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1887
1937
The
Golden Anniversary
of
The First Christian Church
E
Including:s Brief History of ... The City of Stafford. Stafford, Kansas
1.885
1935
500
A Brief Historical Statement of the Founding and Development of The First Christian Church and
Stafford, Kansas
with
Illustrations
DATE OF CELEBRATION MARCH 28, 1937
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/briefhistoricals00grov
CONTENTS
Introduction to the Christian Church
7
Illus. 15-18
Hymns
10
Illus. 11
Activities beyond Stafford
19
Illus. 21
History of Stafford Christian Church
.26
Illus. 22, 39, 50-55
Ministers in First Building
29
Illus. 23, 24
Ministers in Present Building
32
Illus. 24, 25
Bible School Superintendents
40
Illus. 40, 41
Department of the Bible School
42
Illus. 42, 46-50
Ladies Aid
44
Missionary Societies
44
Illus. 22
Music
45
History of Stafford
59
Illus. 54, 56-58
Acknowledgments
63
Conclusion
64
Anniversary Committee
65
Memories of Anniversary Day
66
DEDICATION
To those noble souls of the past who have labored for more than bread alone, and into whose labors we enter, we lovingly dedicate this volume.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
AN INTRODUCTION
This congregation is one of that brotherhood known throughout the world by three names: "Christian Church" west of Ohio; "Church of Christ" along the Western Re- serve; and "Disciples of Christ" through the New England and New York section. These names however are not lim- ited geographically and in our own section we have congre- gations by each of these names. We are listed in the United States Census as "Disciples of Christ." Each congregation is a self governing body under Theocratic rule, but the ma- jority of our churches have banded themselves together in a purely voluntary organization for more efficient state, national and world-wide service. This organization known as the United Christian Missionary Society with headquar- ters at Indianapolis, Indiana, administers its duties through specialized boards for each of the various tasks of Christen- dom. Acting as a clearing house for these boards and the churches at large is Unified Promotion. The U. C. M. S. has been in operation for over fifteen years and has proved an adequate medium through which our churches may most efficiently and most effectively give expression to their love for Christ and His Kingdom.
*HOW THE MOVEMENT BEGAN
In the new republic that had been established through the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War civilization was born anew. It was inevitable that the Church, yes even Christianity itself, should feel the effects of this. The unsuspected sweep of the desire for liberty soon showed itself in the churches. A new life had been awak- ened.
*"The Disciples, an Interpretation," by B. A. Abbott. Pp. 10-19.
8
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
Men were going back to the fundamental rights of the human race. Thomas Jefferson had carried the case of humanity back to the judgment bar of mankind and plead- ed for the establishment of an order in which men could enjoy the inalienable rights of "life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness" according to the sovereignty of the people themselves. The task of reconstructing the old church in the new land was a gigantic one. The pioneers of the Dis- ciples made appeal to the New Testament and the leaders were filled with enthusiasm when they found simple forms, organizations, versatile powers, adaptable methods, and the divine fire that would exactly suit the new order that had already commenced to recreate the life of the world.
A pattern was shown them in the mount and it was a theocratic democracy-free, united, animated by the Holy Spirit-exactly the church of which they were dreaming. So far as was the New Testament ahead of the plans and modes of government-so far is it still ahead and leading.
Thomas and Alexander Campbell in West Virginia, Barton W. Stone, David Purviance, with other men of great intellect and spirituality in Kentucky ; Walter Scott in Ohio; Dr. Chester Bullard in Virginia and able Christians in var- ious parts of the country, without knowledge of the views and actions of each other, lifted up their voices against di- vision in the body of Christ, caused by unwarranted assump- tions of authority by ecclesiastical institutions, and by the substitution of interpretations of the New Testament for the New Testament itself.
