AfflSIORYOFTHE
DISQPlES/CHRISr
IN OHIO
Gc
977.1
W64h
1529099
aENEALCX5Y
COl-LECTJOK
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
||!||jjl| ll| l>llll{!ll||f|ll||llipi!|l|||:
■^. > i a^% 3 1 833 02399 4285
(/ ' .y J,
GENEALOGY
977.1
W64H
HIRAM COLLEGE, HIRAM, OHIO
A History of the Disciples
of Christ in Ohio"
BY
ALANSON WILCOX
ERRATA
Page 36 : Picture of Edwin Wakefield is misnamed ; does not
belong.
Page 271 : Pictures top row, left to right, should read: I. Mrs.
A M.Atkinson; 2. Mrs. R. R. Sloan. Second line: I.Mrs.
Lois White MacLeod; 2. Mrs. M. M. B. Goodwin.
CINCINNATI
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Copyright, 1918
The Standard Publishing Company
1529©99
CONTENTS
PAGE
Intboduction" 11
I
The Chuech of Cheist 13
n
Falling Away 21
in
EpEfoemees 28
IV
Restoeation" Movement 35
V
The Restoeation Movement and the West-
EEN Reseeve 40
YI
Evangelism on the Westeen Reseeve 48
vn
PlONEEE MiNISTEES OF THE WeSTEEN ReSEEVE 57
vni
The Docteine Then aiitd Now 64
IX
Geeat Leadees 67
CONTENTS
X
HiEAM College 84
XI
A Seemon and a Lefe 103
xn
In the Civil Was 114
XIII
The Fiest Restoeation Chuech in Ohio . . . 121
XIV
In Southeen Ohio 132
XV
Music 147
XVI
HiSTOEic Dedication Seemon Deliveeed by
J. S. West at Libeety Chapel, Beown
Co., 0., in 1874 158
xvn
Histoeio Dedication Seemon — Continued . . . 169
xvni
1798— Waltee Scott— 1861 182
XTX
The Restoeation in Cincinnati 191
XX
The **Cheistian Standaed" 205
4
CONTENTS
XXI
1820— Isaac Eeeett— 1888 209
xxn
The Standard Publishing Company 215
xxin
MoNiNGER, Davis and Rowe 224
XXIV
The Field or Liteeatuhe 231
XXV
OuE Oeganized Woek 237
XXVI
Maey Alice Lyons 244
XXVII
The Chttech at Hillsboeo 252
xxvm
Central Ohio 255
XXIX
The Ohio Cheistian Missionary Society. . . 263
XXX
Annals of the 0. C. M. S 275
XXXI
Sunday Schools in Ohio 291
5
CONTENTS
The Sunday School Ceisis 299
X XX TTT
Canton and Columbus 305
XXXIV
PlONEEES IN NOETHWESTEEN OhIO 316
XXXV
Miscellaneous Items of Interest 342
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio Frontispiece
Pioneer Preachers of Northern Ohio 34
Pioneer Preachers, Western Reserve 39
Some Ohio Pioneers 47
Sixty Years Ago in "Warren 52
Western Reserve Churches and Ministers . . 56
Old Meeting-house, Fredericktown, Ohio .... 66
Garfield Monument, Cleveland, Ohio . , 77
Western Reserve Eclectic Institute and Prin-
cipals of the Institute 83
Hiram College Presidents 86
Miss Almeda Booth of Early Days and
Faculty of 1900 88
Members of Faculty of Hiram CoUege, 1900
and Later 90
M. L. Bates, President, and Trustees of
Hiram College 94
Trustees of Hiram College — Continued 96
Telescope, Hiram College, Presented by
Lathrop Cooley 98
Library and Observatory, Hiram College . . . 100
Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. Building at
Hiram College 104
Euclid Avenue Meeting-house, Cleveland,
Ohio 112
7
ILLUSTRATIONS
Some Ohio Preachers 113
Sons of Veterans Who Have Kept the Faith 120
Some Pioneers of the Restoration 131
Parsonage Bnilt for Samuel Rogers 133
Meeting-house, New Antioch, Ohio 133
Ministers of Southern Ohio 138
Some Present-day Ohio Ministers 142
Southern Ohio Pioneers 146
Central Christian Church, Ninth Street, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio 148
Ministers of Cincinnati 151
More Restoration Ministers 157
Pioneer Preachers to Whom Ohio Owes
Much 168
Some Faithful Ministers 180
Pioneers in Southern Ohio 181
Cincinnati Pioneers, Prominent in City and
Church 190
Stockholders of the Christian Publishing As-
sociation, Cleveland, Ohio, 1866 204
Officers of The Standard Publishing Com-
pany, Organized 1872, in Cincinnati,
Ohio 214
The Standard Publishing Company and Its
Executive Committee, 1918 217
Editors and Contributors, Christian Stand-
ard 219
Some Standard Contributors 221
Contributors of To-day to Christian Stand-
ard 223
8
ILLUSTRATIONS
Bible-school Workers Past and Present,
Standard Series Quarterlies and Peri-
odicals 226
Cincinnati Preachers of Recent Years 233
Leaders in Organized Work 236
Ohio Women Who Helped to Organize the
C. W. B. M. and Gave Aid to Make It
a Success 240
Leaders and Helpers, Ohio C. W. B. M., 1917 243
More Restoration Leaders 259
Secretary and Board of Managers, 0. C. M.
S., 1917 262
Other Leaders in 0. C. M. S. Work 265
Ohio's Good and Faithful Daughters Whose
Works Follow Them 271
Prominent Secretaries, 0. C. M, S., and
Noted Preachers of Ohio 274
Mt. Vernon Female Seminary, Conducted by
R. R. Sloan and Mrs. Sloan 277
Map of Ohio Counties — Number of Churches
in Each 282
Ohio Restoration Workers 290
A Group of Restoration Leaders 315
Some Ohio Ministers 327
Prominent Ohio Disciples 341
Benefactors of the Ohio Work 346
Tom L. Johnson Monument, Cleveland, Ohio 349
INTRODUCTION
LJISTORY enriches the mind, gratifies a worthy
desire to be informed on past events, enables
ns to avail ourselves of the experience of onr
predecessors, informs and regulates our judg-
ment, and is profitable for reproof and correc-
tion. The earliest records of humanity are found
in the sacred Scripture, and for that reason they
have a strong claim on our diligent study. Next
to inspired history, the deeds of our forefathers
should receive our attention. To disciples of
Christ a knowledge of our disciple history is
desirable. Do the deeds and teaching of the fore-
fathers correspond with the Scriptural require-
ments? A third generation is now enjoying the
results of the faith, practice and trials of the
forefathers. Time, culture and science have
wrought transformation, but human nature is the
same and God's cure for sin is unchanged. Look-
ing over the deeds of the forefathers, we can
correct our mistakes and hand on to coming
generations all they did which was Scriptural.
Many eminent disciples of Ohio have not
been noticed in this book for lack of space. Per-
haps at our centennial in 1927 some one will write
a complete history of disciples in Ohio.
u
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
HTHE church of Christ began at nine o'clock in
the morning on the day of Pentecost succeed-
ing the crucifixion of Christ.
When it is spoken of as a church, Christ is
the foundation, and the high priest to officiate
for its members. When it is presented as a
body, Christ is the head and gives forth its guid-
ing principles. When it is represented as a king-
dom, Christ is the king to rule in and reign over
the subjects.
These are not three different institutions, but
are identified as varying views of the same insti-
tution. (Col. 1:18-24; Eph. 1:22; 4:15; Matt.
16:15-19; 1 Cor. 3:11.)
Ihe church was built on Christ, not on the
person of Christ, but on the truth that represents
Him, ''that he is the Christ, the Son of God."
When Peter uttered this truth (Matt. 16:16),
Christ said, ''Thou art Peter [Petros], and upon
this rock [petra] I will build my church."
So the church was to be built on the petra,
or confession, or truth, that Jesus is the Son of
God, and not on Petros. Paul, speaking of the
passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea,
says: "They were baptized unto Moses in the
cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same
spiritual food; and did aU drink the same spir-
itual drink : for they drank of that spiritual rock
[petra] that followed them: and that rock
13
A HISTORY OF THE
[petra] was Christ." This passage expressly
states that the petra is Christ. Prospectively
Christ says of this divine truth annunciated by
Peter, that ''the gates of heU shall not prevail
against it."
Accordingly Christ died, and on the third day
rose from the dead. The gates of hell did not
prevail against Him. So He is declared to be
"the Son of God with power, according to the
Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the
dead." This great truth standing for Christ is
forever established.
It is a tried stone. The prophet says: "Be-
hold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foun-
dation; he that believeth shall not make haste."
Peter applies this prophecy to Christ as follows :
"If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, rejected
indeed of men, but with God elect and precious,
ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ." Because it is contained in Scripture:
"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief comer stone, elect,
precious : and he that believeth on him shall not
be put to shame" (1 Pet. 2:3-6).
In the same chapter Peter refers to Christ
as a stone of stumbling, and a rock (petra) of
offense. So it is aflSrmed that Christ is the rock
(petra) on which the church is built. When
and how was this stone tried?
He came in fulfillment of the prophets and
types, and so was tried. He was tried by Satan
in three of the strongest temptations: the lust
of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of
14
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
life; and Christ was victorions. He was tried
by death and the grave, and prevailed over them.
After these trials He could be laid as a corner
stone.
So Peter, on the memorable day of Pentecost,
an account of which is found in the second chap-
ter of Acts of Apostles, declares that God raised
Him from the dead — took Him into heaven, gave
Him all power in heaven and earth and made
Him both Lord and Christ.
The angels declared that, as He went, so He
should come again. The disciples who gazed
heavenward lost track of Him. What was done
with Him they did not know until the Holy
Spirit removed their ignorance by declaring Him
Lord and Christ. So no one can believe in Him
as Lord but in or by the Holy Spirit.
He came as a spiritual presence as He prom-
ised (Matt. 28:20), and has ever been with His
true disciples. The coronation and lordship of
Jesus were declared by Peter on the memorable
Pentecost. The foundation of His church hav-
ing been laid, three thousand persons were im-
mediately built into the church as living stones.
The church, the body of Christ, on that day re-
ceived the Holy Spirit and He has dwelt in the
body ever since. All who become members of
the body have their spirits in some way touched
by the Holy Spirit and are made partakers of
the divine nature and can never die. They take
Christ at His word, and He so declared.
As a kingdom, Christ's reign began in Jeru-
salem, and the earthly part of the kingdom is
identical with His church, which is His body on
earth. The conditions of membership in the
church are found in Acts of Apostles as preached
2 15
A HISTORY OF THE
by the inspired apostles Peter and Paul and
Spirit-directed evangelists.
There are nine successful cases of conversion
recorded in Acts of Apostles. On the Pentecost
after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2), Peter
preached the resurrection and coronation of
Christ and declared the infallible proofs of His
lordship, and commanded the three thousand be-
lievers to repent and be baptized for remission
of their sins. The heathen jailor, who knew
nothing of Christ, was commanded to believe,
and then, to produce faith, Paul spake unto him
the word of the Lord. This word of the Lord
included the command to be baptized; and so
straightway, the same hour of the night, he was
baptized (Acts 16:33).
Paul, on his way to Damascus to persecute
the Christians, met the Lord and became a be-
liever. And after three days of praying, Ananias
told him to be baptized and wash away his sins.
Immediately he obeyed. No person in the apos-
tolic age who heard and believed the gospel,
ever waited one hour before he was baptized.
Paul waited three days before he knew he ought
to be baptized (Acts 9).
The Samaritans, when they believed Philip
preaching the things concerning the kingdom of
God, and the name of Jesus Christ, were bap-
tized, both men and women (Acts 8:12). Philip
preached Jesus to the Ethiopian treasurer of
Queen Candace, and the treasurer, when they
came to a certain water, said: ''What hinders
me to be baptized?" The answer is: ''If thou
believest with all thy heart, thou mayest." He
said: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God." On this confession Philip baptized
16
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
him, and the celebrated convert went on his way
rejoicing (Acts 8:35-39).
Cornelius was the first Gentile convert. Mir-
acles were wrought to satisfy Peter and the
Jews that it was right to baptize him. He was
a devout, benevolent man and in a place of
authority in military affairs, but he was unsaved,
according to the new dispensation of God's
mercy under Jesus Christ. So he was told words
whereby he should be saved. The Holy Spirit
baptism was given to him as to the apostles at
the beginning of the church, and Jesus was the
baptizer. The law of pardon and induction into
the kingdom demanded that he should be bap-
tized in water. Peter had it revealed to him
that in every nation he that feareth God and
worketh righteousness is accepted. He was bap-
tized and saved from the condemned world
(Acts 10 and 11).
Lydia, the seller of purple at Thyatira, at a
devotional meeting by the river-side, heard Paul
preach, and the Lord opened her heart and she
was baptized (Acts 16).
The Ephesians, having only been baptized
unto John's baptism, corrected their mistake and
''were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus"
(Acts 19). Many of the Corinthians, hearing,
believed and were baptized.
All the conditions of church membership are
not mentioned in each case of conversion, but all
must have heard the gospel, believed, confessed
Christ, been baptized, received the remission of
their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The
creed of the church was Christ, and not a se-
lected set of dogmas. Only believers in Christ
were baptized. The authority in the church or
17
A HISTORY OF THE
body or Mngdom was the authority of Christ.
It was transferred to the apostles by Christ
under the figure of keys or a throne or in specific
instruction (Matt. 16:19; Matt. 19:28; John 20:
21-23; Luke 10:16). The apostolic authority is
in the New Testament Scriptures. During the
personal ministry of Christ he gave out the gen-
eral principles of his kingdom and the great com-
mission to his apostles (Matt. 5, 6 and 7; Matt.
28:18-20).
The apostles, as guided by the Holy Spirit,
gave the specific instruction in harmony with
Christ's com mission as to how to come into the
kingdom and how to live as loyal subjects. The
disciples ''continued stedfastly in the apostles'
teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread
and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). The disciples
met on the first day of the week to break bread
and remember Christ in his sufferings and death
and resurrection (Acts 20:7). They made of-
ferings on the first day of the week for benevo-
lences and for carrying on their work. They
did this voluntarily, as the Lord prospered
them, and with a cheerful heart (1 Cor. 16:1,
2). They settled their differences by confer-
ences under apostolic authority (Acts 15).
The law of expediency was used where there
was no direct revelation. The Mosaic law ruled
before Christ's law began. Christ honored the
law of Moses by living under it, and set it aside
when his church began (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14;
Rom. 10:4). The moral precepts of the Mosaic
law are reinforced by apostolic teaching. The
law of the Sabbath began after the exodus from
Egypt (Deut. 5:15; Ex. 20:10), and was never
reinforced by apostolic command.
18
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The disciples met on the first day of the week,
called the Lord's day, to break bread (Acts 20:
7; 1 Cor. 11). The word of Christ was to dwell
in them richly in aU wisdom, and they were to
teach and admonish one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs. Not only did they
set aside the law of Moses, which was to perish,
but also the commandments and doctrines of
men. They were to draw out of their faith all
the Christian graces and virtues, and then an
abundant entrance was promised to them into
the everlasting kingdom of heaven (2 Pet. 1:
5-11).
When the first church at Jerusalem was dis-
persed they went everywhere preaching the
Word, making believers, planting churches and
doing the will of God. That is what Christ
came for, to do the will of God (Heb. 10). The
early Christians took God, in Christ, at His word,
and were guided by His will. As to good works,
they were careful to maintain them, and the
apostles gave the superintendency of this over
to deacons (Acts 6). Paul made collections for
the Jerusalem poor. The early disciples cared
for exposed children, and widows over seventy
years old (1 Tim. 5). Here is warrant for
orphanages and homes for the aged.
All the primitive disciples were missionary
in spirit and practice. Paul was the most
abundant in labors. He went forth from Anti-
och, the first chiirch where Jews and Gen-
tiles were associated together. He planted
churches in many of the principal cities of west-
ern Asia and eastern Europe. He wrote many
letters to churches and individuals. His labors
and influence have had more to do in the shap-
19
A HISTORY OF THE
ing of the history of Christian nations than
those of any man that ever fignred in the affairs
of the world.
The leaders in the original chnrch were apos-
tles, prophets, evangelists, elders, deacons and
various classes of helpers. Apostles must have
seen the Christ before and after his resurrec-
tion. There were twelve of them (Matt. 10:2-
4). Judas Iscariot fell away by betraying the
Lord. Paul took his place by the call of Christ
(Acts 9). Matthias was selected by eleven apos-
tles to fill the vacancy, without Christ 's authority
and before the Holy Spirit came to them.
Prophets assisted the apostles in starting and
establishing the kingdom. Evangelists continue
as preachers so long as the whole world has not
been reached. Bishops, elders or overseers pre-
sided over the spiritual interests of congrega-
tions. Deacons attended to the finances and be-
nevolences of the church. Any Christian may
help carry out the will and purpose of Christ,
as the circumstances may demand, but, that
order may be maintained in the Lord's work,
evangelists, elders and deacons are authorized
leaders. Individually, the disciples are called
Christians, saints, brethren; and, in a collective
capacity, church of Christ or church of God.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
II
FALLING AWAY
"yHERE came a falling away from apostolic
teaching and practice. It commenced in the
time of the apostles. The letters to the Gala-
tians and Hebrews give such indications. In the
second letter to the Thessalonians this falling
away is positively mentioned, and it is stated
that the mystery had already begun (2 Thess.
2:3-10). Judaizing teachers, as in the time of
Christ, had made void the law of God by their
traditions. Specially was this true after Con-
stantine, in A. D. 311-327, adopted Christianity
as the religion of the Roman Empire. Persecu-
tions against Christians had largely ceased. But
when emperor and political leaders began to
inject heathen customs and legislate for the
church, the beautiful simplicity of original Chris-
tianity was perverted.
In the original churches there were elders, or
bishops and deacons, connected with each con-
gregation. At the close of the second century a
change had commenced. The jurisdiction of
bishops had begun to extend over dependent
churches in the neighborhood of the towns and
cities. They began to place themselves above
the ''laity" and grew into a distinct order. The
bishop, in a large city, acquired a precedence
over other churches in the same district and
21
A HISTORY OF THE
thus the metropolitan system grew up. A higher
grade of eminence was accorded to the bishops
and churches of the principal cities. Then the
bishops of principal cities began to claim pre-
eminence; and when the seat of empire was
transferred from Rome to Constantinople, there
came up a controversy as to pre-eminence that
divided the church, and so we have the eastern
Greek Catholic Church and the western Roman
Catholic Church. These churches alternately
excluded each other from time to time, till the
division was permanent. The western church
continued to observe the Lord's Supper every
first day of the week for about three hundred
years. The Greeks kept up this custom for
about seven hundred years. Clinical baptisms
(so called) and sprinkling water on babies for
baptism were gradually introduced till popes
and councils in 1311 usurped the authority of
Christ and legalized sprinkling as baptism in
the western or Roman Catholic Church. The
eastern church adhered to immersion, but fell
away from believers' baptism to baptizing in-
fants and from Christ's command to trine im-
mersion.
Following, now, the western church, all kinds
of innovations were rapidly introduced till there
is in the so-called Roman Catholic Church little
semblance to the New Testament church. It is
a religion made up of Jewish rites, heathen
superstitions, traditions and political intrigues.
In the so-called church they have holy water,
the fast of Lent, monastic vows, priestly vest-
ments and the sign of the cross, praying for the
dead, purgatory and paschal candles, invocation
of saints, images and extreme unction, sacrifices
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
for the dead, wax candles, the real presence,
compulsory celibacy, assumption of temporal
power, canonization of saints, redemption of
penances, monasticism, auricular confessions,
elevation of the host, Bible forbidden to laity,
indulgences, rosary of the Virgin Mary, sale of
indulgences. Papal usurpation, priest drinking
the wine instead of the people, infant baptism,
sprinkling water instead of immersion. Papal
primacy, tradition superior to the Scriptures.
Bishop Newton observes: **The foundation of
papacy was laid, indeed, in the Apostles' days,
but the superstructure was raised by degrees,
and several ages passed before the building was
completed, and the mansion was revealed in full
perfection."
Costerus, a popular writer of his day, says:
''The excellency of the unwritten word doth far
surpass the Scripture, which the apostles left
us in parchments: the one is written by the
finger of God, the other by the pen of apostles.
The Scripture is a dead letter, written on paper
or parchment, which may be razed or wrested at
pleasure, but tradition is written in men's hearts,
which can not be altered.
''The Scripture is like a scabbard that will
receive any sword, either leaden or wooden or
brazen, and suffereth itself to be drawn by any
interpretation. Tradition retains the true sword
in the scabbard; that is, the true sense of the
Scripture in the sheath of the letter. The Scrip-
tures do not contain clearly all the mysteries of
religion, for they were not given to that end to
prescribe an actual form of faith; but tradition
contains in it all truth, it comprehends all the
mysteries of faith, and all the estate of the
23
A HISTORY OF THE
Christian religion, and resolves all doubts which
may arise concerning faith; and from hence it
will follow that tradition is the interpreter of all
Scriptures, the judge of all controversies, the
removal of all errors, and from whose judgment
we ought not to appeal to any other judge; yes,
rather, all judges are bound to regard and fol-
low this judgment." These tradition teachers
are constantly advocating their theory.
"The barriers of the ancient simplicity and
truth," says Mosheim, ''being once violated, the
state of theology waxed worse and worse; and
the amount of the impure and superstitious ad-
ditions to the religion of Christ is almost in-
credible. The controversial theologians of the
East continued to darken the great doctrines of
revelation by the most subtle distinctions, and I
know not what philosophical jargon. Those who
instructed the people at large made it their sole
care to imbue them more and more with ig-
norance, superstition, reverence for the clergy,
and admiration of empty ceremonies; and to
divest them of all sense and knowledge of true
piety. Nor is this strange, for the blind — that
is, for the most part grossly ignorant and
thoughtless — ^were the leaders of the blind. The
summary, it may be stated, led to pray to saints
and worship their images ; which trusted to relics
to remove defects of body and soul; which relied
upon the fires of purgatory to remove sin, and
on purchased prayers to remove purgatory.
Which found cleansing efficacy everywhere but
in the despised blood of Christ, and even em-
ployed oil taken from sepulchral lamps of mar-
tyrs for the purpose — which subverted all things
with tradition."
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The falling away is also covered in the Scrip-
tures by the expression going ''into the wilder-
ness." They started in the apostolic age and
reached the wilderness in A. D. 666. From that
date the Papacy was in full swing. Some of
the things listed as against them in this chapter
were concocted and introduced later than A. D.
666. When will they all cease?
That the church fell away from apostolic
teaching and practice, and went into the wilder-
ness, is evident. It will be remembered that,
when the Israelites were rescued from Egyptian
bondage, they came to Mt. Sinai in fifty days,
and Moses, as mediator, received for them the
law of the Lord. They pledged themselves to
obey the law. They were soon instructed to send
spies into the proposed promised land. All of
the spies, except Caleb and Joshua, reported that
it would be impossible to take the land. The
people, also murmured, and distrusted the leader-
ship of the Almighty, and were compelled to
wander in the wilderness forty years. All the
men of Israel who were over twenty years of
age when they left Egypt, perished, except Caleb
and Joshua (Num. 14:30). The Lord predicted
this forty years' wandering in the wilderness.
This suggests to the minds of some that he had
predicted the duration of the church wandering
in its wilderness. P. Y. Pendleton, in his book
''The Great Demonstration," declares that "the
Lord tells us several times that the wandering
will last 1,260 prophetic days or years. The
count for these years begins at the appointed
time (Dan. 11:29), which is A. D. 666, and they
end in A. D. 1926. The first time these years
are given is in Daniel, and the words are about
25
A HISTORY OF THE
the little or western or Catholic horse, which is
* Hades,' and which drives the fourth and last
division of the church into the wilderness just
as the eagle gives his call, and the words are:
'And he shall speak words against the Most
High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most
High: and he shall think to change the times
and the law: and they shall be given into his
hands until a time and times and a half time'
(Dan. 7:25), or 1,260 years. 'And the woman
[the church] fled into the wilderness, where she
hath a place prepared of God, that there they
may nourish her a thousand, two hundred and
threescore days' (Rev. 12:6), or 1,260 years."
During the period of 1,260 years there were
individual saints and communities that tried to
walk in the light of God's truth. There were
Albigenses, Nestorians, Waldenses and others
that tried to serve the Lord acceptably. The
light of God's truth, however, was darkened —
the Scriptures were taken from the common peo-
ple — and so we have the Dark Ages. "Where
there is no vision, the people perish." In the
days when Samuel ministered unto the Lord be-
fore Eli, the word of the Lord was precious:
there was no open vision (1 Sam. 3:1). So, in
the dark days of the apostasy, the vision of faith
was obscured, and, like the blind man in the
time of Christ, they saw men as trees walking.
Fisher, in the history of the Christian church,
makes this record: ''In the devotional system of
the Middle Ages the celestial hierarchy of angels
had an important place. Apparitions of angels
were believed to be not infrequent. They were
protectors against the demoniacal spirits with
which the air was peopled. The swarming, busy,
26
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
indefatigable, malignant spirits claimed the
world of men as their own. They assumed
grotesque and repulsive forms. Satan was fig-
ured as having horns, a tail and the cloven foot.
Connected with this ever-present superstition,
the torment of the young and the old, was the
belief in magic spells and the efficacy of talis-
mans. The patent reliance of the timid, tempted,
persecuted soul was in the help and intercession
of the saints. These multiplied in number as
time advanced. Every church, every village had
its tutelary spirits. The miracles which they
were believed to have wrought were number-
less. . . . Far above all the saints in the popular
veneration was the Virgin Mary. In the numer-
ous hymns to Mary she was described in most
glowing terms of praise, and was exalted to a
position of almost controlling influence over the
divine Son. With the growing worship of mar-
tyrs and saints, the interest in their relics in-
creased. They were required in every new
church that was to be consecrated. They were
usually placed upon the altar or beneath it.
They were worn upon the person. Of their ef-
ficiency in working miracles there was no doubt.
An oath taken upon the relics of saints was
clothed with awful sanctity. Its violation was
a terrible sin. The Crusades afforded the means
of gratifying the desire for relics, which became
proportionately more intense. The sale of them
grew to be a branch of trade. Vast sums of
money were expended in purchasing relics, pieces
of apparel or bones of the saints. The homage
paid to saints and relics amounted to a kind of
polytheism."
27
A HISTORY OF THE
III
REFORMERS
F
took centnries for the chnrch to fall away
and go into the wilderness. It will not be
thought strange if it takes centuries to return
to apostolic teaching and simplicity. Some good
things were developed during the Dark Ages.
Music was invented, art was developed, archi-
tecture was fascinating, but Christian faith and
living waned. The Nestorians and others pre-
served a remnant of the primitive order of
things. The day, however, began to dawn in due
time.
From the twelfth century there were found
here and there antisacerdotals who indulged in
invectives against the immoralities of the priest-
hood and their usurpation of power. Radical
and influential persons began to move to the
front, as Huss, Jerome of Prague and John
Wyclif. One hundred and fifty years before the
days of Luther, Wyclif antagonized the preten-
sions of the Papacy. He set aside Papal decrees
by a direct appeal to the Holy Scriptures. He
denied transubstantiation ; condemned auricular
confession ; held that the power to bind and loose
is of no effect unless it conforms to the doctrine
of Christ; opposed the multiplied ranks of the
clergy — popes, cardinals, patriarchs, monks and
canons; repudiated the doctrine of indulgences,
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the doctrine of the excellency of poverty as it
lay at the foundation of the mendicant orders;
set himself against pictures in worship and the
celibacy of the clergy. He predicted there would
arise from monks themselves men who would
abandon their false interpretations of Scrip-
tures and would try to reconstruct the church in
the spirit of Paul. He translated the Scriptures
into the English language in 1384. Though this
translation was only in manuscript, it had a
powerful influence in England. Huss, on the
Continent, sympathized with Wyclif and, in 1415,
was burned as a heretic. One year later Jerome
of Prague was martyred. Wyclif is called the
morning star of the Reformation. Fifty years
after his death his enemies took up his bones,
burned them and scattered the ashes on near-by
waters.
Savonarola, an Italian priest, cried out
against Romanism, and was burned to death and
his ashes were thrown into the river Arno in
1498. Tyndale, a century and a half after Wyclif,
and after printing had been discovered, put a
printed Bible into the hands of the people.
He had to go to the Continent to do his work.
His enemies applied the extreme argument and
strangled him at the stake. So the heroic spirit
of the father of the open Bible passed from
earth.
The Reformation began in Germany in 1517.
Luther had been a monk, but his insight caused
him to become doubtful of the doctrines of the
church. He adopted as the watchword of the
Reformation, ''The just shall live by faith."
To defray the expense of building the great
Cathedral of St. Peter's at Rome, Leo X. pushed
29
A HISTORY OF THE
the sale of indulgences. So great had this abuse
become that it was even farmed out to bankers
and others for private gain. The Primate of
Germany, a young and very immoral archbishop,
had bought his ecclesiastical dignities at such an
enormous sum that the Pope was moved to aid
him by a special dispensation of indulgences.
The archbishop employed Tetzel, a Dominican
monk of questionable character, as agent for
these — a sort of sales manager — throughout Ger-
many. Tetzel traveled over the country crying:
''Pour in your money, and whatever crimes you
have committed, or may commit, are forgiven!
Pour in your coin, and the souls of your friends
and relatives will fly from purgatory the mo-
ment they hear the clink of your money at the
bottom of the box. ' ' Luther preached vigorously
in "Wittenberg against the traffic in indulgences.
In October, 1517, Luther nailed to his church
door the celebrated theses, boldly denying the
Pope's right to sell indulgences, and declaring
the remission of sins is from God alone. Tetzel
made reply to this, but the Pope gave little at-
tention to it at first, saying: ''It is a quarrel of
the monks." But Dr. Eck, chancellor of the
University of Ingolstat, published a book show-
ing that Luther was guilty of the same heresy
alleged against John Huss. In controversy with
Dr. Eck, Luther maintained that the Papacy was
a development some centuries after the rise of
Christianity, by human arrangement. At this,
Leo X. became aroused to the significance of the
movement started by Luther in Germany.
Luther was excommunicated after having
been summoned to the Diet of Augsburg in 1518,
and his books were condemned to be publicly
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
burned. But Luther burned the Papal bull of
excommunication in the public square of Witten-
berg. Summoned to the Diet of Worms in 1521,
the emperor, Charles V., offered him safe con-
duct. Luther's friends warned him not to go,
but the intrepid reformer said: "I will go to
Worms if there be as many devils there as tiles
upon the roofs of the houses."
Melancthon drew up articles of faith, which
were sanctioned by Luther, and so we have the
Augsburg Confession of Faith, which is adopted
by the Lutherans.
In Switzerland, Zwingli, born in 1484, became
the leader of the Reformation, and is regarded
as the founder of the German Reformed Church.
John Calvin fled from persecution in France
to Switzerland. He followed St. Augustine
rather than the Scriptures, and so we have the
doctrine of predestination. In Scotland the fol-
lowers of Calvin were called Presbyterians. In
England, Henry VIII. quarreled with the Pope
and started the Church of England. Two hun-
dred years later Wesley tried to inject more
spirituality into the church, and, as the result,
we have Methodism. Now, in our United States,
there are scores of denominational, sectarian
churches, all of them better than the medieval
Roman Catholic or Greek Catholic churches.
Are we not in a wilderness of creeds? What
about the church of Godf No historian, aside
from God, can write that history. For 1,260
years it is wandering in the wilderness. The
true church is not in Catholicism. Is it in
Protestantism?
In 1870 a committee of disciples from the
Ohio Christian Missionary Society bore fraternal
8 31
A HISTORY OF THE
greetings to the Baptists of Ohio. That com-
mittee was composed of eminent men: Isaac Er-
rett, R. E. Sloan, R. M. Bishop, Thomas Munnell,
B. A. Hinsdale and W. T. Moore. In their greet-
ing they stated:
"As a people, we are seeking the restoration
of the Christianity of the New Testament, in
letter and in spirit, in principle and in practice.
We clearly see to be involved in this the over-
throw of denominationalism, the repudiation of
human creeds as authoritative expressions of
faith or bonds of fellowship, the annihilation of
party names, and the reunion of God's scattered
people in one body, under the leadership of Jesus
the Christ, that they may be bound together
simply by a common faith in the Lord Jesus and
a common loyalty to him as their only sovereign,
and with one mind and one heart strive together
for the faith of the gospel. In view of the ter-
rible apostasy which all find embodied in the
Church of Rome, we look with lively sympathy
on every Protestant movement tending away
from Babylon and toward Jerusalem. From the
time of Wyclif down, we pause to praise God for
every glorious revolutionary movement that
tends to break the spell of priestly authority and
guide captive souls out into the light of God's
word.
''We rejoice to-day in every indication of
restlessness and disquiet among Protestant
sects which renews the protest against human
authority and sighs for a purer and completer
loyalty to Jesus than Protestantism has yet
reached; and we are confident that God has,
among these great Protestant parties, a people
yet to be called out from remaining errors and
32
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
corruptions and enrolled under the glorious old
banner which the apostles unfurled in Jerusalem.
But we are compelled to regard all these Prot-
estant movements as unsatisfactory; and, while
gratefully recognizing the obligations we are
under to the men and the parties that urged
on the work of reformation, alike among the
Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, inde-
pendents and Methodists, we are still constrained
to regard their best performances as falling
short of the desired object, if the restoration of
primitive Christianity is had in view as the great
object to be attained.
''As movements tending onward toward the
grand object sought, we have pleasure in them;
but as furnishing the consummation so devoutly
wished for, we are compelled to repudiate them.
The church of Christ and the Christianity of
the New Testament, pure and simple, are not
found in any of these sects to-day, nor can they
be found in any possible combination of sects."
Has not the time come when the church of
Christ shall be called out of Babylon — and the
wilderness of creeds?
33
A HISTORY OF THE
Almond B. Green Sidney Rigdon J. W. Lanphear
PIONEER PREACHERS OF NORTHERN OHIO
34
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
1529039
IV
RESTORATION MOVEMENT
'T'HE church of Christ, which began by his au-
thority on the day of Pentecost succeeding
his crucifixion, an account of which is found in
the second chapter of Acts of Apostles, after a
series of years wandered or fell away from
apostolic teaching and the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, and went into the wilderness. After a
long, dark period in the wilderness of apostasy,
individuals and communities began to feel after
a better order of things. The light began to
dawn. Reformers and reformations multiplied.
But they divided among themselves and each
community crystallized around the teaching of
its respective leader. They all said: ''Thus far
shalt thou go in reformation, and no farther.
Our formula of doctrine, our creed, contains
what is in the Bible, and you must come to us
or you do not come to God."
In the early part of the nineteenth century,
individuals in various localities deplored the con-
dition in which our country was found relig-
iously. Infidelity and sectarianism were rampant.
The colleges had few professed Christians in
them. Dueling, slavery, intemperance and in-
fidelity were prevalent. Church-members were
throwing theological brickbats at one another.
Ministers did not exchange pulpits. The pre-
ss
A HISTORY OF THE
vailing religions thonght of the people was Cal-
vinistic. Bro. J. Harrison Jones nsed to de-
scribe it abont as follows: "If yon haven't got
religion, yon can 't get it. If yon get it, you
don't know it. If yon know it, yon haven't got it.
If yon have got it, yon can't lose it. If yon lose
it, you never had it." There was the mourners'
bench system of getting religion among the Meth-
odists, the anxious-seat among the Presbyterians,
and the religious experience among the Baptists,
and all these theories unknown to the Holy Scrip-
tures. The word of God was regarded as a dead
letter. Faith did not come as a result of testi-
mony, but was a direct gift from God.
At this critical time, in 1807-1809, there came
to this country from Scotland some God-fearing,
God - reverencing, Scripture - believing men —
Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander Camp-
bell. They were Seceder Presbyterians. They
tried to bring about a different order of things
in religion. Thomas Campbell got out a religious
declaration of independence in 1809. Alexander
Campbell sanctioned it. They adopted, in mat-
ters of faith, the motto: ''Where the Scriptures
speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent,
we are silent." This position led them to be
baptized, and they went to the Baptist Red Stone
Association in Pennsylvania. Scriptural investi-
gation led Alexander Campbell to make a distinc-
tion between the law (of Moses) and the gospel
under Christ. The Eed Stone Association op-
posed him, and he joined the Baptist Mahoning
Association in Ohio. He had planted a church
at Wellsburg, Va., and it was admitted to the
Ohio Association. The Campbells claimed that
infidelity is wrong, sectarianism is wrong, divi-
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
sions among believers are wrong, and the thing
to do is to restore original New Testament
Christianity. Seek unity in the household of be-
lievers, and, through this unity, go forth to the
evangelization and salvation of the world.
Alexander Campbell's teaching, personally
and through his periodical, the Christian Baptist,
permeated the Mahoning Association, and in
1827 the association employed Walter Scott as
an evangelist; and he preached the New Testa-
ment doctrine that baptism is for the remission
of sins, and he and the Campbells and the as-
sociated churches abandoned their human creeds
and joined together to restore original Chris-
tianity. They used the text of Jeremiah (chap.
6:16): ''Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the
ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where
is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall
find rest for your souls." They declared that
we should hearken to God and not to men.
The stupendous task of calling the religious
world back to the original teaching of the Word
in precept and principle, in doctrine and practice,
in faith hoping for apostolic results, is now upon
us. This position is so broad that all men can
stand upon it, and as narrow as Christ him-
self made it. Christ prayed for everything em-
braced in our plea. The future church must be
the one established by Christ and his apostles
on the day of Pentecost. If it was right then,
it is right now.
Paul tells us there are seven gospel unities
(Eph. 4:1-6). In order to restore the New
Testament church, there must be unity of wor-
ship, because there is one God; there must be
unity of authority, because there is one Lord and
37
A fflSTORY OF THE
Christ; there must be nnity of practice, because
there is one baptism; there must be unity of
preaching, because there is one faith; there must
be unity of organization, because there is one
body; there must be unity of life, because there
is one Spirit ; there must be unity of purpose, be-
cause there is one hope. The Great Commission
contains every essential and omits every non-
essential in God's ritual. It tells clearly what a
man must do to become a Christian. We must
preach it just as it is — all of it and nothing else.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Philander Green J. Harrison Jones Orange Hisgins
PIONEEE PEEACHEES, WESTEEN EESEEVE
A HISTORY OF THE
V
THE RESTORATION MOVEMENT AND THE
WESTERN RESERVE
T^HE Western Reserve includes eleven conn-
ties in northeastern Ohio. Before the Revo-
lutionary War, Connecticut claimed lands reach-
ing far west. After the formation of the United
States Government, she ceded all her lands to
the United States except three million acres, in
what is now northeastern Ohio. Originally this
tract was called ''The Connecticut Western Re-
serve." Later the word ''Connecticut" was
dropped off, and it is now known as "The West-
ern Reserve." It was settled mostly by people
from New England. The original lands were
surveyed into townships five miles square. At
the center of each township a village grew up.
Schools and churches were planted, and business
establishments were started. Our Pilgrim fore-
fathers came from England via Holland, and
were home missionaries. They were planters of
churches, the founders of schools and foreign
missionary societies. The settlers of the West-
ern Reserve brought their religion with them, so
that in nearly every township of the Reserve
was planted a Congregationalist church. In the
early part of the nineteenth century Baptist and
Methodist churches sprang up^ and later aU
kinds of religious and infidel fads.
40
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
In 1820 the Mahoning Baptist Association was
formed. The constitution declares: ''It is our
object to glorify God." After statiag items in
their creed, it closes by saying: ''Finally, we be-
lieve the Holy Scriptures to be the only certain
rule of faith and practice." Each church was
left, also, to form its own creed. Calvinism pre-
vailed. The human creeds would not stay fixed.
The association had sixteen churches. In 1826
-Wellsburg (Va.) Church was received into the
association. Alexander Campbell was one of the
messengers from Wellsburg Church to the Ma-
honing Baptist Association. The letter of intro-
duction discriminated between the Jewish and
Christian portions of the Bible, and repudiated
all human authority over the churches, and really
contained the germs of our Restoration move-
ment. Bro. Campbell frequently visited the min-
isterial meetings of the association. In 1823 the
Christian Baptist was started and circulated in
the association churches. The discussion be-
tween Walker and Campbell was read. Also the
McCalla and Campbell debate. And so a leaven-
ing influence was going on. The Scripture motto
of the Christian Baptist was: "Style no man on
earth your Father; for he alone is your Father
who is in heaven; and all ye are brethren. As-
sume not the title of Babbi; for ye have only
one teacher; neither assume the title of leader,
for ye have only one leader, the Messiah" (Matt.
23:8, 9).
The association met in New Lisbon in 1827.
At this meeting Walter Scott was chosen as
evangelist. A sentiment had been growing in the
association that they should repudiate human
creeds as authoritative and foUow the Scriptures.
41
A HISTORY OF THE
In the fall of that year he held a successful meet-
ing at New Lisbon, and, for the first time in mod-
ern times, presented the Scriptural plan of the
forgiveness of sin. Nearly all of the churches
of the association repudiated their human creeds
and accepted Christ as their creed and the Scrip-
tures to guide them in all matters of faith and
worship. The Mantua Church was the first to
completely take apostolic grounds, as their dec-
laration was made in the fore part of 1827, and
the New Lisbon movement was in the latter part
of 1827.
The restoration of the primitive gospel move-
ment spread rapidly. They pleaded for a return
to apostolic teaching and practice. They bap-
tized believers on profession of their faith in
Christ for remission of sins. They met the first
day of every week to attend to the Lord's Sup-
per. They made offerings every first day for
self-support and for a relief fund. This relief
fund offering for the poor is kept up in some of
the oldest churches to this time. They called
themselves individually disciples of Christ, or
Christians. In a collective capacity they desired
to be known as '^ churches of Christ." They
thought they had the only ground of Christian
unity for which Christ prayed. They called on
aU believers to come out of Babylon and to
restore original Christianity. They adopted all
that Luther and other Protestants advocated
which was Scriptural, but protested that they
had not gone far enough. It was not so much
reformation that was needed as restoration of
original apostolic teaching. They tried to break
away from all human religious shackles. They
repudiated the title of '* Reverend" for their
42
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
ministers. Instead of Sabbath or Sunday, they
used the ''first day of the week" or ''Lord's
day." They tried to speak of Scriptural things
in Scriptural language. They discriminated be-
tween opinions and faith, and held that faith
and the obedience of faith brought the joy of
salvation. They held that opinions would neither
save nor damn a person. They were to receive
one another without reference to opinions, and
opinions must not be bound on others as tests
of fellowship. The old association meetings were
continued as evangelistic meetings till they grew
so large that they were unwieldy and were most-
ly abandoned. Isaac Errett was the first settled
minister in this new order of things, first at
New Lisbon and later at Warren.
Men, women and young people did as in
apostolic times — they went everywhere preach-
ing the Word. They carried the New Testament
with them in forest, field and family. They were
compelled to hold many discussions. Alexander
Campbell debated in Cleveland with the infidel
Irad Kelly. Isaac Errett debated with the
Spiritualist Tiffany, at Warren. James A. Gar-
field discussed with the infidel Denton, at Cha-
grin Falls; Marshall Wilcox with the Universal-
ist at Medina; A. B. Grreen with Methodists in
several places, and one disputant, to ridicule him,
got off the couplet:
"Ho, every son and daughter,
Here is the gospel in the water."
To which Bro. Green aptly replied:
' ' Ho, every son and wench,
Here is the gospel on the bench."
Jasper Moss met all kinds of opponents, and
they called him the "Easping Wasp" instead
43
A HISTORY OF THE
of ** Jasper Moss." Opposition has largely
ceased, and denominationalism is loving and lull-
ing the disciples into quietude. Perhaps some
have lost their aggressive spirit. Their attention
is called to the disciples' claim that they hold
the only possible ground of Christian unity for
which Jesus prayed, and this was originally one
of the chief features of the Restoration move-
ment. They asked believers in Christ to come
out of Babylon and sectarianism. While many
joined in with the disciples in the Restoration
movement, they were only > asked to lay aside
their human appendages and give full obedience
to Jesus Christ in baptism, and all other things,
and we would all be one, as Jesus prayed. They
taught that the people were not to come to them,
but to lay aside all humanisms in coming to
Christ, and then we would all be one people, as
Jesus prayed.
For their own good and edification, and the
progress of restoration, the early churches be-
came Bible schools for old and young. The
elders of the churches became preachers of the
gospel. After twenty years of experience and
enthusiasm for original Christianity, aids to the
movement were adopted. In 1844 Bible schools
were started, and the D. S. Burnet Library of
fifty volumes was produced. In 1850, Hiram
College was planted. In order to strengthen
existing churches and plant new ones, the Ohio
Christian Missionary Society was started in
1852. At first the churches were in rural dis-
tricts, and they builded small meeting-houses.
Now larger houses are built, with Bible-school
appliances. City churches are now flourishing.
In 1866 the Christian Standard was started at
44
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Cleveland, and is now the largest religions paper
published, has the largest circulation, and is the
most influential religious paper in all the world.
This greatest of world movements since the
apostolic age could not be confined to the West-
ern Reserve. Tradition says that when Christ
died his face was turned to the west. This
Restoration movement looked westward. Other
movements, as in Kentucky, amalgamated with
this movement and joined common interests, and
the plea went to Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Cali-
fornia and aU the world.
In 1830, Mormonism was rampant on the Re-
serve, and a big temple was builded at Kirtland,
and stands there to-day as a monument of folly.
Sidney Rigdon, an eloquent minister, joined .in
with them and is supposed to have had a hand
in preparing the Book of Mormon.
In 1843, Millerism prevailed, and the dis-
ciples preached on the coming of Christ. Alex-
ander Campbell, commencing 1830, published the
Millennial Harbinger for forty years. Some of
the early elders studied the Greek language in
order to read the Scriptures in the original
tongue. Alexander Campbell revised and pub-
lished a new translation of the New Testament.
He entitled it ''The Living Oracles." This was
used in family worship and often in the pulpit.
In 1851, Spiritualism carried off a few disciples.
Music was a great power in carrying on the
Restoration movement. The Haydens were great
singers. John Henry played on many different
instruments, and was a martial band-leader, and
gave his great musical ability to the churches.
So the forefathers read and prayed and sang
and worked, and led the greatest movement in
45
A HISTORY OF THE
the history of Christianity since the apostolic
age.
The minutes of the Mahoning Association
were well kept, and are now in the Hiram Col-
lege vaults.
The disciples on the Western Reserve are
gathered into 100 congregations, and there are
104 active and retired ministers.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Church Charles D. Hurlbut Asa Hudson
SOME OHIO PIONEERS
47
A HISTORY OF THE
VI
EVANGELISM ON THE WESTERN RESERVE
D S. DEAN, a pioneer, writes :
''Down to 1827 the Campbells seem to have
planted only two churches — the mother church
at Brush Run, and her eldest daughter at
Wellsburg. The latter had fifty-six members,
the former probably never so many. It is doubt-
ful whether they had baptized two hundred peo-
ple between 1809 and 1827. Their fundamental
plea was for the union of God's people. The
nature of that plea determined its direction. It
was not addressed primarily to the unsaved, but
to those in the kingdom. A restored and re-
united church would be the most effective evan-
gelizing agency. Here and there an existing
church had laid aside its human creed and taken
the Scriptures as its only rule of faith and
practice.
''The earliest action of the kind in Ohio, so
far as I know, was that of the Nelson-Hiram-
Mantua Church in Hiram, Aug. 21, 1824. But,
down to 1827, we look in vain in the pages of
the Christian Baptist for any indication of evan-
gelism, either in editorials or reports from the
field. There are powerful destructive editorials,
and great constructive editorials on 'The Chris-
tian Religion,' 'Christian Union,' 'The Work
48
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
of the Holy Spirit in the Salvation of Men,'
and 'The Ancient Order of Things.' But there
is nothing to indicate that Mr. Campbell had ever
thought through the subject of New Testament
evangelism. Their ivork was not primarily evan-
gelistic. It is an interesting question what would
have been the fortunes of the movement had
not other men of a different type arisen.
*' Walter Scott Supplements Alexaotdeb
Campbell.
''Every historical crisis draws to itself or
develops men of varied and supplementary gifts.
Not otherwise was it with the Restoration of
the nineteenth century. Alexander Campbell
was easily the master mind, the creative per-
sonality of the movement, and it heightens
rather than dims the luster of his fame that
the cause he set on foot had power to draw to
itself men who, in certain respects, surpassed
and happily supplemented him. Facile princeps
among these was Walter Scott. A Scotchman by
birth and education, the Restoration found him at
Pittsburgh. From their first meeting in 1821 the
two men became a veritable Paul and Timothy.
