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Frederick D. Kershner The Christian Union Overture (1923) |
ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION.
In the printed text of Frederick D. Kershner's The Christian Union Overture: An Interpretation of the Declaration and Address of Thomas Campbell extended quotations and the Declaration and Address are set in smaller type; in the electronic version, the former have been set off as block quotations and the latter in Century Schoolbook typeface. Pagination has been represented by enclosing the page number within brackets following the last complete word on a page.
Throughout the text, I have let stand inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, and typography; however, corrections have been offered for typographical errors in Kershner's commentary as follows:
Page Printed Text [ Electronic Text
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
p. 14: hunred [ hundred
p. 16: county of Aramagh [ county of Armagh
p. 17: prevailng [ prevailing
p. 21: blazed the trial [ blazed the trail
p. 35: rela practical [ real practical
p. 45: Campbell's [ Campbells'
p. 66: argeement [ agreement
p. 73: same on [ same one
p. 74: forsee [ foresee
p. 88: Athenasian [ Athanasian
p. 146: Campbells' Scott [ Campbells, Scott
p. 149: fair to refusing a place to them in heaven, "unless we
should partial [ fair [missing text] partial *
p. 153: proceding [ proceeding
* The text of p. 149, l. 6, duplicates that of p. 150, l. 3, where it
belongs.
In the text of the Declaration and Address as published in The Christian Union Overture, Kershner has revised the paragraphing structure and added topical headings and subheadings within each of the three major divisions of Thomas Campbell's treatise. Kershner's prefatory declaration that the "text of the immortal document is given verbatim in the present volume" must be taken only as a statement of intent. In fact, a close reading and comparison of the text with the second edition reveals the introduction of a number of accidental corruptions. While Kershner clearly intended to reprint the text as emended by Alexander Campbell in his Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell (1861), the section appearing on pp. 105-108 of Kershner's book is drawn from the Centennial Edition, a reproduction of the first edition, published in 1908 from a new setting of type. Further, he omits Alexander Campbell's notes on the text, except for brief quotations in his commentary. While Kershner's revision of paragraphing and addition of topical headings undoubtedly will assist the casual reader in comprehending the text, the critical reader must use the text of the document as presented here with some caution. The electronic version attempts to reproduce the text of the Declaration and Address as printed in The Christian Overture, including accidental or substantive errors.
The following apparatus details the variants noted in comparing the text of the Declaration and Address as published in Frederick D. Kershner's The Christian Union Overture (1923) and that in Alexander Campbell's Memoirs of Elder Thomas Campbell (1861). The revision to the paragraphing has been indicated by the proofreader's mark ¶.
TCUO Page Kershner Edition (1923) [ Second Edition (1861)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
p. 31: At [ [AT
Declaration and Address, [ Declaration and Address,
society. [ society.--SEPTEMBER 7, 1809.]
p. 32: The Declaration and Address [ DECLARATION, ETC.
Introductory Statements [
Assertion of the Right of Private Judgment.--From [ FROM
¶ Authority of the Scriptures.--We [ We
¶ The Curse of Religious Schism.--Moreover, [ Moreover,
all the Churches, [ all the Churches:
¶ The Only Way to Union.--This [ This
today, [ to-day
p. 33: The Christian Association.--That [ I. That
The Association's Finances.--That [ II. That
Missionary Work of the Association.--That [ III. That
The Association not a Church.--That [ IV. That
Immediate Scope of the Work of the Association.--That
[ V. That
p. 34: can not [ cannot
Executive Committee of the Association.--That [ VI. That
unexceptional [ unexceptionable
Time of Meeting.--That [ VII. That
Program of the Meetings.--That [ VIII. That
Appeal for Financial Support.--That [ IX. That
p. 51: Address [ ADDRESS, ETC.
To all that love our Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity,
throughout all the Churches, the following Address is
most respectfully submitted. [ To all that love our
Lord Jesus Christ, in sincerity, throughout all the
Churches, the following Address is most respectfully
submitted.