The earliest large movement in this direction began in 1804 under the leadership of Barton W. Stone, a Presbyter- ian minister in Kentucky. It grew out of the Cane Ridge re- vival, near Paris, Kentucky, which was one of the most re- markable spiritual manifestations in the history of Chris- tianity. Out of it, in whole or in part, gushed three new streams of church life in America-the Christian Connec- tion, the Cumberland Presbyterian, and the fiery evange- lism communicated to the Disciples by Barton W. Stone and his churches.
9
GOLDEN £ ANNIVERSARY
In August, 1809, Thomas Campbell, of Washington, Pa., formed "The Christian Association of Washington," and in September of the same year issued a remarkable Declaration and Address, deploring the tendencies of party spirit and hurtful divisions among Christians, and the ec- clesiastical enforcement of the human interpretations of God's Word in place of the pure doctrines of Christ.
The principles of this address were cordially endorsed by Alexander Campbell, his son, and in the following year, 1810, he began publicly to urge them upon the churches. It was hoped, and sincere and strenuous effort was made, to avoid setting up a new body of people but the temper of Christians at the time compelled such a course.
The first separate organization as a church was formed May 4, 1811, at Brush Run, Pennsylvania, with twenty-nine members; in 1913 this church united with the Redstone Baptist Association and ten years after with the Mahoning association of the same people. In 1823 Mr. Campbell be- gan publishing The Christian Baptist, and his teachings soon attracted wide attention. Opposition was aroused and his views were denounced as heterodox, but large numbers accepted them. Many new churches came into existence under his labors and those of Walter Scott, and the Baptists began to declare non-fellowship with the Campbells and their associates. Thus the Disciples were driven to form themselves into a separate body, that they might follow the truth as God gave them to see it. Until this day they regret separate existence but they do not apologize for it.
Their life as an independent, modern body may be dated from 1827 when they became known as Disciples of Christ. It was plainly a renaissance of the apostolic ideal, organization, method and emphasis. Establishing a separate group of Christians made the plea of the Campbells for Christian union more difficult, but did not nullify it. It is consistent and logical to preach the value and truthfulness of a doctrine even though the practice of it may lag far behind. Ideals must be held up and urged even if the future should be long in realizing them.
Devotional hymns
Onward, Christian Soldiers.
Sabine Gould.
Arthur Sullivan.
1: Onward, Christian sol - diers! Marching as to war, With the cross of Je . sus Go . ing on be - fore;
2. At the sign of tri - umph, Satan's host doth flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, On to vic . to . ryl
3. Like a might-y ar-my Moves the Church of God; Brothers we are treading Where the saints bave trod;
4. Onward, then, ye peo . ple, Join our hap-py throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song;
Christ the roy-al Mas . ter, Leads against the foe; For-ward in . to bat . tie, See His ban-ner go! Hell's fout-da-tions quiv . er At the shout of praise, Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise. We are not di . vid . ed; All one bod . y we, One in hope and doc . trine, One in char . i . ty. Glo - ry, land and bon . or Un . to Christ, the King, This thro' countless a . ges Men and angels sing.
REFRAIN.
Onward, Christian sol - diers! Marching as to war, With the cross of Je . mas Go-ing ou before.
My Jesus I Love Thee.
English.
A J. Gordon.
1. My Je - sus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the fol - lies of sin I re - sign; 2. I love Thee be - cause Thou hast first lov-ed me, And purchased my par-don on Cal . va . ry's tree; 3. I'll love Thee in life, I wil love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath, 4. In man-sions of glo . ry and end - less de-light, I'll ev . er a . dore Thee in beav-en so bright;
My gra-cious Re . deem . er, my Sav . ior art Thou; If ev . er I loved Thee, My Je . sus, 'tis now. I love Thee for wear - ing the thorns on Thy brow; If ev . er I loved Thee, My Je . sus, 'tis now. And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow; "If ev . er I loved Thee. My Jo . sus, 'tis now." I'll sing with the glit . ter . ing crown on my brow; "Lf ev . er I loved Thee, My Je . sus, 'tis now."