Both were of lofty intellectuality, both gifted
with rare eloquence — Campbell with the elo-
quence of sublime reasoning; Scott with the
eloquence of imagination and human sympathy.
Scott was thus fitted to become the Whitfield of
the Restoration.
"The Mahoning Association Appoints Scott
Its Traveling Evangelist.
"The association met in 1827 at Lisbon, just
off the Reserve. Thirteen of its sixteen churches
49
A HISTORY OF THE
were represented. From Youngstown, Canfield
and Salem went my grandfather, Samuel Hay-
den, and my uncles, Myron Sackett and Arthur
Hayden. My father was appointed a messenger
from Canfield, but could not go. From Wells-
burg went Alexander Campbell. Sidney Rigdon
and Walter Scott were visiting ministers, as were
several from the Christian Connection. The
epoch-making action of the association was taken
in response to a memorial sent up from the
Braceville Church asking that a traveling evan-
gelist might be appointed. All the ministers
present were appointed a committee to select a
man and report. The result was the appointment
of Scott. The action was unprecedented. Several
of the committee were not Baptists. Scott him-
self was neither a Baptist, nor known to any save
Campbell; yet he was sent forth at the charges
of the association. Our history shows that this
was a most wise selection.
''The Field.
* ' Ten of the sixteen churches were in Western
Reserve counties, four in Columbiana County,
and one in western Pennsylvania and one in
western Virginia. It was a region of farms and
scattered villages. Cleveland had less than five
thousand souls. The Reserve pioneers had in-
herited the best New England traditions; they
were a reading people. They also inherited New
England Calvinism, with its mystical notions of
conversions. But, stimulated as the people were
to eager inquiry by the Christian Baptist, the
Campbell and Walker debate, and by a few per-
sonal visits of Mr. Campbell, the field was ripe
for the harvest when Scott thrust in his sickle.
50
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
''OtJE AnNTJS MiEABrLIS.
** Scott's study of the New Testament, and of
popular methods of ^getting religion,' had led
him to certain definite revolutionary convictions
and practices. Sweeping aside current revival
methods, such as the 'mourners' bench' and
'experience' as a test of conversion, he boldly
preached that faith is not a direct gift of God,
but comes by hearing the Word; conversion is
not a miracle to be wrung from God by agonizing
prayer; heaven does not need to be stormed to
make God willing. He threw on the sinner the
sole responsibility of accepting or rejecting
Christ. Men are not to look to their own volatile
emotions as the evidence of pardon, but to the
sure promise: 'He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved.' To bring the gospel to the
apprehension of the man behind the plow, he
summarized the process of conversion from apos-
tolic preaching thus: (1) Faith, (2) repentance,
(3) baptism, (4) remission of sins, (5) gift of
the Holy Spirit. His five-finger exercise on these
items was as famous in its day as G. W. Muck-
ley's five-finger formula on Church Extension.
To such moderns as have never witnessed or
experienced the mysticism of those days, Scott's
generalization may seem mechanical. But it was
effective. To hundreds of bewildered souls ago-
nizing to get their feet on the rock, it broke like
the light of heaven on the way of salvation. In
the hands of small or unspiritual men it might
degenerate into legalism ; but with Scott 's wealth
of Scriptural knowledge and spiritual insight his
message was sublime in its very simplicity. Re-
sults were marvelous. In the sixteen churches
51
A HISTORY OF THE
John RatlifF, Elder Au»tin Pettlt, Elder
SIXTY TEABS AGO IN WAKREN
62
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
there had been only thirty-fonr conversions the
previous year, and only 354 in the seven years
of associational history. In the first year of
Scott's evangelism there were nearly one thou-
sand. The like had never been known anywhere
on the Eeserve. It was truly our annus mirahilis
— the beginning of evangelism in the Restoration.
"Momentum of the Movement.
"In 1828 the association met at Warren. The
news of the continuous Pentecost spread from
fireside to fireside. The meeting was a grand
jubilee. Scott was continued as evangelist with
William Hay den, a young minister, as assistant.
The second year was even more fruitful. Adam-
son Bentley, the most influential man of the asso-
ciation, and all the younger men fell into line
with the new-old evangel. Sowing and reaping
continued a third year with like results. It was
like the incoming of the ocean tide, sweeping the
entire association into the current of restoration.
In 1830, Scott left the Reserve, but the good
work went on. Humbler men arose of limited
education, but fine gifts and utter devotion ; men
who, following the plow, like Paul his tent-mak-
ing, for daily bread, yet preached more sermons
than the average minister then or now; men like
William Hayden, who toiled to clear and culti-
vate his farm, yet averaged 260 sermons per
year for thirty-five years, and baptized twelve
hundred with his own hands. A host of such
men did pioneer service : Adamson Bentley, John
Henry (the * walking Bible'), A. S. Hayden,
A. B. Green, Harrison Jones, Aylette Raines,
J. J. Moss, Cyrus and Marcus Bosworth, Jonas
Hartzel, Isaac Errett, J. P. Robison, W. A. Beld-
53
A HISTORY OF THE
ing, Calvin Smith, Jolm T. Smith, Edwin Wake-
field, Wesley Lanphear, Lathrop Cooley, and
many others who mnst be nameless here. There
were few protracted meetings. Three nights and
over Sunday often resulted in twenty or thirty
conversions. These preachers expected conver-
sions at every service.
''Then, the great yearly meetings which took
the place of the annual associations won hun-
dreds to the cause. People came by the thou-
sand and long distances to hear the Campbells
and other giants of the Restoration. Hospitality
was taxed to the utmost. At a yearly meeting
in Canfield in 1849 my father lodged 120 in his
farmhouse and barns, and lunched double that
number the noon the meeting broke up. The his-
tory of Christian evangelism furnishes no finer
chapters than those which record the beginnings
of the Restoration on the Western Reserve. But,
in a sense, the strength of the evangelism was its
weakness. In the first generation more churches
were planted than could be cared for. Deaths,
the tide of westward migration, the tremendous
drain from country to city — above all, lack of
efficient shepherding — were fatal to many con-
gregations. Yet the momentum of the movement
has never been lost. Of our 528 Ohio churches,
with a little over 100,000 members, 53 churches,
with 13,483 members, are within the four counties
of the old Mahoning Association. The eleven
Reserve counties contain 100 churches, with
24,682 members.
''Evangelism to Date.
"An extended correspondence warrants these
conclusions :
M
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
"1. During the past generation new churches
have been planted and old ones mightily strength-
ened by evangelistic meetings, with fruits up to
two hundred.
''2. During the past year (1915) there have
been many meetings, with conversions ranging
from twenty-five to one hundred.
*'3. Often the largest, and always the most
permanent, fruits have been garnered by minis-
ter-evangelists.
''4. One of our largest city churches reports
that, during the present ministry of eleven years,
1,075 of the 1,125 accessions have come at the
regular weekly ministrations. Yet
5. There is no marked tendency to abandon
special evangelistic meetings. Nearly all the
churches continue to employ them effectively.
Eeports indicate that from 40 to 90 per cent, of
conversions thus are gained.
'^6. There is dominant sentiment in favor of
maintaining the evangelistic note at every ser-
vice, supplemented by special meetings by the
minister or neighboring ministers. While such
meetings are not the exclusive reliance, they are
not regarded as outworn agencies. The cause
born of evangelism seems little disposed to dis-
own its paternity."
65
A HISTORY OF THE
Church at BloomAeld, 1849
Nelson Works
WESTERN EESEKVE CHUBCHES ANB MINISTEB.S
56
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
VII
PIONEER MINISTERS OF THE WESTERN
RESERVE
DEO. J. M. VANHGEN writes as foUows:
''Every great religious movement has
brought to public notoriety some great and noble
men who manifested the highest heroism in their
devotion to truth, and in loyalty to their convic-
tions. The current Eestoration is no exception
to this rule. We think of our forefathers as
giants in body and mind.
"None of our pioneers were required to seal
their testimony with their blood; but those who
knew them and have written of them have little
doubt but that most of them would have laid
down their lives for the truth they preached. It
has required as great heroism to live for the
gospel as to die for it. It has been said 'that
the true martyr spirit has been displayed by
many whose blood never was shed as really as
those who died at the stake, or whose life-current
stained the sands of the arena.' I feel sure that
such spirit characterized the pioneers of our
movement. They must, therefore, live in history
and in the hearts of the people for the good of
all who shall follow them.
"There is nothing that can help life like life
itself.
57
A HISTORY OF THE
**To study thoughtfully some rare and crystal
character, to analyze and understand, if possible,
the principles that made and controlled it, is the
surest way to have the low and ugly seK trans-
formed into the likeness of it.
''For this reason the Bible is largely the
record of great lives. The life of Jesus is more
to the world than his teachings. 'In him was life,
and the life was the light of men. ' So it is that we
do well to perpetuate the lives of our heroes, who
are the highest reflection of the light of Christ.
"Among the pioneers who preached on the
Western Reserve must be named some of the
most distinguished ministers known to the broth-
erhood of the disciples.
"Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, A. S.
Hayden, Isaac Errett, J. H. Jones, Wesley Lan-
phear, John Henry, Adamson Bentley, Jonas
Hartzel, William Hayden, Calvin Smith, J. J.
Moss, Edwin Wakefield, Lathrop Cooley, T. J.
Newcomb, M. S. Clapp, W. A. Belding, Leonard
Southmayd, J. F. Rowe, W. A. LiUie. These men
may be divided into two classes : first, those who
were highly educated; second, those who were
then called 'self-made men.'
"No one can read our literature, in which we
find so many discourses and public discussions,
without being impressed with the great treasures
of learning and eloquence which those of the first
class brought to the Restoration in which they
were the great leaders. And as the Western
Reserve was, perhaps more than any other
region, the theater of the earliest theological con-
flicts of the Restoration movement, nearly all the
men foremost in scholarship were seen and heard
within its borders. The 'yearly meetings' early
58
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
established brought to the ears and hearts of the
people such eloquent and able speakers as Alex-
ander Campbell, D. S. Burnet, Walter Scott,
Isaac Errett, 0. A. Burgess, J. A. Garfield, H.
W. Everest, and A. S. and Wm. Hayden, who
had tremendous power in appealing to the intel-
lect and reason, and convincing the judgment.
But along with these, on most occasions, were
those of the second class, who, while 'self-
made,' were very able, having well mastered the
teachings of the scholars, and, with native genius
and passion and eloquence, some of them far sur-
passing the most learned — these were needed to
move to action people who had been convinced,
and often great numbers were swept into the
kingdom by the persuasive eloquence and touch-
ing pathos of such men as Harrison Jones, Wes-
ley Lanphear, Jonas Hartzel, and others. I have
heard some of the leaders, of a later day, say
that sometimes after such men as Campbell and
Errett had spoken in their most convincing and
powerful appeals, and the song of invitation had
been sung, not one responding, that Harrison
Jones would be called on to address the multi-
tude, and in response to his towering, overmas-
tering eloquence and hortatory pathos, scores
would press their way to the front to confess
Christ.
''Some of these men were strong in contending
for 'the faith,' and were constantly in discus-
sion with men who were confident that the new
doctrine which they preached was heresy. They
had to fight for their position, which was con-
stantly being challenged, and publicly and pri-
vately were often in debate. The pioneers were
all fighters. Garfield once said: 'The first chap-
A HISTORY OF THE
ter in our history was one of war; the preachers
were fighters, and some of them enjoyed it so
much that they would fight to get a fight.' I
heard him say this in a convention of our people
in Cleveland many years ago. None of them
were more constantly at it than the men of the
second class. They rarely closed a public meet-
ing in which distinctive views had been expressed
without saying: 'If any one has any objections
to what has been presented, let him speak.' And
so it was that often a single discourse, or the
conversion of some one, led to heated controversy
or a public debate.
*'0f course it was apparent to men of the
schools that the pioneers of the second class were
not classical scholars, and sometimes college men,
who had more Latin and Greek than good com-
mon sense or caution, and not knowing the nat-
ural ability and polemic sagacity of these 'self-
made' advocates of the Restoration, ventured
on dangerous ground when challenging their
position.
"Harrison Jones related in my hearing an
amusing incident that had occurred somewhere
in Ohio in a rural community, where lived a
bachelor of arts whose 'smartness' had made
him quite unpopular in the community, and it
was known that he often quarreled with his sis-
ters, with whom he, a bachelor in fact as well as
in arts, made his home. At one of the services
in which Bro. Jones had preached, this man arose
to protest against the doctrine preached, and
cautioned the people not to accept it, saying that
it was apparent to those who had been to college
that the preacher was without education. 'You
know,' said he, 'that I have come back to this
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
conuminity after years of study of the language
in which the New Testament was first written,
and I beg to warn you against this dangerous
heresy.' Such is, in brief, the substance of his
talk as I remember it.
"Bro. Jones, a master in the art of ridicule and
withering irony, arose to reply, and as no argu-
ment had been presented to answer, he could only
admit the tmth of the gentleman's statement —
that he was not a man of the schools, and that
doubtless he had the advantage of him in his
knowledge of the Greek, and that in that com-
munity it was understood the gentleman was a
very smart man — smarter than many of his less
fortunate neighbors — but that his surprising
smartness was never more manifest than when,
a few evenings before, his enraged and fleet-
footed sister had run him three times around the
house with a pitchfork! This bold statement of
fact brought forth roars of laughter and rounds
of applause from the audience, the people actual-
ly rejoicing to see him once more become the
sprinter as he fled from the place.
''On another occasion the conversion of Mrs.
Julia A. King, of Warren, 0., mother of the late
Mrs. W. K. Pendleton, so well known to our
brotherhood, a lady of culture and of high moral
character, led to a public discussion between a
Eev. Mr. Waldo, of the Congregational Church,
which body Mrs. King had left to become a Chris-
tian, and Jonas Hartzel. Mr. Waldo had the
advantage of Mr. Hartzel in education, and was
skilled in debate. Besides, Mr. Waldo was the
challenging party and proposed the question for
debate, named the place, rules and order of dis-
cussion, all of which were accepted without
61
A HISTORY OF THE
change by Mr. Hartzel. Thongh the length of
time — three days — ^was by the request of Mr.
Waldo, yet, after half that time was consumed, he
was so manifestly without munitions with which
to prolong the fight that he asked the privilege
of proposing three questions, which Mr. Hartzel
should have time to answer, and thus end the
discussion. To this Mr. Hartzel made no reply.
His opponent appealed to the audience, but the
audience refused to vote. Hartzel then arose and
said to Mr. Waldo that catechisms are for the
edification of children; 'please refer your pro-
posal to the board of moderators.' The board
refused to change the order, and decided that the
discussion must proceed on the conditions agreed
upon, when Mr. Waldo immediately threw up the
sponge and retired from the battle, saying: *I
have nothing further to offer.' Now, such occur-
rences were common in those days, and illustrate
that, while most of the men on the field were not
so strong in college learning as their opponents,
yet they were always mightier than the latter be-
cause of the strength of their position and of their
ability to handle the 'sword of the Spirit.'
*'I can not close this article more fittingly, I
think, than by the use of a few words uttered by
the Hon, Champ Clark, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, in his Centennial address at
Pittsburgh, Pa. Referring to the pioneers and
their contemporaries, he said: 'First in the field,
they set the compass and fixed the chart by which
our ship has sailed, and by which it will sail till
Gabriel's trumjjet summons the quick and dead
to the judgment-bar of God. Their names live
forevermore and their works do follow them. If
the spirits of just men made perfect on high
62
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
take cognizance of the affairs of this world, as I
have no doubt they do, the souls of these master-
ful pioneers must be filled with amazement and
delight as they contemplate the results of the
first hundred years of the movement which they
started.' "
A HISTORY OF THE
VIII
THE DOCTRINE THEN AND NOW
TAMES VERNON, mimster of the gospel at
•^ Painesville, makes the following record:
''Alexander Campbell first came to Warren
( Trumbull County) in 1821. Two years later
the Christian Baptist came, and was widely and
carefully read. Three years later (1826) he
came again, and at Canfield, in Trumbull County,
preached his great sermon on 'The Progress
of Religious Light as Shown in the Patriarchal,
Jewish and Christian Dispensations.' That
sermon put Jesus Christ in his proper place as
Prophet, Priest and King. In that sermon Alex-
ander Campbell seems to stand like Jacques
Balmat on the evening of Aug. 9, 1786, when he
stood on the top of Mount Blanc, where the foot
of man had never stood before, sixteen thousand
feet above the sea. With this difference, how-
ever: Balmat stood alone; but Alexander Camp-
bell took thousands up with him and let them see
the vision which had long lain before his eyes.
"Two years later (1828) he came again, and,
in Warren, preached an equally important ser-
mon, on 'Knowledge, Faith and Opinion in
Religion.' This sermon had special reference
to the case of Aylette Raines (who was in the
audience) and his Universalist opinions and phi-
64
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
losophy, but the principles laid down in it apply
to all questions of religious opinion. The dis-
ciples on the Western Reserve have gotten out
from under the popes of Rome and England and
Germany, and also from under the Presbyterian
and Baptist popes. Alexander Campbell's ser-
mon logically kills off every pope in the world —
all of those fellows who go clinking about with
keys with which they open and shut the kingdom
of God.
''Those two sermons became the keynote for
preaching. That teaching leavened the Western
Reserve. I may give a single illustration out of
many. In May, 1915, the State Congregational
Association met in Painesville, and their two
most advertised men were ex-President Taft and
Peter Ainslie, of Baltimore. I heard the name
of Jesus glorified above every name, and creeds
and sectarianism repudiated and denounced in a
way which might well have thrilled the ashes of
Alexander Campbell in his grave. It is grand to
live, to walk the soil which heroes have trodden,
to breathe the air of liberty which they created,
to be associated with their children and grand-
children, to reap the harvest which they sowed
and visit the graves in which their honored
bodies lie."
A HISTORY OF THE
OLD MEETING-HOUSE, FEEDERICKTOWN, OHIO
The Cane Ridge meeting-house in Kentucky, connected with
Barton W. Stone 's labors, is of historic interest. So is the old
meeting-house in Washington County, Pa., where Thomas Camp-
bell preached. The cut we present above is of a log meeting-
house at Fredericktown, Columbiana Co., O., near where Walter
Scott held his first Restoration evangelistic meeting in 1827. At
Fredericktown, a small country community, a church grew up,
and in 1835 they built the log meeting-house shown in the cut.
They occupied it twenty years, and then built a house on the hill.
Isaac Errett, Alexander Campbell and J. Harrison Jones, at dif-
ferent times, preached in the old log meeting-house. John Jack-
man, an elder preacher, gave most of his time to the congregation
for many years. When the church at East Liverpool was organ-
ized, some of the charter members came from the Fredericktown
Church. A little country church is far-reaching in its influence.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
IX
GREAT LEADERS
1799_Wilu:am Hatdei^— 1863
WILLIAM HATDEN, companion of Walter
Scott in his early labors as evangelist of
the Mahoning Baptist Association, was a man of
rare gifts : with a good physique, strong intellect,
tender emotional nature, clear voice and fluent
speech, he commanded attention at once and held
it closely both in sermon and song. He was a
logical reasoner, and pressed the claims of the
gospel upon thinking men with convincing power
and a pathos that was well-nigh irresistible. He
used to say : ' ' If I wish to convert a man, I never
debate with him in public, but get as near to him
as I can and kindly talk with him in private and
bring his mind into personal contact with the
gospel story of Jesus and His divine mission.
But if a man is bold and defiant, like Goliath, and
is leading people astray, then I will floor him if
I can." And he could and often did, for he was
quick in action and always had his cause and
argument well in hand. He was especially strong
in the internal evidences, and in miracles and
prophecy.
He went to a village on the Western Reserve
to preach on a Lord's Day, and was entertained
at night at the home of a good sister, whose hus-
67
A HISTORY OF THE
band was an infidel, but very hospitable. In the
early evening he introduced the subject of the
claims of the Bible upon the rational confidence
of men, and drew from his kind host a statement
of his objections to Christianity. As he presented
them one at a time, Hayden, with utmost frank-
ness and fairness, discussed them and refuted
them so clearly that the objector surrendered
them one after another, regardless of the fleeting
hours of the night. As the morning dawn ap-
peared in the east, he said: ''Have you any
further objections to urge?" ''Only one more,"
was the reply. It was stated and completely
answered, and his candid opponent surrendered.
Quickly he asked: "What, then, will you do?"
As promptly the response came: "I will confess
Christ and follow Him. ' ' And he did, and was a
faithful Christian all the rest of his long life and
blessed the world with an excellent family.
On another occasion, in a community where
skepticism was prevalent and boastful, Wm. Hay-
den preached a sermon on the miracles of Jesus
— publicly performed, of great number, variety
and beneficence, and wrought immediately, in-
stantaneously and without failure in a single
instance: so evidencing the divine power and
prerogative of our Lord. It flashed upon him
that skeptics claimed that miracles of a similar
character were wrought by mesmerism and other
powers. He turned suddenly toward the objectors
and said : "What do men say to all of this?' What
do they do? They say, 'Put a man to sleep and
take his leg off and he doesn't know it.' Humph!
Take a man's leg off! That's nothing. Put a
m.an's leg on once. Try that." His hearers
caught the point and the scoffers were put to
68
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
silence by the forceful reply. William Hayden
onoe said that his brother Sutton, with his sweet
voice, sang people into heaven, but he had kept
many infidels from going to hell.
He was born in Pennsylvania, and came to
Ohio when four years old. In 1828 he was set
apart to preach the gospel. During his ministry
of thirty-five years he traveled ninety thousand
miles, sixty thousand of which were on horse-
back, a distance of over three times round the
world. He baptized 1,207, and preached over
nine thousand sermons — that is, 287 sermons a
year — and once he preached fifty sermons in the
month of November. His industry was prover-
bial. He was incessant in preaching, teaching
and in conversation — in public and private. He
created openings, occupied them, and when others
could be found to hold the position, he broke new
ground. He was the first man and the chief
operator in raising up the churches in Ravenna,
Aurora, Shalersville, Akron, Russell and several
other places. He did all this work largely at his
own expense. To perpetuate and carry on the
work, he promoted the founding of the Western
Reserve Eclectic Institute and the Ohio Christian
Missionary Society. His converts were thorough
and decided like himself. It is said that he could,
from memory, almost reproduce the New Testa-
ment.
1813— Calvin Smith— 1859
Calvin Smith was bom Oct. 30, 1813, in Ver-
non, O., and died at his home farm in Johnstown,
near Cortland, Jan. 13, 1859. In 1837 he became
a Christian under the preaching of John Henry.
He soon became a preaching elder, as did many
60
A HISTORY OF THE
others in those early days. He could declare the
unsearchable riches of Christ with power. An
old brother declared that he could listen with
delight as often as he would deliver his sermon
on ''Man: 1. As He Was. 2. As He Is. 3. As He
Shall Be." From 1844 to 1848 he visited many
churches in northeast Ohio. On Nov. 30, 1848,
he commenced his first protracted meeting four
miles west of Cortland. The meeting was held in
a schoolhouse where there was no organized con-
gregation. Stormy weather reduced the audience
to eight persons. On the sixth evening eighteen
were present and there were four confessions.
The meeting resulted in the organization of a
church of thirty-five members. The church still
exists, with a good membership, at Weirs Corners
in Trumbull County, and they have a well-
arranged house of worship. In 1852 he held a
meeting at North Jackson, and Joseph King, then
a young man teaching school, was baptized. Bro.
King became a pastor of the church at Allegheny,
Pa., now Pittsburgh, for twenty-one years. Smith
made extensive trips eastward, to New England
and westward beyond the Mississippi. He planted
several churches in northwestern Ohio, as at El-
more and Kenton. It is said that often he would
secure a shovel, go to a near-by stream, construct
a dam, and, when asked what his object was,
would say that he was going to hold a meeting
and expected to baptize converts. Bro. Smith's
work as an evangelist was of ten years ' duration.
It was brief, but brilliant and fruitful. In that
ten years he had 1,536 converts and organized
sixteen churches. At that stage of our history,
eighty-five years ago, but few had surpassed
these figures as evangelists.
70
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
1831— Clauk Bbaden— 1915
Clark Braden was born Aug. 8, 1831, in Gns-
tavTis, Trumbull Co., 0. He was immersed by
Calvin Smith, Feb. 29, 1855, in Rome, Ashtabula
Co., 0. He was educated at the Western Reserve
Eclectic Institute at Hiram. He was a preacher
nearly sixty years. He has been president of
colleges in Hlinois and editor of the Herald of
Truth. Some of the last months of his life were
spent with his brother at Ravenna, O. He
delivered more than three thousand lectures,
speaking in nearly every State in the United
States and Provinces of Canada. He held 130
debates. He debated with infidels, and held
eighteen debates with Mormons and with relig-
ionists. He debated the action, subject and
design of baptism; the work of the Holy Spirit;
human creeds; justification by faith only; and
church organization, soul-sleeping, kingdom-com-
ism, Seventh-dayism and Universalism.
During the last twenty years every prominent
champion of infidelity has backed out of debating
with Clark Braden. These statements were made
at the veterans' camp-fire meeting in Pittsburgh
in 1909. He said also: ''I do rather avoid giving
a challenge, but I have been selected by brethren :
they have called upon me and I have responded
and done my best in discussions. Another thing,
when you get so very good and so very refined
and cultured that you are unwilling to debate,
you will know more than God Almighty, you are
better than Jesus Christ, and purer tlian the
Holy Spirit. The last six weeks of the Saviour's
life was one strong debate, and he did some
pretty plain talking too. Just so long as there
71
A HISTORY OF THE
is error in the world, just so long as truth has
to be defended, there will be discussion. Every
reform was born in debate, rocked in the cradle
of discussion and grew strong in the battle for
that which is right. And when you become so
cultured that you won't debate anything any
time, you will be a saint among saints, and then
leave the result of it to God."
*' After this stormy, strenuous life, I," said
Braden, ' ' sum it all up in this : that the supreme
work of the followers of Christ is to learn the
Christ teaching, live the Christ life, and grow in
the Christ character in this life, and in the eter-
nal life we shall be like Him and see Him as
He is."
1788 — Alexandeb Campbell — 1866
It was in June, 1831 — four years after the
commencement of our Restoration movement in
Ohio — that a great meeting was held ''in the
maple woods under the June sun." The great
annual meetings had taken the place of the
Mahoning Association meetings. Alexander
Campbell was present at the meeting in Aurora.
The following account of the meeting was written
by A. G. Riddle, a member of Congress from
Cleveland. Darwin Atwater and other disciples
were characters in his book, "The Portrait: A
Romance of the Cuyahoga Valley."
' ' The woods were full of horses and carriages,
and the hundreds already there were rapidly
swelled to many thousands; all of one race — the
Yankee; all of one calling — the fanner; hardy,
shrewd, sunburned, cool, thoughtful and intelli-
gent. The disciples were, from the first, emanci-
pated from the Puritan slavery of the Sabbath;
72
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
and, althongh grave, thoiightfnl and serious, as
they were on this Sunday morning, it was from
the gravity and seriousness of the occasion, and
little from the day itself — an assemblage Paul
would have been glad to preach to.
''At the hour of eleven, Mr. Campbell and his
party took their places on the stand, and after
a short, simple, preliminary service, conducted
by another, he came forward to the front. He
was then about forty years old, above the aver-
age height, of singular dignity of form and
simple grace of manner. His was a splendid
head, borne well back, with a bold, strong fore-
head, from which his fine hair was turned back;
a strong, full, expressive eye, aquiline nose, fine
mouth and prominent chin. He was a perfect
master of himself, a perfect master of his theme,
and, from the moment he stood in its presence, a
perfect master of his immense audience.
''At a glance he took the measure and level
of the average mind before him — a Scotchman's
estimate of the Yankee — and began at the level;
and as he rose from it, he took the assembled
host with him. In nothing was he like Rigdon:
calm, clear, strong, logical, yet perfectly simple.
Men felt themselves lifted and carried, and won-
dered at the ease and apparent want of effort
with which it was done.
"Nothing could be more transparent than his
statement of his subject; nothing franker than
his admission of its difficulties; nothing more
direct than his enumeration of the means he must
employ, and the conclusion he must reach. With
great intellectual resources, and great acquisi-
tions, athlete and gladiator as he was, he was a
logician by instinct and habit of mind, and took
73
A HISTORY OF THE
a pleasnre in magmfying, to the utmost, the diffi-
culties of his positions, so that, when the latter
were finally maintained, the mind was satisfied
with the result. His language was copious, his
style nervous, and the characteristic of his mind
was direct, manly, sustained vigor ; and under its
play he evolved a warmth which kindled to the
fervor of sustained eloquence, and which, in the
judgment of many, is the only true eloquence.
After nearly two hours, his natural and logical
conclusion was the old Pentecostal mandate of
Simon Peter, and a strong, manly and tender call
of men to obedience. There was no appeal to
passion, no effort at pathos, no figures of rhet-
oric, but a warm, kindling, heated, glowing, manly
argument, silencing the will, captivating the judg-
ment and satisfying reason : and the cold, shrewd,
thinking, calculating Yankee liked it.
''As the preacher closed and stood for a
response, no answering movement came from any
part of the crowd. Men were running it over and
thinking. Unhesitatingly the orator stepped down
from the platform upon the ground, and, moving
forward in the little open space, began in a more
fervid and impassioned strain. He caught the
mind at the highest point of its attainment, and,
grasping it, shook it with a half-indignation at
its calculating hesitation, and, carrying it with
a mighty sweep to a still higher level, seemed to
pour round it a diviner and more radiant light;
then, with a little tremor in his voice, he implored
it to hesitate no longer. "Wlien he closed, low
murmurs broke and ran through the awed crowd ;
men and women from all parts of the vast assem-
blage, with streaming eyes, came forward. Young
men who had climbed into the small trees from
74
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
curiosity, came down from conviction, and went
forward to baptism; and the brothers and sisters
set up a glad hymn, sang with tremulous voices,
clasping hands amid happy tears. Thus, in that
far-off time, in the maple woods, under the June
sun, the gospel was preached and received."
1831— H. W. Everest— 1900
H. W. Everest was born in North Hudson,
N. Y. At sixteen he was teacher in the common
schools of his native town. Coming to Ohio, he
took membership with the church at Rome, Ash-
tabula County, then at Russell, Geauga County,
then came to Hiram in 1852. He graduated at
Oberlin College in 1861. In 1862 he became
principal of the Eclectic Institute. Then, later,
he became president and professor in several
Western colleges. When he departed this life in
1900, he was dean of the Bible Department of
Drake University. He was the author of ''The
Divine Demonstration," and ''Science and Peda-
gogy of Ethics." These books show him as the
clear, critical scholar. One can judge of his
character and ability from an article he wrote
on "Spurious Liberality," which contains whole-
some admonitions. "In our hatred of sectarian-
ism and narrowness there is a strong temptation
to be disloyal to the truth. We love the approval
of good and learned men ; it is unpleasant to find
ourselves in conflict with them, and it is vastly
easier and more popular to admit and approve.
Then we are accounted good fellows and all is
peaceful. One who is always hunting out errors,
and always antagonizing something or somebody,
is not an agreeable associate. Such a person
often makes religion seem very uncertain and
75
A HISTORY OF THE
irreligious: in avoiding this extreme we are
liable to fall into the opposite one.
''But any degree of liberality which leads ns to
be disloyal to the truth is spurious. We may well
admit that tho'se who entertain other religious
views are as honest, as learned and as pious as
we are; that they have the same access to the
Bible and to the means of correct interpretation
that we have; and that they should follow their
honest convictions as to its teachings just as we
should, no matter how much we may differ from
them. But nothing can justify us in being dis-
loyal to the truth and disloyal to our Master, who
is the way, the truth and the life.
''In perusing our religious periodicals — and
more frequently now than in former years — I
find what seems to me a kind of spurious liber-
ality. It is often like what we find among the
broad-gauge religionists^ who seem willing to
give up, or hold in doubt, nearly every vital doc-
trine of Christianity — the validity of prophecy,
the fact of miracles, the real divinity of our
Lord, the inspiration and reliability of the Scrip-
tures, the possibility of a place formerly called
hell, the reality of regeneration, the necessity of
church membership and the decisions of a final
judgment-day. Not that any of our 'scribes'
or 'Pharisees' would go so far, but they seem
to be traveling in this direction; undoubtedly
there is danger on the other side. We may
stand so perpendicular as to lean backward. We
may magnify differences, and widen the chasms
which separate the churches. An extreme and
indefensible position is a source of weakness. Of
course, editors, and other writers of influence,
need to be cautious. But the best and the safest
76
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
GARFIELD MONTJMENT, CLEVELAND, OHIO
T7
A HISTORY OF THE
way is this : That we look neither to the right nor
to the left, but try to be right; try to 'speak the
truth in love.' This is not only the honest
course, but also the best policy, for a half-way
position is partly in the enemies' country, and is
easily assailed. If a few writers are representa-
tive of our brotherhood, we seem to be weakening
on several subjects once thought to be firmly
established.
''Of late there seems to be a desire to find
Scriptural reasons for the reception of the un-
baptized to membership in our churches. Now,
much as we love many of these people, we must
not swerve from the terms of the gospel.
"What the apostles bound on earth is bound
in heaven. By what authority can we modify
these conditions? Who has authority from the
King to do so? If tempted to receive such per-
sons, this would be my trouble. He himself said,
'All authority in heaven and in earth is given
unto me ; ' and he has not delegated such authority
to any man. Besides, what good would be accom-
plished by so doing? Not to the church receiving
such, since it would break down the argument for
their complete submission to Christ. Not to
them, since it would be a partial mitigation of
their disobedience, and would not in the least add
to their enjoyment of our religious services : they
now join us in everything, even in the Lord's
Supper: only this, we could not number them as
members and could not expect them to pay as
others do I"
1831 — James Abeam G-arfieli)— 1881
James Abram Garfield, twentieth President of
the United States, was bom in Orange, Cuyahoga
78
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Co., 0., Nov. 19, 1831. He was the youngest child
of Abram Garfield and Eliza Ballon, his wife,
both of excellent New England stock, but, like
their pioneer compeers, of humble circumstances.
In 1833, Abram Garfield died, leaving his young
widow, with four small children, in a rude log
house on a small farm in the forest. The battle
with fortune was a hard one; but Mrs. Garfield,
by dint of courage, faith and hard labor, kept
her children together, and trained them for
honorable manhood and womanhood. James was
early inured to severe toil and close economy.
His education began at the usual age in the dis-
trict school, where he early gave evidence of
unusual abilities. Later he attended a neighbor-
ing academy, and also engaged in teaching in the
district schools. In 1851 he became a student at
the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, now
Hiram College, Hiram, 0., and soon became a
tutor in that school. In 1854 he entered Williams
College, and graduated from that institution with
high honors two years later. He now returned
to Hiram as a teacher, and in 1857 became prin-
cipal of the Institute, which office he held until
1861. As a teacher and school administrator he
was very successful, awakening great enthusiasm
in his scholars for study, attaching them thor-
oughly to himself, and inspiring them with noble
purposes. In these years he also combined
preaching with his work as an educator.
Mr. Garfield's interest in politics dated from
1856. The aims of the Republican party com-
manded his hearty assent, and he identified him-
self with that organization on his graduation
from college. In 1859 he was elected to the
Senate of Ohio, where he took a very prominent
6 79
A HISTORY OF THE
part in legislation. On the breaking ont of the
Civil War, his whole nature was enlisted in the
Union cause ; and in September, 1861, he entered
the army as colonel of the Forty-second Eegi-
ment of Ohio Volunteers. In the winter of
1861-2, he commanded an army in the Sandy
Valley, Kentucky; afterwards, he served in the
Army of the Ohio, under General Buell, and was
present at the battle of Shiloh; and later he was
appointed chief of staff to General Rosencrans,
commanding the Army of the Cumberland, and
took part in the battle of Chickamauga.
Having served as a soldier with great credit
for more than two years, he entered the lower
House of Congress, as the representative of the
Nineteenth Ohio Congressional District, in De-
cember, 1863, To this body he was elected nine
times by the same constituency. From the first
he took high rank in the House, and finally be-
came its best known member. His name will
ever be associated with the most prominent meas-
ures of legislation in the period of 1863-80 ; such
as the army, civil service, reconstruction, the
currency, the tariff, and the resumption of specie
payments. In January, 1880, he was elected to
the National Senate, to take his seat in the Forty-
seventh Congress.
Honors now multiplied upon him. On June
8, 1880, the National Eepublican Convention,
at Chicago, nominated him as the party candidate
for President; and after an exceedingly active
campaign he was elected to that high office, re-
ceiving 214 electoral votes to 135 votes cast for
General Hancock, the Democratic candidate. On
March 4, 1881, he was duly inaugurated President
of the United States.
80
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Few men have ascended to the national Chief
Magistrate's chair attended by larger popular
expectations. President Garfield's career had
inspired the country with unusual hopes. But
hardly had he organized his administration,
when, July 2, as he was leaving Washington for
a visit to New England, he was shot by the
assassin Guiteau. After undergoing the greatest
sufferings, he died, - September 19, at Elberon,
N. J., and was buried the 26th of the same month
in Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, 0. The eighty
days that elapsed between the fatal shot and his
death were marked by world-wide tokens of
respect, affection and sorrow. For weeks the
civilized world waited anxiously for the latest
word from his bedside ; multitudes of his country-
men stood with uncovered heads as his funeral
car passed from Washington to Cleveland; while
whole nations followed him, in sympathy, to the
grave. The monxmaent to his memory cost
$150,000.
Eeligiously, he was baptized by W. A. Lilly
before he went to Hiram. He retained his mem-
bership in the Hiram Church to the close of his
life. He adorned his profession. As a minister
of the gospel he was an able and Scriptural
preacher. In all his travels as a public man he
was sure to find a place to worship with the
Lord's disciples on the Lord's Day. What an
inspiration it was to see him in the great wor-
shiping assembly, with face lifted heavenward
and to hear him sing:
"Ho, reapers of life's harvest,
Why stand with rusted blade,
Until the night draws round thee,
And day begins to fadef
81
A HISTORY OF THE
Why stand ye idle, waiting
For reapers more to come?
The golden morn is passing;
Why sit ye idle, dumb?"
Garfield's statement as to the religions prin-
ciples of the disciples :
''1. We call onrselves Christians, or disciples
of Christ.
''2. We believe in God the Father.
**3. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of the living God, and our Saviour. We
regard the divinity of Christ as the fundamental
truth of the Christian system.
''4. We believe in the Holy Spirit, both as to
His agency in conversion and as an indwelling in
the heart of the Christian.
''5. We accept both the Old and New Testa-
ment Scriptures as the inspired word of God.
''6. We believe in the future punishment of
the wicked and the future reward of the right-
eous.
"7. We believe that the Deity is a prayer-
hearing and a prayer-answering God.
*'8. We observe the institution of the Lord's
Supper on the Lord's Day. To this table we
neither invite nor debar; we say it is the Lord's
Supper for all the Lord's children.
"9. We plead for the union of God's people
on the Bible, and the Bible alone.
*'10. The Christ is our only creed.
**11. We maintain that all the ordinances
should be observed as they were in the days of
the apostles."
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
C. W. Heywood A. J. Thomson J. M. Atwater
WESTERN RESERVE ECLECTIC INSTITUTE AND
PRINCIPALS OF THE INSTITUTE
A HISTORY OF THE
X
HIRAM COLLEGE
P M. GREEN has written a comprehensive and
' correct history of Hiram College. In a work
like this only a few historic facts can be pre-
sented. The Eclectic Institute, ont of which the
college grew, was founded in 1850, and the col-
lege began in 1867. The college has been served
ably by men of high ideals, both educational and
personal, and of powerful personalities. This
has given to Hiram an individuality among Ohio
colleges that is well merited for altruistic motives
and for genuineness in moral standards. Her
effort has been directed toward the development
of sterling manhood and womanhood, together
with well-trained scholarship. This twofold em-
phasis upon character and upon scholarship con-
stitutes her mission . as a high-grade Christian
college.
Hiram has granted degrees to 970 persons:
717 men, 253 women. Forty-two are deceased.
Seventy per cent, of the living alumni on gradua-
tion gave themselves to altruistic service : preach-
ing, teaching, nursing, and social settlement and
various religious vocations.
Hiram people, in the world of letters, are
worthy of honorable mention. From the earlier
period may be mentioned James A. Garfield and
B. A. Hinsdale. A partial Hst of those well
84
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
known at present includes Jessie Brown Pounds,
whose hymns are sung the world around; Harold
Bell "Wright, author of a number of ''best
sellers"; Wm. Allen Knight, author of ''Song of
Our Syrian Guest"; and Nicholas Vachel Lind-
say, coming into recognition as one of the first-
rank poets of to-day.
Counting alumni and former students, Hiram
has given eighty workers to the foreign-mission
field.
The Christian Woman's Board of Missions
has headquarters at Indianapolis, Ind. All the
workers there were Hiram students. Two of the
professors in the college were former professors
in Hiram College. In Cleveland in a single year
Hiram men filled the following responsible posi-
tions: President of the Chamber of Commerce;
vice-president of the same body; superintendent
of schools; head of the Department of Public
Welfare; city engineer; head of the Civic Em-
ployment Bureau ; founder and head of the Hiram
House, a social settlement of nation-wide reputa-
tion. Besides these, Hiram men occupied other
leading positions in law, banking and other busi-
ness concerns of importance. Many pastors,
doctors, attorneys and other business and profes-
sional men of the city received their early
training in Hiram.
These facts show the value of the small col-
lege in our American system of education, and
the worth of Hiram College as a training-school
for professional and business men.
It costs about $45,000 a year to carry on the
college teaching staff, general administration and
plant maintenance. The income from students,
endowment fund and personal annual gifts is
85
A HISTORY OF THE
E. V. Zollzxs
J. M. Atwater
G. H. Lau«rUm
Dr. S. E. Shepherd B. A. Hinsdale
HIRAM COLLEGE PRESIDENTS
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
depended on to meet the expense. Efforts are
being made to increase the endowment and
attendance. F. A. Henry is president of the
Board of Trustees, and M. L. Bates is president
of the college Faculty.
Attendance at the college costs the average
man from $300 to $400 a year, and the woman's
expenditure is from $250 to $350. Many work
their way with much less cash outlay.
There are about thirteen thousand volumes
in the library. Hiram maintains good ath-
letics in football, basket-ball, baseball and track
teams, with a competent coach in charge. The
students have four strong literary societies: the
Delphic and the Hesperian for men, and the
Olive Branch and the Alethean for women. The
athletic and literary activities lend enthusiasm to
the student life. Valuable religious influences
are found in the work of the Y. M. C. A. and
Y. W. C. A. organizations. The students publish
a biweekly paper, the Hiram College Advance,
and the college annual known as ''The Spider-
web. ' '
Hiram College was distinctly Christian in its
origin. It was a child of the churches, at a time
when the churches were composed of plain
farmer folk and pioneer preachers. The purpose
of its founders is seen in the motto on the college
seal : ' ' Let there be light. ' ' A clause in the char-
ter, providing for instruction in moral science as
based on the facts and precepts of the Holy
Scriptures, points to the supreme source of that
light as they conceived it. Hiram has, through
strong teachers, developed a great company of
workers for human betterment and imbued them
with a spirit of servitude for men.
87
A HISTORY OF THE
Edwin L. Hall Geo. A. Peckham Harlan M. Page
MISS ALMEDA BOOTH OF EARLY DAYS
AND TACULTY OF 1900
88
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Hiram was peculiarly fortunate in its early
teachers. A. S. Hayden, Thomas Munnell, Nor-
man Dunsbee, Miss Almeda Booth, James A.
Garfield, H. W. Everest, J. M. Atwater and
B. A. Hinsdale were truly great teachers. They
drew around them pupils of kindred mind and
still further imbued them mth a like spirit. That
heritage has never been lost from the school. It
"has rather deepened with the passing years, both
in the Faculty and in the student body. That
spirit may be defined as a spirit of sound scholar-
ship, a spirit of democracy, a spirit of self-
reliance, and a spirit of service.
Hiram College has more than fulfilled the
purpose of its founders. It has a real and abid-
ing worth for the state no less than for the
church. Its good work continues.
1837— B. A. Hinsdale— 1900
B. A. Hinsdale was born in Wadsworth, C,
March 31, 1837, and passed from earth in Atlan-
ta, Ga., Nov. 29, 1900. He was of New England
parentage. He had an irresistible desire for
scholarship. At the age of sixteen he entered the
school at Hiram, and for thirty years was with
the school as student and professor. He was a
close and accurate scholar. He became a man of
extensive information. He was elected president
of Hiram College in 1870. In early manhood he
made a profession of faith in Christ, and became
a minister of the gospel and preached at Hiram,
Painesville, Cleveland, and often spoke at the
great annual meetings in northern Ohio. He
lectured, preached, edited, talked and wrote
books. In 1882 he was made superintendent of
the schools in Cleveland. In 1888 he was called
A HISTORY OF THE
C. O. Reynard Vernon Stauffer
MEMBERS OF FACUIiTY OF HTBAM COUiEGE,
1900 AND I^ATEE
90
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
to the chair of the Science and Art of Teaching
at Michigan University. Some of his published
works are ' ' The Genuineness and Authenticity of
the Gospels," ''The Jewish Christian Church,"
"Ecclesiastical Traditions," "Schools and
Studies," "President Garfield and Education,"
"Garfield's Life and Works," "Civic Govern-
ment of Ohio," "Life of Horace Mann." A
monograph on "The Training of Teachers,"
which he wrote, was awarded a medal at the
Paris Exposition. He was a kind of encyclopedia
on the events of the early history of Ohio. He
received academic honors from Williams College,
Bethany College, Hiram College and Ohio State
University. He was in sympathy with young
men, their struggles, difficulties, aims and
triumphs. There are few whose lives are so
rounded out and so fruitfxd.
1847— E. V. ZoLiAES— 1915
Ely Vaughn Zollars was born Sept. 19, 1847,
and well born. His parents were healthy in body
and soul, and the modest home — best of all places
— taught the fundamental facts of life. And the
hills of Washington County, in our own beautiful
Ohio, were a good place for quiet growth, and
for looking through nature up to nature's God.
He showed an early ability to learn; and,
while his immediate surroundings were rural, he
found good teachers and made a path to good
schools. When he was fairly in his teens he was
a fair scholar and well able to teach.
In 1865 he found one who met the desires of
his heart, and one upon whom he always leaned,
and never in vain; and they were married. For
three or four years he settled on a farm. Per-
91
A HISTORY OF THE
haps at first he intended to stay. It did him no
harm. There was that within him which pushed
on to other work.
So, in 1871, he entered Bethany College; and
in 1876 he graduated, sharing the honors of his
class. Those were good days at Bethany, when
Pendleton and Loos and Dolbear and Harding
were in their prime, and when many of our later
strong men were students. He had now begun
to find his place, and had grasped a work which
he never could lay do^\Ti. For two years he lin-
gered at Bethany, tutoring and helping in finan-
cial work; and then for eight years he exercised
himself, doing independent teaching in Kentucky.
He did good work, but did not prosper financially.
A call of Providence in 1885 took him to Spring-
field, Ills., as minister of the church. And it was
here, where he was doing a good work, that
Hiram found him in 1888, and made him presi-
dent of the college.
Hiram was a good place for Zollars to go. It
had good foundations in a remarkably good his-
tory, and old students clung to their memories.
Results proved that the choice of Zollars for
president was a good one.
The college soon began to feel the energizing
influence of the new president. He taught with
vigor. He visited churches, soliciting temporary
endowment, and awakening a real interest in the
college. He planned for new buildings, so that
students might be well housed. All this took
work, hard work; to many it would have been
impossible work. The college has always grad-
uated students of ability, but many classes were
painfully small. But from the advent of Presi-
dent Zollars, even to the present, the classes in
92
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
number and ability have done honor to the
college.
In 1902 a call from Texas Christian Univer-
sity took him to Waco. He felt that he would
find a larger field in Texas. As time has proved,
■conditions were not favorable to building up at
Waco ; but he did earnest work. His most marked
work, and the one that will probably tell longest
to his memory, was the founding of Phillips tlni-
versity at Enid, Okla. From the inception almost
to the day of his death he may be said to have
guided the institution. Any one who knows any-
thing of the building of great schools, especially
when one must largely gather the material for
building, will understand the seriousness of this
effort. The task was herculean. But he left a
well-equipped institution in good running order,
and already turning out young men and women
who are doing most valuable work for the world.
His was a remarkably steadfast life. He did
not vary in his great purpose; his heart was set
to build up the kingdom of God. The world has
felt, and long will feel, the momentum of his life.
