Alexander Campbell (clergyman)



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For other people of the same name, see Alexander Campbell (disambiguation).

Alexander Campbell around 1855
Alexander Campbell (12 September 1788 – 4 March 1866) was a Bible teacher, minister, and leader in a church planting movement of independent and pre-denominational congregations that is historically known in America as the Restoration Movement, and by some as the "Stone-Campbell Movement." This movement resulted in the planting of several Churches of Christ in America, which were also known at the time as Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ. Campbell's father, Thomas Campbell was also important in these efforts and is known for his 1809 writing and delivery of of The Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington (Pennsylvania).[1]:111 Alexander was influenced by similar efforts in Scotland, before coming to America, that were connected to men such as James and Robert Haldane who emphasized a return to original Christianity as found in the New Testament. In 1832, the group of reformers led by the Campbells merged with a similar effort that began in Kentucky under the leadership of Barton W. Stone.[2]:112 Several American church groups have historical roots in the Campbells efforts, including the Churches of Christ, the Christian churches and churches of Christ, Evangelical Christian Church in Canada,[3][4] and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Alexander Campbell is also the founder of Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia.

Contents

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[edit] Early life and education


Front of the Campbell Mansion

Young Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell was born 12 September 1788 near Ballymena, in the parish of Broughshane, County Antrim, Ireland.[1]:98[2]:116 His parents were Thomas Campbell and Jane Corneigle Campbell.[2]:116[5] Of Scots-Irish descent, he was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he was greatly influenced by Scottish Enlightenment philosophy.[2]:117 He was also influenced by the English philosopher John Locke.[2]:116 At age 21, Alexander emigrated to the United States with his mother and siblings from Scotland, to join his father Thomas, who had emigrated there in 1807.[2]:117-118 They sailed from Scotland on the Latonia on August 3, 1809 and landed in New York on September 29, then traveled overland to Philadelphia.[2]:118 Alexander was ordained by the Brush Run Church on January 1, 1812.[2]:119

[edit] Marriage and personal life

Campbell married Margaret Brown on March 12, 1811.[2]:119[6]:83 Margaret's father, John Brown, owned a significant amount of land in the Bethany, Virginia area (now Bethany, West Virginia).[2]:119 The couple resided in what is now known as the Alexander Campbell Mansion near Bethany, WV. Their first child, a daughter, was born on March 13, 1812.[6]:83 His daughter's birth spurred Campbell to study the subject of baptism. He ultimately concluded that Scripture did not support the baptism of infants. He came to believe that individuals had to choose baptism and conversion for themselves.[6]:83
Alexander married Selina Huntington Bakewell on July 31, 1828, after the death of Margaret in 1827.[7]:135 Alexander died on March 4, 1866 at Bethany, West Virginia.[5] Selina outlived Alexander, dying on June 28, 1897.[7]:136,138

[edit] Public life


Alexander Campbell
Campbell's only formal political service was as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829, which brought him into contact with some of the leading politicians of the day and gave him the opportunity to preach in several Richmond churches.[2]:123
In 1840, Campbell founded Bethany College in Bethany, Virginia (now Bethany, West Virginia), which educated many leaders of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.[2]:129[8]:74-75
He visited the United Kingdom in 1847. During the trip he gave public lectures in England and Scotland, and also delivered funds that U.S. churches associated with the Restoration Movement had raised for famine relief in Ireland. While at Glasgow he was challenged by James Robertson to a debate on the subject of slavery. The rhetoric surrounded the challenge resulted in James Robertson suing Campbell for libel; Campbell denied the charge. He was arrested and imprisoned for ten days. Campbell was released when the warrant for his arrest was declared to be illegal, and ultimately a verdict was given in his favor.[2]:128-129[5]

[edit] Writings


Alexander Campbell, age 65
Alexander's first exposure to journalism was in his early twenties, when he wrote several moral essays under the pseudonym "Clarinda."[9] The publication of his debate with the Presbyterian John Walker in 1820 convinced him of the effectiveness of writing.[9] He bought a press and built a small print shop in 1823, establishing what proved to be a successful publishing operation.[9][10]
Campbell edited and published two journals. The first was the Christian Baptist, which he edited from 1823 through 1830.[11]:174 The second was The Millennial Harbinger, which he began in 1830 and continued to edit until his death in 1866, though his active involvement in the journal began declining during the 1850s.[12]:517-518 In both, he advocated the reform of Christianity along the lines as it was practiced on the American frontier.
Campbell expanded his printing operation in 1830 for the Millennial Harbinger.[9] The change from the Christian Baptist to the Harbinger was prompted by several concerns. Differences of opinion were arising between Campbell and the Baptists, and in many cases Baptist associations were expelling those who were associated with the Campbell movement. He was concerned that "Christian Baptist" - which he considered to be less appropriate than the biblical term "Disciples" - was becoming the de facto name of the group. He also wanted the new journal to have a more positive tone, promoting reform and preparing the world for the second coming of Christ.[9]
He wrote several books, including The Christian System. He also wrote hymns, including Upon the Banks of Jordan Stood.[13]
Campbell compiled and published a translation of the New Testament under the title The Living Oracles.[9][14]:87-88 Published in 1826, it was based on an 1818 translation by George Campbell, James MacKnight and Philip Doddridge, and included edits and extensive notes by Campbell.[2]:122[9][14]:87-88

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b McAllister, Lester and Tucker, William E. Journey in Faith St. Louis, Missouri: The Bethany Press, 1975.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Campbell, Alexander
  3. ^ Sydney E. Ahlstrom, A Religious History of the American People (2004)
  4. ^ Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions (2009)
  5. ^ a b c  Boase, George Clement (1886). "Campbell, Alexander (1788-1866)". In Leslie Stephen. Dictionary of National Biography. 08. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  6. ^ a b c Adron Doran, Restoring New Testament Christianity, 21st Century Christian, 1997, ISBN 0-89098-161-2
  7. ^ a b Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Campbell, Selina Huntington Bakewell
  8. ^ Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Bethany College
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Gary Holloway, "Alexander Campbell as a Publisher", Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 37 No. 1 (1995)
  10. ^ Greg Taylor, "Alexander Campbell: Millennial Blogger", Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Accessed June 13, 2011
  11. ^ Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Christian Baptist, The
  12. ^ Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Millennial Harbinger, The
  13. ^ Richardson, Robert. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell. In two volumes. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1871. Vol 2, Chapter XXI, Footnote 1 Accessed 1-Nov-2008
  14. ^ a b Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8028-3898-7, ISBN 978-0-8028-3898-8, 854 pages, entry on Bible, Versions and Translations of

[edit] Sources

  • Challen, James (editor), "Biographical Sketch of Alexander Campbell", Ladies' Christian Annual, March, 1857 (Volume VI, No. 3), Philadelphia: James Challen, Publisher. Pages 81–90. Online Edition
  • Foster, Douglas, et al., The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005.
  • Holloway, Gary, "Alexander Campbell as a Publisher", Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 37/No. 1 (1995) Accessed 1 - Nov 2008.
  • McAllister, Lester and Tucker, William E. Journey in Faith St. Louis, Missouri: The Bethany Press, 1975.
  • Richardson, Robert. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell. In two volumes. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1871.

[edit] External links

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