Original Manuscript of Masters Thesis

This box contains the MA thesis of William Webb Freeman, A History of the Campbell Movement and Its Educational System, presented to Southern Methodist University in 1933.  One of the most notable properties of this work is the inclusion of several early photos of pioneer preachers and educators of the Stone-Campbell Movement.  These have been listed here in the order that they appear in the text, and with the captions from the text.

• J.A. Harding - Pioneer minister son of a nonagenarian pioneer Reformer.  Co-founder of Nashville Bible School, long time president of Potter Bible College, editor, author, and debater whose faith in God was remarkable.
  
  
• David Lipscomb - From Franklin College to become founder and president of Nashville Bible School (now David Libscomb College).  Long time editor of the Gospel Advocate, chief organ of the conservatives.
  
  
• T.B. Larimore - Most popular minister of his brethren in his generation.  In poverty walked to Mossy Creek College to begin his education.  Left Franklin College in 1867 to preach the Gospel.
  
  
• G.H.P. Showalter - From Milligan College to the Presidency of Lockney Christian College (Texas).  Later was first president of Sabinal Christian College and minister-editor of the Firm Foundation, Austin.
  
  
• Mars' Hill, Alabama - 1867 - Founded by T. B. Larimore in 1870.  This scout under Albert Sidney Johnson was just as effective at Mars Hill, where hundreds of poor people got their start for a useful life.
  
  
• Pioneer Leaders: Dr. L.L. Pinkerton, Almon B. Green, Henry T. Anderson, Robert Milligan, T.W. Caskey, Richard C. Ricketts, Henry D. Palmer, N.A. McConnell, A. Chatterton, James Robeson, A.S. Hayden, J. Harrison Jones, Moses E. Lard, James Darsie, B.K. Smith, John Augustus Williams
  - Pioneers lay foundations.  Anderson translated the New Testament.  Milligan wrote Campbell's Memoirs. Moses E. Lard published a conversative paper of power and influence.
  
  
• Geo. A. Klingman - Minister, scholar, educator, author.  His sympathies are as broad as humanity; his supreme ideal, Christian unity by the law of love.
  
  
• Arthur R. Holton - Longtime president of Thorp Spring Christian College.  He thinks the most economical investment in religious education is the Bible Chairs that may be placed in the various secular and state colleges and universities.
  
  
• Tolbert Fanning - "I want to say I have known but one Tolbert Fanning." -- Larimore
  
  
• F.L. Young - Prominent minister and educator of the past generation whose character commands admiration and whose eleven children are all college graduates from the strongest of the day.
  
  
• The New Buildings of Abilene Christian College, 1930 - Chambers Hall, Bennett Gymnasium, Sewell Auditorium, Administration Building, Zona Luce Hall - preparatory, Girls' Home, President's Home, Boys' Home.
  
  
• Jesse P. Sewell - President Emeritus of Abilene Christian College and Minister of Grove Church of Christ (San Antonio).
  
  
• Batsell Baxter - Student of Nashville Bible School and Baylor University.  Officially connected with Thorp Spring Christian College, Cordell Christian College, and president of Abilene Christian College since 1924.
  
  
• J.A. Garfield - Left the canal tow-path at eighteen, student at Hiram College and at Williams College, and at twenty-five was President of Hiram with several hundreds of students.  General, Congressman, and martyred President of the United States.
  
  
• Thomas Campbell, Barton Warren Stone
  - The two leaders in the Restoration Movement.  Thomas Campbell, author of the immortal plea: Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.  Barton W. Stone, evangelist-reformer, who led an earlier movement known as "Christians."
  
  
• Some Campbell Pictures: Alexander's Campbell Study at Bethany, Interior of Campbell Study, Alexander Campbell when a young man, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell (from a photo made in Cincinnati in 1861), Alexander Campbell aged about 41, Mr. Campbell's home at Bethany, W.Va., Dr. W.T. Moore at the graves of the Campbells.
  - Pioneer, Minister, Statesman, Educator, Debater, Reformer.  "Few men have impressed themselves more profoundly on the religious life of their generation." -- Bishop Hurst.
  
  
• Dispersion of a Sabbath evening school. (This scene took place in Scotland in 1799, when political feeling ran high due to the French Revolution. As Sabbath schools were at first principally confined to the lower orders, they were regarded as hotheads of disaffection and sedition. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in its Pastoral Admonition urged opposition to such schools. Under this authority the parochial clergy often ordered Sabbath schools to be suppressed.)
  - Robert Raikes started something when he began teaching the Bible at the three R's to street urchins, and there are those today who oppose the "Sunday school" as unscriptural.
  
  
• Working Newspaper Men: David Lipscomb, Gospel Advocate, Charles Clayton Morrison, Christian Century, Jas. T. Nichols, Christian Union, S.S. Lapin, Christian Standard, William Worth Dowling, Christian Publishing Co., James Harvey Garrison, Christian Evangelist, Russell Errett, Christian Standard, Paul Moore, Christian Evangelist, J. A. Lord, Christian Standard, W.B. Berry, Pacific Christian, F.L. Rowe, Christian Leader and Way, G.A. Faris, Christian Courier, J.A. Harding, Christian Leader and Way, Jas. S. Bell, Christian Leader.
  - Later nineteenth and early twentieth century.  In large measure the destiny of the several religious groups lies within the pale of the religious journalists.  The imperium is in their hands.
  
  
• Five Influential Editors of the Past: Benjamin Franklin, American Christian Review, B.W. Johnson, Christian Evangelist, Isaac Errett, Christian Standard, F.G. Allen, Apostolic Guide, John F. Rowe, Christian Leader.
  - Of these key men in the Restoration Movement the Progressive editor was Isaac Errett.  Johnson's work with the Evangelist was scholarly and constructive.  The other men were conservative, with Franklin as chief.
  
  
• F.L. Rowe - Editor son of an editor father and reformer.  As publisher of The Christian Leader he continues the paper edited by John F. Rowe, outstanding historian among conservatives.
  
  
• Abe Eason Freeman - Native of Tennessee (June 3, 1863), Faithful Minister of the Gospel for over forty years, particularly at the destitute places in the Southwest.$nbsp; (Author's father and helper).
  
  
• Henry Eli Speck - Inimitable Dean of Abilene Christian College under the Sewell administration and now Dean of men in South-west State Teachers College, San Marcos, Texas.
  
  
• Geo. A. Klingman, Dean; C. H. Roberson; A. B. Barrett, President; Edwin F. Hoover; Lucretia Creath; Wm. G. Klingman; Evelyn Carroll
  - The early faculty of Abilene Christian College (1907--).