Walter Scott
Thomas Campbell A. Campbell Frederick W. Faber. Faith of Our Fathers!
Barton Stone H. F. Hemy. adpt.
1. Faith of our fathers! liv - ing still In spite of dun-geon, fire and sword:
2. Our fathers, chained in pris-ons dark, Were still in heart and conscience free;
3. Faith of our fa - thers, God's great pow'r Shall soon all nations win for thee;
4. Faith of our fathers, we will love Both friend and foe in all our strife,
0 how our hearts beat high with joy, Whene'er we hear that glorious word: How sweet would be their children's fate If they, like them, could die for theel And thro' the truth that comes from God, Mankind shall then be tru - ly free. And preach thee, too, as love knows how, By kind-ly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers! ho . ly faith! We will be true to thee till death fff= ==== 2.
We're Marching to Zion
1. Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known, Join in a song with sweet accord, join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne, and thus surround the throne.
Chorus We're marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion, We're marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.
2. The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets; Before we reach the heavenly fields, before we reach the heavenly Or walk the golden streets, or walk the golden streets. fields,
12
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
CHRISTIANS AND DISCIPLES UNITE
In 1832 Barton W. Stone, together with a majority of those who held his views, and Alexander Campbell and his followers, began to be united into one body. A meeting had been called for the purpose. "Raccoon" John Smith and B. W. Stone were the appointed speakers representing the Disciples and the Christians respectively. There was a pub- lic, dramatic, and touching overt act on Saturday, Janu- ary 1, 1832, at Lexington, Kentucky, which may be regard- ed as the actual formal step that initiated the union of Dis- ciples and Christians. It is so important that we copy the following description of it from the life of John Smith. Closing his address Smith said :
"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 in the words of the Book. This is the foundation on which Christians once stood, and on it they can, and ought to, stand again. From this I can- not depart to meet any man or set of men, in the wide world. While, for the sake of peace and Christian union, I have long since waived the public maintenance of any specula- tion I may hold, yet not one gospel fact, commandment, or promise, will I surrender for the world.
"Let us, then, my brethren, be no longer Campbellites, or Stoneites, New Lights, or Old Lights, or any kind of lights, but let us all come to the Bible and to the Bible alone, as the only book in the world that can give us all the light we need."
Smith sat down, and Stone arose. The following is part of his speech :
"Controversies of the Church sufficiently prove that Christians never can be one in their speculations upon those mysterious and sublime subjects, which, while they interest the Christian philosopher, can not edify the Church. I per- fectly accord with Brother Smith that those speculations should never be taken into the pulpit; but that when com- pelled to speak of them at all, we should do so in the words of inspiration.
"I have not one objection to the ground laid down by him as the true scriptural basis of union among the people of God; and I am willing to give him, now and here, my hand."
13
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
He turned as he spoke, and offered to Smith a hand trembling with rapture and brotherly love, and it was grasped by a hand full of honest pledges of fellowship, and the union was virtually accomplished.
It was now proposed that all who felt willing to unite on these principles, should express their willingness by giving one another the hand of fellowship; and elders and teachers hastened forward, and joined their hands and hearts in joyful accord. A song arose, and brothers and sisters, with many tearful greetings, ratified and confirmed the union. On Lord's day, they broke the loaf together, and in that sweet and solemn communion, again pledged to each other their brotherly love.
