La Junta tribune., 1909-09-25
CENTENNIAL OF THE
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

Elaborate preparations are being
made by the Disciples of Christ for
the celebration of their Centennial this
year In Pittsburg. Pa. The date, Oc-
tober II TO 10, 1909. is taken from
the appearance OF "A Declaration and
Address, by Thomas Campbell. father
OF Alexander Campbell, Septem er :,
1909, which was the first and only
publication of The Christian Assoei-
alton of Washington, Pa" an organ
ization composed of members OF diff
ferent churches bent on Christian
union and missionary propaganda.
Their first church was organized in
1911 at Brush Run, Washington Co,
Pa, but the year before friends of
York City and In 1903 Barton w.
Stone, who In 1882 formed coalition
with the Campbells, had taken the
same position in Kentucky. These
foregleams were TO the Declaration
and address what the Mecklenburg
Declaration and the Boston Tea Party
were to Thomas Jefferson's immortal
document OF July 4. lI76.
From 1913 to 1929 the Campte ellis
were connected with the Baptists.
But having been received without On.
dorsing the Philadelphia Confession
OF Faith and evincing no disposition
TO conform TO its tenets their rela.
tion with the regular ministers of
the denomination was increasingly
strained Originally the Campbells.
Stone and Walter Scott. who soon
became a man of might In the move
ment, were Presbyterians. either Sc
ceeder tnow united), or regular.
The Disciples have grown westward
with the progress of the nation. In
the United States they rank sixth
numerically among religious bodies,
In Missouri they are first and nearly
or quite so In Kentucky, Indiana and
Oklahoma. Throughout the upper
Mississippi Valley their influence is
proportionate to their membership an
they are enlisted aggressively In the
cause of prohibition and other re-
forms.
The sincerity of their plea for
Christian Union is attested by their
general readiness to cooperate in
evangelism, missions and reform. II
is further demonstrated just now by
the character of their centennial cam
paign. That they may all be one
that the world may believe" is their
chief watchword and Where the
Scriptures speak, We speak; where
the Scriptures are silent. we are ST.
lent" defines their method as II has
been for a hundred years. No de-
nominational monument Is being erec-
ted and sectarian feeling Is energet-
ically discouraged. The endeavor is
not to do something spectacular and
extraordinary. but to make fuller
approximation to the Christianity Of
Christ. In its fruits especially.
Seven Of the centennial aims are
for individual and household piety and
progress from Daily Worship in
Every Home" to Every Home Anti
Saloon Territory" Seven look to
the betterment OF each congregation:
IAN the Church and as Many More in
the Bible School Every Church its
Mission" etc. Each Of the seven de-
partments of missionary. benevolent
and educational activity has It's goal
Of goals. Seven general aims stand
out before the entire brotherhood.
Many Of them look impossible OF
attainment. SO we are surprised to
learn that several have already been
surpassed. Reaching the aggregate
Missionary aim Of a million dollars
two years ahead OF time seemed to-
Justify increasing II iy fifty per cent
for 1909. The present enrolment OF
l55. 900 tezcher.raining students war
rants hope OF 200. 900 In October. Re
ports In one church paper within one
year OF 1906 revivals In which. under
forty.five cvangelists. 2i.5ls acces.
sions were gained are taken to indi.
cate widespread application OF the
personal principle. Each One Win
One" ~ we'll as unusual ability In
the preachers.