In 1828 Alexander Campbell established the *' Chris- tian Baptist." Through this monthl}r, and 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 Association of Virginia decreed the excommunication from Baptist fellowship of all who held and advocated the views of Alexander Campbell. This was the be^ ginning of a general action among the Baptists ; and the Reformers, as they were called, were compelled to associate in a separate organization, which rapidly in- creased, especially in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
DISCIPLES OF JOHN
816
DISCIPLINE
Histonrif and YirKinia. Churches were also formed in the British Provincee of North America, in England, Wales, Ireland, and Australia. They are increasing in all these countries, and in England are rapidly becom- ing numerous.
II. Principles end Practice. — ^The Disciples profSess to reject all creeds and confessions of fai^ as at hu- man origin and divisive in their influence, and to take the Holy Scriptures, and these alone, as the only au- thority in fiuth and practice binding upon Christians. '* Faith in the testimony of God, and obedience to the commandments of Christ, are the only bond of union.** The subtle speculations of theology are not to be forced upon the faith or conscience of Christians, and Bible themes are to be presented in Bible terms. For object- ing to many of the terms of theology, such as ** trini- ty," "eternally begotten," co-essential," and "con- substantial," they have been by some charged with being ** Unitarians." But on tUs subject there is now perhaps no respectable doubt of their entire ** ortho- doxy." They break the loaf, in commemoration of the sacrifice of the Saviour, every first day of the week. This practice, they contend, has the warrant of apostolic example, and is therefore of divine obli^- tioD. It is claimed that it was the chief object of the meetings of the first Christians on the Lord's day, and its peculiar sanctification. They hold that faith and repentance are the divinely-appointed antecedents to baptism, and that it to the privilege and the duty of the Christian minister to say to all who believe and repent, " Be immersed, every one of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." They are congregational in their organization, and recognise three classes of officers : 1, elders, presbyters, or bish- ops ; 2, deacons ; 8, evangelists. These last consti- tute the itinerating minbtiy or the missionaries of the Churcli, and are supported by voluntary contributions. The Disciples acknowledge the obligation to provide for the preaching of the Gospel to be of the highest kind, and are very active in evangelical labor. In questions of speculative opinioh they allow the widest differences, but contend earnestly for the unity of a practical ac- knowledgment of one faith, one Lord, one immersion, one hope, one body, one spirit, one God and Father of all. On the subjects of the atonement, the resurrec- tion, and the future judgment, they hold the common faith of evangelical Christians.
III. The Disciples are now estimated as about 500,000 in numbers. They are distinguished for their interest in education, and have a large number of academies and seminaries, and several colleges of high standing. Among these the most prominent are Bethany Col- lege, founded by A. Campbell, and presided over by him until his death ; Kentucky University, and the North-western Christian University, at Indianapolis ; Eureka College, Illinois, and Hiram College, Ohio. They have 25 periodicals, viz. 9 weeklies, 15 month- lies, and 1 quarterly. Of these, ttpo (monthlies) are published, one in Great Britain and one in Canada; all the rest in the United States. The most repre- sentative of the latter are The Millennial Harbinger (monthly), Bethany; M. E. Lard's Quarterly, Lex- ington, Ky. ; The Review, Cincinnati, Ohio, and The Standard, Cleveland, Ohio (weeklies).
Literature,—!. The writings of Alexander Camp- bell (see art); 2. The Christian Baptist, 7 vols.; 8. The Millennial Harbinger, 38 vols. ; 4. Jeter, Can^ bellism Examined (N. Y. 12mo), and Lard's Review of Jeter; 5. McGarvey's Commentary on Acts; 6. Milli- gan, F(nth and Reason ; 7. Lamar, Interpretation ; 8. Christian Review^ Jan. 1855 ; and 1856, p. 480 ; Prince- tan Review^ 1845, p. 183 ; American Btb. Repository^ 2d series, 1,94,295; iii, 208.
Disciples of John. See Christians op St.
Discipline (Lat disdpBma^ iuttrucAu, fai a term used ecclesiastically to denote the sp^ in the Christian Church, of mles for the srie purity of the lives of its members ; also tk M rules for the government, worship, etc of nj^i ular Church, enacted by its aoihaiity, aad ffae published in a *'Book of Disdpliiie.*'
I. (Mrch Disc^fline.--(1.) In the Eariy Cimd. first rule of discipline in the N. T. is givcB a 1 xviii, 15-17: *'Hor«over,if thy brother sfaifi in aflunst thee, go and tell him his fuilt beCv«t ana him alone : if he shall hear thee, thoa b^p thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, to with thee one or two more, tiiat in the nmc^ d or three witnesses every word may be eM>i£4 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tdl it on Church ; but if he neglect to hear the Chuck kt] be unto thee as a heathen man and a poblicsfi.'' ] the aims are (1) the reformatian of the offeoda: i that fiBuling, (2) the purification of the CfamcL ^ method is, (a) that the offended person takes tk step, and, that failing, (&) a small Church cocsal acts ; and, in case of their fiulure, (r) the (M called in, and the obatinate offender is cat sf I fellowship.