The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-06-13
YEA For the Register.l Nf9
Rieharason's Life or Campbell. I,

| read this biography upon its first
appearance. With some old prejudices
against Mr.. Campbell, and without any
personal acquaintance with Mr.. Rich
ardson, felt all those prejudices against
the one disappear, and much regret that
l had not cultivated the acquaintance,
and, if it had been his pleasure, the in
timacy of so genial, accomplished and
learned writer as the author OF this
biography. II may be we'll regarded as
one of the ripest and richest products of
our American biographical literature.
II stands in the broadcast contrast with
all known biographies of ecclesiastical
men. Mr.. Campbell occupied the an
omalous and dangerous position Of be
ing under the necessity Of creating a
party for the express purpose of break
ing down all party-of establishing a
sect to uproot sectariahism. In other
words, he had to proclaim more Ca
tholic faith, not only TO strike more ei.
fectually at the exclusive and organized
faith and power of the Papacy, or Ro-
man Catholic, but broad and catholic
enough to embrace all Professionalism,
and vet sufficiently definite md positive
to contain that which was essential to
| the recognition of the Christian princi-
pie, and on which there would be ne
cessarilv Church organization. This
was his mission and his purpose, as he
saw it, and lived and acted it through a
long, laborious and successful life.
Such mission of life to be success
fully executed, that at the time Of his
death and when the grave is closing
over him, his followers are counted by
the five hundred thousand, required
great ability to command tue mental
resources, great genius to pierce through
the fierce confusions of sects and the
bitterness of divisions, through the tang
ling complexities and double meanings,
if not double entendreS of dogmas, to
reach some simplicity of faith and
observation-disclosures of brotherhood
among men, which now, III such dis
fractions and confusions, should give
the man some realization that the Cos
pei of Jesus was really Peace on
earth and good will TO man Without
saving that Mr.. Campbells creed is sat
isfactory, it is certain that Mr.. {. pos
sessed all the qualities and qualitica-
tons in an eminent degree for such a
mission. Yet the knowledge that he
did possess them is true, and that the
world now has an opportunity of know
ing the fact and studying the man IN
his noblest attitudes of social, intellect
ual and moral life is greatly due to DIR.
Richardson. For clearness and rich
ness of style we know no work of the
kind, which is its superior; for precision
of statement offacts and principles 1t IS
most admirable, and in all the qualities
of portrait painting, with deep and
broad background representing the
facts of an important life, it is most
artistic work.
1t is said prophet is without honor
in his own land. This biography has
not commanded the attention and re,
gard at home to which its high merits
entitIe it. This is natural, for we are
naturally little ignorant, a good dea
envious, somewhat jealous, and guarC
the fencings and bounds OF our OWL
little sectarianisms, pretty much as WI
do our corn fields and our truck-pdtchGS
But now since the New Highlander. &
review of authority and character, pub
lished in New Haven, Conn, and he
longing to another school of doctrine
than Mr.. Campbell and DR.. Richard
son, has given this work its hig hes
commentator, we may not be dtra'C
to admit that something good, it ma!
be quite excellent, may come from
Bethany; even old Bethany was no
very far from the old Jerusalem.