USA > Ohio > Early history of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio : with biographical sketches of the principal agents in their religious movement > Part 12
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* The better to be heard, the house being very full.
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gospel, and teach the whole truth of Christianity accord- ing to my best ability, etc., etc. Bro. A. Campbell then put the question : 'Whether there was any law of Christ by which I could be condemned ?' The vote was in the negative, and in my favor by an overwhelming majority. This I took to be quite a triumph ; but the end was not yet.
" The next morning I attended sunrise prayer-meet- ing. After the usual routine of reading, singing, and prayer, the leader of the meeting, whose name I do not recollect, arose and spoke as follows : ' Brethren, I under- stand there are certain persons in the fellowship of this association who deny that sinners are saved by grace, and say that those who die in their sins will be purified by hell-fire. I move,' said he, ' that such persons be disfellowshiped.' In a twinkling I was on my feet, and said: 'I second that motion ; for by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves : 'it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Now,' said I, 'if any member of this association holds any doctrine contradictory to the teaching of this passage, I move that he be immediately disfellowshiped.' The old Brother who had put the mo- tion, struck a direct line for the door, and the congrega- tion followed him ; and there my association troubles ended. Affairs, however, would probably have taken a very dif- ferent turn, had somebody else than myself seconded the old man's motion.
" I was dealt with, and my case managed, by Bro. Camp- bell and all the chief brethren in very great kindness and wisdom. Had they attempted to brow-beat me I might have been ruined forever. But treating me kindly, at the same time that they convinced me that my opinion, whether true or false, dwindled into nothingness in comparison with the faith of the gospel, redeemed me. I became a day and night preacher of the gospel, and my mind becoming ab- sorbed in this vast work, the opinion faded, and in ten months
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was numbered with all my former errors. The Lord be thanked for his great deliverance. Bro. Campbell, I ought to say, invited me to go to Bethany, and told he thought he could convince me that my Restorationist opinion was false."
"NOTE I .- I make a distinction between Restoration- ism and Universalism. Opinions are only to be tolerated when they do not subvert obvious facts of the gospel. This Universalism does in its teaching concerning the di- vinity of Christ, atonement, making God the author of sin, denying the remission of sins, and a judgment, and punishment after death. I consider the system no bet- ter than deism.
" NOTE 2 .- I remained on the Reserve but a short time after the association. I came to the south part of Ohio and preached in Dayton, Cincinnati, and many other places, with some success ; and finally, in Wilmington, Ohio, in which place and its vicinity I baptized many persons. We used to make our numerous converts at one, two and three days' meetings. Now it often takes two and three weeks' pounding, day and night, with the hammer of the Word to crack the shell of worldliness which surrounds the heart. What shall be the end ? 'When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith in the earth ?' A. R."
The reception of Raines delighted the great body of the young converts and reformers, whose feelings were awakened in his favor. It was also hailed with equal interest by the older and sounder advocates of the plea for Christian union on Christian princi- ples, as it was a clear and conspicuous case in which these principles were strikingly illustrated. They regarded it, therefore, as a marked victory for the truth.
A principal business of this meeting was to hear the report of the evangelist, and to make arrangements for future labors. We subjoin the
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REPORT OF WALTER SCOTT, THE EVANGELIST OF THE ASSOCIATION.
" BELOVED BRETHREN :- The Christian of the nine- teenth century has been permitted to witness the accom- plishment of wonderful events. Providence has stationed him on a sublime eminence, from which he can behold the fulfillment of illustrious prophecies, and look backward upon nearly the whole train of events leading to the Mil- lennium.
" Afar off, and upon the background of the picture be- fore him, of wonderful extent, and in all the greatness of imperial ruin, appear the three great empires of Babylon, Persia, and Greece. Nearer to hand lies Rome; eternal Rome ! terrible in her origin, terrible in her glory, terri- ble in her decline and fall ! Living and acting through a long series of ages, she approaches the very verge of the present scene of things, till she assumes the distracted form of the ten kingdoms spoken of by Daniel, the remains of which now reel to and fro upon the face of Europe, like a drunken man, ready to be engulphed in the yawning judg- ments of Almighty God. Sic transit Gloria Mundi.
