Ministerial ordination is not considered as imparting supernatural gifts, but as a solemnity marking the entrance of the accredited person into full recognition and office.  The congregation makes its own choice of a minister, though in case of its dependence upon outside financial assistance the advice of the managers of the Fund may be offered.  The support of the churches and Sunday-schools, etc., is generally by voluntary contributions; endowments exist in some instances.  Church membership is usually granted without insistence upon any religious declaration.  New buildings are invariably associated with the ’open trust’ principle, the way being thus left open for such changes in worship and opinion as may hereafter seem right.  Some churches decline to be known as ‘Unitarian,’ and where that name is adopted it is usual to find with it the explanation that this does not pledge or limit future development or bar the widest religious sympathy in the present.

Reference has been made to Sunday-schools.  In this field Unitarians have always been pioneers, and their aims have usually been to promote culture without sectarian zeal.  Many large schools continue, as in the past, to form centres of education of the widest type, not only to children but adults.  Much interest is taken in social amelioration; some observers have asserted that this interest is more vivid in many quarters than any in matters theological or philosophical.

Statements of the teachings usually accepted in the churches are numerous.  One here quoted will fairly represent the general type.  It was drawn up by Richard Acland Armstrong (1843-1905), an eager social reformer, a powerful preacher and author, and memorable especially as a popularizer of Martineau’s religious philosophy.  Of course, from what has been already said, such a statement is not regarded as an authoritative creed, but simply takes its place as one out of many summaries for popular diffusion.

’Unitarian Christianity teaches that God is our Father, full of love for all of us.  It learns from Jesus that the Father listens to our prayers and watches over us with even more tender care than over the lilies of the field and the birds of the air.

’It learns from Jesus too, that however important it may be to have correct views concerning religious matters, it is much more important to love God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves.  For he says that these are the first two commandments, and that there is no other whatever that is greater than these.

’It learns from Jesus, also, that the way to enter the kingdom of Heaven is, not merely to hold a correct theology or to receive any outward sacraments, but to “be converted and become as little children”—­simple-hearted, loving, pure.

’Unitarian Christianity teaches that God our Father claims us all as children, and that when Jesus speaks of himself as God’s Son, he means us all to remember that we are God’s children too, though unhappily we have stained our sonship and daughterhood with many unworthy thoughts and deeds.