The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-09-05
Sketch of the Annual Gather
ing of the People konWn AS
Disciples of Christ
MANY THOUSAND WILL ATTEND
Meeting at Louisville This October
VIII Be One of Unusual Interest
lis a "Home-comine" to
Historic Scenes.

!
Disciples of Christ first appeared as
distinct people in America in the early
part of the nineteenth century. They
sprang up almost simultaneously in
various parts of the country and IN
various denominations. A Rev. James
O'Kelly, a member of the Methodist
Episcopal General Conference, OF
Virginia, severed connections with
mis- church over doctrinal points,
and about the same time in 1880 Rev.
Abner Jones, a Baptist minister of
Vermont, separated himself from his
church affiliations, holding about the
same views. Barton w. Stone, of Lex
ington, KY, a Presbyterian minister,
embraced the same views in 1903.
The real starting point, however, is
generally regarded by the followers of
this movement to be in 1909, when
Thomas Campbell, Presbyterian min
lister, of Washington, Penn, issued
what is commonly known as the
"Declaration and Address" in which
he ably set forth the doctrines and
practices which have been since that
day the common faith Of that people
and which is usually referred to by
them as "our plea"
For a number of years this new
band OF religionists whose plea was
for Christian union seemed to have
I contributed to much the opposite
cause. Many stirring debates were
lheld and partisan feeling among
{, church people was extremely strong.
: With the coming of broader con-
ception of religious ideas and service,
however, among all the churches, this
communion finally won place for
itself, until it to-day ranks fourth
among the Protestant bodies of the
Anglo-Saxon race in America, and
sixth among all religious peoples. 1t
is far in advance, numerically, Of any
other American-born religious demon.
| ination.
The organization and government is
congregational in form, and no higher
human authority is recognized. AS
they have been active along all lines
of church work, such as home and
! foreign missions, boards have been or.
ganized to handle the business con.
nected with these various interests.
For many years these boards have
held annual conventions simultaneous.
ly and at the same place, and this
gathering is called THE International
Convention of the Disciples of Christ"
The first of these was held in Cincin.
natl in 1S49.
~ m
For many years these were attend.
ed by only those who were personally
connected with the work of the vari.
GUS boards. The first convention that
attracted what might be termed
large number of people was at Indian.
spolis in 1897.
Since that time the attendance has
been so great that it is recognized as
one of the most notable gatherings OF
religious people in the United States
Three years ago the convention was
held at Pittsburg. This was called the
Jubilee Convention, being the one hun
dredth anniversary of the Declaration
and Address" About fifty thousand
people journeyed to Pittsburg to at
tend this celebration.
This convention will be held this
year in Louisville, KY, October 1922.
1t is expected that more than twenty
thousand Disciples will be in attend.
ance.
Louisville is very near the geograph.
ical center OF the strength of this peo
pie Starting in Western Pennsylva.
mia, Virginia and Kentucky, the church
has grown to great strength in the
states whose pioneers came from these
states. Since many of the states where
this church is strong We're settled In
, the early day by the hardy pioneers
from Kentucky, and have also enjoyed
a continued immigration from the
mother state, this occasion appeals tc
them as Homecoming.
1t will be great occasion. rich IL
interest and sentiment, as well as ar
important milestone In the history Of
this body of religious people.