" But from amidst the blaze of her glory, see yet loftier scenes arise. Behold the kingdom of our Lord Jesus, awaking under the eye of the Cæsars! Small in its begin- ning, it rolls forward, it survives all Roman greatness ; and that which was yonder a little stone, is here become a vast mountain, and fills the whole earth. The waters which yonder issued from the threshold of the Lord's house, have here arisen ; they have become waters to swim in-a river that can not be passed over.
" Here, too, are the impostures of Mahomet and the Pope, with temples having the lowermost part consecrated to God, the upper to the worship of idols. Arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold, and precious stones,
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and pearls, behold the apostate church, mounted upon her imperial beast, holds forth to the intoxicated nations a golden cup in her hand, full of abomination and of the filthiness of her fornication ! On her fair but unblush- ing forehead is inscribed Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth. She shall be thrown down with the violence of a millstone plunged into the midst of the ocean.
" Her portentous offspring also issued to mankind in the mature age of 666, with the head of a lamb and the heart of a dragon : the Inquisition raiseth itself on high, with the power, the delusion and cruelty of its parent ; it comes roving over the earth, and causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
" Here, also, is the French Atheism, filled with all pre- sumption, and magnifying itself above every god; he speaketh marvelous things against the true God; his hands are filled with spears, and his skirts are drenched in blood ; but he shall come to his end, says Daniel, and none shall help him.
" All these things, beloved brethren, have passed in re- view before the Christian of the nineteenth century ; but if we have had to witness schemes of policy and supersti- tion so wild and enthusiastic, and apparently so unfavora- ble to the true religion, we have seen many things intro- duced also highly conducive to its promulgation and recep- tion among mankind. Above all, we have seen the church in America seated down under a gracious and efficient government, affording her and all men an unprecedented security of life and property ; and if her unity be still a desideratum, we ought to remember that the saints, for nearly three hundred years, have been combating tyranny and superstition with astonishing success, until those who
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despise every name and every phrase, not found in the Scripture, have become, probably, by far the most nu- merous body of professors in the United States. But who would have thought it remained for any so late as 1827, to restore to the world the manner-the primitive manner- of administering to mankind the gospel of our Lord Je- sus Christ ! or which of you, brethren, would have thought, two years ago, of men coming from forty to a hundred and twenty miles to the ministers of the Mahoning churches for -baptism ! Yet these things have actually occurred ; and who can not see, that, by the blessings of God, the ancient gospel and ancient order of the church must pre- vail to the certain abolition of all those contumacious sects which now so woefully afflict mankind ?
"Brethren, we have a right to expect great things of our Father, if we are united and stand fast, striving to- gether for the faith of the gospel. And be it known to you, brethren, that individuals eminently skilled in the Word of God, the history of the world, and the progress of human improvement, see reasons to expect great changes, much greater than have yet occurred, and which shall give to political society and to the church a different, a very different, complexion from what many anticipate.
" The Millennium-the Millennium described in Scrip- ture-will doubtless be a wonder, a terrible wonder to ALL.
" The gospel, since last year, has been preached with great success in Palmyra, Deerfield, Randolph, Shalersville, Nelson, Hiram, etc., etc., by Bros. Finch, Hubbard, Fer- guson, Bosworth, Hayden, and others. Several new churches have been formed ; and so far as I am enabled to judge, the congregations are in a very flourishing condition. Indeed, the preacher of the present day, like the angel of the Revelation, seated on the triumphant cloud, has only to thrust in his sharp sickle in order to reap a rich harvest of souls, and gather it in unto eternal life."