Dearly Beloved Brethren, [ DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN:
Love and Unity--The Divine Plan.--That [ That
a host [ an host
p. 52: ¶ Impressed [ Impressed
cannot suppose [ can not suppose
Disastrous Effects of Division.--What awful [ What awful
¶ What dreary [ What dreary
meantime, [ mean time,
cannot send [ can not send
receive them. [ receive them?
dispensation [ dispensations
¶ And even [ And even
p. 53: depend. [ depends.
¶ To complete [ To complete
¶ Special Responsibility of the Church in America.--Are
not [ Are not
happy country? [ happy country.
scriptural means, [ Scriptural means,
remedied? [ remedied.
a good is, [ a good, is,
anti-Christian [ antichristian
¶ Happy exemption, [ Happy exemption,
awful judgments! [ awful judgments.
p. 54: given much [ given, much
¶ Grounds for Hope of Union.--The auspicious [ The
auspicious
anti-Christian [ antichristian
churches, [ Churches,
¶ Should we [ Should we
church, [ Church,
hand are [ hand, are
not better [ not the better
p. 55: ¶ Thus taught [ Thus taught
obligations. [ obligation.
¶ And, as [ And, as
Christ himself [ Christ himself,
(John 17:20, 23), [ (John xvii: 20, 23,)
Peace of Jerusalem; [ peace of Jerusalem;
Thee." [ thee."
all the churches [ all the Churches
Word of God? [ word of God?
p. 59: Christian Union, the Common Cause for All
Christians.--The cause [ The cause
The New Testament Church, the Basis of Union.--Dearly [
Dearly
divinely inspired [ divinely-inspired
Christians Separated by Non-essentials.--It is, [ It is,
p. 60: our differences [ our differences,
will consider [ will please to consider
relinquish [ relinquish,
call we [ call, we
Christian Union at its Lowest Terms.--You are [ You are
rule, [ rule;
cannot require [ can not require
trite, indefinite [ trite indefinite
p. 61: some where; [ somewhere;
Christian Union, Reasonable and Timely.--We hope, [ We hope,
former it [ former, it
¶ We might further [ We might further
p. 62: exhibited as [ exhibited, as
Divinely revealed [ Divinely-revealed
p. 70: Special Appeal to the Ministry in Behalf of Union. Are we [
Are we
obtain it! [ obtain it!!
¶ Let the ministers [ Let the ministers
¶ To this ministerial [ To this ministerial
cannot, [ can not,
cannot; [ can not;
¶ Thus, in justice [ Thus, in justice
. . . [ * * *
(See Mal. 2:1-10.) [ (See Mal. ii: 1-10.)
If Unity Hereafter, Why not Here! O! that [ O! that
p. 71: behind us [ behind us;
¶ What gratification, [ What gratification,
meantime, [ mean time,
¶ The Duty of Association. We entreat, [ We entreat
cannot [ can not
¶ We would therefore, [ We would therefore,
¶ Argument from Fulfilled Prophecy. Come forward, [ Come
forward
saith he: [ saith he;
p. 72: ¶ Therefore, O Lord, [ Therefore, O Lord,
The Call to Freedom as well as Unity. What shall [ What
shall
¶ Resume that precious, [ Resume that precious,
¶ The Proposed Platform for Union. As the first-fruits [
As the first-fruits
¶ We by no means [ We by no means
anything [ any thing
p. 73: same on [ same one
¶ In the face, [ In the face,
assurance [ assurances
¶ In a matter, [ In a matter,
cannot, [ can not,
Not a New Creed. Let none [ Let none
p. 81: ¶ Having said [ Having said
Proposition 1, The Church Defined [
PROPOSITION 1. [ PROP. 1.
mistakes, [ mistake,
p. 83: Proposition Two, The Province of the Local Congregation [
PROPOSITION 2. [ 2.