This union of the Christians and the Disciples was not a surrender of the one party to the other; it was an agree- ment of such as already recognized and loved each other as brethren, to work and to worship together. It was a union of those who held alike the necessity of implicit faith and of unreserved obedience; who accepted the facts, com- mands, and promises, as set forth in the Bible; who con- ceded the right of private judgment to all; who taught that opinions were no part of the faith delivered to the saints; and who were now pledged that no speculative matters should ever be debated to the disturbance of the peace and harmony of the Church, but that when compelled to speak on controverted subjects, they would adopt the style and language of the Holy Spirit. (History of the Disciples of Christ, by Moore, Pp. 208-209)
Now, over a century old, the Disciples of Christ, still have a keen passion for bringing about Christian union and still believe that it will be brought about by the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the New Testament exerted through the Church of Jesus Christ. Besides their own program they have never failed to cooperate with any other true movement for Christian union. Christian En- deavor, Interchurch World Movement, and Federal Council of Churches of Christ have received proportional support and many of their ablest leaders from the Disciples of Christ. They have constantly brought about the union of congregations in local vicinities, and at present are meeting with the leaders of two great denominations, making plans for Christian union which possibly may be realized within a decade. Thus they continue to prove faith by their works.
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
TEACHINGS
We strive to restore Christ's Church as set forth in the New Testament and upheld by the apostles and early Church fathers. Thus we reject all man-made names, designations, creeds, disciplines, or ordinances and cleave to New Testa- ment nomenclature, doctrines, ordinances and practices, believing that the divine pattern in the New Testament is the only pattern which provides a platform broad enough and strong enough for all Christians. We plead for the union of all Christ's followers on this basis.
New Testament practices are upheld by us. The Lord's supper was observed on the first day of the week and was neither opened nor closed but for all the Lord's people. (Acts 20:7; 2:42) Baptism was administered only to those who believed in Jesus Christ and confessed their faith be- fore men; (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28-41 ; 8:12-37; 18:8 ; Rom. 10:10) and then only as Jesus instituted it and as the apos- tles practiced it, by immersion. (Acts 8:38; Mark 1:9; Matt. 28:19; 3:16; Rom. 6:4; Ccl. 2:12; Heb. 10:22).
Churches were free from the rulership of men, and the members lived lives of prayer and faithfulness to Christ. The only authority imposed upon Christians was and is the authority of Deity. This position rejects all creeds, dis- ciplines, and opinions of men as binding upon the con- science, and throws us upon the Word of God for the teach- ing of the pulpit and the polity of the Church. (II Tim. 3 :16-17) ʻ
As taught in the New Testament, we say the necessary thing to become a saved individual and thus automatically become a member of Christ's Church is a genuine progres- sive experience of Faith, Repentance, Confession, Baptism, and continuous effort to follow Christ's example and teach- ings. (What We Teach, a pamphlet by M. H. Groves, pp. 3-6)
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
Walter Scott
Isaac Errett
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
FOUNDER
Jesus Christ Matt. 16: 18
1 FOUNDATION
Jesus Christ Isa. 28: 16 ; Matt. 16: 18; Eph. 2: 19,20; I Pet. 2: 4-6 ; ; 1 Cor. 3 : 11 )
WHEN AND WHERE FOUNDED
Isa. 2: 1-4 Mic. 4: 1, 2 Luke 24: 46-49 Acts 1: 4-8 Acts 2: 1-4, 41-37
Character Visible- Gal. 1: 13 or Invisible-1 Pet. 2: 5
SAINTS
THE ORGANI- ZATION CON- SISTS OF Phil. 1:1
ELDERS
DEACONS OF ORGANI- ZATION
OF MEM- BERS
AUTHORITY Isa. 62: 2; 65: 15; Acts 11: FOR THE NAME CHRISTIA.
