American and Foreign Christian Union

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN UNION: A society organized May 10, 1849, by the union (as indicated by the name) of the American Protestant Society (founded 1843), the Foreign Evangelical Society (instituted 1839 as the expansion of the French Association of 1835), and the Christian Alliance of 1842. The purpose was to prosecute more efficiently the work of the three societies named; viz., to convert Roman Catholics to Protestantism; or, to quote its constitution, “by missions, colportage, the press, and other appropriate agencies, to diffuse the principles of religious liberty, and a pure and evangelical Christianity, both at home and abroad, where a corrupted Christianity exists."

For a number of years the society prospered, and spread its influence over Europe, North and South America, and adjacent islands. From 1849 to 1859 its yearly receipts averaged $60,000. But 154 it was compelled gradually to contract its operations. It withdrew from France in 1866, from Italy and Europe, and other foreign stations generally, in 1873; and ultimately it limited its efforts to the support of the American Church in Paris. Its monthly periodical, The Christian World (35 vols., New York, 1850-84), gave an account of its work; the number for April, 1880, contains a historical sketch of the first thirty years; that for June, 1884, has the thirty-fifth annual report; consult also the last number (Nov., 1884).