Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/557

CHRISTIANS CHRISTIANSAND 545 was demanded. The accumulations of learn- ing made during many generations needed to be more exactly analyzed and more carefully tested, and then classified on a much broader scale. All the approximations that have been made toward a clear and comprehensive view of the whole subject were to be studied with reference to a still greater enlargement. It is the manifest tendency of the public mind in this direction that distinguishes the present age. There is a reaching after a universal and complete Christianity that is, the true historical Christianity, not the limited, partial Christianity of a particular school. Almost every party shows a disposition to appropriate whatever of truth or of excellence may be found in any other party. All seem to aim at a wider grasp of Christianity as a whole. CHRISTIANS (the first syllable is usually but improperly pronounced as in Christ), or Chris- tian Connection, a Christian sect which arose in the United States near the beginning of the present century. At their organization they adopted the appellation Christians as their only name, declared the Bible their only authorita- tive rule of faith and practice, and extended their fellowship to all Christians, irrespective of creed or party. They originated simultane- ously in the east, west, and south, their three distinct sources having at first no knowledge of each other. In North Carolina, in 1793, a secession took place from the Methodist Episco- pal church, on grounds of church government ; and the seceding body, at first known as " Re- publican Methodists," subsequently, through the influence of the Kev. J. O'Kelley and others, adopted the name of Christians. The second source was in New England, chiefly in Vermont. In 1800 Dr. Abner Jones, Elias Smith, and other members of Baptist churches, becoming dissatisfied with sectarian creeds and denominations, proposed the principles now held by the Christians. The first church or- ganized by them was in Lyndon, Vt., and many churches had been founded as early as 1804. In 1808 the " Herald of Gospel Liberty," one of the earliest religious newspapers in the United States, was first published by Mr. Smith. The third source had its seat in Ken- tucky and Tennessee. After the great revival which spread through the Presbyterian church in those states in 1800, several ministers, among whom were B. W. Stone and D. Purviance, desired broader grounds of union, arid five of whom in 1801 withdrew from the synod of Kentucky. They organized a new presbytery, called the Springfield presbytery, formally pro- claimed their principles, June 28, 1804, and soon after adopted the name of Christians. The three kindred bodies which had thus, between 1793 and 1804, arisen separately, soon after met in general convention and were consoli- dated into a single denomination. They are generally Antitrinitarians and Baptists, cherish prayer meetings, Sunday schools, and mission- ary enterprises, do not confine their fellowship to the baptized, are congregational in church government, and have annual and state confer- ences, and a quadrennial general convention. When the war interrupted the connection of the southern with the northern conferences, the former organized the " Southern Christian Con- vention," which in 1873 still maintained its separate existence. Among their more promi- nent clergymen and writers may be mentioned Walter, Clough, Badger, Millard, Koss, Summer- bell, Holland, Kincaid, and Plummer. Their institutions of learning in 1872 were the Chris- tian Union college, at Merom, Ind. ; the Wolf- boro academy, at Wolfboro, N. H. ; Starkey academy, at Eddytown, N. Y. ; a Biblical school, likewise at Eddytown; and the Le Grand Christian institute, at Le Grand, Iowa. In 1872 there were in the northern states and Canada 65 conferences, 997 ordained and 201 unordained ministers (in 62 conferences), 1,074 societies with 552 church edifices (in 60 con- ferences), 56,958 members (in 59 conferences), and church property valued at $908,775 ; in the southern general convention, 72 ordained ministers, 18 licentiates, and 10,581 members. The " Herald of Gospel Liberty," united some years ago with the " Gospel Herald " of Day- ton, Ohio, where it is now published, remains the principal organ of the denomination. The " Christian Sun," published at Suffolk, Va., is the organ of the southern general convention. CHRISTIANSAND. I. The southernmost prov- ince (stift or diocese) of Norway, bordering on the provinces of Bergen and Christiania, the North sea, and the Skager Back ; area, 15,400 sq. m. ; pop. in 1865, 328,742. It is traversed by numerous mountains and small rivers, and in- cludes many islands. The coast is broken, espe- cially on the west, where it is penetrated by the extensive Bukke bay or fiord, with two branches, the northern and larger being the Narstrand, and the southern the Lyse fiord. The N. E. district of Upper Tellemarken or Bratsberg is among the most mountainous. The numerous clefts are filled with water, which rushes down in rapids and cataracts with tremendous ve- locity, and the waterfall of the Rinkan Foss is over 400 ft. high. These waters unite in three streams and fall into the lake of Nord Soen, whence rises a powerful and impetuous river, the Skeen or Brevig. The other chief rivers are the Nid and the Torrisdal. The fine color of the water, the rocky banks, and the whole scenery produce a remarkably picturesque ef- fect. In the southern districts there are large and fertile valleys, and the climate is very mild, considering the high latitude. The prin- cipal wealth of the province consists in forests of oak, pine, fir, and birch, supplying materials for making fishing boats and for the export of planks and deals. Lobsters are not found in any part of the world in greater quantities than along the S. coast of this province between Hellesund and Lister fiord. The principal mineral is iron, and the great abundance of fuel offers facilities for smelting it. The population