26 Jas. 2: 7; I Pet. 4: 16 Amos 9: 11; Acts 15: 13-17 LDan. 9: 19; Eph. 3: 14, 15
CREED 3 JESUS CHRIST
(Apostles' Creed -- Matt. 16: 16: Rom. 10: 8-10 Importance of Confessing Christ-Matt. 10: 32. 33: 1 John 4: 15 Examples of Confessing Christ Matt. 16: 16: John 1: 49; Acts 8: 37; 1 Tim. 6: 11 Unchangeableness of Creed and Confession-Heb. 13: 8
BAPTISM
Proper Subject: a penitent. believer-Mark 16: 16: Acts 2: 28-41: 8: 12-37: 18: 8 How performed-Matt. 3: 16: Acts 8: 38. 39: John 3: 5: Rom. 6: 4: Col. 2: 12: Heb. 10: 22 ( Design-Mark 16: 16: John 3: 5: Acts 2: 38: 22: 16: 1 Pet. 3: 21
ORDINANCES
COMMUNION
Instituted-Matt. 26: 26-28: Mark 4: 22-24: Luke 22: 19. 20: 1 Cor. 11: Importance of-John 6: 48-58: 1 Cor. 10: 16 When to be observed-Acts 20: 7: 1 Cor. 11: 28 Self-examination before taking-1 Cor. 11: 27. 28-30 Results of partaking unworthily-1 Cor. 11: 27. 29. 30
-7
IT IS A COMMUNION WITH CHRIST 1 Cor. 10: 16
RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE
WORD OF GOD
Sufficiency for church government -- 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17 Seed of the Kingdom-Matt. 13: 3; Luke 8: 11 L Sword of the Spirit -- Eph. 6: 17; Heb. 4: 12
L To be used in conversion of the world-Mark 16: 15, 16; Matt. 28: 19, 20 "Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, that the man of God may be perfect, furnished completely unto all good works."
GOLDEN
ANNIVERSARY
NAME
-
Called of God-Rom. 1: 7: 1 Cor. 1: 2: 2 Tim. 1, 8. 9 How Called-Heb. 8: 10: John 6: 45: Rom. 10: 14. 15: 1 Cor. 1: 21: 2 Thess. 2: 13 Why Called-Acts 26: 16-18: Luke 21: 7: Tit. 2: 14: 2 Thess. 2: 14; Rom. 10: 1-13; 11: 23-32 Office-I Tim. 3 : 5 : 5: 17 : I Pet. 5: 1-3 ; ) Acts 20: 28 DUTY OF CHURCH TO OFFICERS - OTHER ) Rom. 8: 6, 7 NAMES SINFUL ) 1 Cor. 3: 1-7 1 Cor. 1 : 11-15 Character-I Tim. 3: 1-7; Tit. 1: 5-9 Duty -- I Tim. 3 : 2 : 5: 17 : 1 Pet. 5: 2, 3; I Thess. 5: 12 Office-Acts 6: 1-6 Character-I Tim. 3: 8-13 Duty-Acts 6: 1-3 Church of God-Acts 20: 28: 1 Cor. 1: 2: 1 Tim. 3: 5 Church of the Living God I Tim. 3: 15 Body of Christ -- Col. 1: 24: Eph. 4: 12: 5: 23 The Church of Christ-Rom. 16: 16: Eph. 5: 23 Disciples-John 15: 8: Acts 11: 26 Saints-Rom. 1: 7: 1 Cor. 1: 2: Phil. 1: 1: Col. 1: 2 Brethren-Luke 8: 21: 1 Cor. 15: 6: Jas. 1: 2: 2 Pet. Christians-Acts 11: 26: 26: 28: 1 Pet. 4: 16 Children-Gal. 3: 26
To be submissive-Heb. 13: 7-17 Not rebuke-I Tim. 5 . 1; I Pet. 5: 5 About accusations-I Tim. 5: 19 Honor-I Tim. 5: 17; I Thess. 5: 13 L Salute Heb. 13: 24
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
THE PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED
In order to escape the party spirit which has broken the peace and reduced the power of Christ's Church, the Disciples sought to stand on common, universal ground. Without this there can be no real union. They propose the following principles of life and union to their brethren, in addition to the great fundamentals manifestiy held by all Christians:
1. A universal Church. The pioneers said, and their succes- sors today declare, that "The Church of Christ is intentionally and constitutionally one, and all divisions which break this unity are contrary to the will of God."
