The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-10

meeting. and in spite of his submission
to the judgment Of the synod commit
tee was subjected to such antagonist
and hostility that he eventually with
drew from the synod. This. however
occasioned little interruption in hi
ministerial labors, because his constan
and strenuous advocacy of Christian
union and fraternity drew large mum
bers to his ministrations from other de
nominations. This finally resulted
August IL. 1909. in the forming of /;
regular association. called '.The Chris.
tian Association of Washington;' thus
conclusively proving that even thil
tentative organization. and this tht
third in America of similar purpose
and conviction. was not founded by
Alexander Campbell. who at this date
had not yet stepped foot on American
shores; although his subsequent life
work was truly tremendous and ma.
jestic devotion to and power in promul.
CATION of the simple faith of the Chris.
tian Church-which. briefly told. has
for its declared purpose no attempt al
interference with, or reformation of,
other churches, but an effort for return
of all Christians coming within its in
fluence to primitive Christian faith and
practice; a profession of amplitude and
sufficiency in the Bible. solemnly self
interpreted. for all requisite guidance
in right living; and as a single cardi-
nal doctrine, the teaching of repent
ance, faith and baptism by immersion.
The impossibility of the little Wash
ington Christian Association entering
the Presbyterian Synod. the latter
peremptorily refusing the same. and
the manifest necessity of preserving it
as against the many existing hostile
influences, convinced Thomas Camp
bell and his son that formal church
organization was essential to life.
This Was consummatcd in the spring of
1911. ''for the sole purpose of promot-
ing simple evangelical Christianity,
with thirty regular members. but it
was not until Il year later that Alexan-
der Campbell. whose first sermon from
a text was preached July Is, 1910. in
the Templeton Farm grove. near WASH
ington, and whose mighty evangelical
powers were beginning to receive wide
attention. determined. and began to
teach. that immersion was the divincly
form of baptism.
But back here in the wilderness of
Kentucky, influences and events were,
nearly quarter of century earlier,
possible reformation out of
which the Christian Church of to-day
should have its real origin. The settlers
of this region were principally Presby-
terrain. Their piety knew no bounds
Rude churches were built and presby-
teries formed. almost before farms were
cleared or families housed in cabins
Over there, within sight of my window.
we're it now standing. theological
was built just one hundred
Years ago; and in the same year the
title church at the corner yonder was
made of logs OH the fridge" in the
hence. "Cane Ridge" the
lame of the neighborhood. the post
,fiice and the church itself. A Rogers
vas the first clerk of old Cane Ridge"
church; Rogers has ever been it's
,'erk. and a Rogers descendant of
hat first clerk, my host. through whose
ARE and munificence its rotting logs
md oakcn roof have been shcathed
rom ravages of storm and time-is its
Jerk to-day.
But here at olden "Canc Ridge" was
he center of religious interest at that
arly time. The Springfield Presby-
cry had its sittings here. That Chris
ian hero and intellectual giant. Barton
v. Stone. was the Cane Ridge minister.
Under his preaching David Purviance,
ormerly of North Carolina. became an
.lder in the church; and this man, Pur-
rance. from his election to the Ken
ucky Legislature in 1896. until his or
lination as a minister some six years
alter. was by all odds the most CON-
figure as citizen. Christian and
legislator Kentucky had known, or has
ince owned. Through the influence
# these and other pious men. mighty
evival wave swept over Kentucky
md Tennessee in the latest part of the
asst century, eliminating in the great
Kentucky Revival of 1901. itself cul-
in August of that year in the
most tremendous single religious gath
ring ever known TO all Christendom.
'eople came from all States of the
Union. and there is indisputable evil
Ience that from $1,000 to $4,000 per-
ons were at once gathered about this
id Cane Ridge church.
There could be but one result On
Tune %. 1894. Barton w. Stone. Dam
ell Purviance and Robert Marshall. of
and John Dunlavy. Richard
ANamar and John Thompson. of
ohio. sitting in this very Cane Ridge
hurch as the Springfie Prcsbytcry.
LAST Will and Testa-
nent." in which among other things. |
hey solemnly '.willed'' that this body |
lie. lie dissolved and sink into union |
With the body of Christ at large;" that
he church of Christ resume her right |
# internal government" that leach |
'articular church choose her own
preacher and support him by free-will |
'ffering;" that 1.-The people hereafter
axe the Bible rs the only sure guide |
o Heaven" that preacher and peo-
lie cultivate spirit of mutual for
'earance. pray more and dispute
ess;' and "that the oppressed may go
rec and taste the sweets of Gospel lib
rty.'