9. In Transylvania, Unitarian ism was earliest de- clared by Francis David, first Unitarian pastor and bishop; and afterwards by Socinus and by Georgio Blandrata, an Italian from Piedmont, who became court physician to Sigismund. In 1540 David preached to a multitude in the open streets of Thorda, asserting the Father to be the only God. By his preaching from place to place large numbers were converted, including the king himself, and nearly the whole citj' of Klausen- burg, and many Unitarian churches were established. While persecution was rife in the rest of Europe, Tran- sylvania was early conspicuous for religious liberty. Four forms of Christianity — the Roman Catholic, the Reformed Evangelical, the Lutheran, and the Unitari- an— were recognised b}' law with equal rights, with pen- alties for those only who should infringe the rights of others. Under this broad tolerance, Unitarianism, which was, indeed, instrumental in producing it, gained a strong foothold, which, under subsequent persecution, it has never whollj' lost. Unhappily, the early tolerance was of short duration. The bishop, Francis David, himself became a martyr to his faith, dying in prison in No- vember, 1579, an event, the tercentenary anniversary of which, in 1879, was celebrated in the land of his mar- tyrdom. The Unitarians of Transylvania are said to liave at one time possessed four hundred church build- ings, eleven colleges, and three universities. Tlirough the last two centuries the iron hand of Austrian and Jes- uit oppression has largely dispossessed them of church- es, schools, lands, and even of civil as well as religious
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rights. Tliej' were robbed of their churches, which were transferred to the Jesuits. During the present century, they are regaining privileges and strength, and are re- ported as having a population of 60,000, now increasing, with 120 churches; a university at Klausenburg with 12 professors and 300 students; two smaller colleges at Thorda and St. Kcrezsfur; a newspaper. The Seedsow- er; and many distinguished scholars and literary men, preachers and civilians, in their ranks. Their Church government is that of Episcopacy, strongly modified by Congregationalism, their present bishop being Joseph Ferencz. A special intimacy of fellowship has recent- ly been cherished and growing between them and the Unitarians of England and America. With their aid the translation of Channing's writings has been widely circulated among the people of Hungary of all sects.
10. England, though later than the Continent in re- ceiving the Unitarian faith, was visited by Occhino, Socinus, and other reformers. In 1548, the priest John Asheton was cited to Lambeth for Arian sentiments, and saved his life only by recanting. Under a similar charge occurred several martyrdoms. George von Par- ris, a devout German surgeon, for denying the Trinity was burned at Smithfield in 1551, during the brief reign of Edward VI. During the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth, Hammont, Lewes, Ket, Wright, and many others met a similar fate. In the reign of James I, in IGll, the Unitarian Bartholomew Legate became the last of the Smithfield martyrs; and in 1C12, at Lich- field, Edward Wightraan, a Unitarian Baptist, was the last martyr who was burned for heresy in England. In the time of Cromwell, John Biddle formed in Lon- don the first English Unitarian Church, and gained the title of the father of the English Unitarians, but per- ished in prison for his faith. In 1G40 the synods of London and York deemed it worth while to issue a special canon against Socinianism. And in 1G52 the Kacovian Catechism, which had been translated into English and actively circulated, was burned in London. To such strength and influence had Socinianism grown there during the century that in 1655 Dr. Owen writes of it, "The evil is at the door; there is not a city or town, scarce a village, in England wherein some of this poison is not poured forth." Before the close of the 17th centur\-, London had houses of Unitarian worship. Milton was an Arian, as has been proved since his death. Sir Isaac Newton is now known to have written anony- mously on the Unitarian side. Locke wrote a work on The Reasonableness of Christianity, which is substantially Unitarian. The scholarly Lardner, author of The Credi- bility of the Gospel History, one of the ablest defences ever written, held Unitarian opinions. That these views had notably invaded the Established Church is testified by Palmer in 1705 writing that there were " troops of Uni- tarian and Socinian writers, and not a Dissenter among them." Rev. Thomas Emlj-u preached the Unitarian faith in Dublin and London. The Act of Uniformity in 1662 expelled from the Church of England two thousand ministers, mostly Calvinistic Presbyterians. Free from dogmatic tests, many of these ministers and their followers gradually became Arminian, and ulti- mately' Unitarian. After the passing of the Tolera- tion Act in 1689 legalizing Nonconformity, the way was opened by which the prevailing faith largely pass- ed into Unitarianisra. Half the Unitarian churches in England to-day are of this Presbyterian origin. LTn- til 1813 the law made it blasphemy to speak against the Trinity; but a more tolerant public sentiment had long rendered the law a dead letter. Unitarianism as an organized movement was most distinctly initiated by Dr. Theophilus Lindsey, who in 1774 resigned his charge in the Established Church and became pastor of a Unitarian congregation in Essex Street, London. A still more important apostle was the noted Dr. Jo- seph Priestley. Born in 1733, educated a Calvinist, distinguished for his scholarship and scientific attain- ments, iu 1755 he became pastor of a small Dissenting