I doubt if he could an^nvhere have found happier
fellowship than he found in Hiram. When he
came back to rest with his daughter in Warren,
we hoped that he would come to Hiram again,
and we could renew, in a measure, the fellowship
of other years. That was not to be. But what
a world of blessed associations we shall have to
renew, and enlarge, and never complete, in the
land that lies beyond I
1817— Abram Teachout— 1912
At the veterans* camp-fire in the Centennial
of disciples of Christ at Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1909.
A HISTORY OF THE
Judge F. A. Henry Minor Lee Bates Alanson Wilcox
Andrew Squires Wm. G. Dietz
M. L. BATES, PRES., AND TRUSTEES OF HIRAM OOLIjEOE
91
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Charles Louis Loos spoke highly of the public
teachers of the gospel, but said, ''We must not
forget the men of the rank and file." Abram
Teachout, a veteran, aged ninety-three, then
spoke in a clear, distinct voice: "I have heard
for the last eighty-five years, 'Once a man and
twice a child.' Now, if this is the second child-
hood of man that my eyes are fixed upon here
to-day, it is the most intelligent and the grandest
and the best lot of children I ever saw together.
You are here, my friends, to testify to your faith
in the cause of the Christian warfare, in the
cause of Christ. This world would be in dark-
ness if Christianity were stricken out of it. I
lived for nearly forty years in that kind of dark-
ness. My mind was taken up with some of the
pleasures that young people have; but since I
made the confession of faith and obeyed the gos-
pel and came into the life of Christianity, I have
enjoyed more in this life than I ever did before.
So I say to you, my friends, let us do all we can
for the cause of Christianity, for it is truly the
light of the world, and the blessings of life are
drawn from real, genuine, true and faithful
Christianity. That is my testimony.
"But we must consider that I speak as a
business man; I am not a preacher. We must
consider that to carry on Christianity, as a part
of our life and a part of our business, takes
money, just as it does to pay your grocer for the
food you enjoy. Now, my friends, I frequently
hear it said, and I presume you do, that it is a
sacrifice — they call it a sacrifice — to contribute
one hundred dollars, or five hundred dollars, or a
thousand dollars, to the missionary cause. It is
no sacrifice, my friends, if we can do it, if we
7 95
A HISTORY OF THE
TRUSTEES OF HIRAM COLLEGE — Continued
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
have the means; it should not be considered a
sacrifice ; it should be considered as doing a great
work for the cause of Christianity.
'' 'We should live
For the good that we can do,
For the wrongs we can right,
For the blessings we can bestow,
For the evils we can fight,
For the needs we can relieve,
For the joy we may receive.
" 'We should live
For brave and noble deeds,
With a name and purpose high
Work the work which to heaven leads.
And rest when we come to die;
Live to sweeten sorrow's cup
And to lift the fallen up.
" 'We should live
And learn to be ourselves.
If we may scatter what we know.
Live to help the fallen to arise,
To lift them above the sadness of their way.
Give strength unto the weak.
And be a help to those that seek.'
** Finally, my friends:
" 'We should live for one another;
We should bear that sacred love.
Through life's journey, for each other.
That kind the spirits feel above.
It is the Saviour's requirement;
It is the gospel's great command;
We should seek its fulfillment,
If we would win the better land.
Where our loved ones are gone before us.
Waiting for us over the dark and troubled deep.' "
Added to this list of veteran private workers
may be mentioned David Ayers, of Tedrow ; Har-
man Austin, of Warren; Wm. Williams, of
Columbus; W. S. Dickinson, of Cincinnati; Asa
Shuler, of Hamilton; Albert Allen, of Akron;
Daniel Mercer, of Bowling Green; A. C. Fenner,
97
A HISTORY OF THE
TELESCOPE, HIRAM COIiLEGE, PRESENTED
BY LATHROP COOIiEY
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
of Dayton ; Robert W. Nelson, of Bellaire ; Daniel
Kennedy, of Uhrichsville ; J. B. Parker, of New
Holland.
Latheop Coolet
Abram Teacbout builded and presented to
Hiram College a library and observatory build-'
ing. Latbrop Cooley furnished for the building
a maguLficent telescope, and, on presenting it,
•spoke in part as follows : ' ' I once stood in the
most historic place in England, Westminster
Abbey, where were deposited the ashes of the
most distinguished men of the present and past
generations — distinguished statesmen, orators,
reformers and monarchs. The building erected
here by Mr. Teachout is more than Westminster
Abbey. That building contains the dust and ashes
of great men. Into this building the young of
the present and coming generations will enter
and be introduced to the great historians of the
age and past ages. "Here men will meet for the
first time a Newton and a Locke; will meet the
grand men who have written in the English
tongue, and the writings of the most celebrated
authors of other nations translated into our own
language.
''This instrument is erected here so that you
may climb the steep of heaven and walk among
the stars; that you may have a Jacob's ladder
upon which thought, like angels bright and pure,
may ascend and descend. The work which you
are to enjoy has been done for one purpose : and
that purpose is to make better men and better
women. There is great demand to-day for manly
men and womanly women. The dangers of the
times are many, the possibilities are great. There
A HISTORY OF THE
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
is sometMng more needed than mere learning.
Learning must have a tone — it must have an
odor, it must be fragrant with moral principles
or it is dangerous. Li the development of char-
acter there is something more than mathematics
and multiplication tables to attain the highest
end and accomplish the greatest good. There is
a divine element in the human heart which longs
to get nearer the divine, and when this is en-
larged and beautified it makes the finest type of
a human being. While you may look through
into the upper deep, and discover new worlds,
and reach out — as the constructor of this tele-
scope said to me — it will reveal stars that
Herschel never saw; you may weigh planets as
in the balance, you may measure their magnitude,
you may discover new comets; but, after all, the
greatest and most valuable of all will be at the
small end of the telescope. A human being puri-
fied and adorned by the principles of the gospel
of Jesus Christ is the grandest work under the
sun. The possibilities within a human being are
grander than any star which burns in the upper
deep. What is grander than a man! And what
is grander than a man whose spirit is developed,
purified and softened by the gospel of Christ?
"There are two great volumes to study:
Nature and the Bible. In nature the character
of the Divine is impressed everywhere. 'The
undevout astronomer is mad.' But this is not
the highest revelation. The second volume, the
Bible, reveals God's love and mercy and in the
person of a lowly Nazarene. Here is a new
development of the Divine in order to make a
character. These principles are vitalized in a
human life by one who took on our nature and
101
A HISTORY OF THE
who said, ^I am the way, the truth and the life.'
These principles of love, mercy and obedience
will save the present and coming generations if
received and practiced.
^'I once stood by the tomb of Wesley in Lon-
don, and I said, 'Here is the son of a woman
meek and lowly, who, when she rocked the cradle
containing John and Charles Wesley, rocked two
continents.' Soon after the reign of the Com-
mune I also stood by the tomb of Voltaire in
Paris, and went out on the streets of Paris and
saw the ruins of the finest palaces in the world
— the fruit of the teachings of Voltaire. These
men lived in the same age, were bom about the
same time. It is said by their fruits ye shall
know them. One was mellowed by the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the other was void of it. No
other lesson ever came to me with such force as
that I learned at the tomb of Voltaire in Paris
and Wesley in London. And now, my young
friends, I say to you what I want you to write
down and remember, that a greater object than
any you can see in the upper deep is at the small
end of the telescope."
102
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST EN OHIO
XI
A SERMON AND A LIFE
■yHIS article shows the stren^h of the pioneer
teaching on the Reserve, and was produced
by S. E. Shepherd, the first president of Hiram
College :
Acts 11 : 26 : " The disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch." It is evident that
none were then called Christians except ''the
disciples/' The persons who believed John's
preaching and were baptized were called John's
disciples: and those who believed Jesus and his
apostles, and were baptized, were called his dis-
ciples. All his disciples were ''baptized into
Christ." These, and these only, "were called
Christians." If a person can be a Christian and
not put on Christ, then he can be a Christian
and not be baptized. The disciples were baptized
"into Christ." If a person can be a Christian
without being baptized, then he can be a Chris-
tian without being in Christ. "If any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are
passed away, and all things are become new."
If any man can be a Christian and not be in
Christ, then he can be a new creature and not be
in Christ. Then, old things can pass away and
all things can become new to a man who is not in
Christ; and the statement of the apostle that "if
103
A HISTORY OF THE
101
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
any man be in Christ, lie is a new creature," is
as true of persons out of Christ as of those who
are in him.
Moreover, baptism was enjoined ''for the
remission of sins." Now, if any one can be a
Christian and not be baptized, he can be a Chris-
tian without remission of sins. If any can be
Christians and not be in Christ, and not put on
Christ, and not receive remission of sins, then
all the well disposed among all ''the Christian
denominations" are Christians, and of the "one
body." But in the apostles' times no unbaptized
persons were included in that "one body" — the
church of Christ; for Paul said that they were
"all baptized into one body."
But there is one argument more. If a person
can be a Christian and not be baptized, then he
can be a Christian and reject the counsel of God
against himself; for it is said that "the Pharisees
and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against
themselves, not being baptized."
Summary: If a person can be a Christian
and be out of Christ, and not put on Christ, and
not be in the body of Christ, and not receive re-
mission of sins, and reject the counsel of God
against himself, then it is an easy and a useless
thing to be one, and "Christian union" is any-
thing but desirable.
But it is asked, "What if one thinks he has
been baptized, when he has not?" There is but
one answer to that question; namelv, "He is mis-
taken." "But what if he really thinks he has?"
Then he is really mistaken. "But suppose he
honestly believes it?" Then he is honestly mis-
taken. Now let us ask a question. These ques-
tions are founded on the belief that a real, honest
105
A HISTORY OF THE
mistake is the only cause of this person's not
being baptized. Our question, then, is this: ''Is
a real, honest mistake equal to baptism?" If it
is, then a person comes into Christ, into the one
body, puts on Christ, receives remission of sins,
and rejects the counsel of God against himself,
and is a good Christian through a real, honest
mistake. If this be so, why is not a real, honest
mistake just as good as the truth?
Persons sometimes give themselves more
credit for honesty, in matters of opinion and
belief, than they are entitled to. When the ques-
tion is raised, ''"What is baptism?" and a person
proceeds to answer it in his own mind, with the
desire that it may appear that baptism is sprink-
ling, he is not honest to himself; that is, he is
not just to himself. When he undertakes to hold
the balance of truth, he throws the weight of his
desire into one scale before he weighs the evi-
dence of the case. The equipoise is thus de-
stroyed. A just and impartial decision can not
be made in this case. The love of truth must
overcome that desire, in order to an honest
decision.
The evidence is clear that baptism, as taught
in the New Testament, was performed (not ad-
ministered) "in water," "in the river Jordan,"
and "in Enon, near Salim, because there was
much water there." That the baptizer and the
person to be baptized, after they "came to a cer-
tain water, both went down into the water" to
perform the act ; and that the party baptized was
"buried in baptism" — all of this is utterly incon-
sistent with the idea that baptism is a sprinkling.
No person, with this evidence in his mind, can
honestly believe that baptism is sprinkling or
106
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
that sprinkling is baptism. It is entirely out of
the nmnber of possibilities. The laws of the
human mind and the laws of evidence both forbid
it. No amount of kindness, of piety, of gener-
osity and benevolence can alter the case. Kind-
ness, piety, generosity and benevolence are found
in connection with paganism. They are not pecu-
liar to ^'Judaism" nor to ^'Christianity," nor
can they make paganism acceptable to God, or
justify us in foi*ming a union with such wor-
shipers or admitting them into the "one body."
The very persons who reject the evidence
above quoted, will believe in sprinkling babies
because Jesus said, ''Suffer the little children to
come to me, and forbid them not, for to such the
kingdom of heaven belongs. ' ' They can see bap-
tism, or, rather, sprinkling, when it is not men-
tioned in the passage they quote, nor in the con-
text. And though this has been shown to them a
hundred times, they still persist in the mischievous
and wicked practice of performing a rite "in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit," which none of these divine
beings ever commanded! They refer to house-
hold baptisms, in which it does not appear that
there was a single baby, and where it is said they
all rejoiced and believed in God, to prove that
babies should be sprinkled I
They contend for and practice this rite with-
out a single precept or an example of it in all
the Scriptures; and at the same time oppose
immersion, and ^vill not practice it except to obtain
a member for their church whom they can not
get without immersion! All the evidence in
"baptize in water," "in the river Jordan," "in
Enon, where there was much water," going
107
A HISTORY OF THE
out of the
water," and burying ''in baptism," all goes for
nothing with them! However abundant honesty
may be with them in other matters, in this it is
entirely wanting. It is extinguished by the desire
to have it otherwise.
Edmund Buekitt Wakefield
Isaac Errett used to tell with enthusiasm of
the one occasion when his entire congregation
responded to the invitation. It was in northern
Ohio, near Bloomfield. There were sufficient
reasons for the presence of a small audience, but,
nothing daunted, Bro. Errett read a chapter from
the Bible, sang a h^min, prayed, sang another
hymn, then preached one of his powerful dis-
courses and extended the gospel invitation. The
whole congregation responded. He was Edwin
Wakefield. Being already a man of pronounced
piety and warm s^onpathy, Bro. Errett had little
difficulty to persuade Bro. Wakefield to preach.
On Bro. Errett 's removal to Warren, Bro. Wake-
field took charge of the little congregation at
Bloomfield and became pastor of that and adja-
cent townships. Few men have ever been held in
higher esteem by their neighbors or more rever-
ently loved by their own family than was the
gracious Christian elder in the church of the
Lord.
Into his family, on the 27th of August, 1846,
a son was bom. This son proceeded, as promptly
as nature permitted, to discover the swimming-
holes in the creek which cut through the farm;
to pursue mercilessly, with twine and bent-pin
hooks, the bass and suckers which the stream
contained, and in such countless ways as are
108
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
opened to buoyant boyhood, he comforted his
father's heart, even while he ruffled the paternal
nerves.
The farm was over in Green, Trumbull Co.,
0. When the war clouds began to darken the
horizon, the family moved back from Bloomfield
to the farm. A teacher named Green had a select
school in the neighborhood; young Edmund Bur-
ritt Wakefield made a habit of attending. The
teaching was excellent ; the learning was as good
as could be expected. But, all things considered,
young Wakefield succeeded in getting something
really good out of his school life. Two of the
teachers became captains in the army. At eigh-
teen young Wakefield could restrain himself no
longer. He enlisted and was sent quickly to the
South, where his regiment was attached to Cox's
division of the Twenty-third Army Corps. With
the end of the Nashville campaign this corps was
shipped through North Carolina to Cape Fear,
where it took part in the operations immediately
preceding the surrender of Johnson's army. It
has taken a lifetime to show how ineffaceable
were the impressions which the young man of
nineteen gleaned from his experience. As men
ripen in faith towards God and in tenderness
toward fellow-men, the fearful savagery and
human butchery called war become more and
more unspeakable and full of horror.
At the close of the war, college life held out
its lure. From 1866 to 1870 — with one year
spent in Bethany for the sake of association and
good fellowship — young Wakefield enjoyed the
life of the average college student and graduate.
The year following the graduation he appeared
at Hiram College as the professor of natural
109
A HISTORY OF THE
science. A few years later, yielding to domestic
considerations, college work was surrendered for
a time and E. B. Wakefield became a pastor of
the North Bloomfield Church. After a few years
the brethren at Warren called him to that church
so freighted with hallowed memories. In 1890
Hiram called again so earnestly that pastoral
cares were laid aside and college responsibilities
and fellowship once more were undertaken.
Nearly every human life looks to certain
places which thrill as centers of associations —
nerve centers, indeed; centers of abiding influ-
ence, shaping, controlling and determining char-
acter and destiny. In the life of E. B. Wakefield
three such centers of vital association are con-
spicuous. First the boyhood home, where the
first friends, the earliest and truest friends,
abide; school days, church days, with their first
religious aspirations, hopes, ideals; home life,
where father and mother reign regal in parent-
hood, royal in neighborliness, honored by men
and blessed of God. What heart can fail to
yearn toward the birthplace, especially if this be
also the birthplace into the larger life where
their silent graves witness to their living faith?
Second, there is the Warren Church, that heart-
throb of great faith in the capital of the old
Western Reserve. It was a worthy aristocracy
that came from New York and New England, in
the pioneer days, to build that portion of the old
Northwest. It was here that the mighty men
amongst our pioneers pleaded with passionate
earnestness and with devotion of love intense for
the reunion of Christ's followers in obedient love
to Him. To call the roll of influences which had
been absorbed and radiated in turn by the War-
110
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
ren Clmrch would be practically to call the roll
of the first and second generations of our
pioneers of faith. In this work "Wakefield was
driven to strenuous effort, and was as loyally-
sustained as any pastor in the flock of God.
When the mature man, conscious of his best and
strongest powers, buries these energies in a radi-
ating center such as Warren, C, future years are
made unspeakably rich by the memories which
throng at every turn.
In the third place stands Hiram College. Pro-
fessor Wakefield has for a long time had the dis-
tinguished honor of presiding over the "snap
course" of the curriculum. If this impression
seems at all obscure, ask any Hiram student of
the present or older days, and full particulars
will be promptly forthcoming. Invariably, how-
ever, when the chuckles have signified the joyous
memory of past ''snaps," faces wiU fall into
more serious mold and hearts will speak un-
bidden, saying: ''But, after all, that was the
most profitable course I had in all the years I
was there. We didn't learn so very much out of
books, to be sure, but we could afford to surren-
der all the rest of the college course for what we
learned from Wakefield." Let it be said to his
eternal honor that, as a drillmaster in the science
of academic pedagogy, E. B. Wakefield used to
be the most delicious failure conceivable. On the
other hand, to his equally abiding honor, it must
be truthfully said that the impression students
gained in his classrooms was more powerful,
creative and worth while in shaping ideals and
the determination of character than any possible
amount of book scholarship could have been. He
taught by example.
A HISTORY OF THE
Some men are cold, metallic, hard; others are
soft, yielding, irresponsible; some exhale an
atmosphere morally noxious and spiritually neg-
ative. To none of these does E. B. Wakefield
gravitate. Human, essentially human, human in
every outreach of affection and forth-putting of
energy, but, withal, a humanity lifted up with its
weaknesses and harshness and defilement all lost
in the strength, the courage, the tenderness of
humanity's Redeemer, Christ. Among the saints
who live to bless the earth in quiet, inconspicuous
and unostentatious ways, none is more really and
truly a saint alive than Edmund Burritt Wake-
field.
EUCLID AVENUE MEETINGKHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OHIO
112
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
R. G. White
H. J. White
SOME OHIO PREACHERS
113
A HISTORY OF THE
xn
IN THE CIVIL WAR
'T' HE disciples were loyal to their conntry dur-
ing the Civil War, Once in awhile one like
Cyrus McNeely, of Hopedale, held to non-resist-
ance. Now and then one went to Canada for fear
of arrest for treason. The majority were true
to their country. The disciples did not divide
over the war. They believed in Christian unity.
There were no North or South Christians. As
citizens, North or South, they were subject to the
powers that be, so conscientiously they went to
war. They that take the sword must perish by
the sword.
E. B. Wakefield presents this subject in its
true light. He writes as follows :
''In one way Ohio was fortunate during the
Civil War. There were minor dilEferences of
sentiment, but the State was essentially a unit
in standing for the preservation of the Union.
Hence the people were almost wholly spared the
evil personal differences and the deadly feuds
which so often embittered the border States. As
a rule, Ohio's soldiers fought from principle, and
never from hatred or any hope of gain. They
felt that the welfare of the world and of the age
was wrapped up in the fate of this republic.
When the war was ended and the life of the
nation was assured, they were glad to lay off the
114
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
trappings of war and hasten to the old firesides,
to tread the old paths of peace.
' ' No church distinctions whatever were known
during the war; and it is wholly impossible, at
this date, to tell definitely of the part borne by
the disciples of Christ. It is enough to say that
everywhere, probably, they bore their proper
part, and in nearly every regiment of more than
two hundred that did service in the field, they
had representatives. Although only a casual
traveler, the writer has met scores of brethren,
remote from his part of the State, who, as officers
or in the ranks, had borne good parts in the war,
and some of whom had risen to places of influ-
ence and prominence.
''The only place, as I suppose, where any
record whatever has been kept of our men who
served in the old army, is at Hiram. And there
the record has been kept wholly for the sake of
the college, though students were so commonly
church-members that it may serve for a page of
church history. Hiram was still young when the
war began, but some 250 of her students served
from first to last in the Union Army. First of
all among these, as he was first of all among men
to those who truly knew him, was James A. Gar-
field. Company A of his regiment, the Forty-
second Ohio, was made up of Hiram boys, and
J. S. Ross, who has since served just as heroic-
ally, when courage and self-sacrifice are quite
as sorely tried, led the company in the last cam-
paign as captain. Maj. F. A. Williams, of this
regiment, died early in the service, a Christian
of splendid promise. The world has been poorer
because he was taken away. Hiram furnished
a good many officers. I recall, as majors, Eggle-
115
A HISTORY OF THE
ston, Johnstoii and Pettibone. There may have
been others. Colonel Pritchard, the captor of
President Davis, was affiliated with Hiram.
''Of the great rank and file who fight battles
from heroic sense of duty and fill essentially un-
marked graves, we may say with reverent pride,
we have full measure. AUyn, Eyder and Cook,
of the Forty-second, died in the Vicksburg cam-
paign. Chas. P. Bowler and Wallace Cobum, of
the Seventh Ohio, were killed, one at Cedar
Mountain and one at Winchester in '62. They
were fitting for the highest Christian work. And
as you name every leading battlefield we recall
names and faces that vanished there. It was a
cruel war: when you recall the death-roll, more
cruel to the North than to the South.
*'I can not forbear speaking of Maj. Delos R.
Northway, who commanded the Sixth Ohio Cav-
alry when he was killed in the Wilderness in '64.
He was always a Christian and he always led
his men. One of his last acts was to write my
father, asking him to come to be chaplain of their
regiment. He said the boys would all love him!
No better soldier ever fought for any cause.
''Now it is all over. Let it remain to us all
a bit of heroic, and yet melancholy, memory. In
it all, we never thought of dividing from our
brethren of the South. We always felt there was
something in our fellowship that went far beyond
political bonds. We knew that the environment
of the South, its economical and social interests,
were different from ours. There seemed no way
but that we should come into collision. But now
that the storm is over, mutually chastened, we
can sit down together and nothing shall come
between us. Inevitably we shall more grow to
116
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
be one. And the dearest and truest unity will be
of our faith."
At this time there is no North or South. We
all march under the ''Stars and Stripes."
Capt. C. E. Henry was educated at Hiram.
For many years he was president of the Board of
Trustees of Hiram College. He was a valuable
detective of the United States Government and
was made marshal of the District of Columbia
by President Garfield. At a G. A. R. meeting in
Cleveland a poem by Captain Henry was read,
and dedicated to the wives and children of the
comrades of the Forty-second boys. It may apply
to others also. It was ordered published.
"More than forty years ago, dear boys,
You tramped o'er hill and plain,
And scaled the lofty Cumberlands,
'Mid snow and sleet and rain.
Treason's banners fled before you.
When you met them in the fray;
Fled beyond Kentucky's border.
O'er the mountains far away.
With Garfield for commander,
And with Sheldon good and true,
And with gallant, fighting Pardee
To lead the boys in blue,
And Cowles, with battle-flag unfurled,
'Mid cannon's roar and noise,
Tou charged upon the rebel foe —
Brave Forty-second boys.
"Far down the Mississippi, boys.
Your flag was in the van;
Five thousand at Fort Hindman
Surrendered to a man.
Port Gibson, Jackson, Champion,
And on Black River's shore,
You helped to take, with Vic^burg,
FuU thirty thousand more.
Your comrades who fell in the charge
Along the battle-way.
Beneath the green magnolias
Sleep peacefully to-day;
117
A HISTORY OF THE
And the old slave, with thanksgiving
For the freedom he enjoys,
Oasts fairest flowers on the graves
Of Forty-second boys.
''Who sent you forth with blessings, boys,
And gave the flag you bore
To victory 'gainst treason's hosts,
For three long years or more?
Who followed you with fervent prayers
Through battles and alarms?
Your mothers, wives and sisters,
And your sweethearts dear and true.
Gave aU their wealth of trust and love
To their hero boys in blue:
Then, hand in hand with them through life,
More dear to you than pearls,
And now we pray God's blessing on
The Forty-second girls."
The Ohio Christian Missionary Society con-
vened in Shelby in 1863. A. S. Hayden, secre-
tary, and R. M. Bishop, president. J. W. Lan-
phear moved the following, which was unani-
mously passed:
"Wheeeas, Our country is involved in the
calamities of civil war, inaugurated by the rebel-
lion of a part of the Southern States of our
Union, threatening the destruction of our civil
and religious liberties; therefore
"Resolved, That we hereby declare our un-
wavering allegiance to the Government under
which we live, and pledge to it our unqualified
support.
"Resolved, That we recognize our chief ruler
as the minister of God, *a revenger to execute
wrath on him that doeth evil,' and as such en-
titled to our earnest prayers that he may be
endowed with wisdom from God adequate to this
dangerous crisis.
"Resolved, That we will submit to all legally
constituted authorities, both civil and military, to
118
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the express intent that we may not only be loyal
citizens, but that we may also see the present
rebellion speedily crushed, and our good Grovern-
ment triumphant in the administration of right-
eousness and peace throughout the whole land.
"Resolved, That we assure and reassure our
brave and noble soldiers in the field that they
have our warmest sympathies and constant
prayers, and that they shall have our material
and spiritual aid whenever it is possible to
bestow it."
119
A HISTORY OF THE
Harrison Reid Cooley Lloyd Darsie T. B. Knowlea
SONS OF VETERANS WHO HAVE KEPT THE FAITH
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XIII
THE FIRST RESTORATION CHURCH IN OHIO
T^HE first chnrch of Christ of tlie Eestoration
movement in Ohio was organized at Mantna,
0., Jan. 27, 1827. Walter Scott organized the
(New) Lisbon Church in November, 1827. The
Mantua Church is, then, historically at the head
of the 570 churches of Christ in Ohio. A Baptist
church was established in Nelson in 1808, the
first church of any order in Portage County, 0.
In 1820 the celebrated Mahoning Association of
Baptist Churches was formed. Alexander Camp-
bell, in time, joined this association, and the
Christian Baptist circulated in all the churches.
Through the presence of Campbell and his writ-
ings, reformatory views took possession of the
people in the fifteen churches of the Mahoning
Association. In about 1824, the Nelson Church
declared in favor of the Scriptures as the rule
of faith and practice. For two or three years
the disciples of Nelson, Hiram and Mantua met
at various places for Bible instruction and wor-
ship. Then, in January, 1827, they organized at
Mantua. Later the church at Hiram was organ-
ized, then the church at Garrettsville.
The first year eighteen members were added
to the Mantua Church. The church, in May, was
visited by Thomas Campbell. ''The infant cause
derived great advantages from this visit. He set
121
A HISTORY OF THE
in order the things wanting, confirmed the faith
of the members, and new converts were added to
the congregation." At this visit of Thomas
Campbell, May 24, 1828, he preached in a barn,
and Symonds Eyder, of Hiram, confessed the
Lord and was baptized. He became a strong
leader in the Hiram Church.
In the early days of this church there were
some severe trials, and the greatest of these was
' ' Mormonism. " Sidney Rigdon, of Mormon
fame, was the preacher at Mantua. Rigdon was
once a Baptist preacher. It is evident, to those
who were familiar with his doings in those days,
that he came among the disciples as a schemer.
He talked about the Aborigines and the Mound-
builders, and in his eloquent, enthusiastic style
spoke of a book to be published setting forth these
subjects and the restoration of miracles. He led
off Oliver Snow, who became a leader among the
Mormons. He led off Symonds Ryder, a man of
genius and mental ability. Ryder, however, was
soon cured of the delusion. Joe Smith wrote to
him to sell his land and property and put it into
the '^community" at Kirtland. This letter pur-
ported to be from the Ahnighty, and inspired.
Ryder was to be a Mormon elder. The letter
spelled Ryder's name wrongly. His name is
Symonds Ryder, and the letter spelled it Simon
Rider. He said, if this letter was from the Lord,
he would know how to spell his name. With this
keynote he started anew an investigation, and
came back to the church, kept his fortune, cor-
rected his mistake, and was a valuable member
of the church at Mantua and Hiram. Joe Smith
and Sidney Rigdon were tarred and feathered
and driven from Hiram.
122
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The Mantua Church has given to the world
many valuable disciples of Christ. Among them
may be mentioned Oris, John and Amzi Atwater,
Almeda Booth, Mary Atwater Neely, the Der-
thicks, Frederick Truedley and many others. For
ninety years it has kept on the even tenor of its
way in a country-village community and a power
for good in the locality. The church has more
than one hundred members, and 125 in the Bible
school. It has fellowship in all our missionary
and benevolent enterprises. Being located only
five miles from Hiram, they frequently have
student preachers. Bro. Truedley is professor
at Ohio State University at Athens, O.
An Historic Chuech — Mentor
As the church at Mentor, 0., is an historic
church of interest, attention is called to it. The
church, in 1826, was a Baptist church and had
Sidney Rigdon as minister. Rigdon had been a
reader of the Christian Baptist, and had adopted
its restoration teaching. In the spring of 1828
he visited Walter Scott at Warren. At other
times he had interviews with him, and had
adopted his Scriptural view of baptism. When
he returned from Warren he brought with him
Adamson Bently, the great Warren preacher of
the Restoration movement. Bently was a broth-
er-in-law of Rigdon. Together they conducted a
successful meeting, and baptized about fifty
persons. A. S. Hayden, in his ''History of Dis-
ciples on the Western Reserve," says: ''Nearly
the whole church accepted cordially the doctrine
of the Lord, exchanged their 'articles' for the
new covenant as the only divine basis for
Christ's church, and abandoned unscriptural
123
A HISTORY OF THE
titles and chnrch names, choosing to be known
simply as disciples of Christ. ' '
From Mentor, Rigdon and Bentley went to
Kirtland, five miles distant, where an ingather-
ing awaited them. The converts were so many
that they organized a chnrch at Kirtland.
The Mentor Church has at this date (1917)
a substantial meeting-house and about one hun-
dred members; also a Bible school of one hun-
dred. In 1828 it was shaken by a tempest under
the outbreak of Mormonism. Few of its mem-
bers were led astray. Kirtland, with less expe-
rience and more under Eigdon's power, became
engulfed, and has never since been recovered.
The church in Mentor, with stronger material,
resisted the shock. They were much aided in
their resistance by the presence of Thomas
Campbell, who spent several months there and
in the vicinity during the agitation it produced.
M. S. Clapp, a young man, came into the
church in the Kigdon-Bentley meeting, and soon
attained prominence by his zeal and ability. He
began the study of the classics under Thomas
Campbell, and in time became a good Greek and
Latin scholar. In 1830 he married Miss Alicia
Campbell, sister of Alexander Campbell. He
studied in Bethany, Va., and West Middletown,
Pa., and returned to Mentor, and for years was
the minister of the gospel at Mentor and other
places. He saw, in the Christian religion, the
germ of all good to man in the world, as well as
the sure and only basis for hope hereafter. He
was a friend of the poor, against slavery and
intemperance, and stood firm in defending the
Bible against infidels. In 1830 he defended the
truth as against Mormonism.
124
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
In the fall of 1830, Parley P. Pratt, a young
minister from Lorain County, under Eigdon's
influence, passing through Palmyra, N. Y., be-
came converted to Mormonism. In November,
Pratt and three others came to Rigdon, in Men-
tor, and remained a week. In Kirtland some
disciples had formed ''a community" of goods,
and had aU things in common, and advocated the
restoration of miracles. There were seventeen
of them. They were rebaptized into the Mormon
faith. Then Rigdon and his wife were baptized
into the same order of things, and many of the
Kirtland members went the same way. Three
weeks after this, Rigdon went to Palmyra, N. Y.,
and tarried with Joe Smith two months. Soon
after his return to Ohio, Smith and several of
his relatives arrived. The delusion immediately
assumed an aggressive attitude. They formed the
Mormon hierarchy, and Rigdon 's popularity gave
it success. The opposition to it was quick on its
feet. One J. J. Moss, a young schoolteacher, had
recently come into the Mentor Church. He there
and then began his great and long opposition to
all forms of error. Under his influence, and that
of M. S. Clapp and Thomas Campbell, little head-
way was made in Mentor by this Mormon raid.
Only the church at Kirtland went down. Thomas
Campbell proposed to pursue an exposure of the
claims of Mormonism:
1. By examining the character of its author
and his accomplices.
2. By exposing their pretensions to miraculous
gifts and the gift of tongues ; and by testing them
in three or four foreign languages.
3. By exposing their assertion that the author-
ity for baptism was lost for fourteen hundred
125
A HISTORY OF THE
years till restored by the new prophet and by
showing it to be a contradiction of Matt. 16 : 18.
4. That the pretended duty of ' ' common prop-
erty" is antiscriptural, and a frand upon society.
5. That rebaptizing believers is making void
the law of Christ ; and the pretensions of impart-
ing the Holy Spirit by imposition of hands is an
unscriptural intrusion on the exclusive preroga-
tive of the primary apostles.
6. That its pretentious visions, humility and
spiritual perfections are nowise superior to those
of the first Shakers, Jemima Wilkinson, the
FrencK prophets, etc.
7. In the last place, by examining the in-
ternal evidence of the Book of Mormon itself,
pointing out its evident contradictions, foolish
absurdities, shameless pretensions to antiquity,
and thus restoring it to its rightful claimant as
a production beneath contempt, and utterly un-
worthy of reception of a schoolboy.
Rigdon threw Campbell's communication into
the fire. His reputation, however, lifted Mor-
monism into notice. He had been a popular
preacher at Hiram and Mantua. He took Smith
to those places. Some converts from the dis-
ciples were made to the new order of things.
The majority of them, however, saw in it a
scheme to get their property into a common
fund, and allow certain persons to live without
work. The big stone temple was built at Kirt-
land. All those who joined in this ^'community"
lost their property. After the Hiramites saw
through the scheme, they gathered together and
were joined by adjoining townspeople, and they
'Harred and feathered" Rigdon and Smith and
drove them from the township.
126
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The Mentor Churcli has been a tower of
strength. Their early trials were severe, but
they lived through them. The church is doing a
good work among the young, and takes a hand
in all the missionary societies and benevolent
enterprises of the disciples of Christ. M. S,
Clapp and J. J. Moss were great and successful
ministers coming from the Mentor Church.
1806— JOHI^ SCHAEFEK— 1908
Wlien the renowned traveler, Bayard Taylor,
visited the great naturalist and scientist, Alex-
ander von Humboldt, in his old age. Von Hum-
boldt remarked to Taylor, ''You have seen many
ruins, and now you behold the last one;" refer-
ring to his weakened and aged body. Taylor
wittily and wisely replied, referring to his mind
and works, "Not a ruin, but a pyramid."
For one hundred years John Schaefer was a
pyramid of conservative and practical wisdom.
PVom boyhood he adorned the Christian graces
and virtues. Statistics show that doctors are
short-lived and ministers long-lived. John
Schaefer was a minister of the gospel eighty
years — since 1834 ; among the disciples of Christ,
seventy-four years; and before that, six years
among the Lutherans. He was born in West-
moreland County, Pa., and afterwards (in his
boyhood) settled in Columbiana County, 0.
He had a fine German scholar, named John
Wagenhals, as a preceptor. At the age of
twenty, he studied theology as taught by the
Lutheran Church. He soon was licensed to
preach, and for six years served in this capacity.
He received what was considered in those days,
and in the country, a large salary of $400 a year.
9 127
A HISTORY OF THE
From marriages and other sources he added to
this sum $100 more, and so had for those times
a large compensation.
He married a sister of the lamented James
Hartzel. In those early days, when friends met,
they engaged in religious conversations and dis-
cussions. He had his mind turned into a new
Bible channel in one of those conversations, as
Bro. Hartzel asked him: *' Which, in the order of
salvation, stands first — faith or repentance?"
Schaefer replied: '' Repentance precedes true
evangelical, or saving, faith." Hartzel asked:
"Do you hold that repentance is pleasing to
God?" Schaefer replied: "Most certainly, or
He never would have commanded it." Hartzel
then said: "The apostle Paul says, 'Without
faith it is impossible to please God!' " Schaefer
confessed his error, and never afterward preached
that repentance comes before faith.
From this time on, his confidence in Luther-
anism was weakening. He had a class of about
thirty catechumens, instructing them for the act
of confirmation. In this act they assume the
baptismal vows made in their infancy to their
sponsors or god-parents. When he came to ask
the class if they had been baptized, a young lady
replied : "I do not know. ' ' Question : ' ' Did your
parents never tell you that you were baptized?"
Answer: "They told me that I was sprinkled
when I was a baby, but I know nothing at all
about it." Schaefer there and then saw that
being baptized was a matter of faith. He went
home and told his wife that he would never
sprinkle another infant. He had no trouble as
to immersion. In his theological studies he
learned that immersion was the original practice
128
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
of the churchy but thought that the ministers, as
they claimed, had authority to change it to
sprinkling. He at once sent for Jonas Hartzel,
and at Phillips Church, in March, 1834, he and
his wife were baptized.
Schaefer sent in his resignation to the Lu-
theran Synod, which met at New Lisbon, and sev-
ered his connection with that body. The synod
dropped him as a heretic. He was within two
months of the close of his year, and the money
had been raised to finish paying him. He needed
the money, but gave it up heroically. What
should he do? He had thirty acres of land and
less than half paid for, without team or means
to cultivate it.
After that he preached every Lord's Day and
sometimes during the week. He labored with his
own hands, or, as he expressed it, ^'I had to
dig." He was not ashamed "to dig." In those
early days a feeling had gone out among the dis-
ciples that a minister must not be paid for his
services. After awhile one congregation agreed
to pay him one dollar a visit, once a month; two
others offered him fifty dollars a year for one-
fourth of his time. Some brethren felt hurt be-
cause he was taking money for preaching. He
received thirty-seven dollars of the amount
pledged and never asked for the rest. With his
own hands and business energy he worked him-
self into a competency and never demanded pay.
He was glad in his old age that a support is
,given to gospel ministers.
The forefathers made great struggles and
self-denials to lay the foundation of the Restora-
tion in which we are engaged. The church at
Bethany and Alexander Campbell, knomng of
129
A HISTORY OF THE
Bro. Schaefer's sacrifices and efforts, at one time
generously sent him one hundred dollars. All
honor to those pioneer heroes that went into the
struggle at their own charges. Bro. Schaefer
had excellent endowments of mind, manners and
education; was a fluent speaker in his native
German, and, if he could have been amply sup-
ported in work among his own people, what a
power he would have been.
The Deeriield Church, with which Bro. Schae-
fer allied himself, was blessed with many com-
petent teachers, and their influence was felt for
thirty miles around. Peter Hartzel, Samuel
McGowan and Alexander Hubbard were of the
number. Several rose to eminence, such as E. B.
Hubbard, Jonas Hartzel, A. Allerton, C. P. Finch
and John Schaefer. From this church came Milo
Laughlin, of Missouri; A. J. Laughlin, of Indi-
ana, and thence the Laughlins of Ohio. W. L.
Hayden, W. W. Hayden and M. P. Hayden — all
fully educated — gave themselves to the ministry
and hailed from Deerfield. Eli Regal, an asso-
ciate of Isaac Errett in his Michigan work, one
of the best men among all God's chosen ones,
came from this celebrated church.
Bro, Schaefer had ten children, seventeen
grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
One of his sons married Libbie Johnson, a niece
of Isaac Errett, and her mother lived on a farm
adjoining that of the centenarian. Bro. Schae-
fer's longevity may be attributed to his temper-
ance habits, to his hopeful disposition, and at
last to the care he had from his two daughters,
Susan and Mary, who made bright his sunset of
life. He died in 1908 at the age of 102 years.
130
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Samuel Rogers Elizabeth Rogers Barton W. Stone
i'*'-i
H"^
::-l^^- .
1 l^y^lu
Love H Jamieson Walter Scott B. U. Watkins
W. D. Moore W. P. Stratton David A. Rumble
SOME PIONEERS OP THE EESTOEATION
131
A HISTORY OF THE
XIV
IN SOUTHERN OHIO
TTHE Restoration movement in Ohio is virtually
the micleus of a world-wide movement for
the restoration of primitive apostolic Chris-
tianity. The movement of Barton W. Stone in
Kentucky antedates that of the Campbells in
Ohio, but was not so complete. In 1830 they
joined together, and began moving the religious
world to join in an effort to unify and restore
the doctrine and unity that was in the first
churches, and to answer the Lord's prayer for
the oneness of all believers through the preach-
ing of the gospel by the apostles of Christ. The
movement that commenced on the Western Re-
serve in 1827, among the Baptists, rapidly spread
to Baptist communities in other parts of the
State. Barton W. Stone and his coworkers
entered Ohio, and communities permeated by
their teaching were easily prepared to join the
Scriptural world-wide movement to restore orig-
inal apostolic teaching.
In 1804, B. W. Stone made a trip to Meigs
County, 0., for the purpose of immersing a Pres-
b>i;erian minister named William Caldwell.
While there he preached, on its invitation, to the
Separate Baptist Association then assembled
there. He says: ''The result was that they
agreed to cast away their formularies and creeds,
132
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Parsonage built for Samuel Rogers by neighbors and
brethren, 1820, near New Antioch, Ohio, where he lived
twenty-seven years save three.
|S^
-.^.-^-. r^-^^^^g
fe
^ IjH
K^^^
.^ivji^^l^H
El
m ^^^HHI^^H
Hu
ttjIpnH
, ^??^WP5 1*"^ .
Meeting-house, New Antioch, Ohio. The first in that
country. It was built for Samuel Rogers in the early
years of his ministry and named by him.
133
A HISTORY OF THE
and take the Bible alone for their rule of faith
and practice; to throw away their name 'Baptist'
and take the name 'Christian,' and to bury their
Association, and to become one with us in the
great work of Christian union. Then they
marched up in a band to the stand where Mr.
Stone was preaching, shouting the praises of
God and proclaiming aloud what they had done.
We met them, and embraced each other in Chris-
tian love."
In an early day Samuel Rogers preached in
New Antioch, Clinton County. Like Antioch''of
old, the gospel movement went ont from this cen-
ter to Clinton, Darke, Highland, Brown, Cler-
mont and other counties, and furnished centers
from which churches grew up and into the full-
ness of the Restoration movement. Great credit
should be given the Christian denomination for
paving the way for complete New Testament
faith and practice. They aimed right whatever
else may be said of them.
The historic address of J. S. West, of Brown
County, 0., at the dedication of a new meeting-
house at Liberty, Redoak Post-office, in 1874, is
typical of the conditions and struggles in other
localities. The address is a masterly one, show-
ing the struggles and efforts of the forefathers
in reaching after Bible teaching. It shows what
they contended against. Outside of the '^ History
of Disciples of Christ on the Western Reserve,"
by A. S. Hayden, no document throws more light
on our history. Georgetown, the county-seat of
Brown County, is where U. S. Grant spent his
boyhood days. Liberty Church is an appropriate
name and center from which Christ's truth may
start out to make all men free.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
In northern Ohio the pioneers met sectarian-
ism, Mormonism, Spiritualism, infidelity and all
forms of opposition. In southern Ohio they met
Shakerites, socialism, infidelity, sectarianism and
Komanism. Alexander Campbell and Walter
Scott were the same great leaders in Cincinnati
and southern Ohio that they were on the Western
Eeserve. Cincinnati, through its churches,
preachers and publications, became a great cen-
ter for the propagation of original apostolic
Christianity, This will appear in the sketches
of persons and periodicals.
The names of some of the pioneer preachers
follow: Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, D. S.
Burnet, A. D. Fillmore, J. H. Lockwood, Dr.
Pearre, James Challen, J. W. Hull, B. U. Wat-
kins, Benjamin Franklin, J. M. Henry, W. D.
Moore, John Laffe, T. J. Melish, W. T. Moore, A.
I. Hobbs, Samuel Rogers, J. S. West.
1808— D. S. BimNEa^l867
David Statts Burnet was bom in Dayton, 0.,
July 6, 1808. When eight years of age his par-
ents moved to Cincinnati. At the age of thirteen,
his father having been elected mayor of the city,
David was taken into the office as his father's
clerk. About the same time he was sprinkled, in
accordance with the Presbyterian faith, in which
he had been brought up. At the age of sixteen
he was an active worker in the Sunday school,
which led him into a careful study of the Scrip-
tures. His investigations soon convinced him of
the errors of Presbyterianism, and especially of
infant sprinkling for baptism, and therefore, on
the 26th of December, 1824, he was immersed
and became a member of the Enon Baptist
135
A HISTORY OF THE
Church. At that time he was imacquamted with
the teaching of Alexander Campbell and those
associated with him in pleading for a return to
primitive Christianity; and yet he rejected the
authority of human creeds, and declined to accept
any test of faith but the word of God, basing his
application for baptism on Rom. 10 : 6-10, not
knowing that any one else had done so before.
They hesitated, but he was received by the Bap-
tists. He was only sixteen, but began at once to
preach the gospel. At the age of twenty he was
called to preach at Dayton. In the winter of
1827 he united with Elder William Montage, of
Kentucky, in the organization of Sycamore Street
Baptist Church of Cincinnati. The eighty mem-
bers adopted a more liberal and progressive plat-
form than usual at that time. The principles of
the Restoration, as advocated by Alexander
Campbell, Walter Scott and others, now became
generally known, and their influence upon the
Baptist churches throughout the West was very
great, in some places completely absorbing whole
districts and enlisting a very earnest interest in
favor of the plea for the return to primitive
Christianity. The Sycamore Street Baptist
Church was not free from this influence, and it
was not long until a division took place, the two
portions forming different congregations and
finally growing into the present Ninth Street
Baptist Church and the Christian Church at the
comer of Eighth and Walnut Streets, now
merged into the Central Christian Church. Bro.
Burnet adhered to the latter organization, and
until his death was thoroughly identified with the
movement and a zealous defender of the prin-
ciples and practices advocated by disciples of
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Christ. He yielded to his convictions in opposi-
tion to every worldly interest. He broke away
from wealth, position, fame, friends, relatives
and religious associations, and united with a
people at that time held in low esteem. Nor
could it be expected otherwise. The plea the dis-
ciples made struck at the foundation of all the
existing religious sects; hence it is reasonable
enough to suppose the sects would bitterly de-
nounce a movement which had for its object their
complete destruction. This attitude of the Res-
toration arrayed all the hosts of sectarianism
against it. The contest was a fearful one, and
the odds against the few who strove for a return
to apostolic Christianity were truly appalling.
But truth is mighty and will prevail, and Bro.
Burnet lived long enough to see his brethren a
powerful and influential people in the land, and
to reach this success no one labored more faith-
fully and earnestly than himself, traveling exten-
sively, working day and night, preaching the
gospel, organizing churches, writing for the
papers, editing books, teaching school, doing
anything that was necessary to forward the
cause which lay so near his heart.
From 1834 to 1840 he published the Christian
Preacher, a monthly magazine containing choice
discourses and essays on the great themes con-
nected with man's redemption. In 1846 he pub-
lished the Christian Family Magazine; then the
Christian Age for several years. At another
time he published, simultaneously, The Reformer,
the Monthly Age and the Sunday School Journal.
He also edited the "Sunday School Library" of
fifty volumes, and an edition of the Christian
Baptist in one volume. In the Age and Reformer
137
A HISTORY OF THE
A. D. Fillmore John Boggs T. D. Garvin
MINISTEES or SOUTHERN OHIO
138
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
he had partners. He served as a pastor sixteen
years at Sycamore Street and then at Eighth and
Walnut Streets. In the 0. C. M. S. Convention
in 1867, D. S. Burnet was chairman of a commit-
tee on the increase of the number of preachers
of the gospel. The other members of the com-
mittee were 0. A. Burgess and Isaac Errett. As
chairman he wrote and read:
''Your committee to whom was referred so
much of the report of the Board as refers to the
supply of ministers to perform the missionary
labors of the society, beg leave to report :
''That we are profoundly impressed with the
importance of a subject which lies at the very
foundation of our whole enterprise, for without
missionaries our society is utterly useless. In
the commencement of our efforts as a people we
could not employ the talents with which God had
enriched us, but now the state of the case is
reversed. We are more wealthy in churches than
preachers. Our pioneers are fast departing to
their reward, and though we have numerous col-
leges for the fitting of pious and gifted sons of
the church for the work, we must hasten the sup-
ply to meet the vastly increased demand. The
tide of death waits not on our tardiness, but is
sweeping out into the ocean of eternity a whole
generation before we have submitted to them our
plea of the simplicity of the gospel, and the
disaster of a disunited church in the face of a
united opposition.
