Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-15

church, or be made term of communion
among Christians, that is not as old as the
New Testement. Nor ought anything to be
admitted as Of Divine obligation 10 the
church constitution or management, save
what is enjoined by the authority Of our
Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles upon the
New Testament church, either in express
terms or. by approved precedent. \" i
On the foregoing declarations Mr.. Camp
bell took his stand, and the consequence
was that after having been arraigned as the
setter forth Of strange doctrines" and the
would be founder of new sect, which ac-
cusations he repelled by saying that "thers
is nothing new in Christianity" he separa-
ted from the Presbyterian. communion, and
began to appear iD public in defense Of his
views and in vindication of his entire ortho-
doxy. We have not space in a brief me.
moir like this to follow Mr. Campbell's
career as religious conference.-the, both in
print and in the pulpit Neither would it
be proper for us to attempt anything beyond
such an outline as BELTS secular paper,
and affords an intelligent glance at the views
of man famous at the time Of his death
throughout the Christian world. His de-
batss, in the regular order of their occur
renee, we're as follows With the Rev.
John Walker, a minister of the Secession
Presbyterian church 10 the State Of Ohio,
held at Mt. Pleasant in the year 1920 This
debate created great calinterest through
out all this section of country. and was at
tended by vast conconrse of people Next
followed his debate with the Rev. William
McCalla on "Christian Baptism" held in
Washington, Kentucky, i'll the year 1925
next his debate with Robert Owen, at Gin.
cnnati, in year 1928, on the truth Of Chris
tianity; next his debate in the same city in
the year 1886 with Archbishop Purcell, on
the Ipfallibility of the Church OF Rome
and. finally, 10 the year ls42, bis debate
with the Rev. DR.. N L. Rice, held in the
city Of Lexington. Kentucky, the specific
points of which were ''the action, subject,
design and administration Of Christion bsp-
tism )" also the character of Spiritual in
huence in conversion and sanctiication and
the 'expedency and tendency of ecclesias-
tical creeds as tsrms Of union and 6chimu
nion" This debate with DR.. Rice, embraced
period of eighteen days, and was conduct
ed before large and interested assembly;
Henry Clay presiding as Moderator, assisted
by some of the first men of Kentucky. A
like interest had been shown in the Owen
and Parcel debates at Cincinnati which
we're thronged by eminent theologians from
all parts Of the country. .-.
In the year 1928 Mr. Camphell's career
as journalist began, at which period he
established at his house in Bethsny, the
Christian Baptist. This publication soon
became to the religious world what the
Spectator" had been ia the social world in
the days of Joseph Addison. Questions
we're here freely propounded and discussed
between friends and opponents, believers
and unbelievers correspondents we're an
swered, accusations fefutrd. and doctrines
land dogmas commented upon with all the
1 freshness aid 'viger which Mr.. Campbelrs
active and original mind infused into every
thing that claimed his attention. Those
who would understand the full bearings Of
his position to the religious world of that
period and who would know how ably and
fearlessly he sustained himself in every va.
riety of intellectual encounter, must 90 back
to the hound volumes Of that publication.
The christian Baptist" was, after many
years. succeeded nv the Millenial Harbnger
of which journal Mr.. Campbel was pro.
prietor at the time of his death We have
not space to notice here, even in cirsory
review. the written discussions which were
carried on in the Harbnger with represen
tatve men of the various religious denomi
nations. One of the most noted was pro
nADly ufDdtc on .tnlVerSil1Sm WITH tut
Rev. Mr.. Skinner. of New York.
In the year 1s4O Mr.. Campbell, in pursu
ancc of long cherished design, founded
Bethany College, an institution which evel
since has been the pride Of his life anc
around which his warmest affections seemed
to twine. Toward its founding and subse
quent endowment he gave his best energies
He made the tour of the West and Soutl
| ban -, hob baI& H.,
brought liberal responses from the proven
balIy generous people of those sections
many of whom we're so devoted to him tha
they travelled fifty miles to hear him speak
Even Whitfield, in the zenith Of his pop
ularity. never drew together crowds NOR
; completely under his influence No re
ligious reformer ever was more completed
; enshrined in Che hearts of his followers tina,
! was Alexander Campbell at the time o
these celebrated tours during the last TWEEN
: ty five years. He had then begun to gr0y
. old, and his head was whitening, his view
!, had spread far and wide among the people
! his name was venerated, aud thousands o
! men, women and children regarded hin
!. with all the fondness of 6lial Affection :
J, And no wonder, as any one would say, VIII
3 during those days could have seen hir
: starding like Saul among the people. Iii
! whole presence was commanding-his enur
. citation was sonorous and magnetizing, hi
:, pronunciation was accurate and scholarly
u the first degree the outward evidences q
the highest mental and moral discipline
y combined with original greatness, were VI
u mistakable, while his augmentation was q
u luminous and as grand and all sweeping
y its oomprehensiveness as the sun light itsel
y Men of all creeds heard him enrapturet
u aud the tributes that were paid him by ii
) journals of the day wherever he went wei
y perhaps never accorded to any mere theol
lee gian in this country. Ell T..
~ ~ Ever since founding of Bethany College |
~ ~ has been its President Those who have a
4 tended that institution do not need to be to
n Of its most interesting feature. Mr.. Cam
/. BELLS morning lectures, reported as many
=, them were during late years for publisher
n will always bc read and remembered.
~ chapter. was read in the Bible by seme st
,s dent selected in alphabetical order, al
"A then commented upon by the President,
"A During these lectures he always sat in b
~ chair, and his remarks were of the easie
:" and most conversational character. Fr
u =; auently the whole hour would be consum,
hs on the philology of a verse. Mi.conceptit