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The work in Bro. Scott's hands had prospered so far beyond expectation, that only one feeling pre- vailed on the question of re-appointing him. When the subject came up, some proposed that he be al- lowed to travel where Providence opened " a door of faith," not restricting him to associational limits. Others reasoned that there was much work needed in the bounds of the association, and that, as this body is responsible for his support, it had a right to his labors, and it was its duty to direct them. None doubted the power or the propriety of this body tak- ing the work into its hands of sending him out and marking out his field ; but some thought it not ad- visable so to tie his hands ; that if he saw a door beyond the specified limits, he should not feel for- bidden to go over into Macedonia. Rigdon, who had taken no part in this discussion, becoming weary of it, said : " You are consuming too much time on this question. One of the old Jerusalem preachers would start out with his hunting shirt and moccasins, and convert half the world while you are discussing and settling plans !" Upon this, Bro. Scott arose with a genial smile, and remarked : “ Brethren, give me my Bible, my Head, and Bro. William Hayden, and we will go out and convert the world." Then Rigdon, " I move that we give Bro. Scott his Bible, his Head, and Bro. William Hayden." It was settled in a few moments, as Rigdon's resolution was seconded and passed unanimously.
Bro. Scott said afterward, that he chose Bro. Wil- liam Hayden not because he could preach better than any one else, but for his powers of music ; that there was not a man in the association who could
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sing like him. Scott showed his discrimination in this choice. People used to come out to their meet- ings on purpose to hear Hayden sing. He was full of song and full of songs-a ready one always at hand, appropriate to the hearers. Many hearts were first melted with music, and then molded for Christ by the gospel. The preaching was all the better, as both preacher and people were subdued in feeling, and disposed to hear the tidings of salvation with tenderness of heart. The hymns he sang were mostly set pieces, of great beauty and power, and which he " rendered" in a style of surpassing brilliancy and force. On several occasions, when the great name and eloquence of Scott failed to batter down the walls of prejudice, and to get a hearing, he retired from the audience, saying: "I'll send Willie, and he'll sing you out !"
It would be difficult to convey to the reader an adequate conception of the power of this great meet- ing. It was notable for several reasons : The ability and number of the preachers in attendance lifted it into conspicuity above any preceding occasion. The large and enthusiastic assemblage of disciples, newly converted to Christ, or newly from the thrall of sectarian shackles, into the "glorious liberty of the sons of God"-all rejoicing in the fresh views of the original gospel, and the proofs of its power to convert sinners, seen in the hundreds, the fruits of the recent proclamation of it, now here assembled. The Millennium seemed near. The songs, the preaching, and the prayers were well flavored with the ardent hope of it. No song of praise or of hope was so popular as the hymn-
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" When the King of kings comes, When the Lord of lords comes, We shall have a joyful day When the King of kings comes :
To see the nations broken down And kingdoms once of great renown,
And saints now suffering wear the crown When the King of kings comes !"
A new tune for it, composed by William Hayden, was rapidly caught by the people, who swelled the song like a grand jubilee chorus.
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM HAYDEN.
WILLIAM HAYDEN was born in Rosstrevor Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., Lord's day, June 30, 1799. In April, 1804, his father moved to the wilds of the new State of Ohio, and settled in Youngstown, where William, the oldest of the family, experienced the privations of pioneer life. Fond of reading, and having access to few books, he read much in the Bible. He was, when he was young, perplexed with questions about the origin of things, and what shall be hereafter. He was a deist before he was twelve ; then for awhile the gulph of atheism yawned before him. From its frightful chasm he was rescued by the reflection, that "if nothing had eternally or primarily existed, nothing could have been originated, and that hence a cause uncaused was self-evident." He farther reflected that to doubt the existence of a Creator leads necessarily to a doubt of the existence of the creature. For awhile he tried the bold adventure of doubting his own existence. This was impossible. His conclusion, in his own words was, "there is no sense in being a fool!" Cured now of atheism-for deism he found another remedy: “I plainly saw that to turn away from the Bible, we plunge ourselves into darkness, and our only refuge is in our ig- norance." "Finally, reading again the narrative of the
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inhuman treatment of Christ from the garden to the sep- ulcher, and seeing how patiently and meekly he endured it all, his whole life passed in review before my mind. I was indignant that such a person should be so treated. What harm had he ever done them? The only perfect character that ever appeared on earth ; a model of good- ness, wisdom, dignity, condescension, and pity-just such a friend as ignorant, suffering man needed-and to be re- quited thus ! Till now I had never seen sin in its hateful- ness, and I felt myself a sinner."
