In Volume I, pages 39 and 44 of the Herald of Gospel Liberty we have an extract from the writings of Rev. James O'Kelly under the title of "A Plan of Union proposed," which we give in full as it shows his sentiments at the time:

Should I, who talk of union, attempt to set the example, or lay down a plan, where should I begin?

2. I am acquainted with those of the Baptist order, that my soul has fellowship with; but the door into that Church is water-- and I can not enter because of unbelief.

3. I am acquainted with some of the Presbyterian order, whom I love in the Lord. But before I can be a minister in that society, I must accede to, or acknowledge a book called "The Confession of Faith."

4. This I can not do, until I can believe that God eternally decreed some angels and men to eternal life, and the rest to eternal death--and this is unalterably fixed.

5. Should I propose to unite with my old family, the Methodists, to whom my attachment is greater than to any people in the world; notwithstanding their treatment to me:

6. I could not be received, unless I could subject myself to a human head, and subscribe to an oppressive, and unscriptural form of government.

7. I would propose to promote Christian union by

the following method, viz: Let the Presbyterians lay aside the book called "The Confession of Faith."

8. Which faith, is proposed to ministers before they are received; and instead thereof, present the Holy Bible to the minister who offers himself as a fellow laborer.

9. Let him be asked if he believes that all things requisite and necessary for the church to believe and obey, are already recorded by inspired men.

10. Let the Baptists open a more charitable door, and receive to their communion those of a Christian life and experience; and they themselves eat bread with their Father's children.

11. Let my offended brethren, the Methodists, lay aside their book of discipline, and abide by the government laid down by the apostles--seeing those rules of faith and practice were given from above.

12. And answer for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. II Tim. 3:10, 17.

13. What more does the Church need, than is above inserted. Let their Episcopal dignity submit to Christ, who is the head and only head of his Church; and then we as brethren will walk together, and follow God as dear children.

14. O, how this would convince the world that we were true men, and not speculators--This would give satan an incurable wound; and make deism ashamed.

15. Again as each Church is called by a different name, suppose we dissolve those unscriptural names.

and for peace's sake call ourselves Christians? This would be--"The Christian Church."

16. At present, I can see no better method than what I here propose; but if any one can display a more scriptural method to promote union, for the Lord's sake let him show it.

17. All may see what I am at, I wish the divine Saviour to be the only head and governor of the Church, her law and center of union.

18. I wish all the faithful followers of our Lord to love one another with a pure heart fervently. Let them break down the middle wall of partition; and all break bread together.

19. Blessed will the eyes be that shall see that day. The shouts of the Christian Church will then be as terrible to the strong holds of satan, as the sound of the rams' horns was to Jericho.

20. Such a sacred plan as this, in my view would exclude boasting, God and his Christ would be exalted.

21. The followers of Christ were at the first called disciples; but at length they were called Christians. This was the new name which was spoken of by Isaiah, 62:2.

22. Those Christians compose the Christian Church, or the body of Christ. Brethren, if we are Christ's then are we Christians, from his authority, his name, and his divine nature.

23. This, if we would comply with, would cause the "residue of men to seek after the Lord; and all the gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord." Acts, 15 :17.

24. The glorious temple erected by Solomon was walled, evacuated and utterly destroyed by the enemy: yea the very foundation rooted up. But the foundation of the Christian Church standeth sure, the gates of hell can not prevail.

25. Therefore, all that we have to do, brethren, is to quit our babel, and as the soul of one man, strive in union to build the "Christian Church," with the golden doctrine of love and holiness, and the silver discipline of Christ's laws.

26. If a brother can not say shibboleth as plain as you, yet let him pass and smite him not. In matters not at all essential, we may bear and forbear, until God gives more light. Come, Christian, what sayest thou?

27. Let us not consider, every notion of the brain as the established article of our faith, or creed. Let not our reason be so imposed upon as to suffer our party zeal any longer to break the bands of Christian friendship.

28. You may observe the regular soldiers who are well instructed in the inhuman business of war, although they have their favorites, and mess together, but when the alarm of war is given, and they behold the enemy approaching, they all unite under the same discipline, with life in hand:

29. They join in compact union, with one consent, in one common cause--against the foe; they are then led on by their leaders as the captains of their salvation, and die by each other or gain the day.

30. But it is not so with us. We too, are soldiers against infernal spirits, and the power of wickedness, our weapons spiritual:

31. And we turn our swords against one another, and each party appears to be engaged in a separate cause, as if each name had a separate God. While all confess there is but one God, and one way to heaven.

32. I have observed that when a minister of righteousness delivers the doctrine of holiness and love, in doing this he must point out the errors existing among professors, there is some name generally offended.

33. After a person takes offense from something delivered from the pulpit, the remaining part of the sermon, however spiritual, is left to that offended brother.

34. But were we all of one name, errors could be exploded from the pulpit and the press, while the divine reproofs and corrections would give conviction, without offense. We could enjoy much more satisfaction of society in this world, and be better capacitated for the society above.

35. When souls are awakened by the voice of the Son of God through preaching, they then incline to forsake the foolish, and associate with people of good conversation.

36. They stand in the way, and ask for the road to life; each party casts out a clew and assures the strangers that their light is divine. The other name will warn the seekers against the errors of that people; for they build with "wood and stubble."

37. The inquirers stand astonished at the Christians, until they are tossed to and fro, like waves of the sea, and some have turned back, and walked no more with us.

38. O, why do we wander in paths of man's invention, or cleave to the example of modern churches; and why such violent attachment to names, seeing the royal standard is at hand?

39. Only unanimously agree that the Holy Jesus shall be the only head of his Church, and the only center of her union, and the one law-giver.

40. We then as brethren, and pastors after God's own hand, can preach Christ Jesus the Lord, and we will serve--for Jesus' sake.

Text prepared in March 1996 by Jim McMillan (mcmillan@gaia.lis.uiuc.edu) for the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Resources.