first intent to form in the Church a society of believing souls, pardoned and saved, called to work directly for the salvation of all that is lost, next radi- ates outward into all the departments of human activity. It is in this enlarged sense that we must understand the king- dom of God which the Saviour came to found in our sinful world, and of which the progress goes on only at the price of an incessant struggle, which will con- tinue to the end of time. But this gen- eral advance of the kingdom of God in its widely human extension is always proportionate to its internal development within His Church, which keeps and cherishes the central hearth of the divine life, whence emanate all light and heat.
We know in a general manner what the vast influence of Christianity has been in the world for 19 centuries. It has re- newed society in the very depths of uni- versal decline without ever neglecting its first task, which is to lead the souls of sinners to Christ. Spiritual conquests count upon no more than this. But these victorious struggles have not been pur- sued without many dangers, no little re- sistance and as much dark uncertainty, which have sometimes had the effect of altering Christianity for a time, at least in its historical realizations, for its high ideal has never ceased to soar with serene radiance in the eternal gospel. It may be put under a bushel, but it has never been possible to extinguish it or to change its form. It is this inherent recuperative power that admits of the renewal and elevation again of Christianity, however much it may have been debased. See CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THE.
CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, a religious denomination in the United States, the result of the secession move- ment from the Reformed Church in 1822, in 1857, and again in 1882. There are about 40,000 communicants, chiefly in Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa. The de nomination maintains the Calvin College Theological Seminary at Grand Rapids, Mich.
CHRISTIANS, or CHRISTIAN CHURCH, a denomination which had its origin near the close of the 18th cen- tury in Virginia and North Carolina, when three bodies withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were first known as Republican Methodists, but in 1795 decided to be known only as The Christian Church. In 1819 the three bodies united to form one denomination. It grew rapidly and perfected organiza- tions for the carrying on of publishing, educational, and missionary work. These interests are now represented by the American Christian Convention, com- posed of members of local conferences from the United States and Canada, and of the presidents of colleges and state and district organizations. The conven- tion meets every four years. Missionary work is carried on in the United States, Canada, Japan, Porto Rico, and other countries. Educational institutions car- ried on by the denomination include the Christian Biblical Institute, Defiance, O.; Starkey Seminary, Lakemont, N. Y.; Union Christian College, Merom, Ind.; Elon College, Elon College, N. C.; Pal- mer College, Albany, Mo.; Defiance Col- lege, Defiance, O., and the Franklinton Christian College (colored), Franklin- ton, N. C. The denomination issues many publications. In 1919 there were 117,853 communicants, 1,274 ministers, and 1,213 churches.
CHRISTIANSAND, a seaport of Nor- way, situated near its S. extremity, on a sandy plain. It is a garrisoned town; was built by Christian IV. in 1641; and has been the capital of its province or stift since 1684. It has several dock- yards, and a good harbor much used for refuge. At the mouth of the harbor is the beautiful island of Odderö, laid out with public gardens and promenades. Christians and has a considerable trade in timber, pitch, stockfish (salted cod), fish-oil for curriers, salmon, mackerel, and lobsters. Shipbuilding is a consid- erable industry. Christiansand has a cathedral and grammar-school, and is the residence of a bishop. It suffered severe- ly from fires in 1880 and 1892. Pop. about 18,000.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE, a religious belief of which Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, of Boston, was the founder and chief apostle. Her disciples believe in God, in devote most of their efforts to healing the the Saviour, and in the Scriptures, and sick. They claim that matter is non-existent and that, as God is spirit, and man, being made in His image, is, therefore, also spiritual and cannot suffer, disease is not actual, but a wrong belief, and can be cured by discarding such belief. Since the promulgation of this doctrine in 1875, its growth has been steady in the United States and its followers have large churches in various parts of the country. Flourishing churches have been organized in many other parts of the world. Many handsome church edifices have been built in different cities: The mother church is located in Boston, Mass., and those all over the country are its branches. The services are uniform, consisting of meetings on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings. No sermons are preached by a personal pastor, but a sermon made up of selections from the
