Discipleship

The state of a disciple, or follower in doctrines and precepts. Disciples of Christ, or CAMPBELL I TES. ( Eccl . Hist .) This religious body, which is a branch of the Baptist denomination, holds to no rule of faith but the Word of God, and rejects all doctrines or terms as binding which are founded on speculations of theology. It grew into a separate denomination under the influence of the example and teachings of Thomas Campbell, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1808, as a minister of the "Seceders," and of his son Alexander. The father was a conscientious advocate of religious reform, and contended for a restoration of the Christian Church to apostolic practice and precept. His son Alexander joined him, and they formed a small a ociation of disciples for the special study of the Scriptures, who were to reject all creeds. This grew into a congregation, of which the Camp bells became elders. An investigation of the subject of Baptism led them to the belief that immersion was the only Scriptural method. For some years the churches which were formed were attached to a ociations of Baptists. In 1823, Alex. Campbell established the "Christian Baptist ." Through this monthly, and by several public oral debates on baptism, and extensive tours of preaching, his views spread rapidly and widely among the Baptists. But personal opposition at last took the form of ecclesiastical action, and in 1827 the Dover A ociation of Virginia decreed the excommunication from Baptist fellowship of all who held and advocated the views of Alexander Campbell. This was the beginning of a general action among the Baptists; and the Reformers, as they were called, were compelled to a ociate in a separate organization, which rapidly increased, especially in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Mi ouri, and Virginia. Churches were also formed in the British Provinces of North America, in England, Wales, Ireland, and Australia. The disciples are Congregational in their organization; regard very highly the obligation to provide for the preaching of the gospel; are active and energetic, and accord in e ential doctrines with "evangelical" Christians. Their colleges are: Bethany College in West Va; Kentucky University, Ky; Butler University, Ind.; Drake University, Ia.; Hiram College, O.; Eureka College, Ill.; Christian University, Mo., . In all of these the Bible is used as a text book. They publish twelve weeklies and a quarterly magazine, and have publishing houses in St. Louis and Cincinnati. The Disciples have in the United States 8,768 churches, and 871,017 members (1897).