from the sinner himself, either before or after conversion, is essentially evil ; that the idea of any successors to the apostles, or of any change in the law of Christ's kingdom, is utterly unchristian. They have, therefore, no clerical order. Another body of Irish Separatists was originated by Rev. Mr. Kelly, who seceded from the Established Church, and was soon after joined by Rev. George Carr, of New Ross, The few churches belonging to this sect hold the same order and discipline as the Sandemanians, though in doctrine they approach more nearly to the evangelical dissenters. The Darbyites. followers of the Rev. Mr. Darby, who combined strict evangelical doc- trines with the peculiar tenets of the Millenarians. Erom these sprang the Plj-mouth Brethren (q. v.).
3. A German Pietist sect at Wiirtemberg who sepa- rated themselves from the Lutheran Church about the middle of the 18th century. Meeting with much oppo- sition and persecution, a number of them, under George Rapp, emigrated to Pennsylvania, and formed the Har- vumy Society. In 1815 they removed to Indiana, where they remained only two years, and, selling their prop- erty, returned to Pennsylvania, and in Beaver County built a town called Economy, where they have amassed considerable property. See Rappists. Those who re- mained in Germany, after much opposition, were allowed to form a congregation at Kornthal, and became known as Kornthalites. See Korxthal, Society of. Those who refused to conform to the German Evangelical Union, formed by Frederick William III of Prussia, were also called Separatists.
4. The name was assumed by some of the early Puri- tans, perhaps the early Traskites (q, v,). In their prin- cijdes, condemning taste in dress, joyousness of life, etc, we recognise the class of Puritans afterwards represent- ed by the Quakers. There were a few congregations of Separatists in Scotland, and one was commenced in London in 1820. See Blunt, Diet, of Sects, s. v. ; Gard- ner, Faiths of the World, s, v,
SEPARATISTS at Zoar, The village of Zoar, which is the home of this communistic society, is in Tuscarawas County, O, From Nordhoff's Convministic Societies of the United States we gather the following information respecting them :
I, History. — This society, like the Harmon}' Society, originated in Wiirtemberg, and like them, the Inspira- tionists, and others, were dissenters from the Established Church. Their refusal to send their children to the schools under the control of the clergy, and to allow their young men to serve as soldiers, brought upon them persecution from Ijoth civil and eccclesiastical authorities. They suffered for ten or twelve years, when they were assisted by some English Quakers to emigrate to the United States. They arrived at Phila- delphia in August, 1817, and bought a tract of 5000 acres of land in Oliio, They chose Joseph Biiumeler
SEPARATISTS
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SEPHAR
to be their leader, who, with a few able-bodied men, took possession about Dec. 1, 1817. At tirst it was not intended to form a communistic society, but having many very poor among them, it was thought that the only way tliey could keep the enterprise from failing was to establish a community of goods and efforts. An agreement to that effect was signed, April 15, 1819. Biitmieler was chosen spiritual and temporal head, and changing his name to Bimeler, the people came to be commonly spoken of as " Uimmelers." In March, 1824, an amended constitution was adopted. Between 1828 and 1830 they began to permit marriage, Biiumeler himself taking a wife. In 1832 they were incorporated by the Legislature as the "Separatist Society of Zoar," and a new constitution, still in force, was signed the same year. They have prospered materially, and now own, in one tract, over 7000 acres of very fertile land, besides some in Iowa. They have a woollen-factory, two large flour-mills, saw and planing mill, shops, tan- ner}-, etc. They liad in 1874 about 300 members and property worth more than .$1,000,000.
II. Eelif/ioii. — Their " Principles," printed in the first volumes of Biiumeler's discourses, were evidently framed in Germany, and consist of twelve articles:
" I. We believe and coufess the Trinity of God : Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
"II. The lidl of Adam and of all mankind, with the loss thereby of the likeness of God in them.
"III. The return through Christ to God, our proper Father.
" IV. The Holy Scriptures as the measure and guide of our lives, and the touchstone of truth and falsehood.
"All our other principles arise out of these, iind rule onr conduct in the religious, spiritual, and niitiiral life.
"V. All ceremonies are banished from among us, and we declare them useless and injurious; and this is the chief canne of our separation.