Socinus now undertook the work of unifying and or- ganizing the scattered Unitarian elements which exist- ed, especially among the upper classes of Polish society; but his success was not at first encouraging. Anabap- tist views prevailed to a degree which prevented his own admission into the Unitarian society at Cracow during four years, because he declined rebaptism as a needless ceremony. He came, however, to be in time regarded as the recognised and principal champion of the sect. His discussions and writings secured to it prominence and reputation, and gradually produced a measure of agreement in the views of its adherents. In 1603 the Synod of Rakov, or Kacovia, settled the special- ly controverted question of rebaptism by approving the teachings of Socinus,
But few events belong to Socinus's private life which claim notice in this place. He left Cracow in 1583 to avoid persecution by the king, Stephen Bathori, and set- tled in the adjoining village of Pawlikowice, where he
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married a lady of noble rank, the dausliter of Cliristoph Morsztvn. At the same time he becnine impoverished throiij;h tlie loss of his lialian properties. He soon re- turned to Craeow. In I.Vhm Ir- secured ilie favor <«f the Lithuanian rnitarians. wlmse synod he visited at Hrzese. The otiier features of liis history are siuii)ly illustrative of the hi;;otry of his age. He was exposed to fretpient perseeution. now at the hands of a military mob (1594), then througl) the fanaticism of the students of Cracow, who were incited to their action by Honiish priests (I.V.W), Thev draj^gcd iiiin from a siek-beil to the streets, beat him, sackeil his house, and burned his books and wriiiiii^s. To avoid his foes he ajjain left Cracow, and lived in a neijj;hboring village, Luclawice, until he «lie«l, in Itio4. His works were collected and jiublished in the Jiibliitlhtca Fratrum Polimorum, vol. i and ii. They also bear the title Fun.<ti Sinensis Upvnt Omnia in Duos Tonios ])i.ilinct(t. They include expositions of Scripture ; polemics against Komanists, Protestants, and Unitarians; and dogmatical writings. The more im- |K)rtant are the Pralecliones Theolo<jic(B and the Chiis- tittnce Htliifiouis Hreri.isima InMitudo per IiUerrog. et Respom., etc., to which may be added a Frugmentum CutechLtmi I'rittris F. L. S. qui periit in Cracoviensi Jieriim ejus Dirrptione.
Immeiliately after .Socinns's death the Tiacnvian Cate- chLim. which had been prepared by him, but which was completed i)y Schmalz. ^Moskorzowski, and Vtilkel, was published in the Polish language (1G05). A German edition appeared in IGOH, and one in Latin, with notes and additions, in lt)09, Oeder brought out a new edition in 1739, which was based on that of 1009, an<l which affords a good compendium of Socinian theology. It is accompanied with a refutation by the editor.
II. FiiUiiirers. — N'umerouscongregations of Unitarians, whose members were chieHy of noble rank, had been formed in i'oiand by the time Socinus died, that at Ra- kov being the largest. They supported many schools, to wliich the most capable teachers were a|)pointed, and in which the most prominent theologians delivered occa- sional lectures. A press connected with the establish- ment at Itakov promoted the dissemination of the prin- cipal writings of Socinian authors. A general synod, which met ainnially at Kakov,and subordinate particular HViiods, furnished an effective organization which con- tributed greatly to the progress of the Socinian cause. But the most influential factor at work in securing this result is to be found in the large number of (listin- Ruished pastors, theologians, and scholars which tlie enmmunity |)roduced. The names of Valentin Schmalz, Jerome Moscorovius (Moskorzowski), Johann Crell (q. v.), and others, are recognised as those of men who ill llieir lime exercised a most powerful influence over the liistory of the Polish Church and State. The prog- ress of Sociuiaiiism was. liowever, stopped, and its very existence asH,Tiled, by the Komish reaction under Sigis- mund H of Poland and his son. Vladislav IV. An insult offered to the cru( ilix by some pupils of the Kakov Hchool furnished the occasion for a complaint of sacri- lege, which involved the whole community of Unita- rians. In violation of law. and in disregard of the facts of the ease, they were condemned. The school at Ha- covia was destroyed, the <'hurch transferred from the iMiiwe.Hsion of its Ariaii owners, nud tiie clergy and teachers declared infamous and oulawcd. ( )ther schools and ehnrehes were afterwards inv<ilved in similar ruin. The deciNive blows of .Jesuitism against the Unitarian sect were not iiillieted, however, until after the acces- iiion of .John (Jisiniir -a .Jesuit and cardinal— in 1048. The CoHsack wars which ragi'd iu Southern Poland ruined many coiigregaiioiis; and when the Swedes in- vaded the coiiniry many .Sociuians, as well as oiliers. Joined th.ir parly. IlnK was made the occasion for treating them as traitors to the country. The Diet of Warsaw in li;.'.H decree.l iheir hanislnnent. to take effect wiiliiu iliree years, and this term was afterwards short- ened to two years. The protesla of Socinian delegates,
and likewise those of Electoral Brandenburg and Swe- den, were disregarded, and the edict was rigorously ex- ecuted.
In Germany, Socinianism had established itself in the University of Altorf through the intlnence of Prof. Ernst Soner (died 1G12); but when its existence was discov- ered the authorities of Nuremberg effected its over- throw. Polish exiles settled in Silesia, and held synods in llJGl and 1G03; but their efforts to gain proselytes led to unlavorable action on the part of the State, and to their eventual removal in IGGG. Certain depart- ments of Brauilenburg contained numerous Socinian congregations and communities during the last decades of the IGth century. Everywhere, however, they were merely tolerated. Often they were persecuted. The rejieated efforts to extirpate them were so far successful that in 1838 only two Sociuians were found in Prussia, both of them old men.