The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-14
THE COLLEGE AT BETHANY.
Alexander Campbell. the Founder of
the Church of the Disciples
The Life of Great and Good Man-The
College He Reared and the Church
lie Built Up-A Rare Record.


Illustrated Article in LesIe's, by j. H. Berry.
Among the historic towns of West Vir-
ginia, Bethany, the home of the late Alex
ander Campbell, and the seat of Bethany
College, founded by him, holds a conspcu-
GUS place as the Mecca or Jerusalem OF a re-
ligious denomination which, during the past
half-century, has grown from feeble begin
ming into a strong and influential church.
The situation of the town is romantic in the
last degree; hemmed in by lofty hills, crown
ed by forests, farms and farm houses, and
watered by stream which is poetry ITSELF a
more delightful site would be difficult to find
even in that State OF Magnificent Views
Alexander Campbell, vino is regarded as
the leader in the religious movement which
is known as the Church of Christ, or simply
Christian Church" and in some localities as
the Church of the Disciples" was born in
County Antrim, Ireland, on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 17SS. He was descended, on his
mothers side, from the French Huguenots
while on the paternal side his ancestors were
from the western part of Scotland. His
home education was carefully attended to-
Rev Thomas Campbell his father was man
of learning and piety and he carefully
guided and instructed the head and heart of
his son. This, with tender mothers care,
made impressions on his young mind which
strengthened with his years and remained
with him through all his heroic life He was
classlcally educated at the University OF
Glasgow. His training in that institution
was very thorough, and, though young in
years when he completed the university
course, he was admirably prepared to take
the place to which his integrity and talents
called him. The father preceded the son to
the United States the latter being in the
University when Thomas Campbell sailed for
America. Completing his course at school in
1858 the son sailed for theUnited States in 1909
landing at New York in October OF that year
From that city he proceeded to join his
father, at Washington, Pa His superior ed
ucation and great power preacher soon
won for him place in the front rank of
American logicians and pulpit orators; and
it was not long before thousands of people,
in distant localities even, had the opportun-
ity to hear and admire him.
Thomas Campbell was a Scotch Presbyte-
rian, and his son was educated in the faith of
that church. But Alexander Campbell was
a man OF investigation and of Independent
thought. And the same was true OF his
father. BY both the study of the Scriptures
was pursued constantly. Both were convers-
ant with the TRANSACTIONS and the original
Their object was simply to learn precisely
what the Scriptures taught. AleI ander las
did his father) became convinced that many
errors had crept into Professionalism That
there was a departure in all the churches
of that time, from primitive or New Tesla
ment Christianity, he believed ON the eyi-
dence before him. And that these err
rorS could be corrected only by q return to
the principles and practices of the church
established by Christ and his apostles, he as
firmly believed. He was not ambitious to be
a leader or the founder of new religious
movement; but to his mind, there was ne
cessity for some one like a Luther or Wesley
to call the Christian world back to the holy
Scriptures. He taught that the word of God
alone was she all-sutficient rule of faith and
practice for the Christian world On the
question of baptism, the communion con-
version, human creeds as tests OF fellowship
divided church, and kindred matters, the
conflict opened 1t was war in earnest His
positions were assailed from almost every
quarter, but he did not shrink from the con
troversy. He welded weapons both offensive
and. defensive, and with great power main
tanned his positions against all opponents
Becoming convinced that he had never been
Scripturally baptized, he was, in June 1872
immersed by Elder Matthias Luse Baptist
preacher of the old Red-stone Baptist Asso-
citation, thereby identifying himself with the
great family OF immersionists
In 1919 Alexander Campbell established
the Buffalo Academy, which afterwards gave
way for Bethany College His career as an
editor and publisher BEGAN in 1899 and his
first periodical was called the Christian Ran.
list. Bv it Bethany and the editor became
known to people on both sides of the ocean
1t hewed to the line. We OF to-day cannot
well understand, or even appreciate, the ex-
element that nnblication cansed in tho ra-
leious world. both among Catholics and
Protestants. Under the title of the MilIen-
NAL Harbinger the paper appeared in 1870
in an enlarged form, ana Mr.. Campbell con,
tinued to be its editor and publisher ill
than ffty volumes. his Life of Thomas
Campbell." "Cbristian system" "Christian
Baptism "PoDular Addresses ,, etc etc
being among the number
He was repeatedly called to meet The opno-
nents of his religions views in nublic oral
debates. His first rr..ninent pnblic discus-