p. 84: Proposition Three, The Authority of the Scriptures [
PROPOSITION 3. [ 3.
to this [ to this,
divine [ Divine
church [ Church
managements [ managements,
apostles [ Apostles
church; [ Church;
p. 85: Proposition Four, Proper Place of the New and the Old
Testament [
PROPOSITION 4. [ 4.
the church; [ the Church,
cannot [ can not
New Testament church, [ New Testament Church,
discipline [ discipline,
Old Testament church [ Old Testament Church,
p. 86: Proposition Five, The New Testament Ordinances [
PROPOSITION 5. [ 5.
there be; [ there be,
deficiency, [ deficiency
for the church; [ for the Church;
ordinances, [ ordinances
upon the church, [ upon the Church,
of the church; [ of the Church,
p. 87: Proposition Six, The Proper Place of Theology [
PROPOSITION 6. [ 6.
word: [ word,
men; [ men,
God--therefore [ God. Therefore,
church. [ Church.
Hence [ Hence,
church's [ Church's
p. 88: Proposition Seven, The Futility of Human Creeds [
PROPOSITION 7. [ 7.
divine [ Divine
expedient; [ expedient,
they be, [ they be
yet [ yet,
church, [ Church,
judgment; [ judgment,
church [ Church
p. 89: Proposition Eight, Terms of Admission to the Church [
PROPOSITION 8. [ 8.
divinely revealed [ Divinely-revealed
p. 90: Proposition Nine, The Brotherhood of the Church [
PROPOSITION 9. [ 9.
p. 91: Proposition Ten, The Sin of Church Divisions [
PROPOSITION 10. [ 10.
antiChristian, [ antichristian,
p. 93: Proposition Eleven, Causes of Divisions [
PROPOSITION 11. [ 11.
universally acknowledged [ universally-acknowledged
p. 94: Proposition Twelve, Terms of Church Membership [
PROPOSITION 12. [ 12.
scriptural [ Scriptural
p. 95: scripturally [ Scripturally
divine [ Divine
Proposition Thirteen, The Place of Expediency [
PROPOSITION 13. [ 13.
divine [ Divine
p. 96: Isa. 52:14, [ Isaiah lvii: 14,
¶ To prepare [ To prepare
¶ It remains [ It remains
p. 97: unity, and secure it when [ issue? If evidently defective
meantime, [ mean time
The Multitude no Authority [
¶ If we have [ If we have
meantime, [ mean time,
The Motto of the Restoration [
¶ Union in truth [ Union in truth
Union in Truth [ "Union in Truth"
flood, [ flood
his standard bearers, [ his standard-bearers,
his weapons," which [ his weapons, "which
strongholds; "even [ strongholds;" even
Jerico [ Jericho
his flock [ his flock
¶ An enemy [ An enemy
p. 98: cannot stand; [ can not stand;
judgement [ judgment
Exhortation to Action [
heaven; [ heaven:
¶ Come on then, [ Come on then,
The Associational Plan [
¶ Thus impressed, [ Thus impressed,
to associate, [ to associate
month; [ month,
p. 99: ¶ Alas! [ Alas!
cannot [ can not
centre; [ center;
p. 105: Earnest Appeal to the Clergy.--Ye lovers [ You lovers
ye love [ you love
Ye desire [ Your desire
in Christ, [ in Christ
Ye lament [ You lament
our divisions; [ our sad divisions;
Ye reject [ You reject
men that [ men, that
ye may [ you may
Ye believe the [ You believe the
Ye believe that the word [ You believe that the word
our rule [ our rule,
Ye believe that no [ You believe that no
brother; [ brother,
condemned, [ condemned
rejected, [ rejected
Ye believe that the [ You believe that the
greatest fundamental [ great fundamental
Ye sincere [ You sincere
cannot, [ can not
profession, profession
¶ But if any [ But if any
minded, [ minded
hope, [ hope
unto them: [ unto them;
Only let [ only let
light; [ light,
nor yet [ nor yet,
reject it, [ reject it
consideration, [ consideration;
p. 106: his spirit; [ his Spirit,
zeal, [ zeal;
their own, [ their own
church's [ Church's
¶ No Personal Superiority Claimed.--Let none [ Let none
brethren, [ brethren;
mistake; [ mistake.
