churches, 34 of the latter being in the Miami country. The efforts to maintain a religious periodical have all been failures, as the following list demonstrates: "The Lamp of Liberty," Cincinnati, 1827; "The Star in the West," Cincinnati, 1827-1880; "The Glad Tidings," Columbus and Akron, 1836-1840; "The Universalist Preacher," Dayton, 1839-1841; “Ohio Universalist," Cleveland, 1845-1846; "The Youth's Friend," Cincinnati, 1846-1860; "The Universalist Advocate," Centreburg, 1849; "Western Olive Branch," Cincinnati, 1849-1850; "The Guiding Star," Cincinnati, 1871-1880. Nor has the denomination generally been much more successful. The Rev. Dr. Richard Eddy, in his "Modern History of Universalism," appends a list of periodicals, showing that out of 181 journals only four are still in existence, viz., two family, one juvenile, and one Sunday school. Eddy's bibliography, for and against the doctrine of universal salvation, compiled in 1886, enumerates 2,096 titles. This does not embrace the literature in other departments. What that bibliography may be I am unable to ascertain.

While it has been foreign to my intention to comment on the subject of doctrine, for that must require some temerity, because it is treading on delicate ground, I will here, however, transgress the rule for this reason: The Universalist church boasts it stands for that phase of Christianity that represents all who believes in the ultimate salvation of all. If their boasts be true, then they should either have no written creed, or else one which would cover all believers in the Bible who accept the salvation of all. This church is the only one of the liberal sects that has a written creed. In the year 1803, the following creed was adopted, known as the Winchester Profession:

ARTICLE 1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind.

ARTICLE II. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.

ARTICLE III. We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseperably connected, and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order and practice good works; for these things are good and profitable

unto men,

Considering the purport of the Universalist church no reasonable man could take exceptions to the above, unless it is the grammatical error in the first article. Yet for twenty years the ministers wrangled over the word "restore," when all controversy was throttled and the following theological monstrosity was adopted at Boston in 1899:

II. The conditions of fellowship shall be as follows:

1. The acceptance of the essential principles of the Universalist Faith, to-wit: 1. The Universal Fatherhood of God; 2. The Spiritual authority and leadership of His Son, Jesus Christ; 3. The trustworthiness of the Bible as containing a revelation from God; 4. The certainty of just retribution for sin; 5. The final harmony of all souls with God.

The Winchester Profession is commended as containing these principles, but neither this nor any other precise form of words is required as a condition of fellowship, provided always that the principles above stated be professed.

2. The acknowledgment of the authority of the General Convention and assent to its laws.

Only a slight examination of these conditions of fellowship exhibits that it is:

I. Anti-Christian, for it teaches that God is without mercy, pity and compassion; it teaches the doctrine of retaliation.

II. It teaches post mortem punishment, a doctrine in which Universalists have always been divided.

III. It is materialistic.

IV. It is fatalistic.

V. The word "Universal" is all-reaching, unlimited in its signification. Then this creed places man on a level with the brute and inanimate creation. Doubtless it was intended to mean that "God is the father of all mankind," but the words do not say nor mean that.

VI. It contains a gross falsehood. It states that the "Winchester profession is commended as containing these principles," when the utmost stretch of the imagination cannot make it teach "the certainty of just retribution for sin."

VII. One of the cardinal principles of Christianity is forgiveness, but here we have "the certainty of retribution."

The adoption of such a conglomeration is evidence that the Universalist church has no humorist in it, and that such theologians as it may contain have their vision obscured.

PRESENT RELIGIOUS STATUS.

The religious, moral and intellectual status of the Miami country will compare favorably with any other part of the State of Ohio. Whatever may be deleterious in that region may also be found elsewhere. If other districts are progressive, likewise the same elements are here at work. To speak of any particular phase would only be to rehearse what may be known elsewhere.

