The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-18
The pl.rlple Denomination.


New York Evangelist ~
A recent correspondence from oincin-
nati had among Its different paragraphs
one headed as above, The information Il
conveyed to the readers Of The Eraageliai
interesting as it was in many respects, was
somewhat inaccurate and misleading. 1t
reported the present as the fra undertake
ina OF mission to England by the Disci.
pies OF Christ. 1t accounted for their pop
ular name "campbellitesp as derived from
Alexander Campbell. NJ
The Church OF Christ, as these people
prefer to style themselves, owe their origin
to Thomas Campbell, an Irishman, who
came to thiscountry in lS0S, asa Presby-
terian "leader," and settled in Western
Pennsylvania. In 1927, Joined by his
son Alexander, he started at Wells.
burg, Virginia, q small body styling itself
" The Mahoning Association. They
pledged themselves torejeCt all creeds, con-
LESSONS OF faith, and fortnularies, and to
conform their pructice Us Christians strict
" 10 the teachings OF the Divine word.
This association OF disciples OF the Camp
bells developed in time into what Is now
known generally as the Disciples Of
Christi There arc about SOC, 900 OF them,
scattered through Kentucky, Indiana,
Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, aud Virginia.
They have had representatives for some
time in British America and in England.
In 1859 they organized missionary socie-
ty, and they have since expended nearly
half million dollars in home and foreign
work. They have numerous adherents in
Canada, England, Denmark, and some
even in the West indies and Australia.
They arc now proposing mission to
France; ut least they discussed the FEAST
bility OF this enterprise at their last mis-.
sionlry convention In October, 1871, at st.
Louis, Missouri.
In questions Of speculative opinion the
Disciplesallow the widest differences; but
they contend most earnestly for the unity
OF and practical acknowledgment OF one
faith, ono Lord, one immersion, one hope,
one body, one spirit, one God and Father
Of all, On tho doctrines OF the atonement,
resurrection, and future Judgment, they
hold orthodox views, though they object
TO many of the terms OF theology, such as
trinity" "pternally hesott0n, H. &
Thoy break the loaf in Commemoration OF
the sacrifice OF tho Saviour, every first day
OF the week, claiming for this practice the
warrant Of apostolic example, and there
fore as Of Divine obligation. They con-
Tend that It was the Chief object OF the
meetings OF tho first Christians. on the
Lords day, and its peculiar sanctitication.
They hold further, that faith and repent
ance ars the dlvineiy appointed anteced-
ents to baptism, and that il is the privilege
and the duty OF the Christian minister TO
say to oil who believe and repent, "Be
every one OF you, IN the name OF
the Lord Jesus Christ, for The remission Of
aims, and you shall receive tho gift OF the
Holy Ghost. This adherence to the Ro-
lnish dogma OF baptismal regeneration is
the principal un.Protestant. characteristic
Of these Disciples,
Besides the Complexities indigenous to
the American soil, there arc Scotch Camp |
bellites, also called "Rowites,p who owe
their origin to the Row, John Mcleod
Campbell. lie was minister OF Rev. Dunn.
bartonshire, in 1880, when he was con-
Ilelnnet by the Preshytery or pumbason
for tcaohing: ny .the universally ofthe
Il. O., that Christ died for all |
men and not for the elect only" (2) "that
God SO far has pardohed oil men as 10
make past sin no longer any barrier TO the
returning to Gods love and favor" (3)
that personal assurance is Of tho essence
Of faith, In tho sense TINT In believing the
Gospel there Is necessarily present in the
mind OF tho believer the Certainty that no |
Is the object OF Gods love, that he has the
remission OF sins, tho gift OF tho Spirit, and
all things pertaining to hfc and g0dliness,
bestowed by the free grace OF God" Re-
moving to Glasgow, Campbell founded q |
now congregation, md Without accepting |
tho decisions OF the Presbytory and higher
courts, otlluiatel US q minister OF the Kirk
until 1850. But his adhercnts were regard |
ed us rejecters Of the Calvinistic standards |
Of the Established Church Of Scotland,and
were usu9llydeslgn4ted US "CaMpbellites."
In 1850 the elected minister OF Row |
gained further notorioty by the puhlica-
lion Of q work on the Nature OF the Atone
mont third edition, 1850, wherein it is
aimed to represent the sAt.one:ment" rs
wrought out In the love exhibited by
Christs life, and not as the orthodox
Church is accustomed to teach, that the
ylcarious satisfaction OF justice was
wrought out by chrlst's death. Thcrcaf-
ter those who adopted the peculiar theo-
logical views OF this writer, were usually
called "Rowltos,n 10 designate them rs
body OF adherents to the preacher whom
the Kirk turned away from the church at
Row. DR.. Campbell died at Roseneath,
February q, 1872, but there
arestill "Rowitos, and they seek to propa-
gate tho opinions OF thoir founder, espe-
cially regarding the Atonement.