so far [ So far
matter of fact [ matter-of-fact
evidence, [ evidence
which may [ which may,
inattention, [ inattention
effect; [ effect,
case, [ case
evil: [ evil;
warn [ warn,
some things, [ some things
brethren, [ brethren
cause of christian [ cause of Christian
unity; [ unity,
farther [ further
subject, [ subject;
meantime, [ mean time,
dispute; [ dispute,
hesitate, [ hesitate
differ, [ differ
¶ The Only Hopeful Platform for Unity.--All we [ All we
this, is [ this is,
ground, [ ground;
For if [ For, if
divine standard [ Divine standard
does not [ does not,
divine spirit, [ Divine Spirit,
peace [ peace,
unity [ unity,
party [ party,
absurd, [ absurd
means, [ means
fractions; [ factions,
christianity [ Christianity
God;" [ God."
commandment [ commandment:
that we [ That we
should believe in the name of his [ believe in his
son Jesus [ Son Jesus
p. 107: in him-- [ in him;
by the spirit [ by the Spirit
us"-- [ us,"
¶ Closed Communion Unbrotherly.--But how [ But how
to love, [ to love
our brother; [ our brother,
expressed letter [ express letter
Christ hath [ Christ has
he hath [ he has
of christianity; [ of Christianity,
expressed command [ express command
Author; [ author,
¶ To maintain [ To maintain
pretence [ pretense
systems; [ systems,
believe [ believe,
instances [ instances,
intention: [ intention;
not-- [ not;
them-- [ them;
church [ Church
systems; [ systems--
party [ party,
at least [ at least,
substitute these, [ substitute these
love. [ love!
mercy is it, [ mercy is it
¶ The Better Way to Be.--When the Lord [ When the Lord
healer, [ healer
bonds, [ bonds
bound, [ bound
condition: [ condition,
bondage; [ bondage
withs [ withes
Sampson [ Samson
prisoner; [ prisoner,
or, than [ or than
anti-Christ [ Antichrist
were, to hold [ were to hold
reformation. [ Reformation.
light [ light,
condition-- [ condition,
babel [ Babel
confusion-- [ confusion,
beloved, [ Beloved,
in him; [ in him,
bonds [ bond
gracious duty [ gracious unity
p. 108: with him; [ with him,
ye are [ you are
saith [ says
ye have [ you have
"this [ "This
commandment [ commandment,
that [ That
ye love [ you love
ye also [ you also
name, [ name
given me [ given me,
they may be one [ they may be one,
as we are," [ as we are;"
me-- [ me;
all may be one; [ all may be one,
as thou [ as thou,
Father [ Father,
gavest me; [ gavest me,
given them, [ given them;
are one: [ are one;
perfect in me; [ perfect in one;
loved them, [ loved them
CAMPBELL, Secretary, [ CAMPBELL,
ACHESON, Treasurer. [ ACHESON.
p. 113: REASONS for Adding the Appendix. To prevent [ To prevent
capacity, though [ capacity, and the ground we have taken in
that capacity, though
¶ No Intention of Proselyting. First, then, [ First, then,
favor us [ favor us,
¶ Neither do we [ Neither do we
p. 114: ¶ Attitude on Creeds. As to creeds [ As to creeds
¶ Our intention, [ Our intention,
Not a New Party. All we [ All we
then are we not a party principle, then are we not a party,
[ then are we not a party,
and recommended [ and recommended,
¶ Should any [ Should any
¶ We pretend not, [ We pretend not,
quite inoffensive [ quiet, inoffensive
Divinely revealed truths. [ Divinely-revealed truths.
