The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-12
EMPORIA NEW S.
FRIDAY, MARCH II, 1876.
BIOGRAPHY OF REV. JOHN
RANKIN.
a Notice of tRae Previous Ex.
iStence OF Concord Church
and iGs Troubles, nMd
YarfOua Occuremces.

and iGs Troubles, md
Various Occurrences.
Concord church was organized at
the first settlement of that part Of
Kentucky. 1t was sadly tried by
some of its pastors. The first one
Of whom there is any notice, was
talented and eloquent, but became
incorporate and was, by the Pres
bytery, suspended from the exer-
else of his Office. This caused
trouble in the church, as some of its
members did not believe that he
was guilty of drinking to excess.
Much greater trouble was caused
by Barton Stone, who was success
sor to the pastor who was suspend
for intemperance. Barton Stoue
was popular in his manners, and
was q smooth and pleasant speaker.
III he ever had any belief In the
doctrines of the Presbyterian
church, he departed from it and
propagated the most dangerous err
rors. He acted deceitfully, as err
rorists generally do. During many
years, as he. afterwards confessed,
he preached the doctrines of the
Presbyterian church when he did
not believe them. This he did, as
he acknowledged, because LIE feared
that the Presbytery would crush
him If he did not preach the doc
trines of the church. While pro-
fessing to be Presbyterian minis
ter he did occasionally teach his
false doctrines, and when the elders
called him to account for teaching
false doctrines he denied that he SO
meant-it was q slip of the tongue,
or a mere blunder. In this way he
quoted their fears, and thus he
gradually propagated his errors un-
Ill a great excitement, attended
with marvellous occurrences, passed
over the churches. This gave Stone
an opportunity to openly avow his
belief. Great campmeetings were
held in various states and places.
At these there were long protracted
religious exercises, and many per-
sons were taken with strange nerv-
Gus affections. Some jerked most
terribly; some trembled and shook
violently; some fell down and lay
for some time, as if dead; others
laughed with great loudness; 9TH
ers formed q ring and danced; and
others barked like dogs.
At this wonderful time Mr.. Ran
kin was seyen years old, and was
taken by his father to a campmeet-
ing at cambridge, and was affected
with trembling and lay on his faith
er's knees during one course of ex-
ercises, and his father prayed for
him while thus lying on his knees.
Mr.. Rankin, though so young, was
seriously impressed, and prayed in
secret. Mr.. Rankin, during that
wonderful time of excitement, saw
some ladies dance in q ring at q
prayer meeting held at his fathers
house.
The most wonderful Campmeet-
ing of that period was held at Cain
ridge. 1t was vastly large and en-
thusiastic. The tares that Satan
had been sowing were matured al
that meeting. The delnsion of the
people was wonderful, and ruinous
errors were embraced. The Pres
byterian church of Cartridge was
abolished. and q large part of Con-
cord church, which was seven OF
eight miller distant, were drawn in
to that whirlpool of error and de.
fusion.
Seven ministers apostatized from
the Presbyterian church. Mar
shal and Thompson, McNamer and
Dunlavy, Huston, Rankin and
Stone, all, as they believed, had dis
covered new light and that light
was, that there is but one person in
the Godhead, and no trinity of per-
sons; that Christ is the first and
greatest, being created or begotten,
but not eternal and not God, ex-
cept as the Father dwells in Him /;
and that He died to show US that
God loves us, and not to make an
atonemeut for sin, because there is
no wrath in God, and, therefore,
there Ia no need of an atonement.
These and some other absurd theo-
ries were the new light which they
had discovered. Hence they were
called "new lights" but they called
themselves christians, as if no 9TH
ers but themselves were christians.
Stone drew with him so large q
part of Concord church that they
entered suit in court for the church
property, and gained one-half of it.
Concord church, Notwithstanding
its trials aud losses. became pros
porous and large. A few of those
who had fallen into the "new light
errors were reclaimed. Two of the
seven ministers who apostatized
from the Presbyterian church, Mar
shall and Thompson, renowned
theip errors aud returned to that
body, aud proved to be faithful
ministers down to the end of life
-Four, McNamer and DpnlRvy, Illus.
ton and Rankin, became Shaking
Quakers. Thus they went on to
perfection. Barton Stone remained
New Light down to the end Of his
life. Sad Indeed is the history oI
that period, aud wonderful it is
that educated men, Presbyterian
ministers, could be so deluded and
lead captive by Satan.
Concord church was in a prosper
ops condition when Mr.. Rankin be.
came its pastor. \ revival was
then in operation. Rev. John Lyle
had previously supplied IL with
preachers, and had faithfully i'm
pressed upon it the doctrines Of the
gospel, and the Holy Spirit had
made them effective in sanctifyine