"While, therefore, we commend to our
churches the facilities of our noble universities
and colleges, we must urge upon them the more
speedy preparation of a large number of vigor-
ous working men for the field. We deem it of
139
A HISTORY OF THE
the highest importaiice that each chnrch inqnire
whether there is not in its midst a diamond, or
more than one, that needs only the labor of the
spiritual lapidary to prepare it for the adorn-
ment of the brow of the bride of Christ. There
is scarcely a church in the land which can not
furnish such a jewel. All preachers and elders
should search out such from the mines of intel-
lectual and devotional wealth lying around them.
This must be done, and done speedily. God will
hold us to a rigid account if we are derelict. * Go,
preach the gospel,' is not more seriously urged
upon us than the requirement, 'Pray ye the Lord
of the harvest to send forth more laborers into
the harvest,' now growing in rankness and
waste: and prayer without effort is folly, if not
hypocrisy. In the person selected, talent and
devotion should be happily blended.
**The facilities afforded by courses of lec-
tures, something like those of the legal profes-
sion, are now inviting the attention of young
men of both English and classical attainments in
connection with some of our institutions free of
charge. The liberality of these propositions
should call forth a general response from the
churches at once, and in the course of one or two
seasons the Macedonian cry now echoing over
our continent will be caught by many willing
ears. These agencies, church ofl&cers, the course
of popular lectures and the regular instruction
of all our colleges, zealously co-operating, will
soon bring the supply up to the demand, however
great. Few better pleas for the unity of the
church can be conceived than may be founded
upon this excessive call for the multiplication of
ministers. Were all the lovers of Jesus united,
140
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
one-fourth the number of religious teachers now
in the field would be ample for the requirements
of the immense church augmentation which would
result from such a union. But we are in the
midst of the perilous times when the burden of
the plea for this union itself demands a multipli-
cation of our ministerial resources a hundred-
fold. All of which is respectfully and affection-
ately submitted."
Having made such a plea to recruit the min-
istry, he suits the action to the word, and left in
the custody of the Ohio Christian Missionary
Society, at his decease, $10,000 to aid in prepar-
ing young men for the ministry. It has now
increased to over $25,000. This sum is invested,
and the interest is loaned to young men prepar-
ing for the ministry of the Word.
Bro. Burnet all through his career advocated
a prepared ministry to lead the churches to a
clear and full knowledge of the word of God.
Experience has proved that it is better to loan
the students money than to give it to them. To
pay it back increases their self-respect. They
are permitted to have the fund five years without
interest. After that period they pay it, and so
the fund now amounts to over $25,000.
Closing this sketch, it may be said that at the
age of sixteen he became known as the ''Boy
Preacher. ' ' In the memoirs of Alexander Camp-
bell it is said that he was quite low in stature,
but erect in carriage. His head was large and
finely formed ; his eyes prominent, full and spark-
ling; his features regular, with a mouth some-
what large, but firmly set, while in his bearing
he was remarkably self-possessed, dignified and
courteous, giving himself wholly to the cause of
141
A HISTORY OF THE
C. A. McDonald L. O. Newcomer A. B. RoLertson
SOME PRESENT-DAY OHIO MINISTEBS
142
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the Restoration. After a few years he became
one of its most distinguished and successful
advocates, delighting large audiences by his elo-
quent and copious diction, and his able presenta-
tions of the principles of the gospel, which he
widely disseminated, not only in Cincinnati, but
through many of the States from Maryland and
Virginia to Kansas.
1823— A. D. FiLLM0Ei>— 1870
Augustus Damon Fillmore was born Sept. 7,
1823, near Gallipolis, 0. While he was yet in his
youth, his father moved to Fulton, then some
distance from Cincinnati, but now a part of the
city. At a meeting held in Fulton in 1842, in the
old market-house, he confessed the Saviour and
obeyed the gospel. His parents were Methodists
of strict sect. His father was so incensed that,
for some years after Augustus was immersed,
he would not speak to him. But he entered the
service of Christ in ''the full assurance of faith"
and wavered not on account of the paternal dis-
favor.
He had been a teacher of music about three
years when he obeyed the gospel. His education,
though not classical, was good for that day. His
tongue was ''as the pen of a ready writer," and
his manner exceedingly winning; and, being full
of zeal for the cause in which he had enlisted
with all his heart, he soon began to speak in the
church. He constantly grew in power and use-
fulness until, in 1851, his ability was so clearly
demonstrated that he was ordained. He never
adopted the ministry as his profession, but,
through a good providence of God, was led into
the work and became a good minister of Christ,
10 143
A HISTORY OF THE
nonrished np in the words of faith and of good
doctrine. He was an earnest, sonnd and stolid
preacher, turned many to righteousness^ and in-
structed the saints in the work of the Lord.
But the beloved Fillmore's talent lay in his
musical skill and ability. He was a sweet singer
in Israel. In a quiet, unpretending way he fol-
lowed up all the general convocations of the dis-
ciples, ever ready for what he could do, but never
thrusting himself forward. If he had been strong
in body to carry out the conceptions of his musi-
cal genius, his would without doubt have been the
music of the whole body of disciples. As it is,
his soul-stirring melodies are favorites in hun-
dreds of congregations, while scores of music-
teachers minister instruction in **the divine art"
as they learned it from him.
Fillmore began to manifest musical talent at
a very early period. When only two or three
years old, and before he could sing any words,
he would sit on his father's knee and sing the
soprano of several simple tunes while his father
sang bass. When sixteen he began to teach
music ; two or three years later he began to com-
pose music. The ''Song of Steam" and ''Song
of the Lightning" were great favorites. The
"Old Brown Homestead" and "The Wandering
Boy" demonstrate the scope of his genius and
ability. The first two mentioned were sung with
fervor and approbation by James Challen and
Silas W. Leonard. These two men were musical
preachers, and no doubt they turned his attention
at an early day to sacred music.
"The Christian Psalmist" appeared when he
was only twenty-four years of age. It had a
more general circulation than any other of his
144
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
publications. It met a great want and appeared
without a rival. ''The Harp of Zion" and ''The
Christian Psaltery" were of great merit, even
superior to "The Psalmist." After giving up
the musical notation of Mr. Harrison, he used
round notes. Among his other publications may-
be mentioned "The Nightingale," in 1857, for
singing-schools. "The Christian Choralist" in
1863, and "The Harp of Zion" in 1864, books of
church music. For the Sunday school he pub-
lished in 1863 "The Polyphonic," and "The
Little Minstrel" and "Violet" in 1867.
In 1870 he was residing on a farm fourteen
miles east of Cincinnati, where, on the 5th day
of June, he closed his labors on earth and went
over the river to join with other redeemed spirits
in songs of praise round the great white throne.
Mr. Fillmore issued at one time a periodical
entitled "The Gem and Musician," devoted to
musical literature. Also he published ' ' The Tem-
perance Musician," a book which was devoted to
temperance songs and glees. His illustrious
son, J. H. Fillmore, inherits the musical genius
of his father, and publishes many books of music
for society and the church.
145
A HISTORY OF THE
Dr. E. A. Lodge J. H. Lockwood Henry S. Bosworth
SOUTHERN OHIO PIONEERS
14G
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XV
MUSIC
HTHE pioneer leaders were interested in hym-
nology and music. John Henry was a band
leader, playing on many kinds of instruments.
When he became a dis<iiple he gave his great
ability to further the interests of the church.
William and A. S. Hayden were lovers of music
and leaders in singing. A. S. Hayden published
music-books: ''The Hymnist," "The Melodeon,"
and perhaps other works. A. D. Fillmore, of
Cincinnati, published many music-books. The
Fillmore brothers carried on the publishing busi-
ness, issuing ''The Praise Hynmal," which had
a large sale in other States as well as in Ohio.
The church hymnals and music adapted to the
Bible schools is a feature of this publishing-
house. The Standard Publishing Company has
also printed various music-books for church and
Bible schools. Jessie Brown Pounds is the
author of a long list of beautiful hymns.
In early times it was said: "The disciples
sing people into the kingdom of heaven." Re-
ligious reformations have always been accompa-
nied by musical revivals. Music is the language
of the emotions and commands the emotions, and,
when accompanied by appropriately selected
words, is a powerful auxiliary in religions move-
ments.
Before hymn-books were multiplied, the min-
147
A HISTORY OF THE
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, NINTH STREET,
CINCINNATI, OHIO
148
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
ister would line out the hymns — two lines at a
time — and everybody would try to sing. Evident-
ly, in these olden times, there was a better under-
standing of the words than in the solo vocaliza-
tions of modern times.
The leader of singing in olden times guessed
at the pitch of his tune and sometimes became
bewildered. It is related of one leader that, when
the minister gave out the hymn, *'I love to steal
awhile away," the leader started, "I love to
steal," and repeated it three times and then
failed, and the minister is reported to have said,
''Considering the propensities of our brother, let
us pray."
Tuning-forks were adopted to give the correct
pitch of tunes. Later, organs were introduced
as aids in singing. Some opposed the use of
instniments in church worship.
An edition of "The Living Oracles" was pub-
lished by Alexander Campbell, and bound with it
were many hymns. He also published a hymn-
book which was finally turned over to the Ameri-
can Christian Missionary Society, so that it
would enjoy the profits of the sale to enlarge its
missionary work.
When instruments began to be used they came
through the Bible schools. The young people
started Bible schools in opposition to many con-
servatives in the church. The young people who
started and managed the schools used instru-
ments as aids in singing, and the music was so
much improved that the churches gradually ad-
mitted them as aids in worship. At first they
would not allow them to be used at the time of
the Lord's Supper, but later they were used in
singing at all times. Individuals and whole
149
A fflSTORY OF THE
churches objected to the nse of instnmieiits.
They declared them to be innovations and wor-
shiping the Lord by machinery. The discussion
of the music question continued for years, and,
while the question is settled in the minds of
many, some continue to object to their use. Those
who use them declare they are only aids in
worship the same as a meeting-house. The dis-
ciples being congregationalists, each church set-
tles this question for itself. Those who oppose
the use of instruments do not cut themselves off
from the fellowship of Christ, and continue to
sing with the spirit and understanding without
the viol or organ. Instruments or no instru-
ments, the general verdict is ''we be brethren,"
and these matters of expediency shall not keep
us from the Lord or one another.
In the early days among the disciples they
did not call their special evangelistic meetings
revivals. They chose to call them ''meeting of
days," or protracted meetings. Preachers were
scarce, and these meetings were usually of short
duration. The churches were mostly in the coun-
try. The leaders in the congregation would
arrange for bringing those who had no teams to
the meetings. At the appointed time large loads
of people would come from all directions and the
assembly-room would be filled. The pioneers
would laugh at "the close communion" buggies
of modern times. Steam-cars, trolley lines and
automobiles were unknown to the forefathers.
Even the villages had inferior sidewalks, but the
people were eager to hear the word of God
preached and sung, so they came and pressed up
to the pulpit end of the assembly-room. They
brought their Bibles, and watched the quotations
150
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
R. T. Mathews A. I. Hobbs Frank A. Walker
G. W. Muckley B J. Radford A. N. GUbert
MINISTKES OF CINCINITATI
151
A HISTORY OF THE
made by the minister and verified all that they
received.
Walter Scott was the first evangelist among
the disciples in Ohio. He took William Hayden
with him as a helper and singer. Scott himself
was a singer. It is reported of him that, when
young, he sang on the streets in a city and col-
lected a crowd of listeners, and then would take
a collection for a poor, unfortunate man.
An evangelistic team of preacher and singer
was started in 1885 by Alanson Wilcox, then sec-
retary of the Ohio Christian Missionary Society.
J. V. Updike and J. E. Hawes constituted the
team, with Wilcox as manager. They were suc-
cessful, and soon this method of evangelizing
extended to other States.
Congregational singing is the ideal music for
worship and evangelizing. It is imagined by
many that there will be much singing in heaven
to the praise and glory of God. It is weU, then,
to practice singing in this world.
While congregational singing is the ideal
music for the worship of God, choirs to lead in
such music have been organized in many congre-
gations of disciples of Christ. Anthems are
often used by the choir in worship. Solos are
presented by skilled and trained voices, and they
are useful in protracted evangelistic meetings.
The Fillmoee Beothees
The music-house called "The Fillmore Broth-
ers ' ' was established in June, 1874, in Cincinnati,
0. The firm consisted of J. H. Fillmore, the
eldest son of A. D. Filhnore, and Frank Fillmore,
the next oldest son. Their first publication was
a Sunday-school song-book entitled ''Songs of
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Glory." This publication was issued at the birth
of the firm. The book was very successful, and
was followed by other Sunday-school and gospel
song-books, also books for singing-schools and
conventions, temperance and prohibition song-
books, anthem-books and church-music books.
In 1882 they issued a church hymnal called
' ' The New Christian Hymn and Tune Book. ' ' It
became the immediate hymnal of the Christian
Church, and is used widely at the present time
—1916.
In 1896 they issued ''The Praise Hymnal,"
by Gilbert J. Ellis and J. H. Fillmore, which was
revised and enlarged in 1906, and is widely used
among the disciples of Christ at the present day.
In the year 1902 the Fillmore brothers were
organized into The Fillmore Brothers Company,
an Ohio State corporation. A couple of years
later they bought out the A. Squire band and
orchestra music-house, and from that date have
been the publishers of band and orchestra music,
and dealers in band and orchestra instruments,
in addition to being general publishers of aU
kinds of vocal music. The Fillmore Brothers
Company consisted of the brothers of the Fill-
more family, as follows: J. H. Fillmore, Fred A.
Fillmore and Chas. M. Fillmore. L. C. Fillmore,
the son of C. L. Fillmore, has been with the firm
as general manager since 1877. He is now a
stockholder. Among the stockholders at present,
in addition to the above named, are the children
of J. H. Fillmore, also Herbert L. Fillmore, son
of Fred A., and a number of employees of the
Fillmore Music House. The business has grown
steadily, and it ranks among the popular music-
houses of the United States.
153
A HISTORY OF THE
The Fillmores are the publishers of an
anthem monthly called The Choir, also a band
and orchestra musical magazine called the Musi-
cal Messenger.
Campbell and Owen
In 1829, Alexander Campbell met Robert
Owen, the Scotch Socialist, in debate in Cincin-
nati. Mr, Owen, managing miUs in Glasgow, had
become wealthy, and came to the United States
to propagate his ''Social System." He had
established a community at New Harmony, Ind.,
and had predicted that in three years it would
depopulate Cincinnati. The Government of Mex-
ico had offered him a tract of land 150 miles
broad, which included California, in which he
might exhibit his ''Social System." Mr. Owen's
plans were for men's material interests and
devoid of God. He undertook to prove that
religion is the greatest bar to the supreme happi-
ness of the world, and that man is the creature
of his environment. Mr. Campbell had accepted
his challenge for a discussion of his infidel,
humanitarian theories. In view of the many
different forms of skepticism prevailing, and of
the false views entertained respecting Chris-
tianity itself, his purposes took a much wider
range, and he resolved to demonstrate, from his
own point of view, the divine origin of the Bible
and the simplicity, truthfulness and saving power
of the apostolic gospel.
The attendance at the debate was immense.
Owen claimed he had discovered certain laws of
human nature, a knowledge of which would, he
thought, abolish religion, marriage and private
property. Ignorance of these laws, he declared,
154
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
had caused the vice and misery of manMiid. He
then commenced reading a manuscript two hun-
dred pages long, in which he concluded that all
religions are founded in, error and opposed to the
laws of human nature he had discovered. Mr.
Campbell showed that the idea of God had been
revealed, and when the time came in which he
was unlimited as to time, he occupied twelve
hours in all, and gave a view of the nature and
evidences of Christianity which, for cogency of
argument, comprehensive reach of thought and
eloquence, has never been surpassed, if ever
equaled. He showed that man is not a mere
creature of circumstances, that he has the power
to will and to act upon his decisions, and that
the gratification of temporal wants fails to con-
fer happiness. He closed the debate as follows:
''Religion — the Bible; what treasures untold
reside in that heavenly word ! Religion has given
meaning and design to all that is past, and is
as the moral to the fable, the good, the only good,
of the whole — the earnest now of an abundant
harvest of future and eternal good. Whence has
been derived your most rapturous delights on
earth? Have not the tears, the dews of religion
in the soul afforded you incomparably more joy
than all the fleshly gayeties, than all the splendid
vanities, than the loud laugh, the festive song of
the sons and daughters of the flesh? Even the
alternations of hope and fear, of joy and sorrow,
of which the Christian may be conscious in his
ardent race of a glorious immortality, afforded
more true bliss than ever did the sparkling gems,
the radiant crowr or the triumphal arch be-
stowed by the gratitude or admiration of a
nation on some favorite child of fortune or of
155
A HISTORY OF THE
fame. Whatever comes from religion comes
from God. The greatest joys desirable to mortal
man come from this source. Worlds piled on
worlds, to fill the universal scope of my imagina-
tion, would be a miserable per contra against the
annihilation of the idea of God, the Supreme. It
is a mystery to me how any good man could wish
there was no God. When the idea of God the
Almighty departs from the earth, not only the
idea of virtue, of moral excellence, but of all
rational enjoyment, departs. Teach me to think
that I am the creature of chance, and to it alone
indebted for all that I am, was, and ever shall be,
and I see nothing in the universe but mortifica-
tion and disappointment. Death is as desirable
as life; and no one creature or thing is more
deserving of my attention and consideration than
another.
''But as well might Mr. Owen attempt to
fetter the sea, to lock up the winds, to prevent
the rising of the sun, as to exile the idea of God
from the human race. As soon could a child
annihilate the earth as to annihilate the idea of
God once suggested."
At the close Mr. Campbell took a vote, asking
all who believe in the Christian religion to rise.
Nearly all the congregation rose ; only three rose
on the negative vote.
156
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
J. M. Van Horn M. J. Maxwell J. C. B. Stivers
N. Zulch L. G. Walker James Vernon
MORE RESTORATION MINISTERS
157
A HISTORY OF THE
XVI
HISTORIC DEDICATION SERMON DELIVERED
BY J. S. WEST AT LIBERTY CHAPEL,
BROWN COUNTY, OHIO, IN 1874
DRETHEEN AND FRIENDS:— Onr text on
this, to me, very solemn and important occa-
sion is the first verse of the twelfth chapter of
Paul's letter to the Hebrews: ''Wherefore seeing
we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and
the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race set before us, ever
looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith."
In opening our new house for worship to-day,
it has been suggested by the brethren that a dis-
course embodying, to some extent at least, the
past history of the church would be appropriate,
and the duty of delivering that address has been
assigned to me. I undertake it cheerfully, as I
am persuaded that the subject will prove mutual-
ly interesting to us. To give a history of the
church here will necessitate a history of the
neighborhood, as the two are inseparably inter-
woven. Within the lifetime of some who are
with us to-day, the country surrounding us was
an unbroken wilderness, traversed only by wild
animals and wild hunters. To the country imme-
diately around us, Providence has been very
158
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
lavish in his gifts. Perhaps, in its virgin state,
no more fertile spot could be found anywhere.
It was covered with the greatest variety and
best of timber, abounded in limestone and pure
limestone water, but, above all, a very healthy
location. This very desirable spot received its
first settlers about the year 1800. Almost from
its first settlement this vicinity was selected as a
place to worship God. Ere the howl of the wolf
and the scream of the panther ceased to be heard
by night, the primitive inhabitants were wont to
meet here for prayer and praise. When the
mind runs back over the past, and we think how
long and continuously God has been worshiped
here, and how many of his saints have spent
their lives here *' battling against the hosts of
sin'^ — have here fallen asleep in Jesus and gone
to that recompense of reward — we almost feel
like uttering the sentiment God addressed to
Moses at the bush: ''Let us take off our shoes
from our feet, for the place where we stand is
holy ground.'* For if God's once meeting with
Moses hallowed the ground where they met, how
much more is this a hallowed spot, where, we
trust, God has for more than sixty years, almost
every Lord's Day, met his people and communed
with them. We may at least, as we look around
us here, repeat the language of the poet :
"Where'er we tread, 'tis haunted, holy grotrnd."
Among the first settlers, and near the time
mentioned, were John Knox, on the Pickerill
farm; Thomas Hatfield, on that now occupied by
his son David; Andrew Dragoo, on that now
owned by John Milligan; John McLaughlin, on
that occupied by his son David; Lawrence
11 159
A HISTORY OF THE
Kamey, on that now owned by John Stevenson;
George Fisher, whose farm jnst beyond Allen
Abney's is now unoccupied, and John Dunlevy,
the Shaker preacher, where Billy Montgomery
now lives. So far as we now know, the first
religion taught and established in the neighbor-
hood was that of the Shakers. This was first
preached in Kentucky and some parts of Ohio,
about the year 1804. Knox was with them and
the meeting-place was upon his farm. Bryant
the poet says:
' ' The groves were God 's first temples. ' '
The first meetings here were in the groves
and private houses. Afterwards a very primi-
tive structure was erected on the ground now
occupied by Sister Pickerill's house. It at first
consisted of a log pen, built perhaps as high as
one's head, floored and di\dded into two apart-
ments, in one of which the men, and the other the
women, worshiped. After being occupied in this
condition for some time, it was completed in the
form of a house and covered.
Perhaps it may prove interesting to some to
give the peculiar faith and practice of the
Shakers. Their doctrine, as given by B. W.
Stone, was : The Christ appeared first in a man,
and through life was preparing the way of salva-
tion, which he could not accomplish till his second
appearance in a woman, Anne Lee, who was now
the Christ and had full power to save. They had
new revelations, superior to the Scriptures, which
they called the old record, which old record they
said was true, but was superseded by the new.
They denied the literal resurrection of the body
from the grave. They said the resurrection of
160
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the body meant the resurrection of Christ's body,
meaning the church. Their elders had constant
conununication and conversation with angels and
all departed saints. They looked for no other or
better heaven than that upon earth. They prom-
ised the greatest blessings to the obedient, but
certain damnation to the disobedient. They
urged the people to confess their sins to them —
especially the sin of matrimony — and to forsake
them all immediately; husbands must forsake
their wives and wives their husbands. They
claimed to work miracles. They lived together,
and had all things common entirely under the
control of their elders. Their worship consisted
in voluntary dancing together. They assert that
their dancing is the token of the great joy and
happiness of the new Jerusalem state, and de-
notes the victory over sin. Some may feel dis-
posed to criticize them severely. But we should
remember they flourished here during a period
of great religious excitement; when enthusiasm
passed current for religion everywhere. We
should remember the scenes of wild excitement
that received the approval and encouragement
of the Wesleys, and the no less extravagant
revivals encouraged by the Whitefields and Ed-
wardses of the Presbyterian Church, culminating
in those remarkable exercises at Caneridge, Ky.,
participated in by Stone and others of the Pres-
byterian Church. Wo should also remember that,
at this time, religionists almost universally rested
their hopes of salvation more upon feelings and
impressions, upon visions and ecstasies, than upon
an honest trust in Christ, and an earnest effort
to love and obey him; that they might appropri-
ate to themselves his exceeding great and pre-
161
A HISTORY OF THE
cious promises. "When we lose confidence in the
Word of eternal truth, it is but a step to the
wildest vagaries. Their race here, as a religious
body, was very brief — beginning, as near as I can
ascertain, about 1804, and ending about 1810;
covering a period of some five or six years. Some
sold out and removed elsewhere ; others lost confi-
dence in them; some followed them, afterwards
returning to their families and friends. Knox
sold his farm to Samuel Pickerill, who removed
with his family from Kentucky to this place in
1810. His coming, together with other changes,
wrought an entire change in the religion of the
neighborhood.
We come now to speak of a second distinctly
marked era in the religious history of this com-
munity. The closing part of the eighteenth and
the beginning of the nineteenth century were
marked by a spirit of free and earnest religious
inquiry. Established institutions rested more
upon the orthodoxy of their faith and the estab-
lished forms of their religion than upon an exhi-
bition of the fruits of the Spirit. The rigidity of
their creeds and the bitterness of their prejudices
held the religious parties at a distance from each
other. Many earnest men saw and deplored the
divisions among God's people, and the rancor
of party spirit, and sought for a remedy. Re-
formers arose simultaneously, without concert, in
different parts of the country. These arose in
the East among the Baptists, among the Presby-
terians in the West, and the Methodists in the
South. They labored at first to reform, to
infuse a more liberal spirit and more vital piety
into the parties with which. they were connected.
In this they generally failed, were subjected to
162
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
discipline, and either retired or were excluded
from these parties. Prominent among these
efforts at reformation was one now of especial
interest to us, which had its origin among the
Presbyterians of Kentucky. Barton W. Stone,
born in Maryland, reared in Virginia, and edu-
cated in North Carolina, migrated to Kentucky,
and as the Presbyterian minister settled in
Bourbon County, in the fall of the year 1796.
In 1798 he received a call from the united
churches of Caneridge and Concord. During his
theological studies his mind became much exer-
cised over some points of doctrine he was re-
quired to receive. He was led, after much
anxiety, to refer the whole matter to the word
of God, and to fearlessly follow where it led.
He accepted the call from the above-named
churches and a day was set for his ordination. At
his ordination, by the rules of the church, he was
required to adopt the Confession of Faith as the
system of doctrine taught in the Bible. When
the presbytery met and the above question was
proposed, he answered: ''I do, as far as I see
it to be consistent with the word of God." Not-
withstanding this qualification, influenced by his
known and earnest piety, he was ordained. Soon
after his ordination he became much perplexed
over the doctrine of Calvinism. After much
study and many prayers, he says: **I was re-
lieved from my perplexity by the precious word
of God. From reading and meditating upon it,
I became convinced that God did love the whole
world, and the reason why he did not save all
was because of their unbelief; and that the
reason why they believed not, was not because
God did not exert his physical almighty power
163
A HISTORY OF THE
in them, to make them believe, but because they
neglected and received not his testimony given
in the word concerning his Son. 'These are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God, and that believing, ye might
have life through his name.' I saw that the
requirement to believe in the Son of God was
reasonable, because the testimony was sufficient
to produce faith in the sinner, and the invitations
and encouragements of the gospel were sufficient,
if believed, to lead men to the Saviour for the
promised Spirit, salvation and eternal life. This
glimpse of faith, of truth, was the first divine
ray of light that ever led my distressed, per-
plexed mind from the labyrinth of Calvinism and
error in which I had been so long bewildered. It
was that which led me into rich pastures of
gospel liberty."
There were at this time five preachers in the
Presbyterian Church who were in accord in their
preaching. They were Eichard McNemar, John
Thompson, John Dunlew, Robert Marshall and
B. W. Stone — three in Ohio and two in Kentucky.
David Purviance, then a candidate for the minis-
try, was in sympathy with them. Stone says
the distinguishing doctrine preached by us was:
''That God loved the world — the whole world —
and sent his Son to save them, on condition that
they believed in him; that the gospel was the
means of salvation, but that this means would
never be effectual to this end until believed and
obeyed by us ; that God required us to believe in
his Son and had given us sufficient evidence in
his word to produce faith in us, if attended to
by us; that sinners were capable of understand-
ing and believing this testimony, and of acting
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
upon it by coming to the Saviour and obeying
him, and from him obtaining salvation and the
Holy Spirit. We urged upon the sinner to be-
lieve now, and receive salvation — that in vain
they looked for the Spirit to be given them while
they remained in unbelief. They must believe
before the Spirit or salvation would be given
them; that God was as willing to save them now
as he ever was or ever would be; that no previ-
ous qualification was required or necessary in
order to believe in Jesus and come to him; that
if they were sinners, this was their divine war-
rant to believe in him and come to him for salva-
tion; that Jesus died for all, and that all things
were now ready."
Of the effects of this preaching. Stone further
says : ' ' The people appeared as if just awakened
from the sleep of ages; they seemed to see for
the first time that they were responsible beings,
and that a refusal to use the means appointed
was a damning sin. They preached these doc-
trines with much success among the people, until
they excited hostility among the rigidly orthodox
of their brethren. McNemar was an'aigned upon
a charge of heresy, and seeing he would be con-
demned, and they would suffer a like condemna-
tion one by one, they withdrew in a body from
the presbytery and constituted a new one of
their own, styled the Springfield Presbytery.
But, seeing their position to be an inconsistent
one, they, in less than a year, willed its dis-
solution. We quote some of the items of the
last will and testament of the Springfield Pres-
bytery :
''Item: We will that onr name of distinction,
with its reverend title, be forgotten; that there
165
A HISTORY OF THE
be but one Lord over God's heritage and his
name one.
"Item: We will that this body die, be dis-
solved and sinJi into union with the body of
Christ at large, for there is but one body and
one spirit, even as we are called in one hope of
our calling.
''Item: We will that the people henceforth
take the Bible as their only sure guide to heaven,
and as many as are offended with other books
which stand in competition with it, may cast
them into the fire if they choose, for it is better
to enter into life having one book, than having
many books to be cast into hell."
We now quote from a sermon by John A.
Gano, delivered at Caneridge, upon the death of
Stone. ''The first churches planted and organ-
ized since the grand apostasy with the Bible as
the only creed or church book, and the name
'Christian' as the only family name, were organ-
ized in Kentucky, in 1804. Of these, Caneridge
was the first. Let us pause here for a moment
to contemplate the high, the holy, the exalted
stand taken by these pioneers in the cause of
gospel truth and liberty. As if breathing the
same spirit which animated the primitive saints,
we see them rising superior to the traditions of
ages, and losing sight of all humanisms in re-
ligion; their eyes fixed on God's holy word, they
pant for the divine order; under the guidance of
heaven-born truth, they are led to original — to
primitive, to holy ground. Having tasted of the
good word of the Lord and made to drink into
his spirit — made iree, indeed — they desire to see
others blessed." We make these liberal quota-
tions because Stone and his coworkers have been
166
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
mnch misrepresented, and it is but reasonable
they should state their own position. Having cut
loose from all humanisms, their only standard of
appeal the Bible, they, of course, soon became
dissatisfied with their baptism, and desired im-
mersion. The Baptists would not baptize them,
not regarding them as orthodox in the faith.
They were compelled to immerse each other ; this
they did. Of the original persons engaged in this
movement, Marshall and Thompson became dis-
satisfied and returned to the Presbyterian
Church; McNemar and Dunlevy were carried
away by the Shaker delusion, leaving Stone and
Purviance to be led by the word of God and
their honest convictions. They were strength-
ened, however, by many other accessions.
Among the earliest preachers were: Samuel
and John Rogers, Archibald Alexander, William
Kinkade, David Kirkpatrick, James Hughes,
Nathan Worley, Reuben Dooley, David Hatha-
way, John Longley, John A. Gano, Mathew Gard-
ner and many others. After the removal of the
Shakers and the coming of Pickerill, in 1810,
some of these preachers in their preaching tours
visited the vicinity and preached to a people
apparently hungering for the bread of life. I
gather many interesting incidents from the auto-
biography of Elder Gardner. From him we learn
that his father's house was also a preaching-
place. Gardner had come from New York, with
a large family, in the year 1800, and settled on
the farm now owned by Wm. Richey, there being
then but three cabins in a radius of as many
miles. But the settlers came in fast during the
first ten years, so that considerable congregations
could be gathered to hear the Word preached.
167
A HISTORY OF THE
David Purviance Father John Longrley Jacob Creath
T. N. Madden J. S. Lowe James S. Riddle
PIONEER PREACHERS TO WHOM OHIO OWES MUCH
168
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XVII
HISTORIC DEDICATION SERMON— Continued
TN September of 1810, a Christian camp-meeting
was held near where Bentonville now stands,
Barton W. Stone being the chief speaker. There
Gardner and many others went forward and con-
fessed their faith in Christ, and about the middle
of the following month he and many others were
baptized by Archibald Alexander, in Eagle Creek,
below where the old road crossed the creek. So
far as we now know, this was the first baptism in
the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ,
in this beautiful stream. Shortly after this, a
church was organized by Elder Alexander, bear-
ing alone the name "Christian," and having the
word of God alone as their creed.
I have no means at hand to determine exactly
who constituted this first church. If its records
have been presei^ved, I know not who have them.
We know that some members of the Gardner,
Devore, Pickerill, Ramey, Ristine, Hughes, Fish-
er, Reeves, Hatfield and Longley families either
were, or soon after became, members of the
church. Elder Alexander preached for the newly
organized church for a time. In the latter part
of the year 1812, John Longley, then of Ken-
tucky, began to preach for the church — was
chosen its pastor, and soon after removed to
Ohio, and settled in Decatur. He continued to
preach for the church for about six years. About
169
A HISTORY OF THE
the year 1816 there was held quite a revival
meeting in a peach orchard, near the npper end
of the present burying-ground. At that meeting
Lovel Pickerill and many others were converted.
The church became so much strengthened as to
determine upon building a house of worship.
This was a work of great magnitude, considering
the condition of the church and neighborhood;
the country was but then settling up ; most of the
people were poor, having little but their lands,
and these but partially cleared. They received
no sympathy or encouragement from their relig-
ious neighbors. Added to this, a general finan-
cial prostration followed the conclusion of the
war of 1812, from which the country had not yet
recovered. These considerations rendered it
almost a matter of wonder that they should
undertake, and carry on to conclusion, such a work
as the erection of the, to us now, old Liberty
Stone meeting-house. That they did it under
these circumstances reflects great credit upon
our fathers in the church and their neighbors who
assisted them. The work was undertaken and
carried on to a successful termination in the
year 1817. The neighbors, church-members and
others turned out with teams and hauled the
stone to build the walls; others contributed
money. The building committee consisted of
David Devore, Jephtha Beasley and Samuel Pick-
erill. The masons who built the walls were
Daniel Copple and Joseph Hughes; Mathew
Gardner did at least part of the carpenter work.
The work was one involving very great and
arduous labor. The walls are 44 by 34 feet,
2 feet in thickness ; perhaps 12 feet to the square ;
gables completed with stone all laid in lime mor-
170
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
tar. Upon the completion of the house, the build-
ers, remembering their religious freedom, chris-
tened it '^Liberty" ; and to this day no man giving
evidences of honesty of purpose has ever been
prevented from here freely expressing what he
understood the word of God to teach. Eternity
only can disclose the influence for good this
building has had upon this community. To stim-
ulate others to well-doing, I will state that some
who assisted in the building were not then, nor
ever did they become, members of the church;
yet, their labors were blest to the good of their
families. As an instance, Lawrence Ramey never
was himself a member of the church; yet, almost
all his descendants, even to the third and fourth
generations, did become members.
Immediately after the building of the house,
the church passed through a fiery ordeal. This
trial is curtly referred to by Elder Gardner in
his biography. The preacher turned storekeeper;
then got his brethren to indorse for him; then
got in debt, got in jail, ruined his indorsers, lost
his influence, changed his religion, joined the
Campbellites and left the country.
It is but just to the memory of Father Long-
ley, however, to state that he continued in fellow-
ship with the church of his choice, and preached
in the State of Indiana till his death, at a very
advanced age, but a few years since. After
Longley's departure, David Hathaway became
the minister of the church.
From this time there were frequent changes
in the preachers. Nothing of special moment
occurred during the next ten or twelve years.
About the year 1832 another event occurred
which marks a third era in the religious history
171
A HISTORY OF THE
of the neighborhood. In the year 1807 Thomas
Campbell emigrated from the north of Ireland
and settled in Washington County, Pa. He was
a minister of the branch of the Presbyterian
Church known as Seceders, and a man of ac-
knowledged piety. After his arrival, he minis-
tered to the destitute churches of his order. De-
ploring the distracted condition of the Christian
world, he resolved to make an effort to restore
the original unity of the church. A meeting was
called at Buffalo, Pa., Aug. 17, 1809, consisting
of persons of different religious denominations.
After full conference, it was agreed to form an
association, to be called the Christian Associa-
tion of Washington, Pa. The sole purpose of
this organization was to promote simple evan-
gelical Christianity. They resolved to support
those teachers only who taught those things
alone, as a matter of Christian faith or duty,
for which there could be produced a ''thus saith
the Lord," either in expressed terms or by ap-
proved precedents. Just on the eve of the publi-
cation of their principles, Alexander Campbell,
having spent some months in the University of
Glasgow, in Scotland, followed his father to this
country and arrived at Washington. He heartily
joined in the effort to unite the churches on this
simple basis. Several things inevitably followed
a simple reliance upon the word of God : 1st. The
weekly communion. 2nd. An abandonment of
infant baptism and infant church membership.
3rd. That immersion in water upon a profession
of faith in Christ alone constituted Christian
baptism. On the 12th of June, 1812, father and
son, together with several members of the con-
gregation, previously organized at Brush Run,
172
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
were immersed in Buffalo Creek by Elder
Mathias Luse, of the Baptist Church. The church
became a member of a Baptist association. The
Campbells were now both preachers in the Bap-
tist Church. But the position which they had
assumed, to refer all matters of faith or prac-
tice to the word of God, and which had led them
out of the Presbyterian Church, rendered it im-
possible for them to remain in the Baptist
Church, and, after much discussion and many
gropings after light, they withdrew, and in 1823
constituted, at Wellsburg, W. Va., simply a
church of Christ, without a human name or h
human constitution. At this date Alexander
Campbell commenced the publication of the Chris-
tian Baptist, through which he plead for a restora-
tion of the ''ancient order" of things; viz., the
simple teaching and practice of Christ and the
apostles, unmixed with human tradition or human
philosophy. Alexander Campbell, being a fine
scholar, an interesting speaker, an able disputant
of untiring energy, and, above all, of unblemished
Christian character and earnest piety, succeeded
in rapidly disseminating these views. Indeed, the
only wonder is that thej were not universally re-
ceived. Many preachers in Kentucky and other
parts of the country (mostly from the Baptists)
united with him in his efforts at reformation, and
during the period from 1823 to 1832 many
churches were organized.
Among the leading preachers in Kentucky
were John Smith and John T. Johnson. They
saw the inconsistency of two religious parties,
occupying substantially the same ground — both
pleading for the union of Christians upon the
Bible alone — remaining separate; consequently
173
A fflSTORY OF THE
they, together with Stone, who recognized the
same inconsistency, determined, if possible, to
unite the two parties, and thus illustrate the
feasibility of the union for which they strove.
Stone and Johnson, both residing in Georgetown,
Ky., were the leading spirits in this movement.
To accomplish this union, Stone associated John-
son with him as co-editor of the Christian Mes-
senger, a paper which he had been for some time
publishing.
They determined, in order to effect the union
which both earnestly desired, to hold two union
meetings of four days each — the first at George-
town, including Christmas Day of 1831; the
second at Lexington, including New Year's Day
of 1832. The first was preparatory, the second
the real union meeting. At that meeting were
Stone, Johnson, Smith, Rogers, Elley, Creath
and many others. It was arranged that one from
each party should deliver an address plainly set-
ting forth his conception of the Scriptural
ground of union among the people. John Smith
was selected by the one party, B. W. Stone by
the other. We can make but brief extracts from
these addresses. Smith spoke first. He began:
**God has but one people upon the earth; he has
given them but one book. He therein exhorts
and commands them to be one family. An amal-
gamation of sects is not such union as Christ
prayed for or God enjoins. In regard to specu-
lative subjects, speak only in Scriptural lan-
guage. We may, by speaking the same things,
finally come to think the same things. For
several years past I have stood pledged to meet
the religious world, or any part of it, on the
ancient gospel and order of things as presented
174
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
in the words of the Book. Let ns all come to
the Bible, and the Bible alone, as the only book
in the world which can give us all the light we
need." Stone afterwards spoke; we have only
room for the concluding sentence: '*I have not
one objection to the ground laid down by him, as
the Scriptural basis of union among the people
of God; and I am willing to give him now and
here my hand. ' ' Of this union it is truly said by
the historian, the brethren of Stone did not join
Campbell as their leader, nor did the brethren
of Campbell join Stone as their leader ; but each,
having already taken Jesus the Christ as their
only leader, in love and liberty became one body
— not Stoneites or Campbellites, not Christians
or disciples, distinctively as such. But Chris-
tians, disciples, saints, brethren and children of
the same Father.
To consummate the union begun here, one
from each party was chosen to travel among the
churches. John Smith and John Rogers were
respectively chosen, and carried forward the
work to a successful and satisfactory termina-
tion. There had existed for some time a Baptist
church at Redoak, which had for its pastor, Jesse
Holton. As early as 1820 he had preached at
Liberty, there being a number of his faith in the
neighborhood. Prominent among these were the
Edwards, Geeslin and West families. Prior to
the year 1832, the church and its preachers had
united with Campbell in his reformatory move-
ment. I can not give the exact time nor the cir-
cumstances under which the union was effected
here. We know that Hathaway and Longley of
the one party, and Holton of the other, heartily
entered into the union; also the great body of
12 175
A HISTORY OF THE
the church here, with many in the neighborhood
who had formerly stood with the Baptists. The
union here has verified Smith's expectation that,
by speaking the same things, we would eventually
come to think the same things. Entertaining
almost every opinion from the most ultra-Cal-
vinism to the very verge of Unitarianism, by
speaking in Scriptural language and forbearing
one another in love, perhaps no church in the
land has had less doctrinal disputation. And
perhaps no church can now be found that more
perfectly harmonizes in faith and opinion, than
this church. From the time of this union, the
church has habitually come together upon the
first day of the week to break bread. Few
churches have so deliberately pursued the even
tenor of their way as this. There has been no
season of uncontrollable religious excitement and
none of great religious depression.
John Ramey, Lovel Pickerill and Florence
Shoafstall were among the first elders of the
congregation. After them came William N.
Eamey, Acklas Geeslin, T. J. Pickerill, G. E.
Hatfield, D. B. Hatfield, R. P. Pisher and Joseph
Still, which brings us to our present organiza-
tion. Those who from time to time have minis-
tered in word and doctrine were Jesse Holton,
David Hathaway, John Ross, John Rogers, J. B.
Lucas, John Young, David _Jhompson, B. F.
Sallee, W. D. Moore, and your speaker. We have
received the occasional ministrations of many
others. Chief among these were Ajdette Rains,
John Powell, Otho Pearre, Samuel Rogers, Wil-
liam and Thomas Pinkerton, J. L. Thornberry
and 0. A. Bartholomew. The church has existed
for sixty-three years; there has been an average
176
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
membership of perhaps seventy-five; perhaps an
average increase per year of ten, which will give
an entire membership of abont 750. The church
has been a continual leaven in the community;
which has been evinced by a steady growth in
morality, and regard for religious institutions
throughout the neighborhood. She has done
much in the cause of education. About thirty
teachers have grown up under her influence; she
has sent out some six preachers. Two churches
have sprung up under her influence — that of
Russellville, organized about 1843, and that of
Bethlehem, soon after. Her influence for good
has been much extended by the emigration of her
members to other parts of the country. Her
representatives are laboring in the Master's
cause in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and
perhaps other States.
The change in the public road, which formerly
ran in front of our old house, rendered it very
inconvenient and the location very unsightly. The
old house needing repairs, the church determined
to build. This conclusion was reached late in
May. A finance committee consisting of W. H.
H. Edwards, G. Q. Henry and Narval Johnson
was appointed. They immediately made a thor-
ough canvass, and reported so encouragingly that
a building committee consisting of G. W. Bro^vn,
J. W. Wilson, R. P. Fisher, S. M. Pickerill and
J. S. West was immediately appointed. They,
after due deliberation, gave out the work to
Joseph Gaily. By the terms of the contract, he
was to furnish aU the material, build and furnish
the house. This very neat structure is the result,
which, so far as I know, renders entire satisfac-
177
A HISTORY OF THE
tion to all concerned. This honse we have met
to devote to the service of God. Shall we now,
brethren, in conclusion, attempt an application of
our text? Paul teaches that the fact that others
are witnesses of our eiforts should stimulate us
to lay aside all hindrances and run with patience
the Christian race. He represents the Christians
as upon a race-course, and all the ancient
worthies standing around interested spectators of
their running. And surely the known presence
of those who have achieved renown should much
stimulate those who are striving. He refers his
brethren to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Sarah and Rahab, as those
who by faith have served God acceptably and
entered into their rest. But these are not all;
time would fail me, says Paul, to tell of Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel and the
prophets. These all through faith have obtained
a good report. God speaks well of them, and
angels and men applaud them. But, brethren,
God has provided some better things for us.
They enjoyed Christ's glorious kingdom in pros-
pect; we enjoy it as a reality. If Paul's brethren
should be stimulated by these heavenly witnesses,
how much more we, when that heavenly company
has been so largely increased. Are there not now
with them Jesus, our blessed Saviour, before
whom all knees bow, and whom all tongues honor,
and Peter the holder of the keys, and Paul our
apostle, and Stephen .the martyr, and the women
with the sweet spices? And may we not hope,
too, that all those grand old reformers who gave
their lives for the truth are there ? But, brethren
and sisters, there are others stiU dearer to us
who swell the mighty throng. There are our
178
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
fathers and our mothers in the church and in the
flesh. These all have died in faith, and now look
down from their celestial heights upon us, desir-
ing our success. Oh, brethren, let us imitate the
example of these ancient worthies; let us from
this blessed moment lay aside every weight that
hinders, and run in the Master's service. If we
are but faithful, great is our reward in heaven.
Brethren, should I ever get to heaven (which
I hope by the grace of God to do), and should I
behold the twelve Apostles of the Lord upon
twelve thrones, and should I behold near the
thrones of Peter and Paul and those noble old re-
formers, Luther, Calvin and Wesley, I shall expect
to see Alexander Campbell, with august carriage
and mien unabashed, stand in the noble throng;
and shall I not see near the thrones of the beloved
disciples, which will stand next the Master 's, those
men of love, Philip Melancthon and Barton W.
Stone? And should I come to the heavenly gates,
wearied with the buffetings of the cold stream of
Jordan, I shall expect to meet old Father Pick-
erill, who will say: ''Come with me; I learned
how to entertain the saints in the old world." I
shall expect to see Martha, the sister of Lazarus,
and old Mother Pickerill busy striving to add to
the comfort of the heavenly inhabitants; and
shall I not see hard by the feet of Jesus, Sister
Shoaf stall, with Mary of precious memory; and
there in the company of the patriarchs shall I
not see John Ramey, and as I ''walk about Jeru-
salem," and become better acquainted in the
glorious land, if there be any part of heaven
where the angels sing more loudly and the rap-
tures are more intense than others, there I confi-
dently expect to see Bro. Geeslin, Thomas Pick-
179
A HISTORY OF THE
erill and W. N. Ramey; and if there should be
any quiet corner away from the bustle of bolder
spirits, where the angels sing their sweetest
songs, there I shall hear the voice of Wm. F.
Pickerill, singing with the melody with which he
only could sing while here upon earth.
May the God of our fathers help us to imitate
their faithfulness so long as he shall permit us
to worship here; and when we go hence, may he
say to each one of us, ''Well done, good and
faithful servant; enter thou into the joys of thy
Lord."
A- B. Wade James William* J. S. Ro«8
SOIME PAITHFUL MINISTERS
IHU
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Raccoon John Smith Henry Russell Pritchard G. W. Elley
PIONEEKS IN SOUTHKEN OHIO
181
A HISTORY OF THE
XVIII
1798— WALTER SCOTT— 1861
r AELY in 1831 Walter Scott visited Cincinnati
for the first time. For four years he had been
a successful evangelist, most of the time in
northeastern Ohio, and his health was impaired.
He preached three months where Elder James
Challen had been preaching. The fame of Scott's
preaching preceded him. On account of poor
health he did not always come up to expecta-
tions. He asked Elder Challen to return to
Cincinnati. He removed to Carthage, about
eight miles north of Cincinnati. Carthage had
but few things at that time to make it an inviting
place of residence. But Scott lived there thir-
teen years and renovated society, planting a
good church.
On his first visit to Carthage he went into a
Sunday school. A teacher propounded the ques-
tion: ''What must I do to be saved?" A bright
girl aged thirteen years quoted Peter's answer:
''Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Grhost." The teacher frowned on her.
The girl cried. The superintendent later asked
the same question. The girl quoted the same
Scripture and the superintendent frowned on
her.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Soon after this Elder Scott preached in the
village schoolhoTise ; the little girl was present,
heard Scott preach from the Scripture she had
quoted, and saw that he viewed it as she did.
In four weeks he preached again in a barn. The
truth as it came from his lips was so plain and
sweet to the little girl that she confessed her
faith in Christ. He promised to baptize her at
the close of the meeting. Lifted up by the con-
fession of the little girl, he was aroused, gave
an exhortation, and six men arose and followed
the example of the child. These were the first-
fruits of a great harvest. Many of the most
influential citizens in the vicinity heard and
obeyed the gospel, and Carthage became famous
for temperance and right religion.
