simply for those effectually called.

There were General

Baptists in England early in the seventeenth century. Indeed, some of their historians claim that they appeared both in England and America before the Particular or Regular Baptists.

General Baptists in New England associated themselves in a yearly meeting at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Churches of the same faith and order were also organized in the first half of that century in Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Most of these early churches, it appears, subsequently became Regular or Calvinistic

churches.

The first association of General Baptists in the West, where the denomination now has its entire strength, was the Liberty, of Kentucky, organized in 1824. In 1830 it adopted the practice of open communion, and about 1845 changed one of its articles of belief, which had been formulated at its organization, so as to embrace "infants and idiots" in the covenants of God's grace, and another so as to say that "he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved," instead of declaring that "the saints will finally persevere through grace to glory." These changes indicated the desire to eliminate such elements of Calvinism as had been introduced when the articles were adopted a few years before.

In 1870 the General Baptists formed a general association, in which all General Baptist associations are represented. The purpose of the general association was to bring "into more intimate and fraternal relation and effective coöperation various bodies of liberal Baptists." The denomination has received accessions of Freewill churches, but some of its churches have in turn joined Freewill and

other Baptist bodies. It has increased in membership quite rapidly. In 1870 it had 8000 members; in 1880, 12,367; and in 1890, 21,362. It is represented in the States of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Nebraska.

The confession of faith adopted by the general association declares that the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice; that there is one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; that man is "fallen and depraved" and has no ability in himself to salvation; that he that endures to the end shall be saved; that rewards and punishment are eternal; that the only proper mode of baptism is immersion; that the only proper subjects of baptism are believers; that none save infants and idiots can partake of the benefits of the atonement, which was made for all, except by repentance and faith. They are in substantial agreement with the Freewill Baptists.

The General Baptists have 22 associations, 399 organizations, 209 edifices, valued at $201,140, and 21,362 communicants. The average seating capacity of the edifices is 344, and their average value $964. There are 180 halls, etc., with a seating capacity of 28,201.

9. THE SEPARATE BAPTISTS.

The Separate Baptists of the last century were those who favored the great Whitefield revival movement. They separated from those Baptists who, for various reasons, opposed the revival. They had considerable accessions from the Congregational churches, and became numerous in New England, Virginia, and elsewhere. Most of these Separate Baptists formed a union with the Regular Baptists a century or more ago, but a few still maintain separate organizations. Two associations which retain the word "Separate" in their title are counted as Regular Baptists.

Separate Baptists are generally in doctrinal agreement with the Freewill Baptists, holding to a general atonement and rejecting the doctrine of election and reprobation.

There is one association, with 24 organizations, 19 church edifices, valued at $9200, and 1599 communicants. The average seating capacity of the edifices is 297, and their average value $484. There are 5 halls, etc., with a seat

ing capacity of 525.

IO. THE UNITED BAPTISTS.

There being in Congregational and Baptist churches in New England some opposition to the great revival movement of the eighteenth century led by George Whitefield, a separation occurred in many instances, and there were

Separates" both among the Congregationalists and Baptists. The latter were called Separate Baptists, and those from whom they separated were called, by way of distinction, Regular Baptists, a name which they still retain. The Separate Baptists became quite numerous in New England (where many of those who separated from the Congregational churches united with them) and elsewhere. But in the last quarter of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the present, Separate and Regular Baptists came together in Virginia, Kentucky, and elsewhere, and called themselves United Baptists. The great body of these are now known as Regular or Missionary Baptists.

There are still a few United Baptists who retain the old title and an independent existence. These are tabulated herewith separately. A few associations in full fellowship with the Regular Baptists still use the word "United." The doctrinal basis on which the union of Separate and Regular Baptists was accomplished in Kentucky in 1801 was not distinctly Calvinistic. While it did declare the final perseverance of the saints, it did not set forth election or reprobation, and it stipulated that the holding of the doctrine that "Christ tasted death for every man" (general atonement) should be "no bar to communion." The United Baptists, according to the articles of faith set forth by most of their associations, are now moderately Calvinistic. These articles declare that Christ "suffered and died to make atonement for sin," not indicating whether this atonement was general or particular; that though the gospel is to be preached to all nations, and sinners are to be called upon to repent, such is their opposition to the gospel that they freely choose a state of sin; that God in his "mere good pleasure" elected or chose in Christ a great

multitude among all nations; that through the influences of the Holy Spirit he "effectually calls them," and they "freely choose Christ for their Saviour"; that those who are united to God by a living faith are forgiven and justified "solely on account of the merits of Christ"; that those who are justified and regenerated will persevere to the end; that baptism should be administered only to believers and by immersion; that the Lord's Supper should be "observed by those who have been regenerated, regularly baptized, and become members of a gospel church"; that feet-washing ought to be practiced by all baptized believers.

There are 12 associations of United Baptists, with 204 organizations, 179 church edifices, valued at $80,150, and 13,209 communicants. The average seating capacity of the churches is 336, and their average value $448. Halls, etc., 23, with a seating capacity of 3650.

This body holds a separate position among Baptists. Its oldest associations, the Elk River and Duck River, were organized in 1808 in Tennessee, where more than half of