So far as the Kentucky revival is concerned it has passed into history never again to repeat itself. It has been observed that when one species of animals died out it can never be reclaimed, because the conditions are against it. Likewise the Kentucky revival can never be repeated. The conditions have changed. Society is not the same. The standards have been raised. In order to have a revival the minds of the people must be concentrated on that one point. The daily newspaper distracts the attention by its variety and sensational publications. The free schools direct the minds of youth into various channels and pursuits become innumerable.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

In previous issues of the Quarterly I have given sketches of all the prominent men hereunto mentioned, save Barton Warren Stone. He was born near Port Tobacco, Maryland, Dec. 24, 1772; in 1779 the family moved near the Dan river in what was then the backwoods of Virginia; in 1790 he commenced the study of Latin at Guilford (N. C.) Academy; active and a leader in the Kentucky revival, during which time he was settled at Cane Ridge; first married in 1801 and again in 1811; taught school; commenced publishing the "Christian Messenger" in 1826, and through his efforts the New Lights in Kentucky were turned over to the Campbellites in 1832; removed to Illinois in 1834; wrote his autobiography in 1843: died at the residence of his daughter, in Hannibal, Mo., November 9, 1844. Besides writing

part two of the "Apology," in 1805 he published his "Letters on the Atonement," and "Address to the Christian Churches," and in 1822 appeared his "Letters to Dr. James Blythe." His autobiography was edited by John Rogers and published in Cincinnati in 1847. The editor closes the volume with a lengthy and wholesome chapter upon the bodily phenomena produced during the great revival. Among other things he observes: "While it is granted that genuine Christians have been, in many instances, subjects of these strange agitations, this cannot be admitted as

proof, that they are the offspring of proper influences: for no such cases occurred under the preaching of Christ, and His Apostles. And we cannot doubt that under their ministry, all proper influences were brought to bear upon their hearers. The conclusion therefore cannot be avoided, that the gospel, preached as it should be, never produces such results." "Where these exercises were encouraged, and regarded as tokens of the divine presence there they greatly prevailed. But where they were looked upon as manifestations of enthusiasm, and fanaticism, and therefore, opposed, they did not prevail" (p. 371).

CONCLUSION.

Spasmodic efforts in behalf of mankind are not to be looked upon with the eye of censure. While there may be much chaff,

yet it is out of the chaff that the grain of wheat is rescued. Sometimes the cloud of dust obscures even the brightness of the sun, yet when that dust is settled the road way may be more passable. Thoughts are often quickened, and experience is a tell-tale for future good. I have not condemned the Kentucky revival. Good did flow from it. When all the circumstances are considered it was an effort greatly demanded, however wild was the revel, 'and grotesque the carnival. Persecutions of all descriptions must be condemned. The history of man proves that in every instance the persecuted have been nearer the Kingdom than the persecutors.

May 19, 1903.

J. P. MACLEAN.

NOTE. On May 27th, I received from Eldress Jane Cowan, the principal leader of the Shaker community at South Union, Logan county, Ky., the church records of that society. Prefacing these records is an autobiographical sketch of Rev. John Rankin written in 1845. As this throws light on the Kentucky revival, and what has never been published before, I herewith transcribe a portion of it:

"In August, 1799, a sacrament was appointed at Gasper River, old meeting house five miles below South Union. The preachers attended, gifts were given to men, their language was clothed with power which pervaded the congregation, many were convicted, some called on ther neighbors to pray for them, one under view of his exposure to justice, asked in consternation of soul: "Is there no hand to stay the justice of God?" Some few could rejoice in hopes of mercy and promise of God, et cetera. This same summer or early fall, at a sacrament held at Big Muddy River Meeting House: a work of similar nature made its appearance in a very striking manner; my text on this occasion was Acts 40. and 41. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you which was spoken of in the Prophets; Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you: Dute attendance, serious attention to preaching, and solemn inquiry, what they should do to be saved appeared to agitate the minds of the congregations throughout the following winter and spring. In the mean time, the members of this society (Gasper) were cordially engaged in building a meeting-house for their future accommodation.

"Sometime in the month of June in the year 1800, the principal members of the three awakened congregations met together at the Red River Meeting house, with a large accession of citizens of every description, and