Among the converts was a poor fellow, the
most hopeless of an immoral population. A
word-painter pictures him and Elder Scott, in
part, as follows: '' Parker, the sinner, was sure
to be at every cock-fight or man-fight, and, in
the absence of any of the pugilists, he was ready
to try his hand. He was regarded as an impor-
tant personage at a foot-race, donkey-race or
quarter-nag, and at the winter dance. He would
take a hand in a hen-roost robbery or a joke or
tell a story. He was a good-natured, waggish,
witty, ignorant, knowing, rampant fellow, a ter-
ror to women and children. But he was not
without his good points and generous impulses.
He helped those in distress and sickness, and
assisted in burying the dead.
''There are some good points among the
worst specimens of humanity. There are none
sunk so low but they might sink lower. The
seeds of paradise still slumber in the clods, and
183
A HISTORY OF THE
the STmsliiiie and moisture will sometimes start
them into a new life. It was thus with Parker:
bad as he was, he might have been worse.
**It was announced that a strange preacher
would hold a meeting in a barn, fragrant with
the odor of the new-mown hay. The preacher
was a Scotchman (Scott), in the prime of life,
about five feet seven inches high, with a thin
face, high cheek-bones, a large, projecting nose,
and finely chiseled upper lip, and an eye of the
eagle — sleepy when at rest, but filled with the
beams of the sun when awakened. His hair was
black as the wing of the raven, and as glossy,
and hung rather carelessly upon his ample
brow, revealing to the eye a forehead of singular
beauty, in which wit and benevolence, reason
and invention sat enthroned. In all respects he
was a great man. The writer has often heard
him, and he can say that, at times, for the origi-
nality of his conceptions, the richness of his
language, the variety of his thoughts, the sublim-
ity of his imagery, and the lofty reach of his
oratory, he has seldom or never known him
surpassed. He was not always equal to himself,
but if he failed at any time — and who does not? —
he was consoled with the thought that the fire
still burned deep in the ^tna of his mind, even
though the smoke was not seen, or the flames did
not shoot up portentously to the darkened heav-
ens, or the lava pour from his lips.
"We hope the reader will not think this a
mere fancy sketch. It is drawn from life, though
not to the life: for we regret that the preacher
had not some one better able to draw out more
fully the lineaments of his character. He was
a speaker combining much of the genius of
184
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Edward Irving, with the Titan tread of Eobert
Hall and the graphic powers of Sir Walter
Scott; and sometimes, at the close of an address,
he would give a burst of oratory, scattering
gems as if the air was filled with the fragments
of a globe of crystals, or as if the sun had looked
out from a cloud, still shedding its raindrops
upon the moistened earth: he would then lift his
audience into a sweet surprise, captivating every
sense by the mellowness of his voice, the gentle
grace of his motions, the scintillations of his
wit, and the grandeur of his imagery.
''But we must not forget Parker. The fun-
loving wag was about to feel the arrows of con-
viction and the subduing influence of the gospel
of Christ at the barn meeting. The whole popu-
lation was leavened with the doctrine of eternal
life. Parker was enrolled among the saved. The
first discourse stripped him of his armor and
left him shivering, a guilty culprit. At his home
he showed conviction. His thoughts were busy.
Another night came: again might you have seen
the villagers, well clad, pouring out from their
houses — the rich and the poor — to the place of
meeting. And from the country, carriages and
wagons, full to repletion, were gathering to-
gether, as at some great festival. Parker was
in the crowd, and at the close of the sermon pre-
sented himself, the publican and sinner, for con-
fession. No one was prepared for such an event,
but he was received, and proved to be an active,
zealous and faithful member."
The cases just mentioned show the versatility
of Elder Scott's talent in bringing the gospel
to the comprehension of a little child and making
its power to be felt by poor, ignorant Parker, en-
185
A HISTORY OF THE
slaved by his appetite and steeped in sin ; nor did
they forget him and the lesson he taught.
In 1834, Scott joined with L. H. Jamison and
Gary Smith in founding the church at Harrison.
On their arrival at the town they learned that
all the church-houses were closed against them,
and that they would be under the necessity of
holding the proposed meeting in a barn two miles
up the Whitewater. Several persons came for-
ward to make the good confession. As the sun
was going down they returned to the village and
repaired to the river to attend to baptizing. A
great concourse of people was present, and
among them a local Methodist minister. He
offered battle at the water. Scott took his posi-
tion on a large boulder and replied to his ques-
tions. Scott's colleagues would turn to the
Scripture relating to the question and hand it
to Scott, who would read it aloud, making perti-
nent comments. The whole community was
awakened. After that the barn was filled with
people, a goodly number was added to the saved,
and the church was established. At this time
(1917) it is a strong, model, apostolic church.
Elder Scott visited Wilmington and many
other places in Ohio and Kentucky.
At Cincinnati he started a paper — the Evan-
gelist. The celebrated Robert Dale Owen visited
the city, and delivered two lectures full of scoffs
and sneers at religion. Scott replied to him.
Alexander Campbell had pre\dously (in 1830)
met the senior Owen in debate, with signal suc-
cess, and Scott now met the son.
In substance Mr. Owen admitted, when Scott
addressed him a letter, that it was not Chris-
tianity, but its abuses, that he was attacking;
186
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
and to these abuses Scott was no less hostile
than was Owen.
After establishing the canse at Carthage, the
church, though happy and peaceful, did not grow
as rapidly as Scott desired. He was doing a
good work teaching the disciples, but he felt the
need of the stimulus of success to which he had
been accustomed. To arouse the public mind
and secure the desired success, it was agreed to
have a meeting lasting several days, to which the
ablest ministers should be invited. When the
time came, as announced in the Evangelist, there
came from Kentucky, John T. Johnson and Ben-
jamin Finnell; from Indiana, John O'Kane and
L. H. Jamison, and from Ohio, B. U. Watkins
and several others.
Preaching was held in the grove during the
day and in the big schoolhouse at night. The
preaching was by Johnson and O'Kane. The
crowds were large, but the people were unmoved.
There seemed to be no prospect of fruit. L. H.
Jamison, who gives the account, says after the
meeting had gone on some days, Scott quietly
arose and began to speak about as follows: ''My
friends and dearly beloved, I have been living
among you and trying to preach the gospel to
you. For some reason, my ministrations have
ceased to be effective. I felt unable to divine
the reason. It occurred to me that you might
have some objection to me. I determined to
get out of the way; and so we appointed this
meeting. These faithful men have come and
preached and exhorted, sung and prayed, and
entreated with tears, to no avail. I have come
to the conclusion that your indifference is not to
objections against me, or these eminent men who
187
A HISTORY OF THE
have been laboring before you, but solely to your
own cruel hard-heartedness. I am astonished,
confounded, and don't know what to make of
you. Are you not ashamed of yourselves, to sit
here from day to day, and from night to night,
listening to such reasonings, to such appeals,
without being moved? What can be the matter
with you I Are you destitute of common intelli-
gence? Careless with regard to your o^vn eter-
nal interests? Have you no fear of the high and
lofty One who inhabits eternity? Are you not
afraid that Jehovah will render vengeance to his
enemies and will reward them who hate him?
And, oh, my friends, who will be able to bear the
lighting down of his arm? Are you disposed to
engage in unequal war with the Eternal? He
calls in mercy to-night: how can you dare to
refuse? He stretches out his hand, and how can
you disregard him? Trifle no longer with his
grace. Do you not fear that he will appoint you
a place with hypocrites and unbelievers? Oh,
for God's sake, for your own salvation's sake,
be persuaded, be constrained by the love of
Christ, to become reconciled to God I Are all the
sacrifices of divine mercy, in your behalf, to be
in vain? Can you consent to fill the heavens with
lamentations, rather than joy on your account?
'As I live, saith the Lord, I delight not in the
death of the sinner, but rather that he would
turn and live.' Turn you! turn you I oh, my
friends, for why will you die ? The Father calls ;
the Son calls ; the Spirit and the Bride call. Say,
my friends, will you come? We will offer one
more opportunity. Brethren, sing.'^
The effect of this appeal was wonderful. The
entire audience was astir. The first notes of the
188
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
song were scarcely uttered before some of the
best citizens of the place presented themselves
to make the good confession. When the brethren
saw the unexpected results, they sang with faces
covered all over with smiles and moistened with
tears. The meeting was protracted for several
days, and some thirty or forty additions were
made to the church.
Walter Scott said: **The primitive church
and her ministry preached Christ and promised
the Spirit: the modern church and her ministry
invert this order, and preach the Spirit and
promise Christ." The words inspired in the
holy apostles and now stereotj^ped in their writ-
ings by this blessed missionary, the Holy Spirit,
are Christ's words, and are the instrumentality
by which he converts mankind, whether the
blessed God, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, the
apostles, the primitive church and her ministry,
or the modern church and her ministry, be the
agents: so though, in the conversion of the
world, Christ has had many agents, he has,
nevertheless, had but one instrumentality. Christ
has left neither the world nor the church. He is
with the former by the gospel, and with the
latter by the Spirit.
189
A HISTORY OF THE
Ira D. Washburn W. S. Dickinson John Shackleford
CINCINNATI PIONEERS, PROMINENT IN CITY AND
CHURCH
190
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XIX
THE RESTORATION IN CINCINNATI
Campbell aih) Ptjecell.
TN 1837, Alexander Campbell had a debate
in Cincinnati, on the merits of Catholicism.
Some time before, Mr. Campbell had made an
address before the College of Teachers. One
Dr. Wilson had recommended the Bible as a
universal school-book. Bishop Purcell opposed
this idea, and declared that ''the Protestant
Reformation had been the cause of all the con-
tention and infidelity in the world." The citi-
zens asked Mr. Campbell to debate the subject.
Bishop Purcell agreed to have the debate, and
the propositions to discuss were agreed upon.
They so cover questions of interest of the present
time that they are here recorded.
**1. The Roman Catholic institution, some-
times called 'the Holy Apostolic Church,' is not
now, nor was she ever, catholic, apostolic or
holy; but is a sect in the fair import of that
word, older than any other sect now existing;
not the mother and mistress of all churches, but
an apostasy from the only true, apostolic and
catholic church of Christ.
**2. Her notion of apostolic succession is
without any foundation in the Bible, in reason
or in fact; an imposition of the most injurious
consequences, built upon unscriptural and anti-
13 191
A HISTORY OF THE
scriptnral traditions, resting wholly upon the
opinions of interested and fallible men.
'*3. She is not uniform in her faith or united
in her members, but mutable and fallible as any-
other sect of philosophy or religion — Jewish,
Turkish or Christian — a confederation of sects
under a politico-ecclesiastic head.
**4. She is the Babylon of John, the man of
sin of Paul, and the empire of the youngest horn
of Daniel's sea monster.
"5. Her notions of purgatory, indulgences,
auricular confession, remission of sins, transub-
stantiation, supererogation — essential elements of
her system, are immoral in their tendency and
injurious to the well-being of society, religious
and political.
"6. Notwithstanding her pretensions to have
given us the Bible and faith in it, we are per-
fectly independent of her for our knowledge
of that book and its evidences of a divine
original.
^'7. The Roman Catholic religion, if infallible
and unsusceptible of reformation, as alleged, is
essentially anti-American, being opposed to the
genius of all her free institutions and positively
subversive of them, opposing the general reading
of the Scriptures and the diffusion of useful
knowledge among the whole community, so essen-
tial to liberty and the permanency of good gov-
ernment. ' '
The misrepresentations of public opinion led
to a large meeting of citizens, in which they
passed resolutions that Protestantism had been
fully sustained and the objections to popery had
not been met. The questions then discussed are
live ones for these times, and this debate should
192
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
be read. Eighty years ago Mr. Campbell de-
scribed the times in which we are living. The
objections to Romanism are more intense and
apparent now than they were in 1837. The
principles of Romanism are inconsistent with our
free institutions. Mr. Campbell and the pioneer
disciples in the Restoration movement opposed
Catholicism; they opposed sectarianism, the off-
spring of Romanism; they opposed the subtle
infidelity of worldlings, and be it remembered
that every religious body has reached its highest
achievements during the prominence of their
peculiarities. If there is nothing peculiar to the
disciples of Christ, they have no right to exist.
But there are multiplied peculiarities of a Scrip-
tural character, and we must foster and promote
them. God's people in every age have retro-
graded in proportion to their uncurbed desire to
be like others. The Jews wanted a king to be
like others, and got him and fell. The primitive
Christians desired to be like the heathen, and
corrupted their worship. If they now desire to
be like the Romanists or the sectarians, will
God not raise up another people to fulfill his
purpose 1
Roman Catholic agency has driven the Bible
out of the public schools, and is horrified at any
suggestion of religious training in the schools.
A few carping infidels join with them to domi-
nate the situation, and Protestants weakly
acquiesce.
If man is immortal, per se, or capable of
achieving immortality, then it is unscientific to
leave out of any educational system religious
education, A curriculum with God left out is
one-sided, incomplete, dangerous; it belongs to a
193
A HISTORY OF THE
pedagogy that is silnrian and antiquated. Put
God into the system.
E. M. Bishop.
R. M. Bishop came to Cinchmati from Ken-
tucky. He made a fine record for himself in
Ohio. He carried on a large wholesale grocery
business, was made mayor of Cincinnati, and
directed the affairs of the city for the good of
the many; was made Governor of the State of
Ohio, and had a successful administration.
As a worker in the cause of the Restoration
movement he was a leader. He helped to plan,
build the house and carry forward the affairs of
the Central Christian Church. He was an elder
and greatly interested in its growth in numbers
and Bible knowledge. He plainly saw that the
Sunday school was a means of preparing the
young to confess the Christ and find a home lq
the church.
His record in the Ohio Christian Missionary
Society plainly shows his interest in Sunday
schools for the State of Ohio. He was the hon-
ored president of the society for ten years from
1860 to 1869 inclusive. In the annual convention
of 1862 at Belief ontaine, a resolution was intro-
duced for the Board of Managers to instruct all
of the evangelists to establish Sunday schools in
all the churches they should visit. The resolution
was passed with great spirit of unanimity, the
president suggesting that they rise to their feet
in taking the vote. In the convention of 1865, as
presiding oflScer, Bro. Bishop delivered the fol-
lowing address:
^ * jDeae Brethtken : — In the kind providence of
our heavenly Father, we are again permitted to
194
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
meet in order to consider the interest of our
Saviour's kingdom. Since we last met we have
been most graciously preserved. While thou-
sands have fallen in the great struggle of life,
we have been most signally blessed by the divine
favor, in having our lives spared to meet again
under such favorable circumstances.
'*For this special kindness let us render
thanks to the Author of all good. There is also
special reason for gratitude to our Father in
heaven for the unmistakable evidences of peace
to our long-distracted and bleeding country,
which are now being manifested in every direc-
tion. At our last meeting, the dark cloud of
internal strife largely obscured the church's
light as well as dimmed the nation's hope. There
were few hearts whose faith was strong enough
to lead them through the gloom that then sur-
rounded us, to the blessed assurances of to-day.
Truly are the works of our God wonderful and
his ways past finding out.
**Dear brethren, let us use these openings of
Providence as occasions for an increase of liber-
ality, for more united action, for more laborious
work in the cause of our blessed Lord and Mas-
ter. But, as I wish to be very brief in my
remarks, I will call your attention to some
special matters which I hope will be freely can-
vassed during the present meeting. ... I wish
to say a few words upon the subject of Sunday
schools. Resolutions offered and adopted upon
any subject may be well enough as a mere ex-
pression of the sentiment of a meeting upon the
subject. We have frequently in our meetings
heretofore resolved that we would give more
attention to the subject of Sunday schools, and
195
A HISTORY OF THE
many of us, no doubt, have been faithful to
these resolutions. Still, all who have reflected
much upon the subject must admit that we are
not working in this direction as we ought. I do
not propose, on this occasion, to argue the neces-
sity for such labor. Indeed, I deem it quite use-
less, for I am fully persuaded that we all are
agreed upon the importance of the work. The
great matter is to have it done, and this is pre-
cisely what I want the convention to consider. I
would suggest that the Board be requested to
appoint an agent suitable for the work, whose
duty it shall be to canvass the State, or so much
of it as he may be able, and organize Sunday
schools where there are none, build up and
encourage those already established, and create
a more active interest generally in the whole
subject.
''The subject of raising funds for educating
suitable brethren for preaching the gospel was
presented at our last convention. The Board has
given it some attention during the year. The
importance of this subject demands that it
should be kept before the brethren, and, if possi-
ble, that more vigorous efforts be made to carry
it into practical operation.
*'I need scarcely say that in all our delibera-
tions we should keep constantly in mind that we
are engaged in the Lord's work, and that this
consideration should lead us to dignify all our
actions with decorum and earnestness someYfhat
commensurate with the great matters committed
to our hands, and I feel assured that I shall
have the hearty co-operation of all present in so
conducting the deliberations of the convention
as to promote the cause of Christ. And now
196
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
may the blessing of God be upon us, is my sin-
cere desire."
During the convention Bro. Bishop offered to
bear the expense of a Sunday-school agent. The
convention thought it would be too great a tax
on his liberality, and it was not accepted. At
this writing — 1917 — it may be said that, for
many years, such an agent has been in the work
suggested.
Many persons co-operated with Bro. Bishop in
emphasizing the Sunday-school work. A. D.
Fillmore prepared suitable music for the schools,
D. S. Burnet prepared a fifty-volume library,
The Standard Publishing Company gave us good
supplies, F. M. Green prepared a Sunday-school
manual, the International lessons have been
adopted and the schools graded. Dr. H. Gerould
and others joined in the enterprise, Herbert
Moninger wrote on teacher-training, and P. H.
Welshimer put all the suggestions into practice;
and now are there not five hundred good schools
among the disciples in Ohio, and is there not one
school the largest and most efficient of any
school in the world? The objections disciples
once had to the Sunday schools, as then carried
on, have been removed in our schools, and now
the disciples of Christ are leading others in
Bible-school work. It took a long time to lay the
foundation, but now the work is prospering to
the salvation of many and to the glory of our
Father in heaven.
1822— J. H. LocKwooD— 1903
James Henry Lockwood, pioneer preacher,
was born in Hamilton County, 0., Sept. 11, 1822
— a son of Ezekiel and Minerva Lockwood.
197
A HISTORY OF THE
His early education was received in the Cin-
cinnati public schools, including Woodward High
School. Failing health caused him to abandon
his studies in 1840. Nine years later he matricu-
lated at the Fairview (Ind.) College, prepara-
tory to entering the ministry.
At the age of twenty he was received into
membership of the Fulton (Cincinnati) Christian
Church, and was engaged actively as Sunday-
school teacher and superintendent until 1846,
when he removed with his parents to Nichols-
ville, Clermont Co., 0.
His ministerial career began while a student
at Fairview College, substituting as preacher at
churches in neighboring towns. Returning to
Cincinnati in 1851, he accepted a call to the
pastorate of the Christian Church at Bethel, 0.,
and later was engaged as pastor at the New
Richmond Church, preaching on alternate Sun-
days.
His marriage to Miss M. E. Holland occurred
March 30, 1854, J. T. Powell officiating. The
union was ideal in every respect.
Having in the meantime been chosen pastor
of the church at Madison, Ind., he departed with
his bride for that place. During the eight years
of his ministry there, 247 members were added
to the congregation.
In 1862 he returned to Bethel, 0., and served
as its beloved pastor for forty-two years. He
also preached semi-monthly at New Richmond
for twelve years, and likewise was engaged
part time at Felicity, Georgetown, Moscow,
Mt. Grab, Dayton, Hamersville, Liberty, Rip-
ley, RussellviUe, Fincastle, Monterey and other
towns.
198
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
He assisted in the organization of churches in
Kentucky — at Ghent, Liberty, Cynthiana, Mt.
Bird, Brooksville and Covington.
Following the death of his devoted wife in
1890, he removed to Cincinnati, making his home
with his daughter Anna, and other children. His
death occurred June 17, 1903. Although eighty-
one year of age, he retained his youthful vigor
and continued actively in a ministerial work
until his Master called him home. He was
survived by a family of seven children — six sons
and one daughter.
The beauty and serenity of his life left its
impress, not only upon the people of his own
faith, but upon all who were privileged to
know this humble child of God and friend of
man. He numbered among his friends many
leaders of the Restoration movement — Alexander
Campbell, Barton W. Stone, Isaac Errett, W. T.
Moore and all the preachers of Cincinnati and
vicinity — during his ministry.
His sermons were characterized by great per-
suasiveness and force, and as a result of his
faithful labors thousands were led into the
''better way."
1812 — Benjamin Franklin — 1878
Benjamin Franklin was bom in Belmont
County, 0., Feb. 1, 1812. Later he lived in Noble
County and then lived in Indiana. In 1834 he
was baptized by Samuel Rogers. He immedi-
ately gave himself up to the work of planting
the truth, the good seed of the kingdom, in
the hearts of the people, and never ceased his
efforts tiU his heart was stilled in death in
1878.
199
A HISTORY OF THE
In 1845 he began the publication of the
Reformer. He was charged with magnifying
evils in writings in this paper, as he was in his
entire editorial career. His reply was: *'We
must make a mighty effort to save the church
from corruption, speculation and sin of every
kind, that it may at last be presented to the
Lord a glorious church without spot or wrinkle."
In 1848, Walter Scott, in Pittsburgh, removed
his Protestant Unionist to Cincinnati, and it
was merged into the Christian Age. D. S.
Burnet became editor and proprietor. Benja-
min Franklin purchased an interest in the Chris-
tian Age and moved to Cincinnati. In due time
the Western Reformer was stopped, and Frank-
lin and Burnet were editors of the Christian Age.
In time he sold his interest in the Christian Age,
and in 1856 started the American Christian Re-
view. Later the Christian Age was discontinued.
From early manhood Benjamin Franklin was
a physical athlete. He was a half -inch below six
feet high. In his youth he was a leader in feats
of strength and skill. When a stick was held
high enough for him to walk under it, he would
take a short run and leap over it. His feats of
strength at log-rolling bees were marvelous.
Well, when he entered the realm of editorship
he showed powers of mind as well as great
endurance of physical strength. He took up the
work of evangelizing in connection with his edi-
torial work. He was constantly in meetings and
debates, as well as carrying on his American
Christian Review with great vigor.
In the early history of our efforts to restore
primitive Christianity to the world, the attention
of the disciples was taken up with denomina-
200
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
tionalism, regeneration, baptism and Universal-
ism. On these subjects the disciples were agreed
among themselves, and unitedly opposed the
religious parties around them. But a time came
when, on some subjects of expediency, they disa-
greed and argued — one against another.
In a brief history like this, these most diffi-
cult questions can only be briefly stated. The
subjects of discussion may be included under the
following general headings :
1. Congregational Independency.
2. The Relation of the Ministry to the Church.
3. Expedients in the Worship.
Alexander Campbell was opposed to the dis-
solution of the Mahoning Association, pruned of
certain redundancies and encroachments upon
faith, piety and humanity. In 1849 he wrote:
''Reformation and annihilation are not with me
now, as formerly, convertible terms. We want
occasional, if not stated, deliberative meetings
on questions of expediency in adaptation to the
ever-changing fortune and character of society."
A. S. Hayden, in the ''History of Disciples
on the Reserve," calls the dissolution of the
association a turning-point in our history. Then
the system of co-operative evangelism ceased.
It ought to have been guarded and improved.
Through the greater part of his life Benjamin
Franklin worked in missionary co-operations.
In the last fifteen years of his life he changed
his mind on this subject and favored congrega-
tional independency, holding that the disciples
had no right to organize any permanent society
except the local congregation. Others claimed
the liberty to organize in any form which prom-
ised the best results ; that it was purely a matter
201
A HISTORY GF THE
of expediency. It is thought by his friends that
if the societies had held to merely evangelistic
co-operation, and had not stepped aside to other
matters, he wonld never have opposed them.
As to the relation of the ministry to the
church, the views of disciples have not been
clearly defined. Many did not incline to think
of the ministry as a distinct class. They thought
that any person of talent, though not set apart
to the work of the ministry, might preach the
gospel, though not set apart by the laying on of
hands. The courts that gave license to many
held that doing the work constituted ordination.
After awhile, churches, having been established,
desired, among their elders or overseers or pas-
tors, a person given entirely to the work. Then
they began to call this person 'Hhe pastor."
This brought on the discussion as to ^'the pas-
torate." If the pastor-elder introduced no
special new schemes, he was tolerated, but if
new plans were introduced, they were denounced
as innovations. Franklin opposed calling one
''the pastor" when he was only one of several
elders. Franklin objected to calling this active
elder a clergyman or ''the pastor," or applying
to him the cognomen "Eeverend." If the title
"Reverend" is to be applied, then why not
"Very Reverend" and "Most Reverend," and
so on up the scale, to the climax of wicked
assumption? The expression "Doctor" was also
objectionable.
As to expedients Franklin was peculiar.
When the churches got stronger and began to
build better meeting-houses, some thought the
elegant house was an innovation. Then, there
was the question of helps in worship, especially
202
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
in mnsic The organ was opposed as an innova-
tion. Franklin took a decided stand against the
nse of mnsical instmments in the worship, and
refused to preach or worship where there was
one unless it could be silent during his stay. His
youngest son became an accomplished musician.
It was suggested that he should go with his
father in Ms evangelistic work, and help in the
music and sell instruments. When he proposed
it to his father, he listened patiently till the case
was presented, and then said: ''And shan't we
take a monkey along too?" The great majority,
however, looked upon instruments as helps and
in harmony with the times, and as Scriptural as
a meeting-house or a stove to keep the house
warm and comfortable.
Whatever may be thought of his peculiarities,
he. has always been recognized as a great and
good man. He was opposed to war, but worked
on the fortifications around Cincinnati when
threatened in the Civil War. He blistered his
hands with shovel and pick, slept on the ground,
and declared himself attached to the Govern-
ment, but would not shoot his brethren whom he
had brought into the church.
His two volumes of sermon books, *'The Gos-
pel Preacher," will be lasting monuments to his
devotion to the gospel as presented in the New
Testament. The tract ''Sincerity Seeking the
Way to Heaven" has had a marvelous circula-
tion, and is doing good now and will in the years
to come.
This is an imperfect sketch of an active, great
and good minister of the Word.
A HISTORY OF THE
Wallace J. Ford Richard Hawley Harmon Austin
STOCKHOLDERS OF THE CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING
ASSOCIATION, CLEVELAND, OHIO, 1866
204
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XX
THE "CHRISTIAN STANDARD"
"yHE Christian Standard is recognized as one
of the ablest and most influential religious
journals of America.
In the early 60 's the weekly papers then pub-
lished were not satisfactory to all of the dis-
ciples of Christ. They demanded a wiser, sweet-
er, better advocacy than the then existing papers
presented — an advocacy that should exhibit the
apostolic spirit as well as the apostolic letter.
A. I. Hobbs at one time raised a subscription
of $8,000 to start such a paper in Cincinnati; of
course, this sum was insufficient.
On Dec, 22, 1865, a meeting of Disciples who
were interested in such an undertaking met at
the home of T. W. Phillips in New Castle,^ Pa.
Those present were Isaac Errrett, J. P. Robison,
W. K. Pendleton, J. A. Garfield, C. H. Gould,
J. F. Rowe, J. K. Picket, J. B. Milner, O. Hig-
gins, E. J. Agnew, J. T. PhUlips, C. M. Phillips,
T. W. Phillips and W. J. Ford. The meeting
organized by making J. P. Robison, chairman,
and W. J. Ford, secretary. They resolved to
start a publishing-house, beginning with a weekly
paper. J. A. Garfield, J. P. Robison and W» S.
Streator were made a committee to obtain a
charter and the necessary papers for organizing
a company.
206
A HISTORY OF THE
The capital stock was fixed at $20,000 and
Cleveland as the place of publication. The name
of the company was ^'The Christian Publishing
Association." J. A. Garfield and J. H. Ehodes
were appointed a committee on stock subscrip-
tions and W. J. Ford was elected solicitor. The
price of the paper was fixed at $2.50 per annum.
At the meeting of directors in Cleveland in
January, 1866, Isaac Errett was made the man-
aging editor, and the name of the paper was
adopted, ^'The Christian Standard," and the
publication was to commence in April, 1866.
The prospectus declared for a bold and vigor-
ous advocacy of Christianity as revealed in the
New Testament, without respect to party, creed
or an established theological system. It was to
plead for the union of all who acknowledged the
supreme authority of the Lord Jesus, on the
apostolic basis of ''one Lord, one faith, one bap-
tism. ' '
It was to advocate practical religion in all the
broad interests of piety and humanity. Mission-
ary, educational and benevolent enterprises were
to receive attention, and aU that bears seriously
on duty and destiny. In fact, it was to be Scrip-
tural in aim, catholic in spirit, bold and uncom-
promising, but courteous in tone, and was to
seek to rally the hosts of spiritual Israel around
the Bible for the defense of Christian interests
against the assumptions of popery, the mischiefs
of sectarianism, the sophistries of infidelity, and
the pride and corruptions of the world.
The subscriptions at one time reached about
five thousand, but the expenses were large in
starting a first-class paper, and there was oppo-
sition to the paper from other interests, and
206
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
after about two years the members of the asso-
ciation withdrew and left Isaac Errett to battle
alone. Then, there came, early in 1868, a flatter-
ing offer for Errett to become president of a
college in Alliance, 0., and publish the Standard
in Alliance. A large delegation of prominent
citizens visited Mr. Errett in Cleveland, assuring
him that they had completed a handsome college
building. A. B. Way, as financial agent, showed
that they had an endowment promised. They
presented a paid subscription of five thousand to
the Standard, and promised to raise it to twenty-
five thousand in a year. They offered a salary
of $3,000 a year and some valuable town lots for
a home. Errett 's ad\dsers said, ''Go to Alli-
ance." B. A. Hinsdale, A. R. Benton and other
good scholars were in the Faculty. The college
prospered for the first year. For a time the
Standard was still published in Cleveland, and
then moved to Alliance. In July, 1869, the last
number of the Standard at Alliance was issued.
Then R. W. Carroll, leading book publisher at
Cincinnati, became the publisher. It was started
on a grander career, with constantly increasing
power to this very day.
In July, 1873, The' Standard Publishing Com-
pany was formed, with. R. W. Carroll as treas-
urer ; Isaac Errett, president, and Russell Errett,
secretary. Since then the Christian Standard
has been issued by that company with ever-
increasing success.
Gr. P. Rutledge, in becoming editor recently,
wrote in part: *'Our age persists in introducing
complex crises — especially in the sphere of relig-
ion — that demand loyalty upon the part of all
who value fundamental things. The printed page
14 207
A HISTORY OF THE
is the battlegronnd of ideas. The religious joxir-
nal that stands for an im mutilated Bible and the
Christian religion as it is outlined in the New
Testament can not do otherwise than attack
error with a fervor interpreted by many as ill
temper. However, if something deserves to be
hit, why give it only a few taps? Whatever
one, after thorough investigation, conceives to
be wrong, should be rebuked from the shoulder
out, and continuously. Earnestness is not neces-
sarily anger.
^'In its efforts to conserve the faith, stern
earnestness has been necessary. In season and
out of season, it has been a clarion voice,
emphasizing New Testament ideals and rebuking
whomsoever and whatsoever has dared assail the
teaching and genius of the Eestoration plea. As
a result of its undaunted perseverance, it has
been attacked, times without number, by men
and interests committed to the same plea, and
ridiculed, but a big thing can not be laughed
down.
''The Standard stands for the advocacy of
Restoration principles — plus nothing, minus
nothing; it stands four-square to all the winds
that blow; and the indications are that it will
thus stand for many years to come."
The Standard has led, and is leading, the
battle against destructive criticism and all its
agencies. The integrity of the Bible — the book
that has withstood the criticism of the centuries,
and is as Gibraltar under the hea\^ fire of pres-
ent-day criticism — should be held inviolate.
Isaac Errett, J. A. Lord, S. S. Lappin and (since
July, 1917) Geo. P. Rutledge have been the edit-
ors of this world-wide circulating journal.
208
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXI
1820-ISAAC ERRETT— 1888
ISAAC ERRETT was the first located minister
of the Restoration movement in Ohio — at New
Lisbon. He was one of the first in founding Hiram
College; one of the first in starting the Ohio
Christian Missionary Society; one of its first
secretaries, and one of its first presidents. He
was one of the first starters of the Foreign
Christian Missionary Society, and its first presi-
dent. He was among the first to urge the claims
of the women in organizing the Christian
Woman's Board of Missions; one of the first
advocates of Church Extension, the Benevolent
Association and Ministerial Belief. He was the
first and greatest editor of the Christian Stand-
ard.
J. S. Lamar has written the life of Isaac
Errett in two large volmnes, and then he has not
told everything about this great and good man.
He was the first to prepare and use an elaborate
dedication service. This was first used at the
dedication of the Walnut Hills Church opening
in Cincinnati. This service has been used in a
modified form by F. M. Rains in his dedications,
by L, L. Carpenter and others. On such occa-
sions there is usually a large audience, and at
the close they stand during this part of the
service. On its presentation there comes a hush
209
A HISTORY OF THE
as of the presence of God and angels hovering
round. Emotions fill the breasts of the people,
and the cheeks of some are tear-stained.
As a specimen of Errett's fascinating - style
of writing and for the good of future genera-
tions, that exercise is here recorded:
"We set apart this house to the worship of
the living and true God, and to the service of
Jesus Christ, our Lord. We devote it to the
preaching of the gospel of the grace of God for
the conversion of sinners, and to the education
of Christians in a knowledge of spiritual truths
in all the activities of Christian life. Here shall
the incense of prayer and praise ascend to God.
Here shall the ordinances of the Lord's house be
sacredly observed. Here shall the word of God,
which liveth and abideth forever, be sounded out
for the salvation of the perishing, and shine as
a perpetual light to guide God's pilgrims through
the night of time to the land of everlasting light.
Here may children of sin and sorrow find a
refuge from despair and ruin, and Christians a
harbor to which they can resort when the tem-
pest is high, and be safe. Here, in the hearts of
humble worshipers, may the Holy Spirit find a
temple, and the doctrine of God's word distill
upon waiting and thirsty spirits, as the rains
upon the mown grass and as the showers that
water the earth; so that righteousness may
flourish, and holiness abound, and all the rich
fruit of the Spirit be yielded in a blessed harvest
to the praise of God. May no discordant note
of strife ever be heard within these walls, no
unholy spirit of pride or worldliness find en-
trance here; but may the faith out of which all
goodness springs, the hope which purifies and
210
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
comforts the sorrowing heart, and the love which
honors God, blesses man, and binds Christians in
blessed fellowship, ever inspire and sway the
he9,rts and lives of those who worship here; so
that with one mind and heart they may strive
together for the faith of the gospel, and let their
light so shine that others, seeing their good
works, may glorify our Father who is in heaven.
May these earthly courts be as the holy place in
the temple — separated only by a veil from the
holiest of all — in which the royal priests of the
house of God may trim the golden lamp, and eat
of the bread of life, and bum incense at the
golden altar; and thus, drawing near to God
with true hearts, in full assurance of faith, may
they be prepared to enter finally 'within the
veil,' to rejoice in the presence of God, where
there is fullness of joy, and at his right hand,
where there are pleasures forevermore. And
may God graciously accept this offering of a
house in his name — an offering made by grateful
hearts and willing hands — and bless every heart
that shares in this gift. And when, one by one,
those who have shared in this service shall be
taken away from these earthly scenes, and leave
a vacant seat, may they find a yet more blessed
home in that house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens, where the worshipers shall go
no more out forever. May multitudes here be
born to God, so that when all these here to-day
shall have gone to their eternal home, others will
take up the service and repeat from generation
to generation the old, old story of the cross, and
the songs of Zion, and the prayer of saints, until
Jesus comes, and all his redeemed are gathered
home. We give thanks to God that his people
211
A HISTORY OF THE
have been able to offer willingly after this sort.
We invoke his blessing on the labor of their
hands. And we commit to his holy care and
keeping all the interests connected with this
religious enterprise. 'May the beauty of the
Lord our God be upon us. And establish thou
the work of our hands upon us. Yea, the work
of our hands, estabhsh thou it.' And to thy
blessed name, O God, whose we are, and whom
we serve, be honor and glory everlasting,
through Jesus Christ our Lord."
When Isaac Errett departed this life, the
managers of the Ohio Christian Missionary So-
ciety addressed a letter to Mrs. Isaac Errett and
family :
''Whereas, In the providence of God, Isaac
Errett has been taken from our midst; and
"Whereas, He was a charter member, and,
in its early history, the efficient corresponding
secretary, of the Ohio Christian Missionary So-
ciety, and later, and for years, its presiding
officer, and always its friend and counselor; and
"Whereas, He was intimately associated
with the work of the disciples of Christ in Ohio
for nearly a half -century, therefore
"Resolved, That we place on record our high
appreciation of his unswerving integrity as a
Christian, his great abilities as a public advocate
of the truth, his warm devotion to the cause of
missions, and his invaluable services as editor of
the Christian Standard. We believe it is not too
high praise to say that to him, more than to any
other man, is due our present progress in all that
looks to a higher personal consecration to the
service of Christ, and to a greater liberality and
activity in the spread of the gospel in home and
212
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
foreign lands. A life so faithfully lived, so
cheerfully and prayerfully devoted to the cause
of righteousness and truth, and so grandly given
to the salvation of souls, is a precious legacy
to the people of God.
"Resolved, That the corresponding secretary
be requested to convey to Sister Errett and the
family our sincerest sympathy in this hour of
their deep grief, and to assure them that their
grief is shared by the thousands of disciples
who knew him only to love him.
''Board of Managers: Lathrop Cooley, H. C.
White, A. J. Marvin, B. L. Pennington, J. Q.
Riddle, W. S. Streator, A. R. Teachout, Wm.
Bowler, Andrew Squire, Jabez Hall, Jessie H.
Brown, Mrs. W. J. McKinney, E. C. Parmlee,
R. Moffett and H. E. McMillen.
'*J. Z. Tyuer, Pros.
"Alanson Wilcox, Cor. Sec."
213
A HISTORY OF THE
R. W. Carroll,
Treasurer and Manztgrer
Isaac Errett,
President
Russell Errett,
Secretary
orricERs OF the standard publishing company,
ORGANIZED 1872, IN CINCINNATI, OHIO
214
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXII
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY
HTHE publishing-house known as The Standard
Publishing Company had its origin in, and had
grown up with, the Christian Standard, a weekly
paper founded to advocate the principles of the
Restoration movement. The first number of the
Christian Standard was, as recorded in a pre-
vious chapter, issued in April, 1866, by the
Christian Publishing Association of Cleveland,
O., with Isaac Errett as editor, and C. L. Loos
and B. A. Hinsdale as associate editors.
In this number the editor paid his tribute to
Alexander Campbell, who had just passed away.
It thus marked a new era in the publishing ser-
vice of the Restoration; which till then had been
almost exclusively devoted to polemics, and was
now destined to take the lead in a positive asser-
tion of the prmciples of primitive Christianity,
in the promotion of co-operative effort.
The Standard was published for two years in
Cleveland, when, the funds subscribed having
been consumed, the paper was transferred to the
editor, Isaac Errett, who removed the office to
Alliance, 0., where he had assumed the presi-
dency of Alliance CoUege. Retiring from that
position at the end of the first year, through the
enterprise of R. W. CarroU, of Cincinnati, and
encouraged by "W. T. Moore, W. S. Dickinson
215
A HISTORY OF THE
and other prominent brethren of Cincinnati, the
paper was brought to Cincinnati, where, under
the liberal policy of the new owner, it soon took
rank among the leading religious papers of the
country.
In 1872, The Standard Publishing Company
was formed, with R. W. Carroll as the principal
stockholder. His interest subsequently passed
to trustees in the interest of D. W. Chase and
John B. Hall, who were associated in the book
business as Chase & Hall. On the failure of
Chase & Hall, in 1878, this interest was pur-
chased by C. H. Gould and the Erretts. Mr.
Gould subsequently retired, and the paper re-
mained in the control of Isaac Errett and mem-
bers of his family.
In 1873 Mr. Errett began the publication of a
monthly sheet now known as the '* Standard
Bible Lessons," which was in a few years con-
verted into a quarterly, the first of the sixty or
more Bible-school periodicals now issued by The
Standard Publishing Company. To this he soon
added a little weekly, the Sunday-school Stand-
ard.
As the Bible-school interests of the churches
developed, the demand for a more elaborate sys-
tem of publications became more and more
urgent, and it became a fixed principle of the
company to meet such demands, irrespective of
the question of profits. As soon as it became
apparent that a new publication was actually
needed, it was forthcoming, and in no case,
where there was an actual need for it, has it ever
been at a loss.
There should be noted, perhaps, one excep-
tion to this rule. Before the Graded Lesson sys-
216
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Jane R. Errett,
Secretary
Russell Errett,
Manager and Treasurer
John P. Errett,
Vice-President
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY AND ITS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 1918
217
A HISTORY OF THE
tern was introduced, there was great dissatisfac-
tion with the hop, skip and jump methods of the
Uniform system, and an urgent demand for a
more coherent system of Bible lessons. The
Standard Company responded with a complete
new system of Continuous Bible Studies, which
was received with great favor for a time, but,
owing to the new Graded system which came into
vogue, it fell into disuse and failed to repay the
great expense incurred in its preparation.
But in thus identifying itself with the Bible
schools, the company has grown and flourished
with them until it is second to none in the
land in the extent and excellence of its pro-
ductions.
With the two forementioned systems on its
hands, the company cheerfully took up the bur-
den of a third when the schools required it, and
issued a full line of publications for the graded
series.
And in pursuance of the same plan, it pro-
vided the colored Picture Rolls and Cards for
both the Uniform and Graded series, which no
other publishing-house has ever attempted.
To-day The Standard PubKshing Company
is issuing:
1. Two complete systems of Bible-school les-
sons — the Uniform and the Graded.
2. The largest and most enterprising relig-
ious weekly in the world.
3. The most widely circulated adult-class
weekly in the world.
4. The most complete system of colored
charts and cards and papers for Bible schools
and missionary societies to be found in the
world.
218
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
James A. Lord R. Richardson William Baxter
EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS "CHRISTIAN
STANDARD"
219
A HISTORY OF THE
In addition to this periodical service, the
company has performed a similar service for
onr book literature, untO. its catalogue now com-
prises nearly everything that has been produced
among us for years. In the past ten years it
has published fully tenfold as many books for
our own authors as all other houses combined.
Its publications rank with the best in the land.
It is impossible to estimate the value of the
publicity service of The Standard Publishing
Company in the extension of the Restoration
movement. It championed the cause of co-oper-
ative work, against aU odds, until our missionary
societies were made self-sustaining. It has been
foremost in all evangelistic movements. It has
encouraged every good enterprise, and has not
hesitated to correct evils, and to oppose errors
wherever they have appeared.
Throughout its history it has staunchly ad-
hered to the essential principle of Protestant
Christianity; namely, unconditional surrender to
the word of Grod, in all that pertains to eternal
life — the great principle it was founded to main-
tain.
In April, 1916, the Standard celebrated its
jubilee anniversary, in the largest and most
striking sheet ever issued by a religious journal.
This number is a monument to the progress of
the Restoration movement during the fifty years.
The first issue of the paper was a small folio of
eight pages, 15 x 22 inches. The jubilee number
had eighty-four pages, 10 x 14, lavishly illus-
trated, with ornamental cover, all overflowing
with the evidence of a mighty growth in our
movement. With this growth, in every branch,
the Standard has been so identified that the his-
220
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
D. R. Dungan Pz D. Power Love H. /Jamieson
SOME "STAia)AE,D" CONTRIBUTORS
221
A HISTORY OF THE
tory of that growth is well-nigh the history of
The Standard Publishing Company.
The company has entered its second half-
century with a publishing plant second to none
among the religious publishing-houses of the
country, and with a publishing service that ex-
tends to twenty-two thousand communities and
is increasing day by day. This is all the more
gratifying, as it is a tribute of a great people to
an unswerving adherence to the guiding prin-
ciples of the faith.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
F. D. Kershner Geo. P. Rutledge Willard L. Mohorter
Editor
M. M. Davis B. J. Radford a. W Higby
CecU J, Sharp H. L. Calhoun A. Fairhurst
CONTMBUTOES OF TO-DAY TO "CHEISTIAN
STAITDAED"
A HISTORY OF THE
XXIII
MONINGER, DAVIS AND ROWE
1876 — Herbert MoimvrGEE — 1911
LJEEBERT MONINGER seemed like a star of
the first magnitude let down from the sky, to
shine brilliantly for a brief period and then all too
soon go back to his native heaven. Who has
ever influenced the Bible-school world as did this
brilliant young man? Who like him has pre-
pared books on teacher-training and other sub-
jects which have been sent out by the million
to encourage, enlighten and improve the Bible
schools'? He came at an opportune time. The
schools and the churches needed an uplift, and
he gave it to them. Some people live a long
time and do nothing. Some people live a long
time and do much. Few people live a short time
and do much, and this may be said of Herbert
Moninger.
He had a Bible-school vision and injected
high purpose and ideas into the lives of others.
Some one has said when God would formulate
a law for the reformation of a nation, he brings
forward a man and puts him in a legislative hall.
When God would furnish a tool for the lighten-
ment of toil, he brings forward a man through
whom it is done. And when a new epoch would
begin in civilization, he brings forward a man
who leads to the highest point. And so, when
the church was ready for first-hand Bible study.
224
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
God called Herbert Moninger out and up. Dur-
ing the last hundred years, the period ^f Sunday-
school life, the religion of Christ went forward
more rapidly than in the eighteen centuries which
preceded. The last fifteen years of Sunday-
school life were greater than the rest of the hun-
dred years. And this is the period of Moninger 's
leadership in the Sunday-school world. The
Bible has come to be a more loved book, a more
real book, a more intelligent book, through the
great enthusiasm for Bible study which has
grown out of the teacher-training work. All
understand the real foundation of Bible study
as they had not known it before.
* He was born at Lone Pine, Washington Co.,
Pa., Apr. 29, 1876, and passed to his heavenly
reward in Cincinnati, June 21, 1911. He gradu-
ated at Bethany College; took degrees at West
Virginia University, at Butler and at Yale;
preached at Tiffin, 0., one year, at SteubenviUe
three years; took a trip to the Holy Land and
commenced work with The Standard Publishing
Company in 1905. The rest of his life Avas de-
voted exclusively to the Sunday-school work.
J. W. McGarvey said he was a remarkable
man. No man among us accomplished, in so
short a time, a work so large and far-reaching
as he did in the department of the Sunday
school ; and the beauty of his work was constantly
seen in the charm of good humor and cheerful-
ness with which it was done. The pleasant smile
which always beamed from his face seemed to
pervade all of his writings, and make him uni-
versally popular.
Who knows but that the Master has called
him to do a still mightier and more joyful work
225
A HISTORY OF THE
f^^\
1 ^^
Geo. A. Miller P. Y. Pendleton Herbert Monlnger
HalHe M. Errett De Forest Murch Otto Stemler, Artist
BIBLE SCHOOL WORKERS. PAST AND PRESENT, STAND-
ARD SERIES QUARTERLIES AND PERIODICALS
226
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
among the multiplied millions of children in the
spirit land who never enjoyed the Snnday school
in this world! Our loss may be the gain of a
people more worthy.
The friends of the Bible-school work have
raised $25,000 and endowed a chair in Bethany
College to the memory of Herbert Moninger.
This chair will give special attention to training
teachers and officers for Bible-school improve-
ment. So the work of the short and brilliant
career of the young Christian will be perpetuated
in the ages to come.
J. F. Davis
J. F. Davis, formerly of Portsmouth, 0., de-
parted this life in Florida in 1910. He was a
true man of God. Though personally modest and
retiring in nature, he was aggressive in building
up the kingdom. He was a wholesale dniggist
in Portsmouth, and did a large, successful busi-
ness. The church at Portsmouth, under his wise
guidance, grew in numbers and efficiency. For
years he was its strong financier. He might
have gone into wealthy religious circles and
found associates who were congenial and pleas-
ant. He preferred to associate with the lowly
and humble Christians who loved the Lord and
the teaching of the primitive, apostolic church.
His home was always open to ministers of
the Word. He gave much aid to the various mis-
sionary enterprises of the church. The societies
that were in deep need and made personal ap-
peals to him always found a helping hand. He
was a liberal giver to all the missionary societies.
He invested in men — ^young men for the
ministry were aided to an education.
227
A HISTORY OF THE
To the Ohio Christian Missionary Society he
was a liberal contributor. One year he gave $1,000
to start work in a county-seat in Ohio and the work
failed, but he was not discouraged. Some years
he kept his own books, to save $1,200 for the
Lord's work. He gave at least $10,000 to the
Ohio Christian Missionary Society in money and
property, some of which wiU be available for
future use. He was a modest, consecrated, godly
man.
