The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-07-29

every human soul to obtain salvation.
They do not, as a rule, believe in the
eternal Sonship of Christ, although
agreeing with Trinitarians respecting
His divine nature. They do not in
vest the Lords Supper with a sacra-
mental idea, but regard it only as
memorial festival designed to quicken
their love Of Christ and strengthen
the ties of brotherhood between them
selves. Sunday they call the Lords
Day, and they do not apply to it the
law Of the Jewish Sabbath to the ex-
tent that most Of the older sects do
In church government they are purely
Congregational, recognizing no au-
thority either to direct or advise, su-
perior to the individual congregation.
They support missionary society,
have book concern with branches at
Cincinnati and at Oskaloosa, Iowa,
and maintain large number Of collie
ges and seminaries. Indeed, they
claim that they have more institutions
of learning in proportion to their
membership than any other denomi-
nation.
The Disciples are friendly, socia-
BILE people. They are fond Of calling
each other by their first names pre-
faced often by the affectionate term
brother or sister, and are very cordial
in their personal intercourse with fel-
low members. They care less for the
Old Testament than do the Calvinists
and Methodists, and do not speculate
much about the Book Of Revelations.
The Gospels, the Acts and the Epis-
ties are studied closely. They are very
hospitable, and entertain travelling
brethren at their houses in the man
ner Of the apostolic times. They have
communion service in their churches
every Sunday after the morning dis
course Of late years they have sup
ported a settled ministry, but their
early successes were achieved by trav-
cling preachers speaking in the woods,
or in tents which were transported in
big wagons around the country. Any
member can speak in their pulpits, ad-
minister the communion and baptize
converts. The ministry is not pc
culiar class, although there is a form
of ordination for men who wish to de-
vote themselves to it.
General Garfeld's father and moth
er sat under the powerful preaching of
Alexander Campbell, when he visited
their locality during one of his tours,
and were converted to the new faith
without creed or catechism, discipline
or formulated statement of belief of
t1,o4
son should connect himself with the
same denomination. Most Of his ear
ly education before he went to college
was got at new struggling Disciples
school at Hiram. His gift Of public
speaking soon drew him into the way
of talking at religious meetings, and
he was constantly encouraged in this
habit by the members of the denomi-
nation, who saw that his powerful in
tellect and unusual oratorical powers
would be of great help to them. AL
though he spoke regularly in the
churches Of Hiram, Solon and New
burg for nearly three years, he never
had the thought of devoting himself
to the ministry. Law was then his
chosen profession. He was never Or
dained, but was what might be called
a lay preacher, filing pulpits on Sun
days while teaching week days. Those
who remember his preaching say that
it was characterized by the vigor,
magnetism, wealth of illustration and
force of his latter political
addresses. The war put stop to both
his teaching and his pulpit work. He
has since kept up his association with
the church Of his boyhood, but has not
taken an active part in its religious
services, save now and then to offer a
prayer in the church at Mentor in re-
sponse to call from the minister.
With General Garfeld's breadth of
mind and keen interest in scientific
research and philosophical discussion
it would be impossible for him to run
In any narrow rut of sectarianism.-
His religious views are characterized
by great tolerance and liberality. His
Christianity is of very broad pattern,
and is without a trace of bigotry. In
form it is the religion of his parents;
in spirit it is enlightened, elevated and
imbued with the progressive thought
of the age; a Christianity not of cere-
monies and statements, but of human
ity and the heart. +. V. s.