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 Last
month, and for the next few issues, we quote THE DISCIPLES IN
KENTUCKY, by A. W. Fortune. Here the beginning of the Missionary
Society is analyzed by one who advocates and promotes such
institutions.
"At
the Lexington meeting at the beginning of 1832 the
leaders of the Disciples and Christians in Kentucky pledged
themselves to work for the union of these two bodies. It was
decided to send out two men, one from each of these two bodies,
to be state evangelists. They were to go among the churches and
hold evangelistic meetings, with the special task of uniting
Disciples and Christians..... This was the first missionary
society of the Disciples of Kentucky, and it can rightly be
regarded as the forerunner of the Kentucky Christian Missionary
Society, for it was to do the same work which this society was
later organized to do. "(Pp. 197-198)
"Because
of their insistence on a 'thus saith the Lord' for every new
step taken, and because of to a 'hireling ministry,' many of the
Disciples refused to have anything to do with this cooperative
movement." (Pp. 198)
"Annual
meetings of the churches of counties and districts soon became
the general custom in Kentucky. J.B. Radford, writing from
Christian County, November 6, 1838, announced that they were
expecting 'to have a convention of churches, the Lord willing,
at Orkadelphia, to elect and send out an evangelist.' He was
doubtful whether they would succeed." (Pp. 203)
There
was a growing feeling in Kentucky, notwithstanding the
opposition, that there
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was need of an organization of the
churches which would function
throughout the year. Since 1832 there had been missionary
organizations to promote evangelism; and since 1840 the churches
had held an annual meeting for the purpose of cooperating in the
work of the state, but the conviction was becoming general that
the work was not being adequately done.... There was thus no
permanent organization to promote the work during the year. The
state meeting could merely, appropriate what the delegates
brought." (Pp.209)
"There is a very interesting article in the issue of April
13, (Ecclesiastic Reformer, 1850, rft) by S. Ayers of Danville,
in which he maintained that it would be better for the churches
of the state to come together and plan their course of action
than to allow a preacher, an editor, or some other zealous and
inventive genius... to concoct some novel scheme, which will
soon be abandoned for something else." (Pp. 2:4)
- - - - - - - - -
Do
you get the uneasy feeling that this "early church
history" really sounds like TODAY? If there is an ounce of
perception left in you, and you are keeping up with developments
among today's promoters of "Area-wide" and
"brotherhood" campaigns, Herald of Truth, etc., you
SHOULD recognize the language.
Collective
action on the part of churches violates congregational
independence, and is wrong in principle.
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