New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-24
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL
TUE RECOGNIZED IIADTE BIT not rIiE FOUNDER
OF INV sTCT


TO the EditOr or Thc Trtbnne.
SIR: Your editorial article entitled " Alcxan-
der tnpbc" in recent number of your peerless jour
nal shows spIit of fairness and impartial admiration OF
one Of the most distinguished men, whose personal "DofS
and exalted character and attachments nave reflected 50
much benefit ana honor upon his race ANA country 4h't
he wa, great man in the highest scn>c and destined 10
occupy The foremost rank among religious lcioilcr ior
ages vet to come il the minds of many competent
thinkers as fixed fact that Luther CALVIN, Meanch-
tlon Wesley and others have been bright ana SHINING
hts in church history, and that their places ara secure
lor the future The fc If Alexander Campbell was spent
in massive and abundant labors. and the Widespread
fruits OF that lie remain in AL tlir Nisor ana cApang
forces within the Central States Of the Union which be
made, the ield of his operations almost exclusively As
NJ. Campbell and his liic-work are vtr! imlerIec'Y
known 10 tho people OF the Eastern Saic, Will yod permit
ne o notice q few points of yonr editoii1'
Nvu say: "a general informal conrocation of the
leaders OF the large known Complexities or Dsi-
pies of Christ took place recently in bethany, YES Viz
nia the motive being the unyaing OF statue OF hcir
founder, Alexander Campbell and discourse upon MS
life and work by judge jeremiah Black Of Peris> l'hih
The occasion simply the usrni annual toninrnc'-
incr gathering Of the friends Of Bethany College with
possibly larger Attendance OF The same class OF people
drawn there Iy the local event of the unyaiiing q" the
bust o. the ound, or the College and Che speech by Mt
1lnpbcis distinguished friend. The event was OF no
d.nominatioal moment interest. but purely end
wholly an affair OF Bethany College As much as tire
Church III large revercs the memory Of her most emincB
preacher and author she has not in any sense committed
herself 20 -ucl memorial service. An ample cndow-
ment of Bethany College she may yet Offer to Dis memory
Nou sly: " lie became the founder "i q
Now sect" know that ti, j. the prevalent idea o per
sons WHO closely familiar with the people among
whom Mr. C,mr,,ell wa, recognized leader Hence
they call them Complexities. This statement - how
! ever, historically Incorrect. Mr. Campbell h"eys di'
claimed IT, and the Church has most cmphauosiiy d>
claimed H. prot ting against all human name aud her
II ioc!atng ou!y The 0l ner Dvin" founder Jesus
Christ; hence they call them-cvcs Christians, or Di-c
rlcs Of Christ. Nj. Campbell was member ol tn
rrey1eian Church until hi disoo'eIie IA Biblical re
search led him 10 seek home among the Bapiists Aud
for la yeais before Ac terminated l, con' elton with
that BODY regular preacher, there " hmidlei.
OF Christian congregation, 81 me same ram ava
order N Ohio. kon,ucky ana elsewhere which had been
,,,r,,t;,, rr',.entoI many th@us,ir Ia nf pro,lr
r, b vrcu. moan. had b'c ,,yaLor,i ~ nG,ir. Tor
The old uath," aud who COMING tcgcthor MO e'ci'
asc, relation. were Eow q, Disciples o. Chri-i" or
"Chrstiins" In tact, there wa ~ Thu city such a
church situated IN lIrberis ~ tie corner Of ~ Johns
tame. and It, present place Of worship is il Twenty
c..,lh->t, near iloadway. IN lhe year 10, ms
church published volume Of pondehce and other
documents. showing that AT tha' remote iuc 'hefr
similar churches in New -l.nsan', the Can
/ adas. Msryla,,d and other state, IA addition
scotland. and Wales That yolunc from SIR. Campbell,
they may ne Weighed witi another TACT ai NJ Camp
he'll IN 10 way ass"cied viii thes ciirc hes or ans
|
the fact thcst churches having settled and prosper
existence that drew Mr.. Cdinrhti.s attention I"
their teaching and finding that thf he'i what H. he
lcvcd 10 he the truth rs the Bible revealed H. he ana III
eminent father Identified Themselves with tn rciOrincr>.
and received more light some material points ~ The
doctrinc" from Stone ard scott while thcy doubt
less gave much that equally rroilah" IN return.
such. III bef. the relation OF MI Campbell 10 the
1rtily ~ this rrfoIna;Ory movement. Afer his
Identification wiih il he very soon became ~ prominent
In1uesor,ble representative 10 r world and before all
opponents He never sought 10 found sect, hu' hr
lahored the cud ms life to destroy scctisn ami 10
promote Christian union
I YJu say He 49,. thrust aside AL mere dogmas and
belief Ia Christ Savior. Immersion was, however
urged necessary coroliary 10 This Upon this found
alton each believer permit to erect what doctrines
he pleased" This in part is true and IN pdi Il MS
taken conception of the teaching of the Church.
today, belief Christ the SAVIOR ana that Immersion
OF Christ They He did " thrust a-ide all m"r.
doena> and er6elS but IT is mistake 10 say that eaeh
believer permitted 10 erect what doctrines h,
pleased" You may we'll style 'rch IA formula. " this
liberal creed" But Nh. Campbell taught. and tc Church
Bible, and the Bible alone. must De accepted absolutely
coroarg' questions matters OF mere cNledcncy
it of Nh Campbell that leach believer permitted
Ia erect what doctrines ht pleased Respectfully yours
! Ne,r-I orL. july ID, SO. THOnA. ID. BCTLER.