The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1912-09-06
Sketch of the Annual Gather
ing of the People Konwn As
Disciples of Christ
MANY THOUSAND WILL ATTEND
Meeting at Louisville This October
Will Be One of Unusual Interest
lis "Home-Coming" to
Historic Scenes.

The people known as Christians Of
Disciples of Christ first appeared as g
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
his 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
contributed to much the opposite
cause. Many stirring debates were
held 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 denom-
nation.
The organization and government is
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
y 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- s
lati in 1849.
For many years these were attend ,
I'd by only those who were personally
with the work of the yari-
'us boards. The first convention that {
attracted what might be termed
arge number of people was at Indian
lpolis in 1897.
Since that time the attendance has
,een so great that it is recognized as =
me OF the most notable gatherings of :
ellgious people in the United States. =
Three years ago the convention was :
leld at Pittsburg. This was called the y
jubilee Convention, being the one hun u
redth anniversary of the Declaration \
nd Address" About fifty thousand d
eople journeyed to Pittsburg to at. y
end this celebration.
This convention will be held this "
ear in Louisville, KY, October 1922, =
is expected that more than twenty u
thousand Disciples will be in attend q
nee v
Louisville is very near the'geograph- !.
;al center OF the strength of this peo- :.
lie Starting in Western PennsyIva- =
la, Virginia and Kentucky the church .,
as grown to great strength in the h
tates whose pioneers came from these -,
tates. Since many of the states where .,
his church is strong were settled in e.
ne early day by the hardy pioneers h,
'om Kentucky, and have also enjoyed .,
continued immigration from the q,
lother state, this occasion appeals to
lem as homecoming. ri
1t will be a great occasion, rich in Is
Iterest and sentiment, as well as an q
Important milestone in the history of b.
lis body of religious people. Of