2. They propose a universal book as the only rule of faith and practice, the only authoritative and complete repository of all that is necessary to faith, practice and expectation in this world and in that which is to come. That book is the Bible, the only book which can support claims of universality and of special revelation.
3. The universal confession of faith, that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matt. 16:15, 16).
4. The Universal, Scriptural names, believer, Christian, dis- ciple, saint, brethren and the other great words that describe the people of God.
5. The universally accepted ordinances, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, in form, administration and purpose as they were given and practiced by Christ and His apostles.
6. The universal life, such as that set forth by Christ and his apostles in the New Testament.
7. The universal aim, which is to establish the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
(B. A. Abbott.)
The first separate organiza- tion as a church, under the Campbell influence, was formed May 4, 1811, at Brush Run, Pa. It had 29 members.
At the beginning of our first "World Convention," held in Washington, D. C., October, 1930, a gavel was presented the presiding officer, Rev. Jesse M. Bader. He in turn presented it to Mr. Black from England who is chairman for 1934. The gavel was made out of a tim- ber from this Brush Run Church.
BRUSH RUN CHURCH
GOLDEN £ ANNIVERSARY
THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES
By James A. Garfield
1. We call ourselves Christians or Disciples.
2. We believe in God the Father.
3. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and our Saviour. We regard the divinity of Christ as the funda- mental truth of the Christian system.
4. We believe in the Holy Spirit, both as to his agency in conversion, and as a dweller in the heart of the Christian.
5. We accept both the Old and New Testament Scriptures as the inspired Word of God.
6. We believe in the future punishment of the wicked and the future reward of the righteous.
7. We believe that Deity is a prayer-hearing and a prayer- answering God.
8. We observe the institution of the Lord's Supper on every Lord's Day. We say it is the Lord's Supper for all the Lord's chil- dren.
9. We plead for the union of all God's people on the Bible and the Bible alone.
10. Christ is our only creed.
11. We maintain that all the ordinances should be observed
as they were in the days of the apostles.
CANE RIDGE CHURCH, BOURBON COUNTY, KENTUCKY
The earliest large movement in New Testament interpretation began under Barton W. Stone, a Presbyterian minister. near Paris, Kentucky, in 1804.
A great reviva! here in August, 1801 resulted in a large number of conver- sions.
In 1903 the Presbyterians disowned Mr. Stone and his associates because of their preaching. The new work started in 1804 at Cane Ridge under Barton W. Stone, to whom the Disciples owe more than credit has been given him.
19
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
ACTIVITIES BEYOND STAFFORD
A part of the history of this congregation is the work of the Brotherhood's agencies to which it has contributed much of its time, prayer and money.
FOREIGN MISSIONS
On foreign fields the brotherhood has established churches or missionary work in forty-one (41) countries. Reports from ten missionary fields show that there are on these ten fields 1,252 churches and regular meeting places; 65,181 members; 11,357 members of young peoples socie- ties; a total property value of $3,040,071.65; and hospitals and medical staffs supplying 505,595 treatments to natives last year.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Our Religious Education department provides for the training of leaders in every aspect of religious leadership. It conducts leadership training classes, vacation church schools, laboratory training schools, adult conferences and young peoples' conferences. It provides through a curricu- lum committee a total curriculum for the local church, co- operating with the Brotherhood's various publishing houses in supplying the best literature available. Closely related to this board but maintained separately is the Board on Social Education and Social Action dealing specifically with social problems such as prohibition, intemperance, crime, race prejudice, war, etc.
CHURCH EXTENSION
Church Extension is a Board created to assist in build- ing enterprises and to help financially weak churches. Its working fund is $3,300,000.00 and it has aided 2,780 churches with loans totalling over $8,000,000.00. It main- tains an Architectural Department with a Church Archi- tect to give counsel in combining beauty and efficiency in building and remodeling projects. This board helped us erect our first building in 1892 with a loan of $400.00 which was paid off during the following seven years.
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