The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-08-23
BY 3. v, sMALLRY.

of Gen. GnFnelut Religious OplnlOhb.
BY Z. v, sStALLRY.
Nov 70 kThbune.
Al the centre Of Mentor township stand
little white church, surmounted by a III
tie whitesteeple. Within the plain, straight
backed pews give seating accommodation
for about two hundred people. There is NJ
pulpit. Upon broad carpeted platform
4 stands an old.iashioned mahogany table
which, with the aid Of q big red curtain
forms reading desk. Alter the sermon
Is over, the cushion and the Bible which
II supports are removed, q white clotl
is spread upon the table, the communion
service Is brought out from cupboard
near at hand, and the sacrament, called b!
the Disciples the Lords Supper, is parta
ken Of by all the congregation who are &
disposed. The choirsit In the centre OF thu
auditorium in the midst OF the pews. A
large framed motto, Blessed Is the
PeaCemaker"-hanRs on the wall, neal
the platform. The windows OF common
glass are screened by green shutters, and
the place suggests simple, primitive form
OF worship, without ritual, ceremonial OF
adjuncts Of any sort TO impress the lima
gination. This ia the home church Of
Gen. Garfield, where he and his family
attend worship regularly, while living on
their farm. Garfield Joined the Disciples
when lad OF eighteen, and has been Q
member Of that denomination ever since,
The full name OF the sect Is Disciples oil
Christ. Members OF other denominations
lireouently call them Complexities. They
number about 500, 600, and have the centre
OF their strength in Western PennsYlva.
mia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and
Indiana, within the radius OF the labors oil
their founder, Alexander Campbell, Of
Bethany, W. Va. In the East they are 81.
most unknown, but they have scattered
churches throughout the Gull States, are
numerous in Illinois and Missouri, and
are pretty well organized In other States
! west OF the Mississippi. Campbell was 3
Presbyterian preacher OF remarkable force
Of mind and powers OF oratory, who came
from Ireland in 1900 with his father, and
settled at first in Washington county,
Pa, and few years later 10 Brooke
county, W. Va. He established an indie.
pendent church at Brush Run, in that
county, on the theory that all creeds were
human, and therefore, without authority,
and that every Christian was his own
Judge oft the meaning Of the Scriptures. 1t
was an epoch OF intense dootrinal differ
ences, when Professionalism in this
country seemed to have degener-
ut d into battle Of creeds. This
sturdy retormer, preaching NO creed but
The Bible, and claiming for all believers
liberty OF conscience and judgement with
regard 10 the meaning OF the sacred book,
struck responsive chord in the public
mind. Hundreds joined his standard
wherever he preached, and within a lew
years after he commenced his independ'
ent ministry in 1927 new sect had arisen
acknowledging him rs Its leader. bis
discourses formed body OF doctrine for
this sect, although its members, owning no
authority but the Bible itself, did not &C.
knowledge them as in any sense authori.
tatiye. 10 all. intents and purposes, how
ever, he was the founder OF tDiscipleism,
as much as Calvin was OF Presbyterianism
and Wesley of Methodism. In 1S4l he
establishel . college at Bethany, near
Wheeling, which soon became the educa-
;:.ansl and doctrinal center OF the new de-
w .inn, and began to publish peri
od;csl called qhe MilInntat ,Hdrbngsr,
which was everywhere received az us or
gen, and which is still in existence.
The Disciples cndeayored to restore the
spirit and methods OF primitive christian
ity. They admit to their memoershlp
anyone who will receive the rite OF bap'
tism by immersion, and answer in the
affirmative the following questions: do
Won believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
Of God, and your Saviour9N Nothing Is
asked about doctrinal points. Indeed, 1t
h difficult to ascertain the precise points
nj difference between the Disciples and
other denominations, because few OF them
can be got to formulate their faith and
practice, and they have no catechisn or
books OF reference to settle questions OF
DISPUTE. Practically, they agree upon lew
general doctrines, such as the Necessity oil
Immersion for the remission OF sins but
ON most controyerted theological points
thew allow wide latitude for individual
oni1ion. They are not Calyinists. They
believe in the power OF every human soul
TO obtain salvation. They do not, as rule,
believe in the eternal SonshiP OF CHRIST,
although agreeing with Irlnltarlans
respecting His divine nature. Ihey 90
moi invest the Lords Supper with a sacra'
mental idea, but regard it only as me-
mortal festival designed TO quicken their
love OF Christ and strengthen the ties oil
brotherhood between themselves. sun
day they call the Lords Day, and they
do not apply to it the law Of the Jewish
Sabbath 10 the extent that most oil the
older sec,s do. In church government
thew are purely Congregational, recognize
inc no authority either to direct or advise,
superior to the individual congregation.
THEY support a missionary society, have a
hook CONCERN with branches at Cincin'
natl and at 0skaloosa, Iowa, and MAINTAIN
a large number colleges and seminartes.
Indeed, they claim that they have more
institutions Of learning in proportion 10
their membership than any other denoml'
nation.
pie. They are fond OF calling each, other
BY their first names, pretnced often by inc
siIectionate term brother or sister, and
they are very cordial in their personal IN
iercourse with fellow members. They care
less for the Old Testament than DO the
Calyinists aud Methodists, and do not
speculate much about the Book Of Reye!s'
lions. Tho Gospels, The Acts aud the
Epistles are studied closely. They are very
hospitable, and entertain traveling.breth'
rem at their houses in the manner Of the
apostolic times. They have communion
service in their churches every Sunday
alter the morning discourse. 0tlate years
they have supported settled ministry
but their early successes were achieved BY
travelling preachers speakingin the woods
or in tents which were transported In big
wagons around the country. ANY mem
Der can speak in their pnlpits, administer
The communion and baptize converts. The
ministry Is not peculiar class, although
there is form OF ordination ior men VINO
wish to devote themselves to 1t.
General Garfeld's father and motheI
sat under the powerful preaching Of Alex
ander Campbell, when he visited their 10
caIity during one of bis tours, and wer'