p. 115: we drew [ we draw
setablishing [ establishing
¶ The Only Test of Fellowship--A Thus Saith the Lord. Our
inference, [ Our inference,
cannot [ can not
¶ Thus we reason, [ Thus we reason,
¶ The Declaration not a "Rock of Offence." On the other [
On the other
hand should [ hand, should
cannot [ can not
appeared to us [ appeared to us
¶ As for ourselves, [ As for ourselves,
meantime, [ mean time,
p. 116: ¶ In so far, then, [ In so far, then,
meantime, [ mean time,
and of course, [ and, of course,
in exact [ in an exact
example, that, we [ example, that we,
¶ Suppose the New Testament Wrong? Yet, even [ Yet, even
¶ It would appear, [ It would appear,
cannot, [ can not,
expressly revealed will. [ expressly-revealed will.
p. 117: ¶ But further, [ But further,
cannot [ can not
we judge [ we judge,
¶ Taking this [ Taking this
cannot [ can not
Union by Forbearance. With a direct [ With a direct
return to gether [ return together
p. 118: ¶ Has not [ Has not
¶ Upon the whole [ Upon the whole
expressly commanded [ expressly-commanded
highly important [ highly-important
¶ It seems [ It seems
is, we humbly [ is, as we humbly
non-preceptive [ nonpreceptive
p. 119: doing in hand? [ point in hand?
Advantage of Clearing Away Dead Material. It may be [
It may be
¶ Thus, then, [ Thus, then,
unity of her public [ unity of the Christian Church consist in
the unity of her public
necessary), [ necessary,)
church considered [ Church considered
p. 120: expressly revealed [ expressly-revealed
other wise, [ otherwise,
the blessed work. [ this blessed work.
The Charge of Latitudinarianism. After all, [ After all,
Latitudinarianism (let [ Latitudinarianism, (let
term), [ term,)
however, weak [ however weak
practice (and [ practice, (and
intend), [ intend,)
unexceptional? [ unexceptionable?
broad"; [ broad;"
¶ Let the case, [ Let the case,
cannot or [ can not or
meantime, [ mean time,
cannot see, [ can not see,
p. 121: cannot [ can not
¶ To all those, [ To all those,
sense (for [ sense, (for
sense), [ sense,)
alleged [ alleged,
expect it; [ expected it;
¶ Three Great Evils. As for [ As for
p. 122: (See Deut. xviii: 20. [ (See Deut. xviii: 20:)
(See I Cor. [ (See 1 Cor.
God"; [ God;"
p. 123: ¶ Consequences of Excommunication. For certainly, [ For
certainly,
earth, (which [ earth (which
him), [ him,)
¶ Now is [ Now is
¶ If such [ If such
¶ If, after [ If, after
receive him; [ receive him;--
p. 124: ¶ But even [ But even
acknowledges that [ acknowledge that
acknowledge this, [ acknowledge this,
cannot [ can not
¶ That Church, [ That Church,
p. 125: The True Basis of Union. Thus have [ Thus have
cannot join [ can not join
cannot in [ can not in
¶ To cease [ To cease
Scripture, [ scripture,
if the New Testament Scripture, is the only possible way
that we can worship, [ if the New Testament be a perfect
model, a sufficient formula for the worship,
Different Interpretations of Scriptures. Should it [
Should it
However, this [ However this
p. 126: ¶ Is it not [ Is it not
¶ A manifest [ A manifest
¶ Take away [ Take away
Therefore, [ Therefore
¶ These are [ These are
p. 127: ¶ And how, [ And how,
Departure from Bible, Cause of Schism. On the other [
On the other
as it were [ as it were,
Not Absolute Uniformity. Should it [ Should it
cannot [ can not
Divinely revealed [ Divinely-revealed
p. 128: gracious [ gracious,
self-denying [ self-denying,
¶ Such, [ Such,
then is [ then, is
