History of all religions : containing a statement of the origin, development, doctrines, forms of worship and government of the religious denominations in the world with biographical notices of eminent divines

Front matter

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Preface

The design of the following work is essentially different from that of other publications on the same subject, which already exist. The larger and more extensive of these are composed of articles on the Religious Sects in the United States, which were written by members of the several denominations described, and are often expanded into immense length by reiterated and familiar arguments intended to demonstrate the truthfulness and Scriptural authority of the Sects to which the respective writers belonged. This method of treatment is much better suited to works on Polemic Theology, than to those which profess merely to contain a statement of opinions and a narrative of events. On the other hand, the smaller works which have appeared on this subject are superficial and incomplete ; being generally made up of very short articles, of clippings from Encyclopedias and Biographical Dictionaries ; and are utterly unfit to convey even to the general reader a satisfactory idea of the various subjects which come under consideration.

Preface To The Present Edition

In offering this revised edition to the public, the Publishers have deemed it best to allow the numerical strength of the different sects and denominations to remain unaltered — the statements being based upon the Census of 1860. It is futile to attempt to keep pace with the changing numbers. Any figures which might be given to-daj would be incorrect to-morrow, and so on from time to time. The statistics can easily be ascertained from the periodical publications of the different societies. The Old and IS^'ew School Presbyterian bodies have been consolidated into one organization, so that the distinctions maintained in this work are not strictly correct ; but in view of the fact that many will regard the causes of separation with great interest, and will desire to refer to some trustworthy account of the differences, the subject is allowed to remain unchanged, believing that the book will be more valuable on this account.

The recent great changes in our relations and communications with the Chinese and Japanese have increased the interest in these peculiar peoples. A full account of their religious creeds and ceremonies seemed to be demanded, and it has accordingly been prepared with great care from the best sources, expressly for this work, and will be found exceedingly interesting. That the work will long continue a standard authority, and be a blessing to mankind, is the wish of

The Publishers.

August, 1870.