The aim I have had in view in writing this book has been to give a historyof the origin of Unitarianism in the United States, how it has organizeditself, and what it has accomplished. It seemed desirable to deal morefully than has been done hitherto with the obscure beginnings of theUnitarian movement in New England; but limits of space have made itimpossible to treat this phase of the subject in other than a cursorymanner. It deserves an exhaustive treatment, which will amply repay thenecessary labor to this end. The theological controversies that led to theseparation of the Unitarians from the older Congregational body have beenonly briefly alluded to, the design of my work not requiring an amplertreatment. It was not thought best to cover the ground so ably traversed byRev. George E. Ellis, in his Half-century of the Unitarian Controversy;Rev. Joseph Henry Allen, in his Our Liberal Movement in Theology; Rev.William Channing Gannett, in his Memoir of Dr. Ezra Stiles Gannett; and byRev. John White Chadwick, in his Old and New Unitarian Beliefs. The attempthere made has been to supplement these works, and to treat of the practicalside of Unitarianism,--its organizations, charities, philanthropies, andreforms.
With the theological problems involved in the history of Unitarianism thisvolume deals only so far as they have affected its general development. Ihave endeavored to treat of them fairly and without prejudice, to state theposition of each side to the various controversies in the words of thosewho have accepted its point of view, and to judge of them as phases of alarger religious growth. I have not thought it wise to attempt anythingapproaching an exhaustive treatment of the controversies produced by thetranscendental movement and by "the Western issue." If they are to be dealtwith in the true spirit of the historical method, it must be at a periodmore remote from these discussions than that of one who participated inthem, however slightly. I have endeavored to treat of all phases ofUnitarianism without reference to local interests and without sectionalpreferences. If my book does not indicate such regard to what is nationalrather than to what is provincial, as some of my readers may desire, it isdue to inability to secure information that would have given a broadercharacter to my treatment of the subject.
The present work may appear to some of its readers to have been written ina sectarian spirit, with a purpose to magnify the excellences ofUnitarianism, and to ignore its limitations. Such has not been the purposeI have kept before me; but, rather, my aim has been to present the factscandidly and justly, and to treat of them from the standpoint of a studentof the religious evolution of mankind. Unitarianism in this countrypresents an attempt to bring religion into harmony with philosophy andscience, and to reconcile Christianity with the modern spirit. Its effortin this direction is one that deserves careful consideration, especially inview of the unity and harmony it has developed in the body of believers whoaccept its teachings. The Unitarian body is a small one, but it has ahistory of great significance with reference to the future development ofChristianity.
The names of those who accept Unitarianism have not been given in this bookin any boastful spirit. A faith that is often spoken against may justifyitself by what it has accomplished, and its best fruits are the men andw