Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)
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Alexander Campbell (1788 – 1866) was an early leader in the Second Great Awakening of the religious movement that has been referred to as the Restoration, or Stone-Campbell Movement. The Campbell wing of the movement began with the publication in Washington County, Pennsylvania, of The Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington in 1809, by his Father, Thomas Campbell.[1] In 1832 The group of reformers led by the Campbells merged with a similar group that had begun in Kentucky under the leadership of Barton W. Stone.
Campbell was born September 12, 1788 near Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland.[2] He was educated at the University of Glasgow, and was greatly influenced by Scottish Enlightenment philosophy, particularly that of John Locke. At age 21, Alexander traveled from Scotland with his Mother and siblings, to join Thomas who had migrated to America in 1807. Alexander and the rest of the family arrived just prior to publication of The Declaration and Address, in 1809. Alexander soon became a significant leader among the reformers.
- He served as a delegate to the Virginia constitutional convention held in the 1830s which led that state toward a more powerful executive branch of government.
- He edited and published two journals: The Christian Baptist from 1823 through 1830 and then The Millennial Harbinger from 1830 until his death in 1866. In both, he advocated the reform of Christianity as practiced on the American Frontier.
- He also compiled a hymnal which consisted of lyrics without any musical notations.[citation needed]
- He wrote a few hymns, himself, including Upon the Banks of Jordan Stood.[1]
- Campbell compiled and published a translation of the New Testament under the title The Living Oracles. Published in 1826, it was based on a 17th Century translation, with edits by Campbell.[2]
- In 1840, He founded Bethany College in Bethany, Virginia (now Bethany, West Virginia).
- He wrote several books, including The Christian System.
- He was an avid debater though he participated in only five public discussions.
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] References
- 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.
- McAllister, Lester and Tucker, William E. Journey in Faith St. Louis, Missouri: The Bethany Press, 1975.
- Richardson, Robert. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1871.
- British web site of early churches of Christ - History web site detailing in Europe churches of Christ before the American RM.
