[1] During the lifetime of Uchimura Kanzō, a graduate of Amherst College, the non-church movement took several organizational forms.
His direct disciples were essentially paying members of his private school.
As subscribers to his magazine grew, supporters outside Tokyo sought some ongoing relationship with other non-church members.
Uchimura organized the Kyōyukai (教友会, or literally, "Meeting of Friends in Faith") in 1905, with 14 branches and 119 members.
The purpose of this organization was defined in the following profession of faith:[2] We who believe in God and his Only Son whom he sent (into the world), uniting together, form the Kyōyukai.