1827— John F. Rowe— 1897
For fifty years John F. Rowe was a preacher
and defender of the gospel as presented in the
New Testament. He was baptized by J. Harri-
son Jones in 1848, and took membership in the
church at Wooster. He graduated at Bethany
College in the class of 1854. He was commended
by Alexander Campbell as of good habits and
exemplary character. He succeeded as a minis-
ter in a single congregation, as at Springfield,
Ills.; Cory, Pa., and in other places. He distin-
guished himself as a writer in religious journals.
He was editor or associate editor of the fol-
lowing papers: the Stylus, the Christian Sen-
tinel, the Christian-Evangelist, the Akron Daily
Argus, the American Christian Review, and the
Christian Leader, of which he was the founder
in 1886.
His ability as a writer was acknowledged by
his contemporaries. He was a strong writer of
editorials. He always had something to say, and
he said it in a fearless way so that it commanded
attention.
He differed from some of his brethren on the
use of instrumental music in worship, on the
228
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
way missionary societies managed affairs, and
on congregational singing.
He wrote: *'It is not the inanimate organ
that corrupts the worship, but it is the self-
selected choir, generally composed of the least
intelligent, of the least devout and prayerful,
and of the least liberal of the congregation:
composed of church-members and non-church-
members; of the semi-godly and ungodly; of an
organist who may be an infidel, playing for pay;
and of a chorister with no religious convictions,
with no fear of God before his eyes, who selects
the music to suit his own theatric or operatic
taste; composed of giggling girls and empty-
pated boys; composed of 'scientific musicians'
who make every possible effort to ruin congrega-
tional singing; in which they never fail to, suc-
ceed, to the disgust of God-fearing men and
women. If a small organ — oh, ye heavens! not
a pipe-organ! — were used as a tuning-fork is
used, to pitch the tune and keep the time, and
made wholly subordinate or tributary to con-
gregational singing, I, for one, would urge no
objection.
*'I speak for myself, and for no one else, by
saying that, as much as I despise an organ in
public worship, I can go forward and perform
my Christian duties and accomplish great good
and lead a comparatively happy life — in spite of
the organ.
"By the grace of God, I am determined not
to be held responsible for the division and alien-
ation of God's people by fighting over an organ!
Place me where you will — among friends or foes
— neither an organ nor a choir, nor feast nor
famine, nor men nor demons, nor all the devices
229
A HISTORY OF THE
of men, shall, God being my helper, be allowed
to destroy my usefulness in life."
He took a full part in the discussion of mis-
sionary societies. He at first worked with the
societies, but later changed his mind, maintain-
ing that they were an oligarchic and plutarchic
monopoly. He declared that they offered their
patronage and protection to those who sur-
rendered their individuality and bowed to the
organized trust.
He gives a summary of his views on ques-
tions of Christian life in the Christian Lead&r
of 1896:
''We will continue uncompromisingly to con-
tend earnestly —
''1. For a pure doctrine unmixed with tradi-
tion,
''2. For a pure gospel unsullied by human
speculation.
"3. For a pure worship, free of worldly trim-
mings and meretricious appendages.
''4. For the union of God's people exclusively
upon apostolic precept and example.
''5. For the pure Christian life without pre-
tense of hypocrisy.
''6. For peace and harmony among brethren.
''7. For a competent Scriptural eldership,
church discipline and the independency
of the congregations, free from outside
interference or dictation.
*'8. Against all innovations upon the order
of Heaven to the extent of my ability. ' '
All in all, John F. Rowe was a strong advo-
cate of the faith, and, as a writer, was excelled
by few, if any.
230
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXIV
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE
AUTHOES.
Atwater, John M. — Book of Sermons.
AzBiLL, W. K. — Science and Faith.
Baxter, William — Life of Walter Scott, Life of
Knowles Shaw.
BoGGS, John — The Christian Lmninary.
BoTELEE, Mattie — The Conversion of Brian
'Dillon, Like as We Are, The Evolution of
Juliet, Joe Binder's Wild Westing, Shut Jn,
Lights on Scriptural Truth, Sermon Notes
from the Ministry of Jesus.
CooLET, Lathrop — Book of Sermons.
Dean, B. S. — Outline of Bible History.
Eeeett, Isaac — Walks about Jerusalem, Talks to
Bereans, Evenings with the Bible, The Que-
rists' Drawer, Debate with Tiffany on Spirit-
ism, Linsey Woolsey, Life and Letters of Geo.
A. Flower, Life of Judge Eeid, Letters to a
Young Christian.
Faris, Lillie a. — The Sand-table.
Goodwin, Mrs. M. M. B. — Laurel Leaves (poems).
Green, F. M. — Standard Manual, Christian Mis-
sions, Life of J. A. Garfield, History of Hiram
College, Life and Times of J. F. Rowe.
Hall, Alexander Wilford — U niversalism
Against Itself, Immortality of- the Sonl, Prob-
lems of Life, Here and Hereafter.
A HISTORY OF THE
Hayden, a. S. — History of Disciples on the West-
ern Reserve, Polymathist, Melodeon.
Hawley, Edwin H. — How to Remember.
Hinsdale, B. A. — The Jewish Christian Chnrch,
Genuineness and Authenticity of the Gospels,
Jesns as a Teacher, Ecclesiastical Tradition,
The Old Northwest.
McLean, Alexander — Handbook of Missions, Cir-
cuit of the Globe, Missionary Addresses.
Meacham, E. J. — Training to Teach, Manual for
Funeral Occasions, Pastor's Ready Reference
Record, How to Get the Crowd.
Miles, Mrs. M. F. — Dr. Carl Brown.
MoFFETT, Robert — Seeking the Old Paths.
MoNiNGER, Herbert — The New Testament Church,
Training for Service.
Parks, J. G. — An English Grammar.
PiERsoN, A. C— The White Church.
Pounds, Jessie Brown — The Iron-clad Pledge,
A Popular Idol, Norman McDonald, A
Woman's Doing, Roderick Wayne, Rachel
Sjdvestre.
Ray, Joseph — Ray's Arithmetic, Ray's Algebra.
RuTLBDGE, G. P. — Pushing the World Along.
Smith, C. C. — Life of Jacob Kenoly, Historical
Sketches.
Thornton, E. W. — Common Sense, Pocket Les-
son Commentary, Superintendent's Record
Manual.
Tyler, J. Z.— Talks to Young People.
Updike, J. V. — Book of Sermons.
Walters, Zelia M. — Lessons in Child Training,
The Magic Window.
Welshimer, p. H. — A Bible-school Vision.
WooLERY, L. C— Life and Addresses of W. H.
Woolery.
232
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
W. Grant Smith Harry F. Rector Joseph Keevll
CINCINNATI PREACHERS OF RECENT YEARS
233
A HISTORY OF THE
ZoT.T.ARs, E. V, — ^Baccalaureate and Convocation
Sermons, The Commission Executed, The
Sabbath.
Papers Published by Discipkbs of Christ
m Ohio (1917)
The Christian Standard, Cincinnati, George
P. Kutledge.
The Missionary Intelligencer, Cincinnati, F.
M. Bains.
The American Home Missionary , Cincinnati,
F. W. Burnham, G. K. Lewis, K. M. Hopkins.
The Ohio Work, Cleveland, I. J. Cahill.
The Ohio Counselor, Cleveland, Mary A.
Lyons.
The Christian, Uhrichsville, J. A. Canby.
The Ashland Christian, Ashland, A. B. Robert-
son.
The Canton Christian, Canton, P. H. Wel-
shimer.
The Christian, Columbus, Dr. J. A. Sanders.
The Christian Messenger, Alliance, C. B. Rey-
nolds.
The Christian Monitor, Warren, Walter Man-
sell, F. W. Brown.
The Christian Monitor, Cincinnati, Mrs. M. M,
B. Goodwin.
The Evanston Christian, Cincinnati, Justin N.
Green.
The Youngstown Christian News, Youngstown,
Wm. Dunn Ryan.
The Norwood Christian, Norwood, C. R.
Stauffer.
The Mansfield Christian, Mansfield, M. L.
Germey.
The Lookout, Cincinnati, De Forest Murch.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Christian Leader, Cincinnati, F. L. Rowe.
The Dayton Christian, Dayton, H. C Burk-
hart.
The Christian Assistant, Niles, W. H. McLain.
Portsmouth Messenger, Portsmouth, C. R.
Oakley.
The Christian Oracle, East Liverpool, John
Mullen.
The Akron Disciple, Akron, L, N. D. Wells.
Boy Life, Cincinnati, Mrs. Augusta T. Errett.
Girlhood Days, Cincinnati, Mrs. Augusta T.
Errett.
Something Doing, Cincinnati, De Forest
Murch.
A HISTORY OF THE
Thos. Munnell I. N. McCash F. W. Bumham
A. C. M. S. A. C. M. S. A. C. M. S.
F. M. Rains
F. C. M. S.
Walter W. Bruna
Y. M. C A,
LEADEES IN ORQAHTZED WOBX.
236
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXV
OUR ORGANIZED WORK
The Ameeicajst Chkistian Missionaet Society.
TN October, 1849, 150 delegates chosen by
churches of Christ met in Cincinnati and organ-
ized the General Christian Missionary Society.
By an act of the Ohio Legislature in 1851 it was
incorporated, and later the name was changed to
"The American Christian Missionary Society."
Alexander Campbell was the first president and
James Challen was the first secretary.
Several progressive steps led up to the organi-
zation of the society. In 1845 the four churches
of God in Cincinnati organized "The American
Christian Bible Society." The first year the
society received $1,046, which was expended for
expense and paid out for Bibles and Testaments.
Then a Sunday-school and Tract Society was
organized in Cincinnati, and later changed the
name to "The Publication Society." The Chris-
tian Age and Sunday School Journal were pur-
chased, and published for two years by this
society. The Bible and tract societies met at the
same time and place, and the meetings were re-
ferred to as "The Anniversaries." In 1849, as
already stated, a large delegation of preachers
and others attended the "Anniversaries" and
organized the American Christian Missionary
Society. The earlier societies were merged into
237
A HISTORY OF THE
it. Benjamin Franklin declared: **Tlie object of
the society is to send the gospel to destitnte
places in onr own country."
In the sixty-seven years of its organization
the society has established 4,137 churches, bap-
tized 225,133 persons and gathered as many more
into the churches. It has expended $3,041,560.15.
Last year the society organized thirty-seven
churches. The receipts last year exceeded $250,-
000. The Ohio disciples have been no insignifi-
cant factor in promoting the object of this
society.
The Board of Church Extension belongs to
this society, and its assets are $1,309,040.20.
Headquarters, Kansas City, Mo. There is also
a Bible-school department.
The National Benevolent Association was or-
ganized in 1887, and sustains thirteen great insti-
tutions — hospitals, homes for the aged and Chris-
tian orphanages. The headquarters are in St.
Louis, Mo. The Cleveland Christian Orphanage
is under the general management of the Benev-
olent Association.
"While the American Christian Missionary
Society has its headquarters in Cincinnati, it takes
in the whole country in its field of operations. It
publishes a monthly — The American Home Mis-
sionary.
The Board of Ministerial Relief is the organ-
ized agency through which the churches of Christ
care for their aged and disabled ministers,
widows and the orphans of ministers and retired
missionaries. It is incorporated under the laws
of the State of Indiana, and the headquarters
are at Indianapolis, Ind. Last year the offerings
amounted to $50,127.
238
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The Foeeign Christian Missionaey Society
The Foreign Christian Missionary Society has
its ofl&ces in Cincinnati, 0. The object of th*^
society is to make disciples of all nations. It was
organized in October, 1875, at Louisville, Ky.
The disciples in Ohio have always taken a lead-
ing part in its work. Isaac Errett was the first
president. As secretary and president, A.
McLean has been connected with the society for
thirty-five years. In the Missionary Intelli-
gencer of February, 1917, he gives a resmne of
missionary operations of the disciples of Christ
during the thirty-five years.
Thirty-five years ago the Foreign Society
had six missionaries, and they were all in Eu-
rope. Now we have missionaries in China, India,
Japan, Africa, Cuba, Tibet, Mexico, Porto Rico,
Argentina and Alaska. The Foreign Society
alone has 187 missionaries and 803 native help-
ers — pastors, evangelists, teachers, colporteurs,
nurses and Bible women. Then we had no mis-
sionary literature. Now we have missionary
books ; the Tidings, the Intelligencer, the Home
Missionary, Business in Christianity, and the
Philanthropist.
Thirty-five years ago the receipts of the
American Christian Missionary Society amounted
to less than $7,000; the Christian Woman's
Board of Missions, to less than $8,000, and the
Foreign Society received about $13,000. Last
year the American Christian Missionary Society
received $230,875; the Christian Woman's Board,
$439,840; the Foreign Society, $522,716; the
National Benevolent Association, $202,385; the
Board of Church Extension, $196,973 ; the Board
16 239
A HISTORY OF THE
Mrs. C. N. Pearre Mrs. R. R. Sloan Mrs. M. M. B. Goofiwin
OHIO WOMEN WHO HELPED TO ORGANIZE THE C. W.
B. M. AND GAVE AID TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS
240
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
of Ministerial Relief, $50,127 ; the Board of Edu-
cation, $208,438, and the Men and Millions Move-
ment has $4,000,000 pledged over and above what
comes through the regular channels.
Thirty-five years ago the Foreign Society
owned no property on any of the non-Christian
fields — no church building, no home, no hospital,
no school, no orphanage, no printing-press. Now
it owns 167 church buildings worth $117,830; 60
missionary homes, worth $13,235; 25 hospitals
and dispensaries, worth $63,279; 4 orphanages,
worth $134,671, and 4 printing-presses, worth
$8,000, and they publish about eight million pages
of literature annually. Children's Day is now
established, and the Bible schools last year gave
$99,530.
The Chbistian Woman's Boaed of Missions
Was organized, in the Richmond Street Church,
Cincinnati, 0., on Oct. 24, 1874. This his-
torical church is held in grateful memory all
over the world for this event — where seventy-
five women banded themselves together to go
forth to win the world for Christ. This was the
first board that claimed the world for its field.
On the first page of the first record-book,
which is now more than forty years old, appeared
the above facts. In May, 1875, the first auxiliary
was organized in the Euclid Avenue Church,
Cleveland. Later in the same month, at Steuben-
ville, the Ohio Christian Missionary Society held
its annual convention, and at this meeting the
women gathered early in the morning and
adopted resolutions to present to the brethren.
Upon receiving them, the president caused a
resolution to be recorded, to the effect that this
241
A HISTORY OF THE
new Woman's Board would receive the sym-
pathy, prayers and support of the Ohio Chris-
tian Missionary Society. The State secretaries
and agents of the 0. C. M. S. gave help to the
work and assisted the women in organizing
auxiliaries. Mrs. Sarah Bartlett, of Brooklyn
Village, was the first life member and first pres-
ident. She, however, resigned, and Miss Phebe
Allen succeeded her. Next in order are the pres-
idents of the Ohio Christian Woman's Board of
Missions: Mrs. C. C. Smith, Mrs. B. E. Ayles-
worth, Mrs. Henry Gerould, Mrs. Frederick
Truedley, Mrs. E. B. Wakefield, Mrs. M. F.
Miles, Mrs. M. J. Grable, Mrs. A. R. Teachout,
Mrs. Anna R. Atwater, Mrs. F. E. Dilley, Mrs.
S. H. Bartlett, Mrs. M. E. Baker, Mrs. F. A.
Cramer.
The State secretaries are: Mrs. Ida Sloan
Weeden, Miss Jessie Brown, Mrs. B. F. Powers,
Mrs. A. C. Pierson and Mary A. Lyons, just clos-
ing her twenty-fifth year of service.
From 1875 to 1882, $36,817.27 was raised for
the work. Since 1882 to 1917, $529,449.78 has
been raised, making a total of $566,623.94 by the
Ohio Christian Woman's Board of Missions.
Apr. 1, 1917, there were 270 auxiliaries and
8,563 members, and they raised in the year just
closed, $46,338.56.
The State employs Mary A. Lyons as field
secretary, who in the past twenty-five years has
attended 945 district conventions, making two or'
more addresses in each; also attended twenty-
five national and thirty State conventions, and
averages about 170 places visited each year.
The state publishes the Ohio Counselor bi-
monthly.
242
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Mrs. Sarah Teachout Mrs. Julia Gerould Mrs. M. E. Miles
^Igfi^.
Miss Bettie Wilson Mrs. A. R. Atwater Mrs. Jessie B. Pounds
LEADERS AND HELPERS, OHIO C. W. B. M., 1917
243
A HISTORY OF THE
XXVI
MARY ALICE LYONS
IN the National Capitol at Washington is a room
devoted to statuary of eminent citizens of
our country. The statue of only one woman ap-
pears — Frances Willard. The founder of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union is rightly
entitled to a marble statue. She helped to start
in motion a movement for temperance that is
triumphing. School-teacher that she was, she
has become the teacher of temperance to the
world.
Mary Alice Lyons, for twenty-five years the
leader in the Christian Woman's Board of Mis-
sions in Ohio, is a marvelous teacher of good
things. She teaches lessons of frugality by her
early life; she teaches persons who have made
mistakes in religion to correct those mistakes by
conforming to New Testament instruction;
through her faithfulness, perseverance and self-
sacrifice, she teaches what one consecrated person
can do, and what an army of such women can do
when organized in Christian Woman's Board of
Missions work.
Bartholomew Lyons, her father, was educated
for the Roman Catholic priesthood, and had a
good knowledge of Latin, which he used during a
long life assisting at mass. Her mother was En-
glishborn and a Protestant. She united with her
244
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
lover and husband in the Catholic Church. Bar-
tholomew Lyons was an example of devotion,
never omitting to give thanks at his table, and
also trained his large family of five boys and
three daughters in the doctrine of the church.
For ten years after marriage the Lyons
family lived in Cleveland, and then moved on
a farm in Medina County. The young people had
not the best opportunity for an education, and
learned to be self -helpful. Mary did sewing and
other things leading to self-independence. She
taught school. A Bible fell into her hands and
she became interested in reading it. She com-
pared it mth the Douay Bible, and could not
reconcile the teaching of the Catholics with what
she read. A *' History of All Religions" fell into
her hands, and she decided that the "Disciples
of Christ" were in the right. On Christmas Day,
1881, she confessed her faith in Christ, and on
New Year's day, 1882, was baptized by H. R.
Cooley, in Cleveland. Mary says "this nearly
broke her father's heart." After twenty years,
he became reconciled to his daughter's course.
She had dignified womanhood and her faith, and
he became reconciled and loved his daughter.
She attended high school, taught by W. H. C.
Newington, and says she owes much to him for
what education she has. For three years New-
ington and his wife were her teachers, friends
and counselors. She then taught school and
secured funds to begin college work at Hiram.
She spent five years at Hiram, graduating in
1893. She was a student volunteer and desired
to go as a missionary, but failed to pass medical
examination. In her college Junior year she was
appointed secretary of the Ohio C. W. B. M.,
245
A HISTORY OF THE
and at the Ohio State Convention at Belief ontaine,
in 1917, she gave a resum,e of her tAventy-five
years' work. That summary is published in this
history. Has any woman among the disciples of
Christ, in Ohio or any other State, done a
greater or more far-reaching work than Mary
A. Lvons?
At the Belief ontaine 0. C. M. S. and C. W. B.
M. Convention, May 21-25, 1917, Mary Alice
Lvons gave a survey of twenty-five years of
C^ W. B. M. service (1892-1917). She said:
Twenty-five years ago, from my window in
Bowler Hall at Hiram College, I watched a hack-
load of happy delegates starting at four o'clock
in the morning for the Bellaire State Convention.
Up to the last mail on Saturday, I was counted as
one of the number, but, alas! the money did not
come, so, saying not a word, but sorely disap-
pointed, I had to give up the last ray of hope to
attend the wonderful convention of our dreams.
Monday, breakfast over, the girls gathered in the
parlor when they saw me coming in, all with one
accord demanding why I was not on my way to
Bellaire. Alma McMillin took things in hand,
and, within fifteen minutes, dressed, packed, cash
in hand and hack at the door, away I went to the
first convention, by way of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. There I made my maiden speech. The
secretary who was elected refused to accept.
Weeks later, the Board elected me to serve out
her term, and I am still at it.
Mrs. A. C. Pierson, retiring secretary, gave
the following report at Bellaire in 1892:
Number of auxiliaries in the State 143
Numbers of members 3,18(5
Amount raised for the National Board $4,145.31
246
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Amount raised for State work. 122.46
Balance in the State treasury 1.44
Eeport for the year ending March 31, 1917,
is as follows:
Number of societies 270
Membership of the State 8,563
Missionary Tidings circulated 4,194
Ohio Counselors published by the State Society 7,200
Number of societies on honor roll for perfect work 119
Number of societies observing 0. W. B. M. Day 194
Amount raised in specials and on C. W. B. M. -Day $10,185.10
Contributing churches 85
Amount contributed by churches $5,213.84
Total amount sent to the national treasury 41,575.90
Amount for State Development Fund 4,478.57
Amount received at district convention and subscrip-
tions to Counselor _ 284.09
Grand total raised $46,338.56
Curiosity led me to search the records of the
C. W. B. M. in Ohio from its beginning, to see
how much the State has really contributed. The
records show that from 1875 to 1892 there was
raised, $36,817.27, and during the twenty-five
years since then there has been raised $529,806.67,
making a grand total for all purposes of $566,-
623.94.
It is interesting to know the cost of service
in the past twenty-five years. The average salary
of the secretary was $854 per annum, and the
average wage of office help was $103.70 per
annum, or an average of $957.70 for salaries per
year.
I have attended 945 district conventions in
this time, thirty State conventions and twenty-
five national conventions, making 995, and made
1,990 convention addresses. Have averaged
ninety-seven places visited in the interest of the
work each year, occupied pulpits about thirty
247
A HISTORY OF THE
Sundays in eacli year, often speaking three and
four times each Lord's Day when out, and had a
hand in all the work of the church, teaching in
Sunday school, reviewing the schools, meeting
the Junior C. E. or Circles in the afternoon and
organizing societies, as well as speaking every
evening somewhere.
The office work has been largely done by
myself, having help only nine out of the twenty-
five years. We have published for many years
a monthly paper of sixteen pages, with 7,200
copies per issue, now bimonthly, owing to high
cost of paper. We have a well-equipped office,
and the Board is quite willing to provide all the
office help necessary to carry on the work.
As we look back over the years, some things
seem very like dreams. In 1894-96, the one great
thing was to introduce the State dues of five
cents per month. It took more time, patience
and grace to have this smaU coin adopted as a
part of our regular work than it would now to
raise as many thousand dollars. So the story of
the nickel, from the day it was launched in Chi-
cago in 1893, when W. T. Moore, on a visit from
England, ridiculed us for talking such small
things. He said that when he left America the
women were talking ten-cent pop-guns, and now,
after nearly twenty years, they are considering
a smaller gun. Mrs. Burgess rose and said that
we women had killed much opposition to missions
with the ten-cent gun and expected to enlist a
great army with the five-cent ones, and her say-
ing has come true. Ohio has from this fund paid
the first thousand dollars for the union college
in Ginlin College for girls at Nanking, China;
has sent three organs to India to sing the gospel
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
into the hearts of the natives and to cheer the
homes of the missionaries; has helped negro
churches to build, and contributed many a hun-
dred to the national treasury. Ohio has in the
twenty-five years paid for the Maudha (India)
mission station building, the South American
Christian Institute, a native church in Mexico,
built a sewing cabin at Lum, Ala., and equipped
it with material and machines. Ohio has now
fifteen living links supported under the C. W. B.
M., organized within the last ten years, and we
trust it wiU be one hundred before another ten
years passes.
Consider some of the great things the
National Board has done in the past. We have
seen, in the twenty-five years, the beginning of
the Bible Chair work, and this has done one
thing for the church; namely, made us known
among the educated peoples as nothing before
had done. Men and women are in every land who
have studied under these teachers. We have seen
work opened in Africa, China, Canada and Ori-
ental work on the Pacific coast. The mountain
work has been handed over to us by the breth-
ren. We were present at Kansas City when the
Smith brothers (C. C. and B. L.) came and of-
fered us a $70,000 gift from the American Chris-
tian Missionary Society, and all the responsibil-
ity of training the negroes of the Southland, and
we accepted it and proved our ability to teach
school.
We have, with pride in the churches, seen the
leaders show such willingness to help those
women, too, and have cause to believe it is only
a beginning of what shall be. We have also
seen the day now when the work of the C. W. B.
249
A HISTORY OF THE
M. shall be taught in Sunday school and doubt
not that the time is near at hand when the chil-
dren shall make an otfering through the school
to this Board that has for so many years trained
the children for leadership in missions.
In looking over my parish, I can see no cause
of complaint, but, on the other hand, much in
which to rejoice. The ministry of Ohio has been
most helpful and cordial in assisting the women
in the work. We see an educated constituency in
missions because of mission-study classes and
libraries. We have four thousand homes read-
ing the Missionary Tidings, and seven thousand
reading the Ohio Counselor. We distribute thou-
sands of leaflets each year among the societies.
We urge the women to attend interdenomina-
tional summer schools of missions.
We have organized the young ladies into Mis-
sion Circles where they are receiving the very
best of training for larger service. We still
guide the children in the knowledge of the world
need of the Saviour, and last, but greatest of all,
the prayer life of the members of these mission-
ary organizations permeates the whole church,
so that every interest receives a kindly hearing
in a church where an active group of C. W. B. M.
women live, teach, give and pray, and they are
ready to serve at home as well as in the wide
world.
I can not close this survey without acknowl-
edging the debt I owe to Bro. Alanson Wilcox,
as he was secretary of the 0. C. M. S. during
the first several years of my work and greatly
aided me and was always making a place for my
work. Then, Robert Moffett served for seven
more years. I learned very much from him of
250
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the spirit of the early work of the C. W. B. M.
It was he who helped establish it in Ohio, and we
who now live and work owe much to Robei-t
Moffett, Isaac Errett and others, as well as to
Mesdames Sloan, Gerould, Powers and Weeden.
The five-year campaign, in which societies,
members and fnnds are to be doubled, is a goal
worthy of the daughters of such fathers and
mothers in the faith. Ohio is to have 500 soci-
eties, 10,000 members and $70,000 in 1921. Help
us make Ohio a missionary iDrotherhood ; plant
this spirit in every congregation and they wiU
prosper.
A HISTORY OF THE
XXVII
THE CHURCH AT HILLSBORO
•THE chnrch at Hillsboro was planted in 1888.
W. D. Moore and Alanson Wilcox, of the O. C.
M. S., had done preliminary preaching in the
court-house. The 0. C. M. S. secretary paved
the way for the great meeting held by Evangelist
J. V. Updike. He wrote as follows for the county
paper :
''The religious people known as disciples of
Christ have had a remarkable growth. They
started in Ohio about sixty years ago, and have
450 churches in Ohio. In the whole country they
number a million communicants. They sustain
thirty institutions of learning and thirty periodi-
cals. They have missionaries in foreign lands.
One of their home societies has expended $1,500,-
000, and added to the churches fully one hundred
thousand members.
''In doctrine the disciples claim to take ad-
vanced ground. Instead of trying to reform the
modern churches, which have more or less, as
they claim, departed from the teaching and prac-
tice of the apostolic church, they aim at a resto-
ration of the teaching, faith and practice of the
original church planted by Christ, through his
apostles, and which commenced fifty days after
the death of the Saviour. They claim to recog-
nize all that is Scriptural and divine in all the
252
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
clmrches, and to object only to that which is
merely human in origin. There is only one arti-
cle in their formula of faith, which declares Jesus
to be the Christ, the Son of God. Building on
this truth, they claim that believers will be bap-
tized and follow the teaching of the New Testa-
ment as the rule of life, and will build up Chris-
tian character which will hereafter admit per-
sons into the presence of the Lord.
''In pleading for original Christianity, they
advocate the unity of the household of faith, and
to this end all human opinions must be discarded
as tests of fellowship, and only the divine will
can be made the standard of faith and practice.
''The disciples have thirteen churches in
Highland County, and the people of Hillsboro
will have an opportunity to learn more of this
remarkable people.
"A tent has been secured, and the successful
evangelist of northern Ohio, J. V. Updike, as-
sisted by Singing Evangelist J. E. Hawes, will
commence the meeting the last of May."
In the meeting Hawes sang the following
hymn:
THE DAY OF PENTECOST.
Tho day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came,
Ho sat upon apostles and looked like lambent flame;
He taught what Christ had told them, they wrote it in a book,
And in that book — the Bible — he tells us where to look.
Chorus.
Now tho Spirit holy, ho will guide us safely.
If we read the Bible, there he guides aright;
Now tho Spirit holy, into life and glory,
He will guide us safely, if we trust his light.
The day of Pentecost, the church of God began,
And Peter said to sinners: "Repent now while you can;
You must obey the Saviour, he will your sins forgive,
And thus the Holy Spirit with you will always live." — Cho.
253
A HISTORY OF THE
The day of Pentecost, the law of God went out;
Three thousand siimers then obeyed, the name of Christ to shout.
So, now let all receive him, his word has not been changed;
It is the only safe way, from earth to heaven arranged. — Oho.
This hymn has in it the poetry of truth. The
tune was well adapted to the words, and the
hymn became popular.
Some negroes attended the tent meeting, and
one afternoon an old negro, sitting a few seats
from the front, gradually raised up as Updike
began to warm up, and then, raising his hand,
bringing it down with two blows, cried out,
''He's gettin' dar, he's gettin' dar." And he
did get there with eighty baptisms and forty-six
other additions — in all, 126 — and the church was
organized.
This is only a sample of the work done by
the Ohio Christian Missionary Society.
254
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXVIII
CENTRAL OHIO
p lONEER ministers of central Ohio were : R. R.
Sloan, R. Moffett, John Encell, Gyms Mc-
Neeley, Alexander Hall, J. G. Mitchell, Nathan
Mitchell, Israel Belton, D. A. Hannum, A. Gard-
ner, John Hick, L. M. ,Harvey, John Sinclair, E.
Worther, Nathan Moody, J. M. Dicky, W. Michem,
J. Kenderson, Mahlon Martin, Benjamin Lock-
hart, D. Shrapless, C. E. Van Vorhis, Wm. Hayes,
Andrew Burns, Henry Dixon, John Read, S. R.
Willard, 0. Higgins, T. D. Garvin, J. H. Garvin,
T. N. Madden, A. Lemert, J. B. Millison, A. Skid-
more, S. P. Moody, Q. A. Randall, N. A. Walker,
Adam Moore, M. Riddle, J. W. Lowe, Isaiah
Jones, W. S. Lowe, W. L. Neal, A. B. Williams,
James Williams, S. B. Teagarden, R. Winbigler,
Hiram Wood, J. A. Barr, A. B. Way, Timothy J.
Newcomb, Wm. Dowling, Hiram. Wood, S.
McBride, L. R. Norton and others.
DocTOE Wm. Hayes.
Back in the thirties and forties and fifties, the
Restoration movement depended very largely
upon an itinerant ministry. And even in the six-
ties and seventies and eighties the ^'stalwarts"
made long journeys on horseback and in buggy —
proclaiming, as they went, the catholic plea for
17 255
A fflSTORY OF THE
union which fired connnimities and resnlted in
our present influential churches.
''There were giants in those days" — not only
in the pulpit, but by the roadside. It was a day
of free entertainment for the heralds of the
cross, and many houses were known as "preach-
ers' homes."
One of these hospitable houses stood about
eight miles from Mt. Vernon, O. It was the
home of Dr. Wm. Hayes, a "veritable preachers'
hotel." Such men as Isaac Errett, Robert Mof-
f ett, Norton, Huffman and Gardner held meetings
at the Simmons Church, and they always "put
up" with Dr. Hayes. Here the neighbors
gathered with the family on the veranda in sum-
mer, in the ' ' sitting-room ' ' in winter, and listened
to the preacher explain the Scriptures or tell of
the progress the cause was making in other
places. Here the "big dinners" were served —
after the distinguished guest had "said grace."
It was a religious home, a hospitable home, a
happy home, a great home.
Dr. Hayes was not only the preachers' friend,
but himself a preacher of power. He practiced
his profession during the week, and on Sunday,
when no "regular preacher" was present, he
delivered the sermon and dispensed the emblems.
He wielded a mighty influence for good in his
community, which means that he was a great
man.
John Encell
Knox County gave some good Restoration
preachers to the cause. James Encell was an
able expounder of the Word. He gave illustrated
lectures, especially on the Revelation as found at
256
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
the close of the New Testament. John Encell
was a good singer and evangelist. Wellington
was one of the churches he planted. He gave a
new version of "The Old Parson's Story," and
lovingly dedicated it to the ''old preachers":
I'm an old-fasMoned Mud of a preacher,
The Jerusalem story I tell;
How often, how often I've told it;
Dear story, I love it so well.
For many bright years I've been preaching
The story that came from above,
While earnestly lost ones beseeching
To hear the glad message of love.
'Tis still my delight and my glory
To teU of a Saviour once slaia.
That the dying may hear the glad story
Of life through Immanuel's name.
Thro' aU of my years yet remaining,
May strength iinto me stiU be given,
This message of mercy proclaiming
To help many hearts' hope for heaven.
Many noble and true ones ha -9 left me;
Their pure lives have come to a close;
They sleep in the silent old churchyard,
And there, too, I soon will repose.
Dear battle-worn vet'rans of Zion,
Our stay in this world won't be long:
Let us try to be faithful and cheerful,
Azid finish it up with a song.
There's a bright crown the faithful awaiting,
A scepter, a robe and a palm,
And glories forever unfading
In the presence of God and the Lamb.
We shall soon meet the loved gone before us.
In the mansions etemaUy fair:
We shall soon sing the heavenly chorus.
And we'U never grow old over there;
No, we'll never grow old over there.
AUEXANDEE WlLFORD HaLL
Alexander Wilford Hall was a remarkable
man, and possessed a great memory, and was ex-
ceedingly shrewd. He was an antagonist of Uni-
257
A HISTORY OF THE
versalism. He soon learned all the arguments
of Universalists and passages of Scripture used
by them in support of their doctrine — how they
construed and supplied them — and framed a
reply. He usually contrived to turn their argu-
ments and the Scripture quoted against them.
He wrote a book entitled ' ' Universalism Against
Itself." It created a profound sensation.
Twenty-five thousand copies were sold in two
years. It has been issued again in these days and
is meeting with sales.
A favorite argument of Universalists of those
early days was as follows: ''God is infinitely
'good, so that he would save everybody if he
could. But he is infinitely powerful, so that he
can save everybody if he will. Therefore, he
wiU save everybody." To this HaU replied —
first quoting the Scripture, "Vengeance belongs
to ine: I wiU repay, saith the Lord" — "God is
infinite in vengeance, so that he would damn
everybody if he could. But he is infinite Ie
power, so that he can damn everybody if he wiU.
Therefore, he will damn everybody."
It is said he was to debate with a Universal-
ist, who came with many books; and his first
speech was on "The whole human family wiU
finally be made holy and happy." Mr. Hall in
five minutes gave his reply, gave a statement of
all the arguments the man could produce and
replied to them, and sat down before his time
was out. The Universalist was so overcome that
he refused to go any further, declaring that he
"did not come there to debate with a man who
knew everything at once and who could talk like
lightning." And so the debate ended. The tre-
mendous sale of Hall's book gave him popularity,
258
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
W. L. Neal J. W. Lowe Alonzo Skidmore
MORE RESTORATION LEADERS
26G
A HISTORY OF THE
and lie started at Loydsville, 0., the Gospel Proc-
lamation, and published it there for two years.
Hall, in time, settled in New York City, and
was the author of ''The Microcosm," ''The Sci-
entific Arena," "Immortality of the Soul," and
"Problems of Life, Here and Hereafter."
1841 — Alonzo Sejdmoke — 1912
Alonzo Skidmore was bom in Union County,
0., June 7, 1841; died May 20, 1912, at East
Liberty, Logan County.
Bro. Skidmore 's life was an especially active
one from his youth to the close of life.
He began teaching in the public schools at the
age of eighteen, and followed this profession
nearly all his life. In 1860 he identified himself
with the disciples of Christ worshiping at Mill
Creek, Logan County. He gave to this congre-
gation much service as elder and minister.
In 1862 he enlisted in the 121st Regiment 0.
V. J., and served to the close of the war.
In 1865 he was united in marriage to Sarah
J. Morse.
Having a deep interest in educational and
religious questions, he decided to secure a college
training.
In 1874 he, with his family, went to Bethany,
W. Va., where he spent four years as a student,
graduating mth the honors of his class in 1878.
The following year he was engaged as a profes-
sor in his alma mater and as pastor of the church
at Bethany. In both of these . positions he
achieved marked success.
From Bethany he went to South Butler, N.
Y., where he held a pastorate. The next place
to caU him was a coUege at North Middleton, in
260
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Kentucky, with E. V. Zollars as coworker. Leav-
ing Kentucky, he came back to his old home and,
in 1882, organized, at East Liberty, ''The Central
Ohio College," and conducted it, with fine re-
sults, until 1890. During these years of college
work in East Liberty he, in co-operation with the
Ohio Christian Missionary Society (Alanson Wil-
cox, secretary), organized the church and min-
istered to it in many helpful ways.
Li 1890 he, with his family, went to Texas,
where he accepted a professorship in Texas
Christian University. A few years later he re-
turned to Ohio and taught in Hiram College. In
1894 he accepted a call to the church at Marion
and remained with this church six years. At the
close of this pastorate he again came to East
Liberty, where he lived and wrought a good
work.
During the years of his teaching and preach-
ing he managed his farm by mail, with much suc-
cess to himself and tenants. He continued to
carry on the business of farming, with the idea
that he wished to minister, preach and teach as
much as possible at his own expense or with as
little remuneration as possible. To him the farm
was the same as Paul's tent-making, to enable
him to live by the work of his own hand and to
give to him that needeth.
A HISTORY OF THE
H. E. McMuHins C. R. Stauffer
SECRETARY AND BOARD OF MANAGERS, O. C. M. S., 1917
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXIX
THE OHIO CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
'T'HE Ohio Christian Missionary Society is a
voluntary association of disciples of Christ
for propagating the gospel and helping weak
churches. The society is incorporated under the
laws of the State of Ohio. The trustees are es-
pecially incorporated to hold and manage moneys
in the interests of the society.
It was organized at Wooster, 0., May 12,
1852. Alexander Campbell was present on the
occasion and delivered an address. Isaac Errett
was a prominent factor in the meeting. The or-
ganization of the society marked the beginning
of an epoch in the history of the disciples of
Christ. Some years later, while the brethren
were still struggling with the vexed problem of
co-operative missionary work, Alexander Camp-
bell earnestly exhorted the brethren to be stead-
fast in this enterprise, ''for," said he, ''the whole
future of organized missionary work among the
disciples of Christ depends on the Ohio Society."
Before the organization of the society, co-
operative work had been done in northeastern
Ohio. From 1827-30, Walter Scott, as the evan-
gelist of this co-operation, worked within the
territory of the Mahoning Association. This
early co-operation accounts for the strength of
the disciples in the Western Reserve. Its con-
263
A HISTORY OF THE
tinuance and extension at that time would have
covered the whole State. Later there arose some
objection to co-operation. In the interest of
hoped-for peace, the brethren yielded to the ob-
jectors, and the co-operative work ceased in 1830.
More than a score of years were wasted in
demonstrating the impractical nature of the
theories that had disrupted a vital and conquer-
ing work. Then wise brethren were impelled to
return to the old and eminently Christian way
of fraternal co-operation for aggressive work of
enlargement.
From 1852 this co-operative work has had the
untiring devotion of wise and good men. Many
leading brethren served freely in unofficial capac-
ity. Men held in honor in all the churches of the
State served as officers and employees.
The presidents of the society have been:
David S. Burnet, J. P. Eobison, R. M. Bishop,
Isaac Errett, E. R. Sloan, B. A. Hinsdale, T. D.
GarYin, R. Moifett, W. M. Dowling, E. B. Wake-
field, J. Z. Tyler, A. J. Marvin, E. V. Zollars,
Russell Errett, J. M. VanHorn, C. J. Tannar, G.
P. Coler, S. L. Darsie, J. W. Allen, J. A. Lord,
H. McDiarmid, Benj. L. Smith, C. W. Huffer,
Justin N. Green, J. G. Slayter, M. L. Bates, A.
M. Harvuot, A. R. Webber, H. Newton MiUer, J.
E. Lynn, T. W. Pinkerton, I. J. Cahill, Geo. Dar-
sie, John P. Sala, W. F. Rothenburger, P. H.
Welshimer, W. D. Ward, T. L. Lowe, C. B. Rey-
nolds.
The corresponding secretaries have been: Lee
Lord, Isaac Errett, A. S. Hayden, J. H. Jones,
W. A. Belding, R. R. Sloan, Robert Moffett,
Alanson Wilcox, S. H. Bartlett, H. Newton Mil-
ler, I. J. Cahill.
264
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
C. R. Sine C. B. Reynolds C. M. Rodefer
Noyes P. Gallup C. A. Hanna
OTHUB LEADERS IN O. C. M. S. WORE
265
A HISTORY OF THE
The financial plan of the earlier period pro-
vided that offerings should be sent to the district
secretaries. HaK the amount was retained and
expended within the borders of the district,
under the direction of the district officers. The
remainder was forwarded to the State secretary
and expended under the direction of the State
Board of Managers.
This order was later changed, and all offer-
ings are sent to the State Board of Managers.
This concentrates the work and makes it more
effective.
Under this plan the results have been grati-
fying. In seventeen years — 1900 to 1917 — exactly
one hundred churches received assistance, includ-
ing twenty that were yet mission churches at
the end of the period named. These hundred
churches have a membership of eighteen thou-
sand, hold church property valued at $750,000,
and are now themselves contributing to missions
$12,000 per year. The new plan has met the
changed conditions successfully.
The secret of success in planting the cause in
the cities that have become so numerous in Ohio,
is to give such strong support that the work may
be pushed vigorously from the first. This course
inspires confidence in the public mind and gives
the new work a great advantage. The plan of
placing all funds in the hands of the State Board
of Managers has made such a course possible.
Evangelistic Wokk
The preaching of the gospel is the prime pur-
pose of the Ohio Christian Missionary Society.
In addition to supporting the preaching of the
gospel by ministers stationed in mission
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
churches, the society has always laid stress on
evangelism. Walter Scott, under the employ of
the Mahoning Association, did a wonderful work
at the psychological moment before the present
society was organized.
In the earlier days, among men who served
in that capacity, were Benjamin Franklin, Har-
rison Jones, Knowles Shaw, 0. A. Burgess, L. L.
Carpenter, W. A. Belding, Wm. Dowling, A.
Burns, J. W. Lanphear, Lathrop Cooley, J. J.
Moss, A. B. Green, Wm. Hayden and many
others. The number of able workmen, good and
true, sent out through the district boards of the
State Society are too many to name, and the sys-
tem of records under that plan did not provide
for preserving the names.
Since 1900 the men who have served as evan-
gelists for more than a single meeting are : Allan
Wilson, Robert Moffett, 0. L. Cook, D. W.
Besaw, John E. Pounds, G. F. Crites, Bowman
Hostetler, C. A. Kleeberger, G. A. Ragan, Percy
H. Wilson, J. 0. Shelburne, J. G. Slayter, M. B.
Ryan, S. H. Bartlett, H. Newton Miller, I. J.
Cahill, T. J. White, L. I. Mercer, C. N. Williams,
Traverce Harrison, C. A. MacDonald, W. H.
Boden. Other men held each a single meeting,
and many pastors of the State held "volunteer"
meetings under direction of the State Society.
In pioneer days a single evangelistic meeting
sufficed to establish a self-supporting church. In
these days of higher standards it requires more
to constitute a self- supporting church. Besides,
the fixed conditions of an old community do not
allow as speedy results as when communities
were new. The evangelistic work continues to
be fruitful.
267
A HISTORY OF THE
In 1902 the Marietta church-house was
wrecked by a cyclone. Through the influence of
the 0. C. M. S., the church received generous and
timely help from the churches of the State.
In March, 1913, the State was visited by an
unprecedented calamity. A great storm swept
over the whole State, bringing a devastating
flood that wrought tremendous destruction in the
valleys of the Muskingum, the Scioto, the Miami
and the Ohio. Ofl&cial returns showed a loss of
460 lives in the State; 4,200 homes were de-
stroyed and 40,500 people rendered homeless.
In the awful devastation and loss disciples
were heavy sufferers. Three churches were
totally destroyed. Scores suffered heavily. The
0. C. M. S. received over $7,000 for the reUef
of the flooded churches. This amount was dis-
tributed among seventeen of those most heavily
afflicted. Every year churches are guided
through serious problems of indebtedness or
strife or scandal.
The very existence of such an agency as the
State Society is a source of strength to the work
everywhere in the State. When the flood came
there was an agency ready to hand to call for
help and convey it to the place of need. The
calamity wrought far less injury to the churches
because there was a tried and trusted means to
carry the needed help.
Permanent Funds
An important feature of the work of the mis-
sionary society is the accumulation of funds, the
income of which is devoted to the work. Such
funds are a bulwark of strength. The society
now has in trust:
268
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Bumet Educational Fund $ 25,385.03
Trust funds for individual churehes 7,000.00
Funds for use in special fields. 6,000.00
Evangelistic funds 28,708.60
General funds 24,367.97
Annuities 20,325.00
Emergency Building Fund 4,047.05
A total of $115,733.65
The Ohio Society has fostered the work of
the American Christian Missionary Society, the
Foreign Christian Missionary Society, the Chris-
tian Woman's Board of Missions, and the Sun-
day-school work of the society stimulates the life
of all the schools. They receive strength from
this ministry and, in turn, they minister through
all the missionary and benevolent agencies.
The society statistics aggregate 214,610 days
of service; 126,720 sermons; accessions, 56,427;
churches organized, 353; money disbursed, $725,-
949.09; cost of each accession, $12.
Objections
Objections have been made by individuals and
churches to co-operative work in evangelizing, or
society work. The answer was, ''Let there be
light." Newspaper opposition to co-operation
does not always reflect the feelings of the masses.
When the opposition of this character appeared,
articles were written furnishing Scriptural argu-
ments for co-operation and bristling with the
facts of the present times and missions and evan-
gelistic work. This has done much toward over-
coming the objection.
Then, it was constantly declared that no
society or co-operation has any ecclesiastical
authority. It was affirmed that such associations
are voluntary and have but one object, and that
A HISTORY OF THE
is to give wings to the gospel in harmony with
the commission in which Christ says: "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every crea-
ture/' The objectors who hang back and stay at
home are not in line with Christ's spirit and
teaching, and are in the unscriptural way and
should change their attitude. Sister Lhamon
said: "The way that hangs back and says *I
won't go this way,' and 'I won't go that way,'
and does not go at all, is the most unscriptural
thing under heaven."
One way to silence objectors to society work
was to ask them to systematically, conscientiously
and perseveringly prosecute some way they have
that will do the work. We will not oppose you,
but bid you Godspeed. The world is perishing,
and by all Scriptural and expedient means we
must go and save them from sinning and thus
save ourselves.
Objections have mostly disappeared.
The Ohio Paper
For at least thirty years the 0. C. M. S. has
published a monthly paper, a kind of necessity
for communicating with the churches. For ten
years, it was called the Ohio Standard, then the
Harbinger; now it is called Ohio Work. This
paper emphasizes the home missionary and Sun-
day-school work. Churches planted in Ohio
mean more contributions for other lands. Each
number of the Ohio paper contains church news,
facts as to the progress of the cause and incen-
tives to faithfulness and diligence in serving the
Lord. Many people in Ohio are practically as
unreached by the gospel as are the pagans of
Africa. They do not come to the churches and
270
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
LiUie A. Paris Miss M. M. Boteler Florence MitcheU
OHIO'S GOOD AJSTD FAITHFUL DAUGHTERS WHOSE
WORKS FOLLOW THEM
18 271
A HISTORY OF THE
the churches do not go to them. There is close
contiguity, but no real contact. These people are
perishing at our door. Shall Christian people
stand rigid, frigid statues and onlookers, caring
nothing for the unsaved? So wrote the Ohio
paper, and a noble Christian woman emphasized
this home work as follows:
THE WORK AT THE DOOR.
Mattie M. Boteler.
Far back from the ages departed,
There cometh a message anew,
And these are the words, O my brother.
That Jesus is saying to you:
"While workers are fainting around you.
Stand careless and idle no more;
Lift up your eyes to the harvest
That lieth in front of your door."
Though small seems our strength for the labor.
