UNITARIANISM UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST H5 the British and foreign Unitarian association, which has regularly held its anniversaries in London, celebrated its semi-centennial in 1875, and is devoted to the dissemination of books and tracts, to limited missionary efforts, to philanthropic labors, and the help of feeble Unitarian societies. From the first settlement of the New England colonies there were modi- fications of the Puritanic creed which assumed the phases of moderate Calvinism, Arminian- ism, and Arianism. In 1785 the congregation of King's chapel, Boston, eliminated Trinita- rianism and the direct worship of Christ from the "Book of Common Prayer." In 1805 a Unitarian was made professor of divinity at Cambridge. In 1815 the controversy between Dr. Channing and Dr. Worcester resulted in the separation of the Unitarians from the Con- gregationalists, and the establishment of a sect. The ministers of a large number of the Congre- gational churches of Boston and vicinity and throughout the state with their flocks joined the movement. Harvard college was in their hands, and still remains so. In 1825 the Amer- ican Unitarian association was organized in Boston, where it celebrated its semi-centennial in 1875. Its general purposes are similar to those of the British and foreign association. It has observed its anniversaries by public meet- ings, which have afforded opportunities for displaying such denominational zeal and pro- moting such interests as are consistent with the spirit and objects of the association. Under the name of the " National Conference of Uni- tarian and other Christian Churches," a consid- erable number of congregations and religious and benevolent societies are represented by ministers and dolegates in biennial gatherings. The organization of the conference is of the most informal character, and its chief purpose is to afford opportunities for discussion, coun- sel, and advice on practical religious interests. The "Unitarian Year Book" for 1876 esti- mates the total number of churches and socie- ties in the United States at 362. In England the Unitarians rank with the first among the minor religious bodies, and their influence is in- creasing, especially in London and in the man- ufacturing districts. The principal churches are in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Bir- mingham, and Sheffield. Among the Scotch- Irish population in the north of Ireland there are more than 40 congregations, the most important being in Belfast ; and there is a " North of Ireland Unitarian Society," besides the " Irish Unitarian society." There are also South Wales and Scotch Unitarian associations, but the number of congregations in Scotland is small. In London the Unitarians have an extensive Sunday school association, and the Manchester New college, removed from Man- chester in 1857. The "Memorial Hall" was in 1865 erected for a separate Unitarian col- lege in the city of Manchester, and students from the Unitarian denomination are admit- ted to the Presbyterian college at Carmarthen, Wales. Several of the British colonies offer a new field for Unitarianism, especially Aus- tralia, where the most influential churches are at Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. The total number of Unitarians in English-speaking communities all over the world was estimated in 1876 at 1,000,000, besides great numbers sympathizing with the humanitarian elements of Unitarianism, though nominally belonging to other denominations. The persecution of the Unitarians in Hungary and Transylvania, which took place mainly after the annexation of the latter country to Austria in 1713, ceased toward the close of the 18th century, owing to the tolerant policy of the emperor Joseph II. The Transylvanian Unitarians are the only members of that persuasion who are governed by an ecclesiastical council and a bishop. They have a great Unitarian college at Klausenburg, besides other institutions. They have over 100 small congregations with nearly 60,000 members, chiefly Szeklers, and their number is steadily increasing. A meeting of Hunga- rian, American, and English Unitarians, held at Buda-Pesth, June 15, 1873, in connection with the national Transylvanian convention at Klausenburg, favored the employment of a larger number of teachers in the Unitarian institutions of that city, and the establishment of a church in the capital of Hungary. UNITAS FRATRUM. See MOEAVIAKS. UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST, a Protestant church, frequently confounded with the Mora- vians, with whom, however, they have no ec- clesiastical connection. They arose among the Germans in Pennsylvania about 1760. In 1752 Philip William Otterbein, a missionary of the German Reformed church, sent out to America by the synod of Holland, began to preach in Lancaster, Pa., but, soon becoming convinced that he was not himself converted, rested not until he experienced what he regarded as the new birth. This new experience led him to institute meetings during the week for prayer and religious conference, and he also held in various places outside of his pastoral charge what were called "great meetings." To one of these, held at Isaac Long's in Lancaster co., all persons who had experienced a change of heart, without respect to their ecclesiastical relations, were especially invited. A large as- sembly, in which Lutherans, Reformed, Men- nonites, Dunkers, Amish, and Moravians were represented, convened ; and among the number was found Martin Boehm, a Mennonite preach- er, who had also some time before obtained what he deemed the new life. At the con- clusion of a remarkably effective sermon by Boehm, Otterbein arose, embraced him, and exclaimed, "We are brethren!" This was the origin of the name of the new church. Otterbein and Boehm labored together for more than 50 years, and as the calls for preach- ing became numerous, laymen selected from the converts were licensed to preach. These laborers at first held conferences at the great
