Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-15
The Disciples
of Christ
By Frederic J. Hackin


Delegates from all over the world are
gathered at Pittsburg this week to cele-
brate the Tooth anniversary OF the relig-
ious denomination known as the Disci-
Piles of Christ, or more commonly, the
Christian church. On September rs, 1909,
Alexander Campbell promulgated his
Declaration of Principles" and from
that date and document grew this great
religious body. The disciples now number
100000, more than 100000 belonging to
churches In the United States. This is the
My purely American Christian denomina-
tion, and its growth in the last few years
has been more rapid than that Of any 9th
er Protestant denomination. It's member
ship has increased so per cent in the past
IS years, and IT ranks sixth In numerical
strength In the United States, coming af-
ter the Roman Catholics the Methodists,
the Baptists the Lutherans and the Pres
byterians, in the order named.
A unique feature of the celebration in
Pittsburg is the great roll of the church.
For many months the congregations
throughout the world have been sending
in the rosters of their active members
to the general centennial headquarters
and they now have the names and ad-
dresses of more than 100000 of their COM
municants. From these, the great roll
has been prepared. and after the centen-
NAL is over this roll probably will be de-
posted in the library of congress
The opening Of the centennial exer-
cises did not begin with the Pittsburg
celebration, where only the comparative
~ few could be present. 1t began wherev-
Ell spire of a church of the disciples
faith points skyward, whether in Europe.
Asia, Australia or the Americas. Perhaps
o xnvOrcbinara tnOlg mart In these
ercises. 1t was on September 26-Declara-
ton day as they called 1.-THE centennial
anniversary of Campbelrs great promulga-
ton of principles. Seven thousand min
isters at the morning service, preached
on the subject Where the Scriptures
Speak" In the evening their subject was
"a Generation of Bible Students" In
this sermon they reviewed the history OF
their great leaders. Perhaps never be-
fore has there been such elaborate prep
arations for a simultaneous worldwide
religious historical celebration.
A great spirit of missionary zeal has
been awakened among the disciples dur
ing this centennial year. With a record
Of growth seldom. If ever, equaled, in
the hundred years behind them, they have
turned their faces to the future in plans
for new efforts. With 100 600 students now
In the teachers training classes of their
Sunday schools. they are campaigning for
so 900 more. Not only that. They want
10 COO preachers in their ranks; 100000
more of assets; every church to have it3
mission; every preacher a pulpit; every
hurch we'll housed; and every church debt
paid. Today they have about 1000 ordain.
ed ministers and 11O00 churches.
The history Of the disciples is filled with
% int oh
started at a time when skepticism was al
most the rule and disbelief far from un-
common. In 1895 only four or five Of the
students at Yale were members of the
church. Princeton had student body in
which belief in Christianity was not much
more prevalent. William and Mary was
a hot-bed of unbelief Pennsylvania uni
versity, forerunner of the University Of
Kentucky founded by the Presbyterians,
was in the hands of those who repudiated
the principles of Christianity. Bishop
Meade said that in 1910 he expected to
find every educated young man a skeptic
if not indeed a disbeliever Chancellor
Kent said that the majority of profession
al men at that time were unbelievers. In
1900 there was but one Congregational
church in Boston which adhered to the
old faith. Men went to hear the eminent
DR.. Griffin dressed in disguise rather than
face the gbes of their friends.
1t was Just about this time that there
was an awakening A great revival swept
over the country and the evangelical
churches were aroused to unprecedented
activity Out Of this movement grew the
founding of the Disciples of Christ Their
action was a protest against sectarianism.
They wanted to lay aside all the doctrinal
differences that were not essential to SAL
walton, and find a common ground where
all denominations. could unite under a
single banner. Where the Scriptures
Speak, We Speak, and where They are
Silent, We are Silent" was their motto,
meaning that to each individual was to
be left everything but those things which
all Christians admitted were essential to
salvation First they started out as an
association pledged to work for the unfit
cation of the churches of all denomlna-
tions, but after having their efforts to
promote such an end set at naught by
those to whom they made overtures, they
concluded to establish church. This was
at Brush Run, Pa, in 1870 1t was not
long after this until Alexander CampbAll