OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH For Students and General Readers BY JOHN W. MONCRIEF, A. M. Chicago TER New York Toronto FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY ΤΟ ERI BAKER HULBERT, A. M., D.D., LL.D. Dean of the Divinity School, Professor of Church History, Head of the Department, The University of Chicago PREFACE There are already many excellent general church histories. But it appears that there is room for still another which shall be short, considerably different in its conception, and more elementary. This book, however, does not challenge comparison with any of its predecessors. It rather seeks to lead its readers to those works of the masters and so to make them necessary. It hastens, moreover, to acknowledge its deep obligations to these works because it has made use of their treasures, and so often that it would be quite impossible to mention each particular instance. But it is hoped that at least a general recognition has been given to all those upon which heavy contribution has been laid. All this, perhaps, in covering so vast a field, would go without saying. The reader will, no doubt, be impressed with the large number of quotations in the book, but as they are nearly all from the original or the best secondary sources it is believed that they greatly enhance its value. The purpose of the work is twofold. First, to meet the needs of students entering upon the study of Church History, and who are in danger of getting lost and discouraged in the labyrinth, who consequently need a thread to guide them until they shall be able to get their bearings. Second, the large and growing class of intelligent people, Christian and non-Christian, who would like to know something of the historical development of the marvelous institution called the |