Though little of worth is our mite.
The least that we do for His service
Can never be lost in His sight;
For the Father above, on his children.
Unmeasured his blessings vsdll pour.
Who take up the work uncomplaining,
That lieth in front of the door.
We may send out the news of salvation
To the nations in darkness and sin;
We may go to the uttermost places
And gather the straying ones in;
But God is not pleased with our labors.
Though bravely the burden we bore,
While the field that is ripened to harvest
Lies neglected in front of our door.
Though we know not the scope of our labors,
We may snatch from the burning some brand
By faithfully, earnestly doing
The duty that lieth at hand;
And the gospel we love may bo carried
By him to some far-distant shore.
Because we've been true to the duty
That Ueth in front of our door.
272
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
To the church the commission was given
That all nations be bidden to come,
But those who will carry the message
Must be given the gospel at home:
And the sooner His glory wiU reach them,
Who sat in the darkness before,
If we faithfully gather the harvest
That lieth in front of our door.
Another wrote: ''As patriots, disciples of
Christ in Ohio should do more evangelistic work.
Paul had a dispensation of the gospel of Christ,
but he did not forget Israel. The love of drink,
the love of money, the love of worldly pleasure,
should not be the dominating ideas in our Ohio civ-
ilization. The people must be educated and Chris-
tianized. Philanthropy needs to rise above seK-
gratification, and plan for purity and intelligence
in our homes. Christ lived and died for others.
"When the disciple acts Christlike there will come
exhilaration of joy, and activities becoming the
patriot and philanthropist and Christian.
273
A HISTORY OF THE
Knowles Shaw
■■■'
M. B. Ryan O. A. Burgess
H. D. Carlton A. Chatterton W. H. Hopson
PROMINENT SECRETARIES, O. C. M. S., AND NOTED
PREACHERS OP OHIO
274
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXX
ANNALS OF THE O. C. M. S.
1815— E. E. Sloan— 1877
HTHE Ohio Christian Missionary Society was
organized in 1852. E. E. Sloan was present
from Mt. Vernon, O. He came to Mt, Vernon in
1844. For six years after his advent there was no
church of disciples at Mt. Vernon. He had been
reared in the New Testament order of teaching
in western Pennsylvania, where was his place of
birth. During the six years he was a member
of the church at Jelloway. Through his influence,
J. H. Jones was secured as evangelist, and on
the 31st day of January, 1850, the church at Mt.
Vernon was organized with E. E. Sloan as over-
seer. He lived in Mt. Vernon twenty-two years
and moved to Cleveland in 1866.
He was one of the forty-one delegates of
churches that, in Wooster, in 1852, organized the
Ohio Christian Missionary Society. He was on
the committee of five to propose a constitution.
He was also made one of the Board of Managers.
From that time to his death he held an official
position in the organization. He was elected
corresponding secretary in 1861. Previous to
this time no one had been found who could give
his entire time and talents to the work of the
society. ''For eight years," says Isaac Errett,
''this faithful pilot stood at the wheel in all
weathers, at all seasons, holding the vessel
275
A HISTORY OF THE
steadily against adverse winds, beating up
against wind and tides and steering through
difficulties and perilous places with sleepless
vigilance and excellent skill. When he could be
spared from the helm, he was found tugging at
the oars. He was captain, mate, steward, cabin-
boy and sailor all the time — drilling the crew,
laying in provisions, keeping the log-book, in-
specting the stores, and making the reckonings.
Under God, this society owes more to his un-
yielding patience, unconquerable purpose and
untiring industry, for its success, than to any
other man." At the time he took the work some
of the churches had preaching twice, some once
a month; some had a "meeting of days" once a
year. Some so-called churches were but names,
answering no useful purpose known to God or
man. Perhaps there were only three in the State
that had constant pastoral labor. The hour had
come for an organizing mind that could devise
methods, direct large operations, and educe order
and system out of the reigning chaos. In giving
counsel to the brethren, in looking up preachers
for churches and churches for preachers, in stim-
ulating home enterprise, in arranging meetings,
his services were valuable. His distinctive work
was to extend the district missionary organiza-
tions, and in all ways to give unity, continuity
and universality to our work. He had the
courage and patience to labor for organization
needed for the future as well as for immediate
results.
He met with opposition, but he ably defended
his work. He was a living epistle to all Ohio
disciples. He had the physical and mental capac-
ity for an immense amount of work. He pushed
276
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
I ■ ' ' ] h
277
A HISTORY OF THE
his work with unyielding faithfulness, sometimes
patiently plodding, sometimes energetically driv-
ing, but always busy, always cheerful. He
worked so noiselessly that he almost seemed to
be a man of leisure! He seemed never to grow-
discouraged or to lose hope. His longsuffering
was the salvation of many an enterprise which
he had in hand. Some one has said that his most
serious faults and troubles originated in his
goodness.
During the time of Bro. Sloan's residence in
Mt. Vernon he was intimately identified with the
educational, moral and religious interests of the
town. He taught a boys' school and Mrs. Sloan
taught girls in her own home. In 1852 the male
academy disappeared and the Female Institute
stands alone. Later the institute changed into
the Mt. Vernon Female Seminary. This was
Bro. Sloan's greatest service, with the exception
of his missionary work. The seminary, as a
place of Christian education, paid back many-
fold the capital put into it. The wives and
daughters of many disciples in Ohio called the
school a success. Faithful work done for our
fellow-men, like love from which it springs, is
never . lost. It is more blessed to give than to
receive. Those who give, at least get the bless-
ing. ''Talk not of wasted affection, affection
never was wasted. If it enriches not the heart
of another, its waters returning back to their
springs, like the rain, shall fiU them full of re-
freshment : that which the fountain sends forth
returns again to the fountain."
When Bro. Sloan was called away to meet the
heavenlies he was president of the Ohio Chris-
tian Missionary Society.
278
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Robert Moffett
Robert Moffett was the second great corre-
sponding secretary of the Ohio Christian Mis-
sionary Society, commencing at the close of R.
R. Sloan's term of oflSce. His first term of ser-
vice began in 1867 and continued to 1884 (fifteen
years). The following statement of his work, in
the main, was made when he voluntarily gave
the work into other hands :
''These years have been years of sacrifice in
ways which a preacher who wishes to keep
abreast of the times, and increase his pulpit abil-
ity, well understands. It has been a sacrifice to
his family, who have needed so much of his pres-
ence and counsel. He has served under the
promptings of duty to the church at large and
to the cause of missions, which has ever been
dear to his heart. His services for the society
have intensified his love for it. During his ser-
vice in Ohio, work has touched on every side of
Christian enterprise. Through all the drudgery
of clerical work, at his desk and in the field;
through all the responsible exercises of conven-
tions and public assemblies ; through the delicate
and harassing investigations of church troubles ;
and through the anxieties which drive sleep into
the wee hours of the night — through fifteen years
of such a multitude of cares he has passed in
much feebleness, but he trusts with recognized
faithfulness. His reward is in whatever good
may have been accomplished. Year by year he
has put into lists and tables the churches visited,
organized and fostered., the meetings held, the
number of converts gained, the amount of money
raised and disbursed as the visible fruitage of
279
A HISTORY OF THE
the society's work. Bnt how many churches have
been saved from wreck; how many new converts
became, in time, pillars in the church; how many
Christians saved from ruin; how many hearts
comforted; how many feeble knees strengthened;
how many holy aspirations enkindled; how many
little fountains opened, which have become, in
time, the wide and beautiful rivers of blessing
and peace — these are chronicled only in heaven,
and mil be reported at the final convention of all
the saints."
Perhaps no person among the disciples of
Christ did more for organized missionary work
than Robert Moifett. He co-operated with the
American Christian Missionary Society and
helped fight its battles. He was corresponding
secretary of that society for several years. He
sympathized with the Foreign Christian Mission-
ary Society and helped it to the right of way in
the Ohio churches and Sunday schools. He was
a helping friend to the Christian Woman's Board
of Missions, and all the enterprises of the
churches of Christ. As an eloquent speaker he
was surpassed by few, if equaled by any. After
eleven years' interim, he was again elected sec-
retary of the 0. C. M. S. and served four years.
HiSTOEiCAL Table Showing the Place and Pres-
ident OF the Anniveksabies of the Ohio
Christian Missionary Society
place president
1852— Wooster D. S. Burnet
1853— Mt. Vernon D. S. Burnet
1854— Bedford D. S. Burnet
1855— Akron D. S. Burnet
280
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
1856— Mt. Vernon J. P. Eobison
1857— Wooster J. P. Eobison
1858 — Massillon J. P. Eobison
1859— Wooster J. P. Eobison
I860— Belief ontaine E. M. Bishop
1861— Mt. Vernon E. M. Bishop
1862— Wooster E. M. Bishop
1863— Shelby E. M. Bishop
1864— Belief ontaine E. M. Bishop
1865— Ashland E. M. Bishop
1866— Akron E. M. Bishop
1867— Dayton E. M. Bishop
1868— Mt. Vernon E. M. Bishop
1869— Alliance E. M. Bishop
1870— Mansfield Isaac Errett
1871 — Dayton Isaac Errett
1872 — Painesville Isaac Errett
1873 — Wooster Isaac Errett
1874^Toledo Isaac Errett
1875 — Stenbenville Isaac Errett
1876— Akron E. E. Sloan
1877— East Cleveland E. E. Sloan
1878— Mt. Vernon E. E. Sloan
1879— Lima B. A. Hinsdale
1880— Warren B. A. Hinsdale
1881— Dayton B. A. Hinsdale
1882— Columbus. T. D. Gari-in
1883— Cleveland L. E. Gault
1884— Akron E. MofPett
1885— Wilmington E. Moffett
1886— New Lisbon E. Moffett
1887— Kenton Wm. Dowling
1888— Columbus J. Z. Tyler
1889 — ^Youngstown A. J. Marvin
1890— Dayton E. V. Zollars
1891— Ashland Eussell Errett
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
MAP or OHIO COUNTIES
NUMBES OF CHITBCHES IN EACH
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
1892— Bellaire J. M. Van Horn
1893— Canton C.J. Tannar
1894— Findlay G. P. Coler
1895— Columbus G. T. Smith
1896— Toledo S. L. Darsie
1897— Hiram J. W. Allen
1898— Salem J. A. Lord
1899— Wilmington H. McDiarmid
1900— Mansfield B. L. Smith
1901— Akron C. W. Huffer
1902 — Columbus Justin N. Green
1903— Lima J. G. Slayter
1904— Cleveland M. L. Bates
1905 — Newark A. M. Hai^iiot
1906— Uhrichsville A. R. Webber
1907— Dayton H. Newton MiUer
1908— Columbus J. E. Lynn
1909— Elyria T. W. Pinkerton
1910— Toledo I. J. Cahill
1911 — Portsmouth Geo. Darsie
1912— Canton John P. Sala
1913— Lima W. F. Rothenburger
1914 — Bowling Green P. H. Welshimer
1915— Nelsonville W. D. Ward
1916— Mt. Vernon T. L. Lowe
1917— Belief ontaine C. B. Reynolds
LIST OF CHURCHES BY COUNTIES
Adams Count'}/. — Bethlehem, May Hill,
Moore's Chapel, Newport, Peebles.
Allen County. — Auglaize Chapel, Beaver
Dam, Bluffton, Garfield Chapel, Garfield Memo-
rial, Lima (South), Lima (Central), Rousculp.
Ashland County. — Ashland, Clear Creek,
JeromesviUe, Nankin, Loudonville, Polk, Sulli-
van.
A HISTORY OF THE
Ashtabula County. — Ashtabula, G-eneva, East
Trambull, Hartsgrove, Orwell, Penn Line, Rock
Creek, Tminbull, Trumbull Center.
Athens County. — Athens, Beech Grove,
Chauncey, Glouster, Green's Run, Hooper's
Ridge, Jerseyville, Luhrig, New Marshfield, Mill-
field, Nelsonville, Taylor's Ridge, Trimble.
Auglaize County. — St. Mary's, Uniopolis.
Belmont County. — Barnesville, Bellaire, Bel-
mont, Belmont Ridge, Bend Fork, Bethesda, Bos-
ton, Captina, Centerville, Chestnut Level, Dover,
East Richland, Paynes Corners, Egypt, Flushing,
Glencoe, Grand View, Hendrysburg, Hunter,
Martins Perry, Morristown, Rehoboth, Somerton,
Shadyside, Washington, Uniontown, St. Joe.
Brown County. — Georgetown, Hamersville,
Liberty Chapel, Macon, Mt. Orab, Ripley, Sar-
dinia, Russellville.
Butler County. — Hamilton (First), Hamilton
( Lindenwald ) , Macedonia.
Carroll County. — Augusta, Berea, Malvern,
Mt. Olivet, New Harrisburg.
Clark County. — Springfield, Springfield (Col-
ored).
Clermont County. — Bethel, Chilo, Felicity,
Lerado, Monterey, Modest, Mulberry, Moscow,
New Richmond, Rural, Withamsville.
Clinton County. — Blanchester, Macedonia,
Martinsville, New Antioch, New Vienna, Sabina,
Wilmington (First), Wilmington (Walnut St).
Columbiana County. — Columbiana, East Fair-
field, East Liverpool (First), East Liverpool
(Second), East Palestine, Hanoverton, Kensing-
ton, Lisbon, New Alexander, New Garden,
Rogers, St. Clair, Salem, Salineville, Wellsville
(First).
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Coshocton County. — Coshocton, Spring Moun-
tain, Tiverton, Walhonding.
Crawford County. — Bncyrus, ' Galion.
Cuyahoga County. — Bedford, Chagrin Falls;
Cleveland: Broadway, Crawford Road, Dunham
Avenne, Enclid Avenue, Franklin Circle, Glen-
ville, Highland Avenue, West Boulevard, Miles
Avenue, Collinwood, Lakewood; North Eoyalton,
Solon, Glen Willow.
Darke County. — Burkettsville, Carnahan,
Greenville, Palestine, Yorkshire.
Defiance County. — Farmer Center, Hicksville,
Sherwood, West Milford.
Delaware County. — Center Village.
Erie County. — Sandusky.
Fairfield County. — Lancaster, Violet Chapel.
Fayette County. — Pleasant View, Washing-
ton C. H.
Franklin County. — Columbus: Broad Street,
West Fourth Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Wilson
Avenue, South, Linden Heights, East, Hill Top,
Indianola.
Fulton County. — Delta, East Chesterfield,
Fayette, Franklin, Inlet, Lyons, Tedrow, Wau-
seon, Winameg.
Geauga County. — Auburn, Chardon, Chester-
land, Fowlers Mills, Montville, Thompson.
Green County. — Bowersville, Grape Grove,
Ferry, Gladstone, Jamestown, Xenia.
Guernsey County. — Bates Hill, Byesville,
Cambridge, Creighton, Harmony, Quaker City.
Hamilton County. — Carthage ; Cincinnati :
Central, Eastern, Camp Washington, Fairmount
Central, Evanston, Columbia, Richmond, North
Side, Walnut Hills; Harrison, Madisonville,
Miami, Mt. Healthy, Norwood, White Oak; Cin-
285
A HISTORY OF THE
cinnati (Colored) : College Hill, Clark Street,
Walnut Hills, Lockland, Kenyon Avenue, Oxford.
Hancock County. — Bethel, Findlay (First),
Findlay (Second), McComb.
Hardin County. — Ada, Blanchard River, Dun-
kirk, Mt. Victory, Kenton, McGuffey, Reeds,
Ridgeway.
Harrison County. — Hopedale, Tippecanoe,
Nottingham, Tappan.
Henry County. — Malinta.
Highland County. — Buford, Danville, Fair-
view, Green£eld, Hillsboro, Lynchburg, Mt.
Olive, Mt. Zion, Mt. Washington, Mowrystown,
Pricetown, Sugartree Ridge, South Liberty,
Union.
Holmes County. — Glenmont, Hohnesville,
Killbuck, Millersburg, Nashville, Ripley, Union
Grove, Welcome.
Hocking County. — Carbon Hill.
Huron County. — Greenwich, North Fairfield,
Norwalk, Boughtonville.
Jackson County. — Byer, Four Mile, Jackson,
Ray.
Jefferson County. — Bergholz, Brilliant, Ham-
mondsville, Irondale, New Somerset, Phillips,
Plum Run, Smithfield, Steubenville (First), Steu-
benville (Second), Toronto, Unionport.
Knox County. — Bell, Bladensburg, Center-
burg, Danville, Dennis, Howard, Grove, Martins-
burg, Messiah, Millwood, Milwood (First), Mt.
Vernon, Palmyra, Waterford, Brink Plaven.
Lake County. — Mentor, Mentor Plains, Paines-
ville. Perry, Willoughby.
Lawrence County. — Athalia, Bend Fork, Iron-
ton, Jep, Chesapeake.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Licking County. — Croton, Eden, Fallsburg,
Hebron; Newark, North Side, West Side; Perry-
ton, Rocky Fork, Utica, York Street.
Logan County. — Belle Center, Bellefontaine,
Big Springs, East Liberty, Middleburg, Rush-
sylvania. Rush Creek, West Mansfield.
Lorain County. — Elyria, Fields, Kipton, La
Porte, Lorain, North Eaton, Wellington.
Lucas County. — Toledo: Central, Norwood,
East, South ; White House.
Mahoning County. — Austintown, Canfield,
Greenford, North Jackson, Lowellville, Sebring;
Youngstown: Central, First, Hillman Street.
Marion County. — Kirkpatrick, Martel, Marion
(First), Marion, Caledonia.
Medina County. — Brunswick, East Granger,
Hinckley, Medina, Wadsworth, Remsen Corners.
Meigs County. — Adams Mills, Bear Wallow,
Bedford (First), Bedford (Second), Bradford,
Danville, Dexter, Midway, Long Bottom, Middle-
port, Orange, Reedsville, Rockville, Tuppers
Plains, Zion, Rutland.
Miami County. — Fidelity, Piqua.
Mercer County. — Ft. Recovery, Montezuma.
Morgan County. — Antioch, Bishopville, Dea-
vertown. East Branch, Fairview, Malta, McCon-
nelsville, Meigs, Mountville, Pennsville, Stock-
port, Triadelphia, Tabor, Wolf Creek.
Monroe County. — Antioch, Beallsville, Calais,
Cameron, Clarington, Fair Pleasant, Garysville,
Goudy, Jackson Ridge, Malaga, Rich Fork,
Salem, Stafford, Woodsfield.
Montgomery County. — Dayton: Central, West
Side, Santa Clara, East.
Morrow County. — Pleasant Grove, Perry.
19 287
A raSTORY OF THE
Muskingum Coimty. — Frazeysbnrg, Roseville,
Zanesville.
Nolle County.— QB\diWQ\\ High Hill, Mt.
Ephraim, Olive Green, Palestine, Point Pleasant,
Salt Run, Summerfield.
Ottawa County. — Elmore, Genoa, Oak Har-
bor.
Paulding County. — Bronghton, Grover Hill,
Melrose, Payne, Paulding.
Perry County. — Corning, Crooksville, Hem-
lock, Mt. Perry, New Lexington, New Straits-
ville, Shawnee.
Pickaway County. — Derby, New Holland.
Pike County. — Victor.
Portage County. — Aurora, Deerfield, Diamond,
Edinburg, Garrettsville, Hiram, Kent, Mantua
Station, Mantua Center, Randolph, Ravenna,
Shalersville, Souls Corners.
Preble County. — Campbellstown, Eaton, New
Paris.
Putnam County. — Forest Grove, Leipsic, Pan-
dora, Pleasant Grove, West Belmore.
Richland County. — Adario, Bellville, Bethany
Chapel, Csesarea, Lexington, Lucas, Mansfield,
Shenandoah, Shelby.
Ross County. — Chillicothe, Sugar Run.
Sandusky County. — Clyde, Gibsonburg, San-
dusky.
Scioto County. — New Boston, Portsmouth
(First), Portsmouth (Grandview), Sciotoville.
Seneca County. — Fostoria, Tiffin.
Shelby County. — Jackson Center, Port Jeffer-
son, Sidney.
Stark County. — Alliance, Canton, Indian Run,
Marlboro, Massillon, Minerva, New Baltimore,
New Berlin, Sparta, Union Hill.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Summit County. — Akron: High, East Market,
North Hill, South, Wabash Avenue; Barberton,
Clinton, Cuyahoga Falls, Everett, Inland, Man-
chester, Mogadore, Steeles Comers, Ghent, Stow,
West Richfield.
Trumbull County. — Braceville, Brookfield,
Champion, Cortland, East Farmington, Fowler,
Girard, Greensburg, Hartford, Howland, Hub-
bard, Hubbard (North), Lordstown, Mecca, Min-
eral Ridge, Newton Falls, Niles, North Bloom-
field, North Bristol, Southington, West Bazetta,
Warren (Central), Warren (Second).
Tuscarawas County. — Dundee, New Philadel-
phia, Uhrichsville, Dennison.
Union County. — Mill Creek, Richwood, Union.
Van Wert County. — Van Wert.
Vinton County. — Allenville, Air Line, Bethel,
Eagle Chapel, McArthur, Radcliff, Union.
Warren County. — Lebanon, Waynesville.
Washington County. — Beverly, Coal Run, Dal-
zell, Fairfield, Lowell, Marietta, Mile Run, Reno,
Fullerton (Union Chapel), Warner, West Mari-
etta, Winget Run.
Wayne County. — Blachleyville, Fredericks-
burg, Orrville, Shreve, Wooster.
Williams County. — Bryan, Edgerton, Edon,
Lick Creek, Montpelier, West Unity.
Wood County. — Bowling Green, Cygnet, Cus-
tar, Eagleville, Jerry City, Milton Center, Mun-
gen, North Baltimore, Prairie Depot, Rudolph,
Weston, North Weston, West Belmore.
A HISTORY OF THE
George F. Crites T. Alfred Fleming C. A. Freer
O. G. Hertzog S. E. Brewster
OHIO BESTOEATION
290
Homer T. Messick
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXXI
SUNDAY SCHOOLS IN OHIO
'T'HE Sunday school is only modern in form.
The principle is recognized in the Old Testa-
ment. The record in Deuteronomy (chap. 6) says:
''These words which I command thee this day
shall be in thine heart, and thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thy house, ajid when
thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest
down, and when thou risest up." During the
first centuries of the church, catechetical schools
were instituted for the young. Luther and Knox
and Wesley, and all the reformers, called atten-
tion to educating the children,
Ludwig Hecker, in Pennsylvania, fifty years
before the time of Robert Raikes, started some
Sunday schools. The modern school, however,
grew out of the efforts of Raikes to teach the
young how to read, that they might become ac-
quainted with the Scriptures. At first they had
paid teachers for instructing poor children; then
volunteer teachers ; then other than poor children
joined in the work; then older persons became
interested, and now the school is the church at
work systematically studying and teaching the
Scriptures.
291
A HISTORY OF THE
Jesns says, ''Teach all nations," and, as chil-
dren are a part of the nations, it is the best
time to teach them when they are young and in
the formative period. "As the twig is bent, the
tree is inclined." History shows that the major-
ity of people come to Christ in their young years.
The disciples of Christ in Ohio name New Lis-
bon, Columbiana County, as the second church
listed in their world-wide movement for the
restoration of the New Testament Christianity.
That church was enrolled in 1827 by Walter
Scott. Soon the churches began to multiply. At
first they did not take kindly to Sunday schools.
At that time the schools were used by the sects
in teaching their peculiar tenets, and the dis-
ciples were prejudiced against them. The new
churches had to maintain their own existence,
and their Lord's Day meetings partly took on
the form of Scripture teaching, and special
schools for the young had to come in later in
their history. Li that early period, old and young
disciples each carried a copy of the Scriptures
and studied the word of God.
The pioneer Lathrop Cooley is authority for
the statement that the school now known as the
Bible school of the Franklin Circle Church -of
Christ of Cleveland was the first school among
the disciples in Ohio. It was started soon after
1844. Some of the leaders of the Restoration
movement called a convention to meet at Brace-
ville, Trumbull County, in 1846, to consider the ad-
visability of starting schools in all the churches.
The convention was well attended and decided to
encourage the churches to start schools. As there
was much criticism oiat the literature circulated
in the denominational schools of that day, the
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
convention recommended the preparation of suit-
able library books for the proposed Sunday
schools. D. S. Burnet was selected to write and
edit books for an appropriate library. In har-
mony with this arrangement, in 1856 a library of
fifty volumes was published, and known as the
Burnet Library. The preface of the first volume
of the library has this statement: ''This book is
the first of a series we design preparing for a
Sunday-school library. We have looked over the
various libraries extant with much care and in-
terest, and the result of our research is a solemn
conviction that out of the multitude of books that
have been prepared for Sunday schools, there is
perhaps not one that a Christian parent can put
into the hands of a child with approbation."
The Burnet Library was adopted and used by
many of the schools that maintained libraries in
that early day. The books are a great im-
provement over the goody-goody books on the
life and death of some boy or girl of saintly at-
tainments, that circulated in sectarian schools.
The Burnet books treat of Bible characters and
the child-life of Jesus, the boyhood of King
David, Americans in Jerusalem (or the Barclay
Mission), plants and trees of Scripture, the
goodness of God, searching the Scriptures, and
subjects that ennoble character, all adapted to
interest the young in history, science and Scrip-
ture subjects.
The churches, however, did not all proceed to
start Sunday schools, or, as we now call them,
"Bible schools." The young people sometimes
started and maintained schools. Often this was
done independent of the older members and
officers of the church. For years the schools
2a3
A HISTORY OF THE
went on without any special relation to the
churches. The churches made no provision for
them in officers or teachers, or special places for
meetings, or equipments. Gradually the schools
worked their way into the graces of the churches,
and they not only tolerated them, but gave them
encouragement. They allowed the houses to be
divided by curtains to aid in school management.
Then they began to build, taking the interests of
the school into consideration, till finally some of
the meeting-houses have four, ten, or even
twenty, rooms for classes and departments of the
school.
In 1852 the Ohio Christian Missionary Soci-
ety was formed. It was made up of volunteer
disciples of Christ. Their purpose was to co-
operate with one another to enlarge the kingdom
of heaven. They did not propose to lord it over
the churches, but to lead them into larger co-
operative missionary work in the State.
In 1862, the churches having been somewhat
united in mission work, in planting new churches
and strengthening the weak ones, in the annual
oonvention at Wooster attention was called to
Sunday schools as a means of propagating the
gospel. The Committee on Order of Business
reported the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the church having a well-
regulated and efficient Sunday school is furnished
with the means of perpetuating the gospeL"
The record of the convention says: ''Perti-
nent and impressive remarks were made by Hurl-
but, Burnet, Begg, Errett, Henry, Wm. Hayden,
Brown, Way, France and others." The record
then declares that ''the discussion of this highly
important subject can not be recorded, as would
294
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
be well, for a wider benefit. Nothing could be
more instructive and edifying or more in season,
in prompting and guiding the energies of all the
members of the church of Christ in their mis-
sionary character. In the midst of this profitable
investigation Bro. Burnet moved that the subject
of this resolution be referred to a select com-
mittee of three brethren, with instruction to re-
port as early as possible in this meeting. The
Chair appointed D. S. Burnet, J. M. Henry and
A. S. Hayden."
The next day D. S. Burnet presented the fol-
lowing report, which was adopted:
''Your committee to whom you have been
pleased to commit the resolution of the Commit-
tee on Order of Business on the subject of
Sunday schools beg to report as a substitute the
following resolution:
''Resolved, That the marked success awarded
to our Sunday schools encourages us to foster
this agency for recruiting the churches of Christ
with intelligent and disciplined young Christians,
and that we earnestly commend the establishment
of such schools in every available neighborhood
as a valuable means of benefiting both the church
and the world."
In 1863 there were about twenty-five thousand
members in the church of Christ in Ohio. No
statistics are given as to Sunday schools. At
that time the Bedford Church was one of the
largest and strongest churches in the State.
The Sunday school of that church was the first
to make systematic offerings for missionary-
work. R. R. Sloan, secretary of the Ohio Chris-
tion Missionary Society, in reporting the Bed-
ford school, says: ''Blank notes are furnished,
295
A HISTORY OF THE
which the pupils fill in and sign at option, oblig-
ing them to pay small smns monthly for mis-
sionary uses. This is well. It inculcates a mis-
sionary spirit. It inures to system, and trains
the child to give ere habits of penury have steeled
his soul."
The Bedford school offering that year was
$7.50. The school at Collamer gave $3.00, and
the school at Eighth and Walnut, Cincinnati,
gave $10.00 to make Elder R. Graham a life
member of the O. C. M. S. The Cincinnati school
at that time was the largest in the State. The
next year fourteen schools made offerings for
Ohio missions.
In 1865 the Ohio Christian Missionary Soci-
ety authorized the employing of a Sunday-school
evangelist. The Board of Managers made per-
sistent effort to employ one, without success.
The managers in the convention of 1866 mention
the difficulties in the appointment of such an
agent. ^'His labors would be first and chiefly
devoted to the organization of new schools. They
could not compensate his labors. The veiy work,
if successful, would, in an outlay for library and
necessary expenses, impose upon them all the
burden they could bear. This would be true of
schools already organized." R. M. Bishop, the
president of the society offered to make up every
deficiency in the evangelist's salary. It was evi-
dent that the entire burden would fall upon him,
and the managers were not willing thus to tax
his generosity. The society authorized President
Bishop to furnish or procure a tract upon the
proper organization and management of the Sun-
day school, for general distribution among the
churches of Ohio. The corresponding secretary
296
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
of the 0. C. M. S. was authorized to collect the
statistics of the schools and also to raise means
to employ a Sunday-school evangelist. That year
only sixty schools reported, and they had only
3,150 pupils in regrdar attendance. These schools
were usually suspended during the winter. After
that period the schools gradually became ''ever-
green" or all-the-year schools.
Before tracing the history of the Ohio schools
further it may be well to state something of the
character of the early schools. The buildings —
consisting of one room — were poorly fitted for
grading the schools. The pupils, if classified at
all, were arranged by age or mutual friendships
rather than by attainments. Some teachers of
natural ability kept their classes well filled.
Many teachers were irregular in attendance, and
this led to irregular attendance of scholars. The
singing was by rote, following a leader. Instru-
mental music was gradually introduced to aid
the singing, and in this way instruments were
ultimately used in the church worship. Uniform
lessons were not used, but scholars recited or
read the Scriptures. Sometimes a bright pupil
would take nearly all the time in reciting 150
verses, and the other scholars were neglected.
No teachers' meetings were held, and no general
reviews, and no maps or blackboard or other
helps were used.
Sometimes talking men happened along and
would be asked to say something, and a case is
mentioned where such a talker came before the
school and said: ''Children, what shall I say
to you?" Of course the children knew that such
a man had nothing of importance to offer, and a
little girl raised her hand and said. "Thay
297
A HISTORY OF THE
amen and thit down." On another occasion the
superintendent asked the school what the talker
said last Sunday. A girl rose and, folding her
hands right and left, declared: ''He talked and
he talked, but didn't say much of anything." In
another instance a burly, big-voiced man gruffly
asked the little ones, "Who made the world?"
No response came ; again in a louder and harsher
manner he emphasized the question, "I say, chil-
dren, who made the world?" A little boy, fear-
fully frightened, said: ''I did, but I will never
do it again."
The day of crude methods has passed away.
Soon there came a crisis and new era to the Bible
school in Ohio. Another chapter will set forth
the progressive nature of the new era.
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXXII
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CRISIS
A CRISIS in the Sunday school in Ohio came
in 1868. Schools had been multiplying.
Prejudice against evangelizing the young had
subsided. R. M. Bishop, D. S. Burnet, A. S.
Hayden and others had championed the plea in
behalf of instructing the young. At Mt. Vernon
was the first anniversary of the Ohio Christian
Sunday School Association. The second article
of the constitution read as follows:
**The object of this Association shall be to
enlist the entire Christian brotherhood of the
State in earnest effort to promote the cause of
Sunday schools; and for this purpose, to secure,
as far as possible, the formation of auxiliary
associations throughout the State, to co-operate
with the Association in this great work." Of-
ficers and a board of managers were chosen. L.
L. Carpenter was elected president, and H. Ger-
ould, secretary. R. Moffett, Isaac Errett, F. E.
Udall, R. M. Bishop, J. F. Wright and others
took part in this Association, as managers. The
Association organized auxiliary societies in the
auxiliary districts of the Ohio Christian Mission-
ary Society. The missionary districts had been
organized under the laborious work of Secretary
R. R. Sloan; effort had been made to attach the
Sunday-school work to the operation of the Mis-
299
A HISTORY OF THE
sionary Society. In 1869 Robert Moffett was
elected corresponding secretary of the 0. C. M.
S. The missionary districts had been formed,
and as the Sunday School Association adapted
their work to these divisions of the State, in
time it was considered wise and practicable to
merge the two associations into one large move-
ment.
So in 1874, after six years of successful super-
vision of the school work, it was merged into the
Ohio Christian Missionary Society. During these
six years much progress was made in the number
and efficiency of the schools. F. M. Green had
increased. Conventions were held to magnify
prepared a book on school management. Teach-
ers' meetings were multiplied. School supplies
and improve the schools. After this union of the
two societies a missionary convention was held
annually, and a semi-annual convention in each
district was devoted to the interests of the Sun-
day school.
During the six years of the Sunday School
Association the schools began to co-operate with
the general Sunday School Association in Ohio,
which co-operated with a national association.
The last report of the Sunday-school Board of
Managers says:
"We have learned that we ought to take hold
of hands in this great business of God. We
have learned that the Sunday school is for all,
and not simply for little children. We have
learned that the true Sunday-school idea con-
flicts with no good thing; that it does not lessen
in the slightest degree parental responsibility,
and, as far as the church is concerned, it is not,
neither can it be, across the path of its true
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
progress. If we do find, at times, the school and
the church exhibiting the characteristics of
rivals, may we not find the explanation in this
sentence: 'The church neglected to do its duty
and has forced individual men and women to a
life of inactivity or else to an independent
action'? Where the church does its whole duty
in the premises, there never can be a conflict
between them, for the whole church will be in the
Bible school and therefore will not contest its own
work. ' '
It also stated that **the field is the widest,
whitest, noblest and most remunerative field ever
opened, in the providence of God, for sanctified
Christian effort. When this is realized, the
slowness of the snail will give way to the swift-
ness of the eagle, and the weakness of the worm
to the lion's strength."
At that time (1872) there were in our 215
Ohio Sunday schools reporting 17,680 pupils; in
the libraries, 10,601 volumes, and the annual cost
of the schools was $7,296. They gave for mis-
sionary purposes $243. There were estimated
to be 125 schools that made no report. In 1882
the schools gave $600 for Foreign Missions. In-
creased attention was given to the Sunday-school
work in the District and State Conventions.
In 1879 an interstate Sunday-school conven-
tion with Indiana was held at Lima, O. L. L.
Carpenter, having moved to Indiana, was presi-
dent pro tern, for Indiana. Before this time (in
1877) a similar convention had been held in
Union City, Ind.
In 1884, Ohio Sunday schools contributed to
the Foreign Society $6,014. At that time there
were 28,924 pupils and teachers in the schools.
301
A HISTORY OF THE
Dnring the next ten years, np to 1894, iinder the
direction of Alanson Wilcox, as corresponding
secretary of the Ohio Christian Missionary Soci-
ety, the schools increased to 49,652 scholars and
6,043 teachers and officers, or a total of 55,695,
an increase of ninety-two per cent, in ten years.
In 1872 the International Uniform Sunday-
school Lessons were introduced. This was a
great advance on the haphazard lesson then used
in the schools. They were gradually introduced
into our Ohio schools. On the general committee
to arrange the International course of study was
Isaac Errett, till his death. And then B. B. Tyler
served for many years. The course was so ar-
ranged that in seven years a mountain-top series
of lessons would go through the Bible. The
schools have gone through seven of these series
of lessons. The Standard Publishing Company
prepared lesson helps in leaflets, quarterlies and
annuals unexcelled by any publishing-house. This
company also published a variety of papers
adapted to old and young, and this class of liter-
ature has superseded the old system of libraries.
This company took advanced positions on
teacher-training and graded schools. It prepared
and sent out literature and specially qualified lec-
turers on Sunday-school work. This company
called and helped school Herbert Moninger for
the greatest work any one man has done for
Teacher Training and Bible Study. He went
away at the zenith of his usefulness, in 1911,
at the age of thirty-five years.
Under wise management, and the publicity
given the schools, they increased in numbers and
efficiency. Up to 1911 the schools increased to
nearly six hundred and a number of schools have
302
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
over five hnndred in attendance each Lord 's Day.
The Canton school enrolls three thousand, and is
unexcelled in this country. In Canton, by the
co-operation of The Standard Publishing Com-
pany, a School of Methods has been introduced
which bids fair to be far-reaching in usefulness.
The Nelsonville school has received a compli-
mentary letter from the President of the United
States and has been visited by the Governor of
Ohio. So the Ohio schools are leading in repu-
tation and influence.
The schools give annually thousands of dol-
lars to the Foreign Christian Missionary Society,
to Home Missions and benevolences. Many of
the schools are graded and maintain Cradle Roll
and Home Class Departments. It is well for the
present and future generations to know about the
aims of the schools in 1911.
Fbont Rank Standaed fob 1911
1. Graded. Six departments, with a superin-
tendent of each: Cradle Roll, Primary, Junior,
Intermediate, Adult, Home. A superintendent or
secretary of classification. An annual promotion
day. Supplemental or graded lessons in the
Primary, Junior and Intermediate departments.
2. Teacher Training. A class studying either
the first or advanced course.
3. Organized Classes. The International Cer-
tificate of Recognition for all classes whose mem-
bers are over sixteen years of age.
4. Bibles. At least fifty per cent, of the en-
rollment owning Bibles or New Testaments. At
least fifty per cent, of the average attendance
using the Bible or New Testament in the school.
5. Workers' Conference. A regular workers'
20 303
A HISTORY OF THE
conference of the ofificers and teachers, meeting
either weekly or monthly.
6. Missions. A Missionary Committee, or
secretary of missions, promoting missionary edu-
cation and the use of missionary prayer topics.
Offering from the school to our State Bible-school
work, the American Christian Missionary Soci-
ety, Foreign Missions and benevolences.
This program is a scientific and marvelous
advance on the crude schools of olden times.
Many of the schools are not up to these high
ideals in their organization and management and
attainments. If one shoots at the sun, his arrow
will go higher than when he only aims at a sun-
flower. The schools are marching on to greater
efficiency. Under the management in late years
of S. H. Bartlett, H. Newton Miller and I. J.
Cahill as secretaries of the O. C. M. S.; the evan-
gelist, L. I. Mercer, and L. L. Faris, M. C. Settle
and Wilford H. McLain as State superintendents,
impetus has been given to the school work, and
when the teachers and older students are fully
instructed as to the importance of Lord's Day
worship and forsake not to assemble with the
saints and fail not to remember the Lord's death
on the first day of the week, then indeed will
the school and church truly rejoice together.
Leaders in the church and school can bring round
such glorious results.
Our Bible schools, in Ohio report in 1916,
show: Forty-three schools, with enrollment of
500 or over each. Of these, 21 have enrollment
of 500 to 700 ; 10 have an enrollment of from 700
to 1,000, and 12 have enrollment of 1,000 or over.
804
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
XXXIII
CANTON AND COLUMBUS
The World's Labgbst Sunday School, Cai^ton, 0.
YEAES ago people went to Canton to see the
President, says a correspondent of the Cleve-
land Leader. Now they go to see P. H. Wel-
shimer, the organizer of the world's largest Sun-
day school.
It was a great sight to see McKinley conduct
the Presidential campaign from the front porch
of his simple cottage home, but it is no less a
sight to see "Welshimer's Sunday school," so
called, in action.
One noted churchman visited the school re-
cently and attempted to describe it to his congre-
gation when he returned home. ''No one knew I
was coming," he said, "but there was the Bible
school just the same, about t\^enty-eight hundred
on a hot Sunday morning when the thermometer
was soaring and the vacation bug boring and the
Sunday sleeper snoring; there they were, on the
job; every department going at full pressure;
main school and Intermediate, Primary and kin-
dergarten; classes in the doorway, on the stairs,
outside under the trees, up under the eaves, down
in the cellar, hanging out the windows, clinging
to the roofs, and coming down the chimneys, in
the office and on the rostrum, in the organ loft
and in the tonneau of a big red touring-car
hitched at the curb."
305
A HISTORY OF THE
And he was nearly right. The First Christian
Church is a sqnare-shaped building out of all
proportion to the average church one sees, and
has accommodations for a Sunday school of
forty-five hundred, yet the overflow frequently
sends classes into the doorways and out under
the trees.
When the school is in action, classes appear
to be everywhere, yet there is no confusion.
Every class has its allotted space and its corps of
teachers. Every class is perfectly organized, and
each of the five separate departments operates
independently of every other, each having its
orchestra or piano, choirmaster, superintendent,
teachers and such.
The whole assemblage suggests a well-trained
army studying the Bible. While the classes are
in session, messengers, officials and aides-de-camp
fly about on orderly errands. No one appears to
beat the air uncertainly. Every department
seems to be connected with a central force.
It takes little more than a cursory glance to
show that Mr. Welshimer is that central force.
Pearl was the name* given him by his mother, but
it illy fits his rugged masculinity and general
show of strength. He is a gem, though, at direct-
ing a church organization. Tall, broad-shouldered
and blonde instead of the usual deliberateness
found in physically big men, he overflows with
nervous energy. He occupies the pulpit during
the school session and supervises over all. Under
his direct charge is a m ix ed class of eighteen
hundred men and women, a huge Bible school in
itself if comparison were to be made with other
schools.
Hundreds go to Canton to get pointers on
306
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Sunday-school organization. Mr. Welsh imer
gives a simple, direct instruction: ''Practice
business methods in your school," he says.
Business methods are practiced at the First
Christian Church. On a gilt sign nailed on the
door to the anteroom of Mr. Welshimer's suite
in the church are two words, "Church Office."
These words are the key to the secret of the
growth of the Sunday school and church.
The anteroom is an office, really and truly.
Inside, typewriters rattle incessantly; there are
young women clerks at neat desks; steel-letter
and card-index file-cases; telephones on every
desk; automatic telegraph call-boxes. Mr. Wel-
shimer has his study up a flight of stairs in a
corner of the church balcony, but he calls that
room an office too.
*'I consider myself a business man rather
than a professional man," this remarkable
church leader says. ''Preachers have long been
saying to the people, 'Put religion in your busi-
ness, ' but the people have answered back, saying,
'Put business in your religion,' I have tried my
best to abide by this answer. I sat down and
studied the matter of operating a church just as
I believed a business man would study the prob-
lems of operating a department store or an in-
surance agency. I now have what I think a busi-
ness man would call a 'good organization.' I
am still constantly on the lookout for new ideas,
new members and new workers, .however. Some
day a larger Sunday school than ours may be
developed, but I believe it will be far in the
future. We have never failed to make healthy
gains each year. Canton is growing rapidly and
we will not lag behind."
307
A HISTORY OF THE
The First Christian Church twelve years ago
was one of the smallest of the small. Mr. Wel-
shimer went there at that time at the age of
twenty-eight, with only fonr years' experience
in a church at Millersburg, C, after he had left
Hiram College. The church enrollment was less
than two hundred and the Sunday school was
nothing at all.
By gradual steps the growth was effected.
Now the church has an enrollment of thirty-five
hundred and the Sunday school an enrollment of
six thousand. In the first six months of 1914 the
average weekly attendance at the Sunday school
was 2,898. No comparison can be made between
this school and the average Sunday school.
The two schools coming nearest to this Can-
ton school, organized and operated in a city of
sixty thousand people, are the famous school in
a Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, over
which John Wanamaker, the noted merchant, has
been superintendent for the last fifteen years,
and the Frank L. Brown school of the Bushwick
Avenue Methodist Church of Brooklyn.
Mr. Welshimer says his school has grown
rapidly because most of the energy of the church
is concentrated on the Sunday school. His
theory is that the Sunday school is the greatest
evangelistic force in existence. Statistics have
been compiled by him shomng that 85 per cent.
of church-members were recruited from the ranks
of the Sunday school. He says people can be
led to a Sunday school much more easily than
they can be to a church. In a church the pastor
does all the talking. The church-members have
no ''comeback." In the Sunday school there is
open discussion. Questions can be asked and
308
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
argued. Bible questions can be discussed free
of denominational theories.
In the First Christian Church the pastor is
the leader of the school. He says one big mis-
take being made is where pastors permit
their Sunday schools to slip away from them
into the hands of a superintendent.
''There was a time," he says, ''when the min-
ister felt that his chief duties were to preach
on Lord's Days, call on the sick, attend prayer-
meetings, and be entertained in the homes of
his people. That was when Bible-school work
was in its infancy. Many a minister has con-
sidered the work of the Bible school beneath his
notice. It has been the place for a few pious old
men and the women and children. Occasionally
a minister is found whose entire relationship to
the school consists in dropping in ten minutes
before dismissal and 'smiling upon the school.'
But the preacher who does the greatest work,
and whose influence will count in the teaching of
the Word and the building of character — who
will have a great school to be used as a field
to be reaped, then a force to be worked — will
need to give something else besides smiles."
The entire city is considered the field of
endeavor for the First Christian Church Bible
school. Babies are enrolled in the school as
soon as born; new families moving into the city
are recruited or at least sought as recruits, and
"landed" nine times out of ten unless already
affiliated with some other church or Sunday
school.
The babies are put on a "Cradle Roll," and
watched closely until old enough to commence
Bible studies. A "Hopeful List" is also kept.
309
A HISTORY OF THE
Names are added to this list by a corps of one
thousand workers well trained and organized,
and from the list new members are constantly
being added to the school.
"We have a record for bringing new families
of the city into our Bible school within an aver-
age of two weeks," says Mr. Welshimer. "Our
system is like this :
"As soon as any one moves into our city we
are notified, because we have a committee that
keeps tab on all grocery stores and places of
business where new families are certain to put
in an appearance early after their arrival.
"I immediately set my stenographers to
work. The new family is given space on a card
that goes into our index files at once. Then a
stenographer calls up twelve members of the
church living near the new family, and instructs
them to make calls. Those twelve church-members
call separately and extend invitations to our Sun-
day school. If the invitation is accepted, the new
family is brought to the school and a tip is given
the reception committee that is always on duty
at the church. The new people are introduced all
round and made to feel at home. If the first
twelve callers should fail to get the new family
into the school, we send around another twelve.
Those failing, I send my assistant pastor, who is
a very tactful and energetic young woman. I
keep her busy in that sort of work. She is a
kind of a 'walking delegate' of the church.
Many times I make new calls on new families
myself. Personal contact with the people is
always advantageous."
In the handling of the Cradle Roll is another
instance of the enterprise of this church.
310
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
"I never fail to get a report on the birth of
a child in the families of any of our church or
Sunday-school members," Mr. Welshimer says.
''I immediately notify the superintendent of the
Cradle Roll.
''There are twelve workers under that super-
intendent, and each of them makes from four to
six calls per year on parents of every child on
the Roll. A new baby receives a call from the
entire corps, one at a time, as soon after birth as
possible. Literature on how to care for babies is
tendered, as well as a few simple presents. The
'child is immediately registered on our files with
all sorts of information about it and its parents.
Thereafter we keep track of the child, sending
presents and making calls on its birthdays and
such. When it grows old enough it naturally
becomes a member of our Sunday school. On
June 1, 1914, we had 587 names on our Cradle
RoU."
Special days, or red-letter days, are con-
stantly being held in the school to keep interest
awake. Printed invitations to these meetings
are usually sent through the mails. Regular
advertisements appear in the daily newspapers
for the church and Sunday school. Every time
a member of the school misses a Sunday a score
of school workers are on his or her heels at once.
Why the absence*? Sick? Out of town? Any of
the family sick I A report on a printed form is
made of the case and passed along to the proper
committees for adjustment. Lessons and liter-
ature are carried to absent ones so they will not
get behind in their work.
The church and the school has each its own
charity organization, its own library, its own
311
A HISTORY OF THE
clubs. The Sunday school has broken practically
all the Sunday-school records ever kept.
Its mixed class of eighteen hundred taught by
Mr. Welshimer is the largest class of its land in
the world. There is a man's Bible class in the
school, with an enrollment of six hundred and
an average attendance of about five hundred,
which is perhaps the most remarkable feature
of the whole school. Many business men are in
this class, but 95 per cent, are men from the
factories and the shops. Charles Sala, a manu-
facturer, is its teacher.
The school has set new records for attend-
ance at three different times. In 1913 it held the
world's record for a single day's attendance,
with 4,814. June 21, 1914, this figure was moved
up to 5,433. June 28, 1914, the latest world's
record of 7,716 was established, and on that Sun-
day the thermometer in Canton reached 90 de-
grees before noon.
