New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-24
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL.

A general informal cOnvOcatiOn OF the lead
ers of the large sect known as Campbeliites or
Disciples of Christ took place last week In
Bethany, West Virginia, the motive being the I'M
yailing of a statue of their founder, Alexander
Campbell, and discourse upon his life and work
by Judge Jeremiah Black of Pennsylvania.
The selection of the orator was wise one,
Judge Black and Bishop Campbell being alike
prominent types of class of Western men
which unfortunately is fast dying OUT men OF
exceptional size and endurance in both body
and mind of shrewd insight and stern in
tegrity; who made bold grasps at truth and
then forever after defended their opinions
with an obstinate, downright force which be-
longcd to their Scotch Irish blood and Western
training.
Alexander Campbell had all the instincts and
qualities of military leader; fate made him
a scholar, and polemical scholar, and the re-
suit may he easily guessed. He became as
many such men become in tho Church, the
founder of new sect; and not satisfied with
the executive work and contests which this po-
stion entaed upon him. he necessarily sought
occasion TO defend orthodox Christianity, OF
Professionalism, against all corners. His public
debates with Owen and Bishop Purcell and his
fierce attacks upon Communism and Catholi-
cism, interested the whole religious world forty
years ago. His Scotch thOroughness made him
a profound scholar in his own lines of re-
search; he was undoubtedly one Of the best phi
lologists the country has produced, while the
same sincerity and antipathy to sham
forced him to thrust aside all mere dogmas
and crceds and lead his followers to the broad
basis of simple belief in Christ as Savior.
Immersion was, however, urged as a necessary
corollary to this. Upon this foundation each
believer was permitted to erect what doctrines
he pleased This liberal creed, and perhaps
the personal influence Of its teacher, caused the
sect to increase with great rapidity during his
life, especially in the Southern and South
Western States. At the time of his death 1t
numbered over 500. 900 members in this cOun-
try, besides influential churches in Great Britain
and Australia. Probably there is no other sect,
which in proportion to its size, can boast OF
a larger number OF colleges or of publications
devoted to its interests.
The Church of the Disciples also bears
strongly the impress of the peculiar mind Of
its founder Its members are apt to be log
zeal, argumentativo Christians; each indl-
vid,al being driven to the Bible for his
doctrines, an exceptional familiarity with Holy
Writ is the rule among them; and as there is
necessarily great diversity in these doctrines,
each man stands ready to defend the peculiar
faith that is in him at the shortest notice.
Religious training of this kind is an education
in itself, which fact offers an explanation of
the exceptionally small number of illiterate
members of the sect.
No man of his time, probably. exerted a
more direct OF widespread personal influence
than Alexander Campbell and now that he is
silent forever it seems but fit, even at this
late day, that his disciples and friends should
have assembled at his old home TO do him
honor