USA > Ohio > A history of the Disciples of Christ in Ohio > Part 10
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"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
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the sunshine 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 Ætna 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
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Edward Irving, with the Titan tread of Robert 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-
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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 Cary 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 previously (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;
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and to these abuses Scott was no less hostile than was Owen.
After establishing the cause 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
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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? Are you destitute of common intelli- gence? Careless with regard to your own 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! 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! 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." 2
The effect of this appeal was wonderful. The entire audience was astir. The first notes of the
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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 stereotyped 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.
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Joseph Franklin
Sidney Smith Clark
Dr. Elkannah Williams
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H. N. Allen
R. M. Bishop
C. H. Gould
John Shackleford
Ira D. Washburn W. S. Dickinson CINCINNATI PIONEERS, PROMINENT IN CITY AND CHURCH
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XIX THE RESTORATION IN CINCINNATI
CAMPBELL AND PURCELL.
IN 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-
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scriptural 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
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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 ?
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
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pedagogy that is silurian and antiquated. Put God into the system.
R. M. BISHOP.
R. M. Bishop came to Cincinnati 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 in 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 Bellefontaine, 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 officer, Bro. Bishop delivered the fol- lowing address :
"DEAR BRETHREN :- In the kind providence of our heavenly Father, we are again permitted to
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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
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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 somewhat 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
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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, O., Sept. 11, 1822 -a son of Ezekiel and Minerva Lockwood.
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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., O.
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, O., 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, O., 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. Orab, Dayton, Hamersville, Liberty, Rip- ley, Russellville, Fincastle, Monterey and other towns.
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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 born in Belmont County, O., 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 till his heart was stilled in death in 1878.
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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.
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