For four years longer, till he was sixteen, he struggled in the mysteries of Calvinism ; hoping, if he was one of the elect, God would impart the evidence of it in a needed and desired regeneration. A revival occurring, he sought the coveted relief. At last, he was thoroughly aroused by the words of Jesus, Matt. xii : 36, 37: " I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." He fled for refuge to the hope of the gospel. He was baptized May 19, 1816, by Elder Joshua Woodworth, and united with the Baptist church, of which his parents were members.
December 20, 1818, he married Miss Mary McCollum, and settled on new lands in Austintown. In the midst of his work his zeal did not relax. When the church in Youngstown ran down, he took membership in Canfield. He studied the Scriptures diligently, and was ready always to give a " reason for the hope that was in him." I quote from his own pen : " I had heard some time before of one Alexander Campbell. I had read a sermon from his pen, and now in October, 1821, he was to preach in Warren, and I resolved to hear him. He was then thirty-three years of age, the sharpest man I ever saw, both in appear- ance and in intellect, and I confess I was afraid he might lead us astray. His first sermon was from the text, 'Thy
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kingdom come.' I soon saw what he meant to make · out, and I did not mean to believe him ; but I could not help believing him. He showed that the kingdom had come. At that meeting, which was for the mutual im- provement of the preachers, he made several remarks, which were new and startling, and of infinite use to me. He said 'the true disciple of Christ will follow the truth wherever it leads.' Upon a moment's reflection, I saw there was no safety in doing otherwise. I resolved that whatever the truth would make me, I would endeavor to be. A second was, 'you will notice the apostles in preaching the gospel never said one word about election.' I saw this was true. But then I thought, what is the gos- pel? I soon saw if the gospel can be preached without election, so can it without any of the 'five points.'""
A person with so tenacious and energetic a mind could not abandon the cherished system of Calvinism without a great struggle. His " Christian experience " had to be analyzed, and every impression and feeling traced to its cause. But the truth that faith comes by hearing the testi- mony of God was revolutionary, and he did not rest till it had gained in his mind the complete ascendency. Every number of the Christian Baptist was thoroughly sifted. No wonder, then, that after seven years of so thorough a schooling he was ready, at the call of the asso- ciation, to enter unhesitatingly into the work of teaching the true gospel to the world. His own struggles, and his complete mastery of his own difficulties, prepared him to relieve others from similar doubts and scruples.
In May, 1828, the church of Canfield gave him license as a preacher of the gospel. In October following, after his call to ride with Scott, he was ordained, in his own church of Austintown, of which he was then a member and leader, by brethren Scott and Bentley.
From this time his labors were double those of most men. Working with his own hands as much as other
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men, and yet more in his saddle than most preachers. For twenty-five years he was absent from his own home on an average two hundred and forty days and nights each year. His industry was proverbial. He was incessant in preaching, teaching, and conversation-in public and in private. He created openings-occupied them, and when others could be found to hold the positions, he broke new ground. He was the first man and the chief operator in raising up the churches in Ravenna, Aurora, Shalersville, Akron, Royalton, Warrensville, Solon, and Russell, and several others.
The following from his pen, written near the close of his life, is worthy of careful attention :
"I perceived within six months of the beginning of my labors the necessity of system in our operations, of which we had none-measures to call out and prepare fit men to preach and teach, and to take care of the con- verts-measures to insure a reasonable support for such men-measures to secure harmony of action among the preachers, and for holding the ground already gained. I spoke of all these interests to all the brethren; but there was only one man who seemed to perceive any sense in what I had to say, and that was Jacob Osborne, one of the most wise, prudent, and godly men we ever had among us ; and he died in May, 1829. For twenty years I urged these things, but they received no encouragement. I was astonished that all could not see the indispensable neces- sity of a matter so in accordance with common sense, and the demands of every-day experience ; for the want of which so many of our churches are languishing almost to dissolution.
