GALENISTS, a sect of religionists, who were so named from their first teacher Galenus Abrahams de Haan, a doctor of medicine, and a minister among the Mennonites at Amsterdam. The schism in which the Galenists originated took place in 1664 in the church of the Flemings at Amsterdam, in which were the two preachers Galenus Abrahams de Haan and Samuel Apostool. Galenus was a man whom even his enemies applauded for his eloquence and penetration. His teaching was in accordance with the views of the Arminians, that the Christian religion is not so much a body of truths to be assented to as of precepts to be obeyed; and he would have admission to the church and to the title and privileges of brethren open to all persons who merely believe the books of the Old and New Testament to be divinely inspired, and lived pure and holy lives. The Galenists are equally ready with the Arminians to admit all persons into their communion who call themselves Christians, and they are the only Anabaptists in Holland who refuse to be called Mennonites. The Apostoolians admit no one to membership who does not profess to believe the doctrines contained in the public formula of their religion. Mosheim's Hist., Cent. xvii., sect. ii., pt. ii., chap. v., 7; Wagner, Amsterdam, pt. ii., pp. 195 and 237; Schyn's Plenior Deductio Historiae Mennonit., cap. xv., p. 318, and cap. xviii., p. 237; Description of the City of Amsterdam, in Dutch, vol. i., p. 500, &c.; Stoupa, La Religion des Hollandais, p. 20, &c.; and Bentheim's Holländischer Schul und Kirchenstaat, pt. i., chap. xix., p. 830.