Plan Better Than Past Programs. But although [ But
although
¶ Or, will [ Or, will
¶ Let none [ Let none
p. 129: ¶ Neither let [ Neither let
¶ And even [ And even
Amen [ Amen,
Arguments Against Creeds. After all [ After all
¶ Should it [ Should it
p. 130: ¶ But perhaps [ But perhaps
expressly revealed [ expressly-revealed
¶ But we [ But we
meantime, [ mean time,
¶ Or, will any [ Or, will any
p. 131: Limitation of Unity. Let it [ Let it
Divinely revealed [ Divinely-revealed
truths [ truths,
when in a thousand [ when, in a thousand
¶ A cheap [ A cheap
¶ A person [ A person
p. 132: ¶ Far be it [ Far be it
meantime, [ mean time,
divinely revealed [ divinely-revealed
however, general, [ however general,
very and thing [ very and only thing
Proper Use of Creeds and Catechisms. But, however [
But, however
Cathecism may [ Catechisms may
¶ We take [ We take
p. 133: Father;" [ Father,"
¶ Superiority of the Bible. When we [ When we
we, as Christians, [ then, as Christians,
dobedience [ obedience
Surely then, [ Surely, then,
Lord": [ Lord;"
¶ In the case [ In the case
A Further Objection. One thing [ One thing
¶ In such a case [ In such a case
p. 134: meantime, [ mean time,
cannot [ can not
¶ And after all [ And after all
purpose (which [ purpose, (which
Church), [ Church,)
¶ And may we [ And may we
expressly revealed [ expressly-revealed
p. 135: ¶ To say that [ To say that
cannot [ can not
Further Defense Against Latitudinarianism. If after [
If after
characters (and [ characters, (and
Church), [ Church,)
p. 136: ¶ Union in truth, [ Union in truth,
¶ We dare not, [ We dare not,
cannot [ can not
Reasons for Writing the Appendix. Let none [ Let none
p. 137: ¶ We therefore [ We therefore
cannot [ can not
It must be away [ It must be a way
revelations and common [ revelation and common
¶ Hence we have supposed [ Hence we have supposed
¶ Such professors, [ Such professors,
Adequacy of the Bible. We have here [ We have here
p. 138: declaration and [ declarations and
¶ Again, should [ Again, should
¶ Here, then, [ Here, then,
p. 139: Ethical Definition of A Christian. Should it [ Should it
divinely revealed [ divinely-revealed
¶ Having thus, [ Having thus,
¶ The New Testament the Rule. As to the rule [ As to the rule
p. 140: ¶ Thus and thus [ Thus and thus
p. 141: ¶ For this purpose [ For this purpose
overturned [ overtured
profession and practice [ profession and practice,
¶ We have likewise [ We have likewise
meantime, [ mean time,
¶ The Opposite of Latitudinarian. Were we [ Were we
if in contending [ if, in contending
p. 142: "Not every one saith [ "Not every one that saith
¶ We therefore conclude [ We therefore conclude
cannot [ can not
skindeep [ skin-deep
expressly revealed [ expressly-revealed
other Scriptures. [ other scriptures.
¶ These, then, [ These, then,
p. 143: ¶ Opposition to Controversy. We are sorry, [ We are sorry,
meantime, [ mean time,
¶ We would, therefore, [ We would, therefore,
practice. Let it suffice to put into the hands of such as
desire in- practice. Let [ practice. Let
Matt. xvii:7. [ Matt. xvii: 17:
p. 144: ¶ Final Illustration. We conclude [ We conclude
Thanks to Lynchburg College Library for the loan of the book from which the electronic has been produced.
Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.
Ernie Stefanik
373 Wilson Street
Derry, PA 15627-9770
412.694.8602
stefanik@westol.com
Created 28 December 1997.
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