The above record was from the Cleveland
Leader on Sunday, July 12, 1914.
The reports of the Bible schools in Ohio in
1916 show: Forty- three schools with an enroll-
ment, each, of 500 or over. Of these, 21 have an
enrollment of from 500 to 700 ; 10 have an enroll-
ment of from 700 to 1,000 ; 12 have an enrollment
of 1,000 or over.
Columbus
On the 18th day of June, 1871, T. D. Gfirvin
organized the church in Columbus. Twenty-nine
members were received by commendation, and
seven by confession and baptism, making thirty-
six in all. They raised, during the year, $8,700,
an average of $87 to the member.
312
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
In January, 1872, they purchased a lot on the
corner of Jay and Third Streets. On this they
erected a small frame building, Wm. Williams
doing nearly all the work with his own hands.
In 1880 a commodious brick structure was
At the Ohio C. M. S. Convention m 1872,
Isaac Errett, the president, urged reasons for
the society to co-operate in building up the cause
at Columbus. ''It is the capital of the State,
and as such we aU have an interest in being rep-
resented there. As a geographical, political and
social center, it has facilities for reaching out
over the State with moral and religious influ-
ences such as belong to no other city in the
State."
The 0. C. M. S. encouraged the brethren in
the State to aid Bro. T. D. Garvin in his solici-
tation for Columbus, and in all they gave several
thousand dollars to aid the work in the capital
city.
In 1903, W. S. Priest was minister for the
church, and in 1904 they sold the Third Street
property and purchased a lot at Twenty-first and
Broad Streets, and built a model structure cost-
ing $55,000, and this was dedicated in April,
1907.
The growth has been commendable. There
are now ten churches of Christ in the city:
1. Broad Street. — MaxweU Hall, minister.
2. Chicago Avenue. — W. W. Carter.
3. East Columbus. — J. H. Garvin.
4. Furnace Street (S. S.).
5. Hilltop.— T. N. Plunkett.
6. Indianola. — Willard A. Guy.
7. Linden Heights. — W. A. Roush.
313
A HISTORY OF THE
8. South Columbus.— R. F. Strickler.
9. West Fourth Avenue. — T. L. Lowe.
10. Wilson Avenue. — Frank M. Moore.
The Columbus brethren co-operate with one
another in extending the kingdom. In no city in
Ohio have the disciples planned with greater
wisdom and carried their plans to success.
The churches now (1917) have a membership
of nearly four thousand members and about the
same number in the Bible schools. In nearly aU
these enterprises the Ohio Christian Missionary
Society has taken a humble but needful part.
314
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
M. Cook J. H. O. Smith James G. Encell
Cyrus Alton George Darsie David Ayres
A GROUP or RESTORATION LEADERS
315
A HISTORY OF THE
XXXIV
PIONEERS IN NORTHWESTERN OHIO
L. L. Carpenter, George Lucy, Benjamin Al-
ton, Dana Caul, Solomon Metzler, A. C. Bart-
lett, J. V. Updike, Moses Bonham, Z. W. Shep-
herd, S. M. Cook, S. T. Fairbanks, David Ayers,
F. M. Green and G. M. Kemp are among the
pioneers in northwestern Ohio.
In 1839, George Lucy preached in the private
house of John Mercer, in Wood County. He bap-
tized three persons. In 1840, Benjamin Alton
preached in the same place. After that time
John and William Mercer called the people to-
gether weekly for Scriptural reading, prayer
and social meetings. They attended to the
Lord's Supper every Lord's Day for four years.
Moses Bonham then organized a church at Sugar
Grove. In 1858, Nelson Piper reorganized the
church at Bethel, now Rudolph. He set apart
the officers by the laying on of hands. Moses
Bonham alternated in preaching at Bethel and
Sugar Grove. Out of Bethel largely grew the
churches at Mungen, Bowling Green, Fostoria,
Tiffin, Weston and New Olivet. North Weston
was organized about 1856; Sugar Grove about
1844. Some time in the fifties, Prairie Depot,
McComb and Elmore were organized.
Calvin Smith, of Trumbull County, under the
auspices of the Ohio Christian Missionary Soci-
316
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
ety, planted the church at Ehnore. Samuel
Church, of Pittsburgh, Pa., started a church in
Toledo in those early days. When he moved
away, the church in Toledo failed. Again a
church was started in 1872, under the auspices of
the 0. C. M. S., and F. M. Green was the first
minister. L. L. Carpenter planted churches at
Wauseon, Tedrow, and at other places. J. V.
Updike planted the churches at Oak Harbor,
Delta and Paulding. The church at Lima was
planted by W. T. Moore in 1869. The Kenton
Church was organized in 1852 by Calvin Smith.
In Miami, Darke, Shelby and Mercer Counties,
the first church was planted at Monroe or Fred-
erick (Fidelity P. 0., Miami County), in 1847.
Among the first preachers there were Benjamin
Wharton and Jasper SwaUow. The church at
Carnahan, Darke County, was organized about
1847 by Benjamin FranMin. J. C. Irvine and
William Stone preached in those counties. J.
M. Smith, the great pioneer of those counties,
was sent out by the volunteer organization of
several communities and he sowed the seed, and
organized fourteen churches. In 1875 this dis-
trict co-operation was joined to the Ohio Chris-
tian Missionary Society and constituted the
Twenty-fifth District. The substance of this
chapter was read at a State convention in Colum-
bus some years ago and is a fair record of the
pioneers.
E. P. Ewers
Edwin Patterson Ewers was a native of Bel-
mont County, 0., born in 1840 of sturdy English-
Quaker stock. When a mere lad his family
moved to Defiance County, 0., where a fine farm
317
A HISTORY OF THE
was by father and son carved out of the primitive
forest. Edwin was both industrious and studi-
ous. By the light of hickory bark, burning in
the fireplace, he read and worked over his les-
sons. His ambition was always boundless. He
never knew discouragement. He was soon teach-
ing school, outstripping all the other workers
in the harvest-fields as a cradler, lifting the
heaviest loads, throwing stones the farthest and
proudly riding his horse as marshal of the day
at the rural celebrations. He courted and won
Miss Harriet Bostater, a favorite schoolteacher
of the community, and, settling in a log house,
he farmed and also taught school in winter.
Continuing his studies at home and seeking out
as private tutors the best men about, he was soon
called to become superintendent of the Pioneer
(0.) schools and, later, of the West Unity (0.)
schools. During these years he had graduated
from the State Normal at Columbus, had secured
a life certificate and had been made chairman of
the school examiners.
His ambition now led him to found a school
of his own. Coming from Fayette, 0., and
gathering about him a fine group of men, he
established the Fayette Normal, Music and
Business College, of which he was president for
many years. A high grade of work was done,
and many teachers, ministers, attorneys and
business men and women received their first real
inspiration in this school, many of them finishing
later in more advanced schools. Pres. Minor Lee
Bates, of Hiram College, was a student here.
Mr. Ewers had always declared that if he
ever found a church which taught the plain and
simple New Testament truths, he would enter
318
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
such a conmiTmioii. Hearing Robert Moffett, he
immediately and whole-heartedly became a dis-
ciple, and a Christian Church was founded in
Fayette, Mr. Ewers and the father of President
Bates being elders in it as long as they lived.
Needless to say, the church and the school be-
came closely united and many students became
members of the Christian Church.
Mr. Ewers was a natural teacher. His pupils
loved him and studied hard to please him. Mathe-
matics, usually a dry study, became under his
touch entrancing. He loved his students and in-
spired them to noble living. Having been poor
himself, he never forgot the poor young man or
young woman who was ambitious to get on in
the world. To such he opened his home, his
purse and his heart. Hundreds now call him
blessed. He lives in the hearts of those whom
he lovingly taught. He was the inspiration of
hundreds of young people. In the county teach-
ers ' institute he was a great favorite.
He lived for his church, his school and his
family. One daughter, Alice Adelia, a sweet and
brilliant girl, died at the age of eighteen — a de-
voted Christian. His son, John Ray, is now
minister at the East End Christian Church,
Pittsburgh, Pa., and has already given years of
his life to the ministry. •
While the school above described was not
strictly a church school, yet it was intimately
associated with our cause in northwestern Ohio.
In a hundred prominent places to-day, strong
men and women are exercising large influence
in our communion, the source of whose inspira-
tion was the Fayette school or the Fayette
Church.
21 319
A HISTORY OF THE
S. T. Faiebanks
S. T. Fairbanks was born in Massachusetts,
and came to Ohio when he was six years old.
He was baptized on the profession of his faith
in Christ, in Medina County, in 1836, and soon
after commenced preaching. He was a cripple
from the time he was twelve years of age. He
was in his eighty-eighth year when the Lord
called him to his eternal home. His body was
buried at "Weston, Wood Co., 0. He served in
the ministry of the Word sixty-five years. He
had a good library composed of the authors
promulgating the Christian faith. He had a
marvelous memory, and could quote verse and
chapter of any point of interest found between
Genesis and Revelation. He was truly a pioneer.
It was with profound interest and pleasure that
he watched the growth of the Restoration move-
ment. His labors were in northern and north-
western Ohio. He was a preacher of the "Old
School." He declared the gospel rather than
interpreted it. He knew the Bible, and not
things about it. He had hid the Word of the
Lord in his heart.
He encountered dark clouds of adversity in
his early ministry. Persecution ran high. Li
one locality, where he did much preaching, a
young woman schoolteacher confessed Christ and
obeyed him in baptism. Her father and mother,
though members of a sectarian church, disowned
her and drove her from their home. She sus-
tained herself for some time till the white plague
ruined her health. The brethren in the little
country church took turns and cared for her in
their own homes. When she was buried, the
320
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
whole church went as mourners, but the father
and mother, living only two miles from the
church, would not attend the funeral. Such
prejudice as that the pioneers endured, but the
schoolteacher, forsaken by father and mother,
the Lord took up, and she received a hundred-
fold in this life, and in the world to come eternal
life.
Bro. Fairbanks, like Paul, with a thorn in
the flesh, persevered to the end. He went up
through the persecutions and trials of this life
to the land of delight, where his love for flowers
will be greeted with flowers of endless variety;
where his ambition for knowledge will find mil-
lions of paths along which to play ; and where his
simple, unaffected love will bask in the sunshine
of heaven forever.
1832 — Leewell Lee Carpenter — 1910
L. L. Carpenter was born in Norton Town-
ship, Summit Co., 0., Dec. 10, 1832; departed
this life at Kansas City, Mo., in February, 1910.
His father was a soldier in the war of 1812. His
parents were poor, but highly respected, people.
They endured the privations of the pioneer set-
tlers of eastern Ohio. L. L. was the seventh son.
He was raised on the farm. He attended the
common district school three months in the year,
and worked nine months at the hardest kind of
work. All his spare time he read and studied at
home and prepared himself to teach district
school. He also later attended local academies.
He sawed wood and did local jobs of work as he
could find them. Then he spent two years at
Bethany College under the training of Alex-
ander Campbell. This was one of the fortunate
321
A HISTORY OF THE
privileges of his life. In 1853 he accepted the
gospel of the Christ. His life was an open book,
and upon his life-pages have been recorded
scores of acts which have made the lives of
others brighter: cares have been made less bur-
densome; clouds of discouragement have been
cast from the sky by encouraging words, and
many have found their lives worth harder strug-
gle by attempting to live more as he did, for his
life was in accordance with his Christian teach-
ing.
No other minister in the United States, and
probably in the world, has dedicated so many
meeting-houses as L. L. Carpenter. He dedi-
cated 752 churches. He commenced preaching
in 1857, in Fulton County, 0. He went all over the
county, preaching in schoolhouses, barns, private
houses, groves, and wherever he could get the
people together. During the first four years of his
ministry in that county he baptized more than a
thousand converts, and organized seven churches
which have maintained an honorable position and
are still strong and influential churches. For
four years, commencing in 1862, he was treasurer
of Fulton County, but continued preaching every
Lord's Day and held several protracted meet-
ings. He helped organize the State Sunday
School Association, and was its first president.
In Indiana he was one of the organizers of
the Bethany Assembly Association. This is now
one of the leading Chautauquas of the country.
In 1906 he made a trip through the Orient, Pales-
tine and Egypt. He spent two weeks in Jerusa-
lem. He visited Jericho, the Red Sea, the river
Jordan, the city of Nain, Nazareth, Cana of Gali-
lee, and the Sea of Galilee. He saw many of the
322
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
sacred moTintains — Mount Carmel, mountains of
Lebanon, Mount Tabor, Mount Hermon, Mount
Moriah and the Mount of Olives. He went to
Bethlehem, where Christ was born; to Jerusalem,
where he was crucified, buried and rose from the
dead.' He visited the Jordan, where Christ was
baptized; the Sea of Galilee, where He walked
the waters and where He calmed the winds and
the waves, and the Mount of Olives, where He
ascended.
Ohio loaned this great, good man to Indiana
for awhile, but he belonged to the whole world
and to the world to come. It wiU be a long
time before we see his like again.
J. Y. Updike
J. V. Updike was born in Celina, 0. He
passed from earthly life at Blooniington, Ills.
His mother was Maria Lincoln and a relative
of Abraham Lincoln. He was a marvelous man
of God and a most successful Scriptural evangel-
ist. After his great meeting in Des Moines, when
563 were obedient to Christ, H. 0. Breeden and
others pronounced him the greatest living evan-
gelist, and said: "He is of medium stature, has
good health and fine spirits. His face, smooth
shaven, usually wears a smile. The eye twinkles
with good humor. He is buoyant, cheerful, hope-
ful and sympathetic. He at once gets on good
terms mth his hearers by frequent recognition
of all the good there is in them, especially those
who differ from him and may be prejudiced
against his doctrine. His elocution is assisted
by a clear, ringing voice. Its tones produce a
pleasant sensation. The graces of oratory are
immolated on the altar of truth.
323
A HISTORY OF THE
''His sermons are gospel sermons. His sole
aim in preaching is to exalt Christ, make plain
the way of salvation, to expose and dissipate the
errors of sectarianism and tnrn the people from
their sins.
"He has oddities, eccentricities, is full of
quirks and witticisms and anecdotes and quaint
sayings, and knows how to use invectives; but
those are used and made tributary to the main
issue, that of turning men and women to Christ.
''He is a man earnest, fearless, methodical
and confident, rallying an army of well-trained
workers. He inspires them with hope, sets them
tasks which turn to pleasure, and gives them an
example of success from the first. He knows
men, watches for opportunities, uses theiji, defies
prejudice, talks to the common people, sets the
brain cells aquiver with a wild jest, and then
directs them into new and original thinking.
The listener himself becomes a bold thinker. One
night, a resolute actor, and obedient subject the
next. Not always absolutely correct in exegesis,
rhetoric or grammar; yet his theology is sound
as a dollar.
"He has no time for the subtleties of the
higher criticism. The ground of his earnestness
and zeal is a sublime faith. It is clouded with no
doubts. There is no 'if or 'perhaps' in his state-
ments of truth. He believes the Bible from
'back to back.' Sin, redemption, judgment,
heaven and hell are not simple possibilities, but
profound realities.
"In his method of preaching he takes his
text and keeps it in the exegetical currents of the
context. He makes haste leisurely in the devel-
opment of his subject. Advancing apace, he
324
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
steps one side and puts up a sidelight from some
fact of psychological or practical principle in
the context. Then by and by another. In this
way he strikes oft' some palpable hit with humor,
ridicule or pathos. Reaching the appeal, these
sidelights are all aglow with rays falling upon
the main path of the sermon. Everybody says:
' How simple ! how plain ! '
''Or, to change the figure, these frequent side
thinists at the follies, prejudices or sins of the
people, mingled with commendations of the good
that is in them, form a series of electric explo-
sions, each preparing the way .and expectancy
for another. Where mil he strike next? Thus
he keeps up an unflagging interest during an
hour-long sermon on a hackneyed subject. The
appeal comes, and so do sinners to confess
Christ."
The record of some of his Ohio meetings is
here given: Findlay, 35 additions; Elmore, 19;
Edgorton, 71; Payne, 66; Hedges, 71; Paulding,
196; Lick Creek, 60; Fayette, 47; Lyons, 106;
Chesterfield, 51; Wauseon, 33; Beaverdam, 3;
Lima, 97; Cleveland (Glenville), 18; Cleveland
(Miles Avenue), 135; Cleveland (Franklin Cir-
cle), 125; Cleveland (Madison Avenue), 98; Ed-
gerton, 13; Hillsboro, 128; Bryan, 8; Delta, 128;
Edon, 28; Mansfield, 126; Springfield, 226; Day-
ton, 97 ; Hamilton, 122 ; Harrison, 25 ; Marion, 34 ;
Delta, 15; Bryan, 27; East Liverpool, 143; Cin-
cinnati (Central Church), 51; Cincinnati (Fer-
gus Street), 62; Bluffton, 15; Cincinnati (Madi-
sonville), 10; Bucyrus, 71; Akron, 72; Toledo,
121; Mungen, 10; Toledo (a second meeting),
183 ; Ashtabula, 43 ; Massillon, 255 ; Mentor, 128 ;
Leipsic, 32 additions. Many other meetings he
325
A HISTORY OF THE
held in Ohio. In all fields he won over thirty-
thousand to the Lord. Many invitations came to
him to visit England, Australia and various other
lands.
Following is a brief synopsis of one of his
sermons upon the theme, *' Remember Lot's
Wife":
Lot's wife is a warning to all persons not to
hesitate to do God's will. You remember the
circumstances surrounding Lot and his wife.
When Lot chose to settle in Sodom, his wife did
not say: "What about the society? Is it a fit
place to take our daughters f " A wife may make
or unmake a man. Your surroundings have just
as much to do with you as they did with Lot and
his family. When you begin to play cards, pro-
gressive euchre or high five, you are pitching
your first tent towards Sodom. Parlor dancing
and ballroom frequenting is the second move to-
wards Sodom. Lot settled in Sodom; his daugh-
ters grew up and were married. That is another
trick of the devil, to pay off the church by marry-
ing rakes and ungodly men to your daughters.
Lot plead with his sons-in-law, but they mocked
him. Too late; he should have begun with his
children earlier. Where are you leading your
children! You must get right with God yourself
and lead your family that way. Lot 's wife began
to speculate and wonder if it really would rain
fire and brimstone. People are being lost, specu-
lating, asking; "Can I not get to heaven if I
don't do this or that?" Stop seeing how little
you can do and just squeeze into heaven, but see
how much you can do for the Lord. Escape with
thy life! Obey God's commands in full!
Updike 's book of sermons has had a large sale.
326
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Otho H. Williams Traverce Harrison L. R. Gault
SOME OHIO MINISTERS
A HISTORY OF THE
A Staetling Discoveet
Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott and Bar-
ton W. Stone discovered that the Bible was
silent on the subject of infant baptism. They
had adopted the slogan, ''Where the Bible
speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we
are silent." They were then baptized. Many of
the pioneers in Ohio made the same discovery
and adopted the same slogan, and, with the
eminent restorers of original New Testament
teaching, studied the sin of Adam once more.
This resulted in some startling discoveries.
These discoveries are put into form by one who
wields a facile pen, about as follows:
(1) Final and eternal perdition is never the
fruit or outcome or penalty of the Adamic sin!
(2) It never comes to any except tjiose who sin
against the Holy Spirit. (3) Other personal sin-
ning brings dire punishment, but never eternal
perdition. (4) It follows, therefore, that infants,
and all who are morally irresponsible, are not,
and never have been, in danger of final and
eternal perdition. (5) Jesus could, therefore,
take an unbaptized little child — one who had
never committed any personal sin — and say,
''Except ye repent and become as little children,
ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of
heaven" (Matt. 18:3). The purest thing on
earth is a child before it sins personally. It
should touch your heart deeply and profoundly
to know that no infant in all the ages has ever
died and gone to perdition. No mother — Catholic
or Protestant, Jewish or Mohammedan, pagan
or heathen — wiU ever find her dead baby in per-
dition. The reason is plain: no baby can sin
328
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
against the Holy Spirit, and no other sin brings
final perdition.
We may approach the question another way.
What is the penalty of the Adam sin and how
does God save from it? The penalty is stated
fully in Gen. 3:14-19: (1) Penalty for the ser-
pent (vs. 14, 15) ; (2) penalty for the woman (v.
16) ; (3) penalty for mankind in addition (vs.
17-19). The severest part of the penalty for
human beings is the death of our bodies — dust
to dust. If Adam had not sinned, there would
have been no graveyards in this world — our
bodies would never die. Adam paid the penalty
for his sin; so must all men. In all the ages no
one ever escaped that penalty except Enoch and
Elijah. The only escape from this penalty is
through miracle. In other words, there is no
salvation from the Adam sin. Every child must
pay the penalty, either in infancy or later in life.
Neither baptism nor anything except a miracle
can save from this sin.
While we are not saved from the Adam sin,
we are saved after that sin has done its worst!
How are we saved? By a miracle^ — by the gift
of new bodies — by the resurrection from the
dead. Both infants and adults are saved in the
same way. Both good and bad receive this new
body (1 Cor. 15: 22). What we want is the first
resurrection (Rev. 20:6). For a new body with
a lost soul in it is eternal perdition. Since
both the baptized and the unbaptized receive new
bodies, baptism has no place here. For another
reason it has no place. Baptism is for the remis-
sion, or forgiveness, of sin. In this case we all
suffer the penalty, and there is no remission of
the penalty — no pardon.
A HISTORY OF THE
The sin against the Holy Spirit is radically
different from the Adam sin. After the Adam
sin has seized one and made him pay the penalty,
Christ comes in and, by a miracle, saves. When
the sin against the Holy Spirit has seized one,
there is no hope, no pardon, no redeemer, no sal-
vation for the baptized or the unbaptized.
He who is saved from his other personal sins
and from the polluting fountain within, from
which they issued, is not in danger from the sin
against the Holy Spirit. Hoiv does God save
such as these?
(1) Not by pardon alone. If I should live ten
thousand years and get pardon every da}^, the
fountain of sin would not yet be dried up within
me. I would not yet be perfect and in the moral
likeness of Christ. According to the New Testa-
ment, God must sometimes, somewhere, bring us
into such perfection that we will no longer need
pardon; no longer need all of the prayer Jesus
taught us all to use; no longer need the reproofs
of conscience. Pardon alone will not bring us
into this blessed state.
(2) Christianity has a power which neither
Judaism nor any other religion ever had. This
power will dry up the fountain mthin from
which all our personal sins come forth. Given
time and co-operation on our part, and this
power will crowd out and build in till we no
longer need pardon. This power is sometimes
called in the New Testament the gift of the
Holy Spirit, and sometimes ''the life," or life
eternal. It is a power which no priest or pope
has ever given or been able to take away. To
finally reject it is the sin against the Holy
Spirit.
330
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
The new birth has back of it two processes:
(1) A preparation of the heart, like that of a
field ready for the sowing of the seed, and (2)
the depositing of that new life-power in the heart
— the sowing of living seed that it may grow
into all that God has given it to become. Pardon
of sins, or forgiveness, is a part of the prepara-
tion of the heart which brings us to baptism for
the remission, or pardon, of sins — not pardon of
the sin against the Holy Spirit, for that has no
pardon and no help or hope; not pardon of the
sin of Adam, for there is no pardon from it — all
pay the penalty and after that are saved by a
miracle. Baptism is for the remission of our
other sins — sins such as infants never commit;
from which they are as pure as the driven snow.
In this case, baptism is not worth anything with-
out preceding heart preparation; without (1)
confession of Christ Jesus with the mouth (Rom.
10:9, 10; Acts 8:37; Luke 12:8; Matt. 10:32).
Can an infant do this? (2) It is worthless when
not preceded by repentance (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:
38). No infant can repent. (3) It is worthless
without faith in Christ, as the good confession
will show, and without faith in God (Heb. 11:6;
Acts 16: 30, 31, 33). In fact, it is called baptism
because it shows faith — shows repentance — shows
burial in water — shows all these in the name of
Christ, who is confessed. What gives baptism
its worth? The repentance and the faith which
it contains and shows. Where do this repentance
and this faith come from? From the hearts of
men. So this one word, ''water baptism," stands
for the whole process of heart preparation made
by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit —
made through the Bible, the home and the
331
A HISTORY OF THE
church. Not nntil they become responsible can
this heart preparation begin with infants. If we
do not undergo this heart preparation, do not
become as little children, we can not enter the
kingdom of heaven. Without it the new birth is
impossible.
Dr. S. M. Cook
It may be that the disciples of Christ some
day will find a place for a cabinet of elder states-
men, after the fashion of the renowned body of
that name in Japan. In such a case, Ohio would
surely rise as one man and name for charter
membership in the body Stephen Marcellus
Cook, M.D.
This wise and discreet ''Elder Statesman"
first met his Baptist parents in Morrow County,
0., Oct. 1, 1845. He was the sixth of their ten chil-
dren. These parents were two of the "twelve"
who formed themselves into the church of Christ
at North Branch, now Waterford, in Knox
County. Three generations of Baptist ministers
were in the family, but the doctor solemnly avers
that "the strain of ministerial blood over-
balanced this strain of total hereditary de-
pravity." He was baptized into the life worth
living in his fourteenth year.
Saying nothing of his early desire to preach,
he took college work in the district school near
the Cook home, and later pursued literature in
Ohio Wesleyan University and at Hiram College.
Then, turning his attention to the healing art, he
so studiously pursued medicine in the University
of Michigan and in the Medical College of Ohio,
at Cincinnati, that he graduated as first-honor
man in the latter institution at the age of twenty-
332
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
five. Meanwhile, he had turned his attention to
domestic art also, and persuaded Margaret Hard-
grove to join him in the practice of this art. In
the fall of 1870 they established the home which
has been a benediction and a blessing, not only
to the children of the family, but to all others
who have ever enjoyed its fellowship.
Returning from medical college, the young
doctor quickly gained a large practice in his home
community. He became superintendent of the
Sunday school and was called upon with increas-
ing frequency for supply work in the pulpit, for
funeral discourses, and much other work directly
within the church. Speaking of this busy period,
the doctor said, reminiscently : ''I always aimed
to attend church at least once on Sunday, for I
felt the need of religious worship and work to
help me retain my interest and faith in the Chris-
tian life. In the busiest days of my professional
life I found time to meet with my brethren and
be refreshed by their fellowship and companion-
ship. I believe that thus I was made stronger,
and able, both physically and mentally as well as
morally, to do more and better work for my
patients."
Toward the close of the seven years, it became
necessary to choose between the practice of medi-
cine, which paid a good income, and the practice
of the gospel ministry, which, at that time, paid
scant reward in money for devoted service.
Friends of the young practitioner urged almost
unanimously that he remain in the practice for
which, by nature, education and experience, he
seemed so eminently fitted. One human voice
alone was left to fortify the voice that called from
within — the wife, on whom the heaviest burden
333
A HISTORY OF THE
of sacrifice and change must fall, added her
urgent counsel that the medical profession be
abandoned and that his life be devoted to the
gospel ministry. It was only after much search-
ing of heart that at length the medical practice,
with what was left of the good will of the
patients, was sold.
This was the work of faith, and thus was it
undertaken. Six children, small and very much
alive, were in the home ; the wife and mother,
not robust physically; a small home, with an
incumbrance upon it; the first year of preaching
rewarded with about $20 a month for the year;
labor abundant; inexperience and a lack of skill
in meeting the vicissitudes of a pioneer preach-
er's life; the depressions which human circum-
stances pressed and crowded upon the faithful
hearts who constituted the home. Only an in-
domitable and an abiding faith in an unconquer-
able Christ kept Dr. Cook unfalteringly in the
line of his decision.
The old Bell Church, near North Branch, was
the scene of the first two weeks' meeting. There
were thirty-two baptisms and many friendships
gained there. For eight years this evangelistic
ministry in Knox, Morrow and adjacent counties
continued. The Lord added more than a hun-
dred annually. Calls multiplied. Then came
the settled pastorate for two years at North
Eaton, 0.
Most of this ministry was in the transition
period from the stern legalism advocated by the
old American Christian Revieiv into the larger
liberty and service of Christ and the develop-
ment of missionary spirit. So far as his influ-
ence could reach. Dr. Cook was a worthy factor
334
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
in the better adjustment of this transition. One
reason for this, perhaps, lay in the fact that Dr.
and Mrs. Cook yearned ceaselessly in heart to go
as foreign missionaries to any alien land. But
God seemed to will it otherwise. Finally, with
as prayerful purpose as ever prompted any mis-
sionary to go to foreign fields, the Cooks went to
Wood County and located on a farm near Mun-
gen. Here for some years evangelistic work
throughout the district, at Martinsburg and at
Fayette, filled the time full until Dr. Cook was
called to the pastorate of the churches at Mungen
and Rudolph. Meanwhile, a most important
result of his years of ministry was becoming
apparent, for, from the first. Dr. Cook had sought
out young men and encouraged them to enter the
ministry. S. M. Cooper, S. W. Traum, D. R.
Bebout, Frank L. Simpson, John Ray Ewers,
Minor Lee Bates, J. H. MiUer, D. P. Shaffer,
Nicholas Zulch, and others, are among those
whom Dr. Cook enthusiastically declares to be
''new editions, revised and greatly enlarged."
With the three older children of the household
ready for college, the possible income from
preaching was so clearly inadequate that the
doctor now resumes the practice of the medical
profession, the study of which he has never
ceased. In a very literal way Dr. Cook became
the medical and spiritual pastor of a large part
of Wood County. Much of his practice was *'on
the Jericho road." It was a rare treat to a
stranger to accompany the doctor on any one of
his daily trips — from the time he loaded up his
carriage in the morning with dental instruments,
surgical instruments, obstetrical instruments,
Bible, hymn-book — everything in readiness for
22 335
A raSTORY OF THE
any sort of a call which a pioneer settlement
might unexpectedly produce — ^until evening-time,
when the family were once more gathered for
family worship before they separated for stndy
and for sleep. On the one side lay the shifting,
serio-comic tragedy punctuated by droll humor
and whimsical comment, a genial soul who always
saw both the pathetic and the ludicrous in normal
proportions. On the other side were the calm
serenity and unbroken gladness toward God
which are the triumph of Christian faith.
The stranger would not be so fortunate if he
were invited to accompany, day after day, the
doctor in his widely extended trips. Carriage
succeeded buggy, and phaeton succeeded carriage
in rapid succession as the little sorrels wore out
one after another on the Wood County roads,
which were, in themselves, a triumph of the road-
maker's art. During a full haK of the year there
was splendid bottom to the roads, when the hoofs
of the horses or the tires of the wheels could
reach down to it — at times hubs and axles pre-
vented the wheels from reaching anywhere deep
enough. During the remaining half of the year
the roadways seemed to try, by a sort of dumb
(worse than that) retribution, to get even with
those who had the temerity to use them. The
incessant heavy hauling of oil-field equipment
and products kept the roads in a really frightful
condition. But day in and day out, for seven
years, like an angel of God, Dr. Cook spread his
influence throughout this whole territory, even
though the physical exaction and nervous ex-
haustion left him utterly broken in health.
The windows of heaven were being opened
up throughout the soil, and crude oil was pour-
336
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
ing wealth into the pocketbooks of both the just
and unjust. To teach by precept and example
the Christian stewardship of wealth was the con-
scious obligation and opportunity which the
Cooks faced. The Mungen Bible school was one
of the very first to break down the blasphemous
barriers of penny contributions and to give gen-
erously and joyously more than $500 as a mis-
sionary offering to the Lord.
The lifelong habit of studying humanity with
the same care he has studied divinity ; of keeping
in touch, through wide reading, with the world of
the past and of the present; of keeping in close
touch with progressive and conservative, insur-
gent and standpatter, critic, mystic and orthodox,
choice fiction, poetry and selected nonsense; of
theorizing prayerfully and practicing faithfully
the human application of God's gospel of salva-
tion — this composite fact makes Dr. S. M. Cook
a counselor of rare discretion; an adviser whose
insight and foresight are fortified by a deep and
wide experience; a Christian gentleman whose
friendship is a thing to be prized, and whose
counsel is invaluable.
Once and again has the angel of death entered
the home. Affliction has laid her cold hand close
upon the heart. Adversity has camped within
the doorway, but, through all and above all,
quietude of faith in the living Christ has been
conspicuous in the life of the Cook household,
and no earth-born cloud can rob it of its light
and power. In words which might be his own:
"The realities of joy and great sorrow have done
for me, by the help of the Master, what nothing
else could do in giving me a charity and sym-
pathy for others. The world of suffering and
23 337
A HISTORY OF THE
sorrow can be entered only through the doorway
of affliction, temptation and pain. Even the Son
of man could not be made perfect, except through
suffering. ' '
Asked to enumerate some of his chief mis-
takes, the ''Elder Statesman" says they are :''(!)
The lack of thorough preparation. The best
and most work can be done only after having
a thorough educational equipment for the tasks.
(2) The failure to complete thoroughly whatever
was begun. Too much work has always been
left half done. This is a source of grief. (3)
Failure of proper control of temper and tongue.
(A voice in the household rises up to say, 'That
sounds like a joke to me.') To eliminate from
my life every impatient, cross and impure word
would be one of the greatest of triumphs, were it
possible. (4) Lack of a systematic and orderly
student habit at all times and everywhere. The
constant study of nature, events, books, human-
ity, and the adjustment of life's labors to others
and in their behalf, is. the ideal life. The student
habit makes the old man young and the young
man wise. It gives tolerance toward all." Many
men have been guilty of making these mistakes.
At a time when men are old, and many
preachers are forlorn. Dr. S. M. Cook is younger
in mind, in heart, in sympathetic human touch, and
in preaching power, than many men of half his
years. Visitors of high ideals, pure hearts, and
Godward tastes and tendencies, find a welcome
as eager as is the hospitality which greets the
humblest and most forlorn of God's creatures
who come to the door. In a very Christian way,
as one of God's true saints alive. Dr. S. M. Cook
embodies the sentiment of Foss's words:
338
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
"Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by —
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scomer's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
And be a friend to man."
1839— F. M. Green— 1911
F. M. Green engaged in aU kinds of intellec-
tual work. He was a teacher in the coromon
schools, a preacher, and successful as a pastor,
an evangelist of marked ability, a secretary of
the Eastern Ohio Ministerial Association for
twenty years, a successful corresponding secre-
tary of the American Christian Missionary So-
ciety, traveling night and day through the
United States. He was a student at Hiram and
later a trustee of the college. He was a writer
of ability for the American Christian Review,
the Christian Standard and other periodicals.
He was the writer of good books, preparing the
work for training teachers for the Bible school,
and a Christian ministers' manual. He wrote
''The Life of James A. Garfield," "The Life and
Times of John F. Rowe," and ''The History of
Hiram College." He was elected to the Ohio
Legislature from Summit County, and gave dis-
tinguished service for two years. He made a
trip to the Eastern States, and the British
Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island, and was cordially re-
ceived by the churches.
In Ohio he will be remembered as co-operat-
ing Avith the Ohio Christian Missionary Society
in organizing and preaching for the church in
Toledo. A preliminary work began in 1872.
339
A HISTORY OF THE
During 1873, F. M. Green was employed to
work as pastor and agent of the 0. C. M. S. to
go among the churches and raise money to build
a house of worship. He moved to the city in
August, and soon afterward organized a church,
beginning with twenty names. On the 24th of
November the house was dedicated. A lot was
given by a friend. The house cost $5,500. The
most of the money was given by the friends in
Toledo. Bro. Green remained in charge of this
work about two years. From this central church
other congregations have sprung up and the
Toledo work is growing. George Darsie, in pre-
senting a sketch of Bro. Green's life, says:
''He believed in prayer, but not a parade of
it. He rejoiced and was happy with God's peo-
ple around the Lord's table in his house on the
Lord's Day. God was his Father — good, kind,
tender, loving, forgiving, merciful — and not a
theological abstraction. His promises were sure
and lasting. To his mind Jesus the Christ was
the perfection of beauty and the perfection of
goodness, abundant in mercy, plenteous in re-
demption, after whom he should pattern his life,
and to whom he looked for salvation both here
and hereafter. To him the Bible was the sum of
all wisdom and philosophy, the Book of books,
the book of God, by which he should square his
conduct. Like Enoch, 'he walked with God.'
Like Barnabas, 'he was a good man, full of the
Holy Spirit and of faith. ' To him death came as
a friend and not an enemy; a servant and not a
master; a blessing and not a curse; though gone
from earth, he still lives in our midst and ever
shall.
340
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
Dr. W. H. Harper Prof. A. R. Benton Prof. C. W. Hemry
Pres. H. S. Lehr M. P. Hayden Prof. J. G. Park*
PROMINENT OHIO DISCIPLES
341
A HISTORY OF THE
XXXV
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST
Schools.
■"T HE leaders in the Restoration movement
were educated men. Schools of every grade
have been founded by disciples. The principles
of our movement tend to make every one a
patron of education. Protestant sects, calling
themselves "Evangelical," held to the direct or
mystic influence of the Holy Spirit in the soul,
and that the knowledge of the forgiveness of sin
is an experience in the soul, just as hunger and
thirst or headache and toothache are experiences
in the body. Persons were taught to expect such
a divine power, and that they must pray for it.
Such views did not stir one in the cause of edu-
cation. Their religion did not move them to
plant and patronize schools. Restorationists, on
the other hand, held that the truths of religion
are revealed in the word of God, and that he who
would know them must apply himself to under-
stand the Bible. Disciples held that the Holy
Spirit was more than an impulse from God,
working mystically on man's nature. To them
the Holy Spirit was a divine, intelligent person
who communicates his knowledge of the things of
God in the words he has spoken. This intelli-
gence is to be understood and believed through
the exercise of man's natural faculties. The
disciples in their preaching appealed to the
342
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
understanding of man, and they trusted in the
power of truth believed to move the heart and
conscience and will. So, they held that men of
cultivated minds would more readily grasp relig-
ious truth, and specially such would be more
successful in communicating the knowledge of
the truth to others. Their zeal in religion, there-
fore, made them zealous in the cause of educa-
tion. When they start in a community the best
educated move first. The learned and not the
ignorant become disciples of Christ.
The disciples in Ohio have always been in-
terested in schools. Before the State high-
school system was put into practice, and even
since, schools of a high order have been started.
About 1842, D. S. Burnet was principal and
proprietor of Hygeia Female Athenium, situ-
ated on the heights seven miles back of Cincin-
nati. This Athenium proposed, for moderate
extra charges, to teach ''Piano, Guitar, French,
Painting, Wax Fruit, Wax Flowers, Shellwork,
Flowers as Taught in Paris, and Embroideries,"
and prescribed for summer uniform, ''Pink and
Blue Lawns, and for Common Wear, Dark Plaid
Ginghams. ' '
T. D. Garvin built up a college at Wilming-
ton, Clinton County, and it is now in the hands
of the Friends.
Alonzo Skidmore started the Ohio Central
College at East Liberty, Logan County. It is
now the Central High School of that place. It
started into the wide field of usefulness such
men as I. J. Cahill and C. A. Freer.
E. P. Ewers founded the Fayette Normal,
Music and Business College, of which he was
president. Later it was removed to Wauseon.
343
A HISTORY OF THE
This school, though not strictly a chnrch school,
was intimately associated with our cause in
northwestern Ohio. It was a source of inspira-
tion to many men and women now in active life.
The Ohio Normal University at Ada, 0., was
a marvelous school started by H. S. Lehr. J. Gr.
Parks and other eminent teachers were connected
with this school. It claimed to give classical,
scientific, business, legal, military, pharmaceu-
tical and musical education. It had university
powers and conferred degrees. In 1892 there
was an enrollment of 2,810 students. Twenty-
seven States and several foreign countries were
represented.
The great iastitution of learning at Valpa-
raiso, Ind., is a child and outgrowth of Ada. At
Ada were started in useful career such men as
Austin Hunter, S. J. White, W. F. Rothenburger,
P. H. Welshimer, J. P. Myers and many others.
As the school was owned by private individuals,
they had a right to pass it over to others. It
is now in the hands of the Methodists, and stiU
popular and influential.
The Cyrus McNeely Normal School at Hope-
dale, Harrison County, in 1869 had about two
hundred students in attendance. Its object was
to train teachers for the public schools. The in-
fluence of this school was felt in all central-
eastern Ohio. It was equipped with a gymnasium
and trained the body as well as the mind.
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Seminary was
located at Mt. Vernon in Knox County. R. R.
Sloan and wife were principals. It was well
graded, and had a fair attendance for nearly
thirty years. Mrs. A. M. Atkinson was for a
time a member of its Faculty. It was a private
344
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
institution at first, but was given into the hands
of a Board of Trustees later, but could not com-
pete with the high-school system of the State of
Ohio, and is now closed. Its career was long and
useful. Many homes have been made intelligent,
sweet and happy as the result of this once pop-
ular seminary. Miss Caroline Neville and Miss
Wolatt succeeded the Garvin family as managers
of the school.
A. B. Way started a college at Alliance. Per-
haps the love of Christ and a higher education
prompted to this enterprise. Some think its pro-
moters desired to speculate in city lots. After a
short career the college failed. It could not com-
pete with Hiram and Bethany.
Some zealous sectarian ministers who were
uneducated have been heard to say that all they
had to do was to open their mouths and the Lord
would fill them. ''Yes," some one replied, ''the
Lord will fill them with wind." Some of our
pioneer preachers were not scholastically edu-
cated, but they had a native ability, and read and
understood the Scriptures and became able ad-
vocates of the gospel. Some of these men read
history, and even studied foreign languages, to
be better able to understand and preach the
gospel.
Pabsonages
A goodly number of churches in Ohio have
parsonages. They are a source of strength to a
church. A parsonage is not so necessary as a
meeting-house, but it gives a congregation the ap-
pearance of stability to its members and to those
who are not in the church. It furnishes a home
for the minister and his family, by reason of
345
A HISTORY OF THE
J. F. Davis Sidney Smith Clark Asa Schuler
BENEFACTORS OF THE OHIO WORK
346
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
which he should be a better preacher. The con-
tentment of a congregation and minister, that
comes from a parsonage, makes each a greater
power for good in a community.
Many churches would do well to go about -get-
ting a parsonage. The effort would give them
something to do and keep them from stagnation.
Churches are weakened by doing so little for the
cause of Christ. The building of a chapel, a
meeting-house, a parsonage, and paying liberally
to support a minister, and for missions, will
make a church strong and insure its success. A
parsonage usually means a working church and
a cheerful, strong minister. History gives this
testimony.
Forty-six of our churches in Ohio have par-
sonages.
Nancy Fkost
Nancy Frost lived to be 108 years old. She
was a member of the first Sunday school in the
northwest Territory, at Marietta, 0. She tended
the children while her mother made bullets for
the men to fight off the Indians, using the block-
houses for forts. She was a member of the
church at Lowell, on the Muskingum River, for
sixty years. She retained her faculties to the
last. She read the Bible through forty times.
She used to say the Lord had forgotten to come
for her. He did come for her, however, at the
good, ripe age of 108 years. Perhaps she lived
in this world longer than any other disciple of
Christ in Ohio.
Large Givebs
Many disciples give time, talent and such
money gifts as they are able, to carry on the
347
A HISTORY OF THE
Lord's work. All can not be large financial
givers. A few may be mentioned as large givers
of money: D. S. Burnet, Asa Shnler, J. K.
McDonald, Robert Kerr, Peter Bntts, H. R. New-
comb, James Robison, Wm. Tonsley, A. Teach-
ont, Wm. Bowler, Albert Allen, Lathrop Cooley,
A. R. Teachout, Thomas Davis, Sidney S. Clark,
J. F. Davis, T. N. Easton, "W. H. Cowdery, W.
S. Streator, J. N. O. Lynn, Simeon Hart, Mrs.
Sarah B. McLean (wife of Justice McLean), T.
W. Phillips, The Standard Publishing Company.
Oephanage
The Cleveland Orphanage is under the gen-
eral management of the National Benevolent
Association, with headquarters at St. Louis, Mo.
The local management is very efficient. It is
filled to capacity (about seventy-four) all the
time. The boys and girls are wisely directed and
started in a happy way to useful manhood and
womanhood. The institution is chartered, and
can legally bind children to persons desiring to
adopt them. This is a Christian work of far-
reaching influence.
MiNiSTEBs' Associations
Ministers' meetings or associations are main-
tained in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, north-
western Ohio and Youngstown. For twenty years
or more the Eastern Ohio Alinisterial Associa-
tion was maintained. At one time 125 ministers
had membership in it. F. M. Green was the
active and efificient secretary of this association.
Some of the strongest ministers of the brother-
hood had fellowship in the Eastern Ohio Asso-
ciation.
348
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
A HISTORY OF THE
ElSDOWED ChUECHES
If persons want to be remembered after leav-
ing this world, like Mary of old, they must do
something for Christ. A good way to be remem-
bered is to leave money enough to the church
to make an annual subscription for expenses. A
few churches have small endowments of this
character: Chesterland, Hopedale, Millwood,.
Kent, Randolph, North Royalton, Wauseon, Bell-
ville, Willoughby, and perhaps others. The time
is coming when it will be wise for ''down-town
churches" to seek good-sized endowments, that
the gospel may be preached in centers of popu-
lation.
Tom L. Johnson
Tom L. Johnson, the one-time popular mayor
of Cleveland, came to Cleveland from Louisville,
Ky. He secured an interest in a street railway
line, then added others to it, and, after a long
and hard fight, got all the lines in the city con-
solidated and the fare for a ride reduced to three
cents. The system is not second to that of any
city in the country. He had an interest in the
great Johnstown (Pa.) steel mills, and was the
principal promoter of the ''Lorain Steel Mills"
in Ohio. He, joined with others, projected the
grouping of the city and county buildings which
are the admiration of the world. He helped in
projecting the Warrensville farm and city where
prisoners, poor and consumptives are cared for.
He was a single-tax advocate. He was a great
friend of the poor. Li his church relations he
was a member at Cedar Avenue Church and gave
liberally for the cause. His friends and ad-
mirers have erected a beautiful bronze statue to
350
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN OHIO
his memory in the Public Square in Cleveland.
On the sides of the rostrums are plaques in-
scribed :
1. "Beyond Ms party and beyond his class
This man forsook the few to serve the mass."
2. "He found us groping, leaderless and blind;
He left the city with a civic mind."
3. "He found us striving, each his selfish part;
He left a city with a civic heart."
4. "And ever with his eye set on the goal,
The vision of a city with a soul."
As to churches' in Ohio, the Year Book for
1917 reports 528. This is perhaps an under-
estimate of thirty or forty which did not report.
There are reported 102,806 members. In the
Bible schools, 105,488. Preachers, 425.
The largest offerings for all missions. Cleve-
land (Euclid Avenue), $6,654.79; Akron (First),
$6,481.85; Cleveland (Franklin Circle), $5,689.61;
Youngstown (Central), $2,661.00, and Cincinnati
(Walnut Hills), $2,516.76.
Of the churches in Ohio, 70 per cent, are
rural, and there are reported 517 Bible schools.
Speciai, Mission Funds
Sidney Smith Clark was born near Lexington,
Ky., in 1805. He moved to Cincinnati when a
young man. He and his wife were members of
the first congregation organized in Cincinnati by
D. S. Burnet. Later he was a member of the
Richmond Street Church. He was a personal
friend of D. S. Burnet, James Challen, Benjamin
Franklin, George Rice and many other pioneers.
He died in 1871. A fund of about $50,000 came
from his estate for special missions. The will
declares that the elders of the Richmond Street
351
HISTORY OF OHIO DISCIPLES
Churcli of Cincinnati shall select the mission-
aries. H. T. Atkins is trustee of the fund. The
interest is used to promote the cause in the
places selected. Report is made annually to the
probate court. The places aided are in Virginia,
Arkansas and Oklahoma. The better way is to
place such funds in the care of the Ohio Christian
Missionary Society. That society is responsible,
and the directors can place the aid at the best
places for doing the greatest good.
The Welsh Mission of Mahoning and Trmn-
buU Counties was organized by Isaac Errett.
The society is chartered by the State of Ohio.
Thomas Davis, a Welshman of Youngstown, left
$25,000, the interest of which is used to promote
the cause of original Christianity in those two
counties. B. F. Wirts, of Youngstown, is the
secretary of the society. The work is directed by
a board of managers. The trustees care for the
funds. Aid has been extended to new and weak
churches in said counties. Thomas Davis, the
giver of this fund, lived to a good old age. He
was a thorough believer in the New Testament
church, and made provision to extend it after his
departure from this earthly life. ' The Ohio
Christian Missionary Society is co-operating with
the Welsh Mission in carrying on work at Hill-
man Street, Youngstown.
352