" After twenty years hardship, toiling against wind and tide, my brother A. S. Hayden and I resolved that we would lay before the brotherhood the expediency of found- ing an institution of learning-the Eclectic Institute-at
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Hiram. It took with the people, and has accomplished much in many ways.
" Isaac Errett responded to the appeal uncompromis- ingly to aid in getting an association of churches for the purpose of missionary operations on the Western Reserve. Shortly after, in 1852, the Ohio State Missionary Society was organized. It works well, and is likely to live and prosper ; for the brethren are forced to see, after so long a time, the need of united action. But, oh how much the cause of Christ has lost! and how many have died igno- rant of the gospel ! and how many more will, for not hav- ing had a good system of management from the com- mencement !
"But now my labors are about ended, and I am be- ginning to see the brethren act like men of common sense. One whole generation has passed away, and we are not quite ready to begin to act with efficiency in this great work of showing our contemporaries the true gospel in contradistinction from the speculations of men about the gospel. Until the true gospel is honored by its friends, it will not be heard so as to be understood ; and, until it is understood, faith that justifies will be supposed to come by prayer and the mysterious work of the Spirit ; and while that is so, the evidence of prophecy and mira- cle will not be taught the people. Consequently, igno- rance, unbelief, division, and iniquity will abound, as it is at this day.
"No man has labored so wisely and so successfully as Alexander Campbell, to show the true gospel and its evi- dences, and how men become Christians, since the great apostasy commenced ; and almost no man appreciates his labors ! He has left nothing to be done by any other re- former who may come after him; and I fear it will be another generation before those who acknowledge him a reformer will organize, so as to be as efficient as all other people are in conducting their affairs."
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His teaching on the whole question of conversion, was so clear and thorough, few who heard him candidly failed to see the difference between the teaching of the Scriptures on this important subject, and the mystic theories of regeneration which bewilder the mind and per- plex the conscience. His converts were, therefore, thor- ough and decided, like himself. One of these, Jewett Frost, of Richfield, could not rest till his brother and other friends in Riga, New York, should hear the same truth. At his instance, Wm. Hayden went into that State in 1832, and afterward, alone or in company with others, he made many and extensive trips in most of the Western counties of the Empire State, and in Canada, where he powerfully proclaimed the gospel, and rendered the most efficient service in establishing the cause of reformation. In western Pennsylvania, Virginia, and in all the region of North-east Ohio his pioneer labors laid the foundations for others to build upon. Some of his most stirring and profitable tours were into Michigan and Wisconsin ; so that from Syracuse to the Mississippi River, and from Canada to Virginia, he " fully preached the gospel of Christ."
The following account of him is from the Millennial Harbinger, to which it was sent by the writer, 1863, just after his death:
During his ministry of thirty-five years he traveled ninety thousand miles, full sixty thousand of which he made on horseback-that is, by this mode of travel- a distance of more than twice around the world ! The baptisms by his own hands were twelve hundred and seven. He preached over nine thousand sermons, that is, over two hundred and sixty one discourses per annum for every year of the thirty-five years of his public life. He once preached over fifty sermons in the month of Novem- ber alone. Besides all these pulpit services, his private labors were abundant and incessant. He had a peculiar turn for winning attention, and imparting instruction in
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the social circle, mingling the humor that charms with the experience which teaches. Few could relish or relate an anecdote better, or apply one more appropriately for purposes of illustration. Yet he never indulged in re- citals of any in which the adorable Name, or any of the titles of the Most High, were even playfully, much less irreverently, introduced ; a practice against which he bore frequent and forcible testimony.
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