USA > Ohio > A history of the Disciples of Christ in Ohio > Part 11
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In the early history of our efforts to restore primitive Christianity to the world, the attention of the disciples was taken up with denomina-
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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
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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 would 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 "the 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 "Reverend." 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
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in music. The organ was opposed as an innova- tion. Franklin took a decided stand against the use of musical instruments 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 his 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 10 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.
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Dr. John P. Robison
John T. Phillips
Charles M. Phillips
James Abram Garfield
Isaac Errett
Thomas W. Phillips
Wallace J. Ford
Richard Hawley
Harmon Austin
STOCKHOLDERS OF THE CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, CLEVELAND, OHIO, 1866
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XX THE "CHRISTIAN STANDARD"
THE 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. Phillips, 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.
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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. Rhodes 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 all 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
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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, O., 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 advisers 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.
G. 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
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is the battleground of ideas. The religious jour- nal that stands for an unmutilated 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 Restoration 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 heavy 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.
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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 Relief. 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 volumes, 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
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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 truth, 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
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comforts the sorrowing heart, and the love which honors God, blesses man, and binds Christians in blessed fellowship, ever inspire and sway the hearts 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 burn 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
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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, establish 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
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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. TYLER, Pres. "ALANSON WILCOX, Cor. Sec."
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R. W. Carroll, Treasurer and Manager
Isaac Errett, President
Russell Errett, Secretary
OFFICERS OF THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY, ORGANIZED 1872, IN CINCINNATI, OHIO
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XXII
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY
THE 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 principles 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, O., where he had assumed the presi- dency of Alliance College. Retiring from that position at the end of the first year, through the enterprise of R. W. Carroll, of Cincinnati, and encouraged by W. T. Moore, W. S. Dickinson
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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-
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W. R. Errett, President
Jane R. Errett, Secretary
Russell Errett, Manager and Treasurer
John P. Errett, Vice-President
THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY AND ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 1918
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tem 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 Publishing 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.
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S. S. Lappin
James S. Lamar
Hugh McDiarmid
J. W. McGarvey
W. K. Pendleton
Chas. Louis Loos
James A. Lord
William Baxter
R. Richardson EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS "CHRISTIAN STANDARD"
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In addition to this periodical service, the company has performed a similar service for our book literature, until 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 all 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 God, 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-
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