His Many Mansions

Text extracted from opening pages of book: His Many Mansions His Manf Mansions A COMPILATION of CHRISTIAN BELIEFS Illustrated WITH DIAGRAMS OF THE INTRICATE AND INTERESTING ORGANIZATIONS OF THE LEADING CHRISTIAN CHURCHES WHICH HAVE HERE BEEN CONDENSED FOR THE FIRST TIME INTO AN AUTHORITATIVE AND UNDERSTANDABLE FORM. By RULON S. HOWELLS NEW YORK THE GREYSTONE PRESS 1940 IQ40. BY RVLON S. HOWELLS p. tj& i/ i& HEi*; 1940 All rights reserved PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THE WILLIAM BYRD PRESS, INC, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA CONTENTS PAGE COMPARATIVE CHART OF TEN LEADING CHURCHES ON TWENTY-THREE QUESTIONS Insert PART I I. INTRODUCTION 7 II. INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON CHURCH ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT 15 III. FORMAL CHRISTIAN CREEDS AND DOCTRINES . 20 PART II A BRIEF HISTORY, DOCTRINE AND CHURCH GOVERNMENT OF THE FOLLOWING DENOMINATIONS IV. ADVENTISTS 33 Diagram Chart 37 V. BAPTISTS 43 Diagram Chart 56 VI. CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST 62 Diagram Chart 67 VII. CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS 69 Diagram Chart 80 VIII. CONGREGATIONAL AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES . . 94 Diagram Chart 100 v] vi CONTENTS continued PAGE IX, DISCIPLES OF CHRIST 106 Diagram Chart no X. EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES ( Catholic) . . 114 Diagram Chart 122 XL EPISCOPAL, CHURCH OF ENGLAND 1 30 Diagram Chart 142 XII. LUTHERANS 152 Diagram Chart 163 XIII. METHODISTS 170 Diagram Chart 178 XIV. PRESBYTERIANS 190 Diagram Chart 198 XV. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 203 Diagram Chart 211 XVI. UNITARIANS 229 Diagram Chart 235 ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONTRIBUTING AUTHORITIES OF EACH DENOMINATION . . 239 SPECIAL REFERENCES 246 APPENDIX 248 INDEX 251 His Many Mansions Part I COMPARATIVE CHART OF TEN CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS ON TWENTY-THREEDOCTRINAL QUESTIONS ( See insert back cover) EXPLANATION OF COMPARATIVE CHART The comparative doctrinal chart of the various churches, which accompanies this book, inserted in the back cover, is designed to show in a brief way some of the similarities and differences in the doctrines of the leading Christian Churches. The form in which this is presented is such as to give in perspective the whole matter at a glance, thus allowing a comparative study of the subjects with as little difficulty as possible. The Churches here chosen for study represent the largest membership and the most diversified, as to doc trine, of all Christian denominations. The particular subjects were chosen with the purpose of covering the doctrinal basis of general Christian belief. In obtaining this information, it has been the endeavor of the compiler to obtain only the generally accepted Church doctrine and not any individual or personal viewpoint. It must be remembered, however, that the diversity to be found within a denomination itself is as striking as the diversity between the various denominations themselves.