PHILADELPHIAN Society, in Ecclesiastical History, was an
obscure and inconsiderable society of mystics. They were
formed about the end of the seventeenth century by an
English female fanatic, whose name was Jane Leadley. This
woman seduced, by her visions, predictions, and doctrines,
several disciples, amongst whom were some persons of
learning. She believed that all dissensions amongst Chris-
tians would cease, and that the kingdom of the Redeemer
would become a scene of charity and felicity, if Christians,
disregarding the forms of doctrine or discipline in their se-
veral communions, would all join in committing their souls
to the care of the internal guide, to be instructed, govern-
ed, and formed by his divine impulse and suggestions. She
even went farther than this, pretending a divine commission
to proclaim the approach of the communion of saints; and
declaring that the society established by herself was the
true kingdom of Christ. One of her leading doctrines was
that of the final restoration of all intelligent beings to per-
fection and happiness.