The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-02-19
ALExANDER CAMpnELL.

the Religious Reformation which be Advocated.
By Robert Richardson PhllaSelPhIs: IL =: D. ~
LGHpbtH d AcDtTHVOt, HihhdtR0.
The first remark We desire TO mike in
regard 10 the volumes before lis is as to
tho cultivated and correct taste which
their typography, paper, binding, and
general makeup, Indicate on the part Of
the author and his publishers. Every
thing about them Is in correspondence,
and all Is neat, cliastC and attractive. We
always feel double qualification in seeing
valuable and readable work brought out
in such good style, and these volumes GER
tainly do marked credit 70 tho respectable
house from which they are issued. ~ " "
As to the subject mattel Of these Nc
moirs, we feel that We might interest
considerable number Of our readers by
commenting and quoting at decided
length, from tlieirpages, did circumstances
permit, for there Is much in the life Of
man like ALEXANDER CAMPBELL TO inter-
est even the general reader, and still more
to interest those who were mt only famil-
lar with lis fame but likewise with his
personal presence as an acquaintance,
friend or neighboE Il was here, in our
immediate vicinity tlat he lived and died,
and began, carried on and finished those
remarkable labors that have made him
famous far beyond these limits and pro-
duced so deep an impression Onthe times
in which we live. S' s.; T H.
The writer of these Memoirs Is DR..
RoBERT RICHARDSON, a highly gifted and
accomplished man, who lives near the
village of Bethany, ind who was Mr..
CAMpDELL's intimate friend and co-adlu-
tor throughout great period Of his Ia.
bors, md us such was recognized and
designated by Mr.. CS falnily and friends
US the proper person to write out q full
and authoritative memoir Of his life and
religious views. And us cyidenCing still
further his qualification for such u task,
we may mention that lie d the author Of
one or two works published some years
ago, containing elementary information
in regard TO what Is popularity known rs
"Campbcllism," and Is recognized rs ono
Of the most accomplished writers in the
denomination with-wlich he has such
prominent connection. When We scan
the contents Of the two volumes on our
table from his pen, and compare the style
within with the style without, we say that
here are "apples orgoId set in pictures Of
silver" II
In regard to the name Of "CampbclI.
ism" quoted above, and which iSpopular-
ly attached to tho tcncts Of those who
hold the views advocated by Mr.. CAMP.
BELL, II is proper to say that neither he
nor they ever accepted any such name,
but, on tho contrary, recognized only the
designations Of the early followers Of
CHRIsTr such as Disciples" and "Chris-
tianS." 1t Is eor their peculiarities as a
people that they aim to follow as literally
us possible the primitive and Apostolic
names, practices and teachings, and TINT
they therefore discard all crccds and Con-
LESSONS Of Faith us human inventions,
and us so many virtual admissions to the
unbelieving world TINT an open Bible Is
not of itself IN all.sullCient rule Of faith
ind practice for those who profess to nc.
cept It as q Divine revelation, and US IN
admission also that 1t needs TO be supple
mcnted by human aids in order TO dlscOv.
or what 1t intended 10 reveal rs regards
mans temporal and eternal interests All
such Crecds and Confessions, they main
tain. have ever tended, and must necCssa:
rily ever tend, to bCget sects and divisions,
which lire the scandal and weakness Of
ChristcndOm, and us such prevent the
union Of all believers In one Catholic and
Apostolic Church on tic basis of
the precepts anil prccedCnts furnished
by CHRIST md his immediate followers.
This view is their leading characteristic
as people, but not the only one that dis.
tinguishes them from other religious
bodies, but of their views In general We
shall not attempt to speak in this conncc.
ton, but refer all who desire such informn.
ton TO tho CXpOsitiOnS contained in these
memoirs. g..
The life Of ALEXANDER CAMPBELL was
certainly a remarkable one. ,Bornin the
North Of Ireland-eduCatcd in part; in
scOtland-he came to Washington coun-
ty, Pa, as young Presbyterian clergy
man, and at an early dly removed to
Brooke county, in this Stnte-top wilder
ness spot, as It were, on Buffalo Crock
and from such IN obscure standpoint be-
gan those discussions Of religious matters
that have made Ills name so well known
to our readers and the country at largo.
Before ho leN Glasgow University, in
Scotland, It seems that he began to have
doubts about the scriptural correctness Of
the faith in which he had been raised, and
It Is related that af(cr . long struggle
with his conscience on a certain eonlmun;
ion occasion, he Concluded to drop his
metal token on the plate aud iorego par
aklng,Ofthc emblcms, These new views
were not, It seems, original with himself
at least not wholly SO, but Ind beet aug.
geSted by intercourse with othcrmInds,
Indeed, in looking over the ground as Cx-