CONGREGATIONALISTS

A sect of Protestant Di enters, who arose in this country as early as the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when Robert Brown maintained that •very society of Christians meeting in one place for religious worship under its own laws and ministers formed a legitimate and independent congregation. The Congregationalists have been called from their founder Brownists, and in later times Independents. They form a powerful body in England, and are very numerous in America. Each congregation273 appoints ita own ministers by vote, [s. 287]