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stitutions of the same general character, whose existence and prosperity are a result of this appreciation of the value of learning. By their avowed principles and repeatedly published aims the Disciples must be keenly alive to the cause of education and literature, as well as to the great work of evangelizing the nations.

CHAPTER X.

MISSIONS.

THE first church organized with the Bible as the only creed or book of discipline and the name "Christian as a sufficient designation was at Cane Ridge, Bourbon County, Ky., in the year 1804, under the direction of B. W. Stone. The purpose of this organization was evangelistic.

The Christian Association organized by the Campbells at Washington, Pa., in 1809, had as its avowed purpose the promotion of evangelical Christianity. Each member of the association was required to contribute a specified sum to be used in the support of the gospel ministry. The association at Washington regarded it as a duty to encourage the formation of other associations similar in character and aim. The constitution specified that the society was not a church, but merely an association of voluntary advocates for the reformation of the church. Its sole purpose, according to one of the articles, was to promote simple evangelical Christianity by giving support to such ministers as exhibit a manifest conformity to the original teaching of Christianity in behavior and doctrine, in zeal and diligence, without attempting to inculcate anything of human authority, of private opinion, or inventions of men as having any place in the constitution, faith, or worship of the Christian Church. The last article of the constitution declared that the society held itself engaged to afford a competent support to such ministers as the Lord would dispose to assist in promoting a pure evangelical reformation by the

simple preaching of the everlasting gospel, and the administration of its ordinances in conformity with the teaching of the New Testament. ("Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell," pp. 27-30.) In a word, the Christian Association of Washington, Pa., was a missionary society.

The arbitrary course of the Redstone and Beaver associations of Baptist churches with regard to churches and individuals who could not accept fully all that was embodied in creeds and articles of faith, caused the Campbells and their immediate friends to become members of the Mahoning Association. This association was composed of such churches as had been induced to lay aside all human standards of faith and practice as tests of fellowship, although still wearing the name "Baptist." At the meeting in 1829 it was resolved: "That the Mahoning Association as an advisory council or an ecclesiastical tribunal should cease to exist." ("Life of Walter Scott," by William Baxter, pp. 216, 217.) This was in accordance with the general feeling, but Alexander Campbell, thinking the course proposed too precipitate, was on the point of rising to oppose the motion when Walter Scott, an able and eloquent assistant of Mr. Campbell, went to him, and placing a hand on each of his shoulders, begged him not to do so. Mr. Campbell yielded, the motion passed unanimously, and it was determined that in place of the association there should be an annual meeting for praise and worship, and to hear reports of the progress of the good work from laborers in the field. Walter Scott was selected, employed, and sent out to do the work of an evangelist by and under the direction of this, in effect, new missionary society.

The dissolution of the Mahoning Association at Austintown, O., in 1829, may be regarded as the formal separation of Disciples from the Baptists. Up to this time the

MISSIONARY ORGANIZATIONS.

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association was a Baptist body and bore the Baptist name. After the dissolution those Baptists who had embraced the new views, together with the new converts made, were called Disciples.

At an early period in Alexander Campbell's life he wrote some caustic criticisms of missionary operations, which produced the impression in the minds of some that he was opposed to the work of organized world-wide evangelization. Such an inference, however, does Mr. Campbell injustice. A careful reading of what he published in the "Christian Baptist" on this subject, in the light of those times and his surroundings, will make apparent the fact that he only called in question the wisdom of the management of some of these associations. It seems also that he had in his mind a scheme for the propagation of Christianity in heathen lands closely akin to what are now called self-supporting missions. He thought that the Christian religion could be most effectively propagated by planting Christian colonies in the midst of heathenism, these colonies to be self-supporting and permanent settlements.

After much discussion the American Christian Missionary Society was organized in October, 1849, in Cincinnati. The call for this meeting was published in Mr. Campbell's paper, "The Millennial Harbinger" for that year. Article II. of the constitution adopted at that meeting declared that "the object of this society shall be to promote the preaching of the gospel in this and other lands." ("Christian Missions," by F. M. Green, p. 114.) The first mission attempted was in the ancient city of Jerusalem, and the missionary was Dr. James T. Barclay. After a few years the effort was discontinued. also made to establish a work in Liberia. arrival of the gentleman who had been selected to preach the gospel-Alexander Cross, a pious and devoted man—

An effort was

Soon after the

he fell a victim in death to the climate. A mission, which produced considerable fruit, was also established on the island of Jamaica in the West Indies. On account, however, of the disturbances occasioned by the Civil War in . this country, all effort at work in foreign lands was for a number of years abandoned. The entire energies of the Disciples were devoted to evangelistic and educational work at home.

The foreign Christian Missionary Society was organized in 1875 in the city of Louisville, Ky. The object of this society is "to make disciples of all nations, and teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded." ("Christian Missions," by F. M. Green, p. 195.) The receipts, year by year from the first, are as follows:

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There are now 124 agents of this society at work in England, India, Japan, China, Turkey, and Scandinavia. Work began in England and Scandinavia in 1876; in Turkey, in 1879; in India, in 1882; in Japan, in 1883; and in China, in 1886.

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