Editing Niagara Bible Conference

{{short description|Held annually from 1875 to 1897, with the exception of 1884}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name               = Believers' Meeting for Bible Study
| nickname           = Niagara Bible Conference
| frequency          = annual
| location           = Queen's Royal Hotel, [[Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario]] (1883- )
| years_active       = 1875-1897
| activity           = [[Bible study (Christianity)|Bible study]]
| leader_name        = [[James H. Brookes]]
| free_label         = Topics
| free_text          = {{hlist|[[Christian mission]]s|[[prophecy]]|[[premillennialism]]|[[dispensationalism]]}}
}}
The '''Niagara Bible Conference''' (officially called the "Believers' Meeting for Bible Study") was held annually from 1875 to 1897, with the exception of 1884. 

== History ==
The Conference was founded as the Believers' Meeting for Bible Study in 1875 by evangelical pastors in the United States. <ref> David S. New, ''Christian Fundamentalism in America: A Cultural History'', McFarland, USA, 2014, p. 113 </ref> The driving force behind the meeting was [[James H. Brookes]], a [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)|Presbyterian]] minister from [[St. Louis]].<ref> Brenda Brasher, ''Encyclopedia of Fundamentalism: Volume 3 of Religion & Society'', Berkshire Publishing Group, USA, 2001, p. 56-57</ref> Brookes publicized the meeting through his magazine ''Truth'', and devoted substantial space to summaries of the speeches.

Most of the speakers were [[dispensationalism|dispensationalists]], and the Niagara Conference introduced many evangelical Protestants to dispensationalist teaching.  The messages generally centered on the doctrines of [[Christ]], the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]], the Bible, [[Mission (Christian)|missions]] and [[prophecy]]. [[Premillennialism]] and [[dispensationalism]] were defended and taught.<ref> Donald W. Dayton, ''The Variety of American Evangelicalism'', Univ. of Tennessee Press, USA, 2001, p. 11</ref> 

In 1878, 14 fundamental [[Creed|creeds]] were established by evangelical pastors.<ref> Gary J. Dorrien, ''The Remaking of Evangelical Theology'', Westminster John Knox Press, USA, 1998, p. 15 </ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Khatab |first=Sayed |url=http://cairo.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.5743/cairo/9789774164996.001.0001/upso-9789774164996 |title=Understanding Islamic Fundamentalism: The Theological and Ideological Basis of al-Qa'ida's Political Tactics |date=2011-12-15 |publisher=American University in Cairo Press |isbn=978-977-416-499-6 |doi=10.5743/cairo/9789774164996.003.0002}}</ref> The Niagara Creed does not explicitly affirm dispensationalism, but it refers to several key dispensationalist beliefs, including the reality of the millennium, the restoration of Israel, and the distinction between the judgment of the saved and the damned. 

Starting in 1883, it was held in [[Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario]] at the [[Queen's Royal Hotel]] and its pavilion.<ref> David S. New, ''Christian Fundamentalism in America: A Cultural History'', McFarland, USA, 2014, p. 113 </ref> In 1890, the Niagara Creed was officially adopted.<ref> Frances FitzGerald, ''The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America'', Simon and Schuster, USA, 2017, p. 82</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*''In Pursuit of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850'', by David O. Beale, BJU Press, 1986 {{ISBN|0-89084-351-1}}

[[Category:Christian fundamentalism in North America]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1876]]
[[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 1897]]
[[Category:Christian conferences]]
[[Category:19th-century church councils]]
[[Category:Protestant councils and synods]]