The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-30

For the purpose OF paying homage 70
whom belongs the credit for founding the
Christian Church. large number Of
people gathered al the Vermont Avenue
Church last evening 20 celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary OF the denonina-
ton
The programme, in charge OF the pas
tor. Rev. :. D. Power, included num-
Der OF short addresses by several pas
tors Of the city, who spoke on the life
OF the church. its origin. and the progress
made since its founding
The first speaker OF the evening was
Rev. George Miller. OF the Ninth Street
Christian Church. who chose for bis sub
;eet, Our Church" He gave an interest
ing account OF the beginning OF the Res
toration period. as it is called, which
began with the founding OF the church
by Thomas Campbell.
The Birth Of the Church.
He said there are four men who stand
pre-eminently IN the movement Dr- Rich
ardson. Barton ". stone, Alexander
Campbell, and his son. Thomas Campbell
Continuing. he said that Barton " Stone
was a preacher IN q small town in Ken
lucky early in the nineteenth century He
was a Presbyterian minister, who was
tried for heresy. lie afterward left the
church and started a movement upon
which the Christian Church was founded.
Thomas Campbell was born in ireland
/ in 1852 His father was a Roman Catho-
lie but he chose the Presbyterian faith-
/ He preached IN the churches Of his
native country for some time. and in
the year 1897 came 20 this country and
was given a church IN Washington, Pa
/ He originated the great Fundamental prln-
ciples upon which the Christian Church
was founded. and said that where the
/ Bible speaks the church should speak,
and where II IS silent they should re-
main quiet"
! shortly after this Alexander Campbell.
father Of Thomas Campbell. then living
+ IN Ireland. Ieft that country and came
( TO. America. The elder Campbell was a
I great teacher. public man, and speaker
who succeeded in gaining the reputation
I OF great man. He stood for good and
4 sound principles, and before his death
was a bishop in the town OF Bethany.
Ky
Two Faiths Were United.
/ In 1879 the movement started by Barton
W. stone and his followers and the one
| founded by Thomas Campbell were com
bined AZ a conference at Lexington, Ky,
and decided that hencefoTth they would
cali themselves the Christian Disciples OF
Christ. and that they would stand upon
the principles laid down IN the New Tes-
lament
Since that time the Christian Church
has continued to grow. until to-day 4
has A membership in this country OF
more than q million and a half members
This church. though it follows out the
baptism which is q part OF the Baptist
I Church. differs from every other de-
/ nomination. Its aim is 70 I've the LIE
! the disciples lived in the New Testament
/ Mrs. W H Shad6. who was 8 member
OF the church II which Alexander Camp
bell was pastor. gave a very interesting
account OF her recollectiOns Of the Camp
bells. During the discourse she said;
''The creeds are dying to-day, dying
fast. and wiz continue TO decrease as
long as the church does not keep fl touch
with the Holy One Of Bethlehem.
She was followed By Rev. Walter Smith
% the Whitney Avenue Christian Church
who spoke on the subject. our pr1n-
ciple" He gave very interesting &C
count q the principles upon which the
Christian Church was founded, and sail
that this church, which has grown in the
i last 100 years. VII continue 70 grow be-
cause e Is founded upon Just and cor
rect principles which. he believed Chris
would have for the foundation Of any
church.
Several other speakers followed, an6
dwelt upon the growth Of the church and
the bright prospects, which promise better
results in the future than those obtainel
in the past