, 1881-05-01

TIL; FOLLOWERS OF ALEXANDER CAMP
BELL
Special Correspondence OF TIE Chicago Tribune
CLEVELAND, O., April :5.-1 recently had Il
long talk with one Ut the oldest of the Disciple
preachers Of this Stutc. He is now far past the
preaching age, and, like ull old men who are
near their end. he lives rather in the pust thun
in the present and future He had many things
to say THAT interested me at the time, ana have
remained with the, and believe that the read
ers Of THE TRIBUNE will he us much interested
as was in what he said.
In the first place let say that what is called
the "Dlsciplcs Reformation is scarcely more
than generation old, or i'll other words some Of
tho men who first preached tho new doctrine arc
Still living To to sure Alexander Campbell and
his father, Thomas Campbell. and Walter Scott,
a coadjutor Of theirs. are all dead. They wero
E1en past the middle of life when the preaching
first began. My old friend was Baptist, of IS,
when the new preaching swept over tho country,
and after joining the movement. he very soon
went to preaching &c was man of most
vigorous Intellect, Of tlorid eioquence, though
of somewhat limited culture; but he
the number OF his converts nre countcd by the
thousand. I give the conyersa ton as nearly
xerbatlm as it can be reproduced. anu consider
Of what was thought and preached in the " good
old days" We hear SO much about
"Whnt are sou thinking OF. Gncle? 1 asked
In a somewhat exalted tone Of voice, for my old
friend has nearly lost his hearing.
presume. We old men have very curions old
fashioned notions TINT we are often enough told
don't amount to anything. ! don't very often
snubbed it do
..WeiL most assuredIy will not snub you and
shall be very glad to know what you are think
ing Of. 1 am one OF those young fellows
who believe that old men are exceedingly waltz
able TOR counsel"
was only In my prime aEain- That IS COM
mon thought fort, old uluu. and one that pre-
sumo you will think is not very laudablc- But
have special reason for desiring to be young
again. aud saw things to- day which emphasized
for the thousandth time this desire =,
Tell me what that reason Is won't you
could induce ruun Of your are who has un-
sousS you hss to esn wa.t t. si new lease SEQ Of fc.
''Wcil sir. will tell you SAID the old man, IS
new light seemed to come 9,;s to ,a,hn hts e!d q
would like to be young ss,lin so that might
preach II new reformahon.-so that might pro-
1rine once delivered TO the Saints.-so that l
might take the people buck to the old land
marks which were staked out l,;. 6y the va Apos1r
the the pn preachers of Of the -" New Reformation some
preaching Of Alexander Campbell, and think
know something of what was intended by that
Reformation 1t was expected to be u death
Bible, and nothing but the bible, us an all-sutl-
Gent rule Of faith aud practice It was ex1
Sss'ta %ou 'dai aail ''z IN "A Win p it. No Should
fear to take the Bible and build bis
hopes and belief On that Crecds aud co'fes~
Heved so then. and believe 50 nov. What We
want is simplicity and primitivencss we oueht
and learn the first principles Of our faith over
a2ain." ,..,a,
.'Do you mean to say that the Disciples need
new Reformation in their midst! -
"That is exactly what mean. 1ney slarteo
out with plea agninst sccts ami sectarsah1sil.
and now huve lived to see thoin become almost
as much Of u sect and almost as proud III tleir
against whom they made their crusade; aaa AMI
out to church to-day went on foot, aitoouGn
ls nearly two miles to where our cnuIcu - sl.
uatcd When arrived there found the chufch
surrounded With rich carriages, and the coAcn-
men were pussing away their time as pest t1ey
could joking und telling stories while thear NM
ters aud 1nstrcsses were within worshiptne ~
aristocratic tod in nristocratic temple; L. Is
all of the kid-gloye kind. No heart relsl9:a.
snd sery littic ead religion % IN It a ,; e1p feit iat
they had lived in vain hld .,.a1 tney oa.t1v osG1
abIe 70 step. to the door or E1t ,, eost,st ':s,
1saw. If Christ were to come to tue earth
aeain, He would never enter those synngo9s IN,
sept with whip MACE ot smn % eords; a. as ov a1g w.
changers from the temple. lie would be found
outside talking with the pul,lica.ls a1id sinners
those dear people thlnklng Of, IL their phara-
satcal pride? Do they think their coachncn
have no souls to save. or they indifferent 70
their eternal welfare? 1t would he hard indeed |
for the Savior to recognize His people. in tho |
midst of al the pride and hypocrisy of the pres
ent day. lie would be led to cry our 'ts nc u!d +
in tho days Of OLD: .Wo unto you hypocr1t5! /
II will bc better for your wicked coachmcn III |
the day of Judgment than for you -
" But this is not IL. Gen. Garfield happens ~
be member of tic Disciples orgauizauon. !
bud almost said sect: aud so 1t is contemplated
BY some of the ambitious ones TO MAKE ~ u ~. ~
OF State church. Every effort is being haue oy +
high and low degree to raise funds 70 ou,lo M - y
sort Of St Peters ut Washington shades OF
Alexander Campbell! Once TO think OF thg
humble efforts being SO perverted! Inlnk ~ .u 40
Strenuous effort that IS heiuE Inatc 10 nulu ~
sect! Think of the destruction tnat mus.
surely follow the pride Of denomination tnat -
berry displayed on every hand.
"The early Christians were Successi III III Cotn
batting evil They pushed their cvangeliAlns
Efforts In every direction and they won M;ne
into the church. But On one uEluchy oA, tuc
Emperor OF all the Romans heard the ne" t, uoc,
trine- lie believed uud was baptized ana 1irna nhn
that mt.ncnt t:,s persecution stopped. Ihe i.
Church was given the fostering influence OF ~ ~
State and spirituality began to decay anu ,,o ano
erls Of Yomeu Catholicism followed ano nase !
cursed the world from that time 10 Inv luz.
II is Strange TINT men never learn ans
thing from the sud Teachings of experiences