Born: Liberty, Kentucky, 1832.Died: Paris, Kentucky, 1908.
Born: Liberty, Kentucky, 1832.
Died: Paris, Kentucky, 1908.
Mr. Sweeney came to Illinois in 1854, and began the practice of law at Greenfield. He made his home with Judge Short, a prominent member of the M. E. Church and a leading citizen of the community.
One Saturday evening he invited Mr. Sweeney to go with him on the morrow to hear his minister review "Campbellism." That great gospel advocate had made a preaching tour through Illinois in 1853, and many of the orthodox pulpits were busy reviewing his teachings and protecting their flocks against the new "heresies." In his discourse, the M. E. preacher affirmed that Mr. Campbell had said that he "could take the vilest sinner into the water and bring him out a saint."
As was the custom, opportunity was given, before the close of the meeting, for any one to ask questions; whereupon, Mr. Sweeney arose and quietly asked where, in his writings, Mr. Campbell had ever made such a statement. The preacher, with a glowering look, replied: "Have you come here to break up my meeting?" Judge Short instantly replied: "No, Bro. Powell it is a fair question and one that I also would like to have answered." The preacher promised to produce it at another time, and thus the incident closed.
Immediately upon the dismission of the congregation, the few Disciples present came to Mr. Sweeney, and, learning from him that he was "of their faith and order," insisted that he answer the discourse which they had just heard. He declined, but thus it was that he was turned from the practice of the law to the preaching of the gospel.
He was a faithful student of the Scriptures and a man of fine discrimination, and in him the logical faculty was united with a keen sense of humor. In the first year of his ministry, five hundred people became obedient to the faith under his preaching. Riding along one day, he fell in with a company of people assembled at the usual place for baptizing, on the bank of Apple Creek. The Baptist minister, a Mr. Johnson, was assuring the people that the converts to be then immersed had all "been born again," and had all received the assurance of the forgiveness of their sins at the "mourners' bench," for which he thanked God.
Permission being granted, Mr. Sweeney said: "I would like to ask if Baptist converts are all 'born of water' on dry land?" Mr. Johnson replied: "Sir, you are a Campbellite, and desire to disturb our meeting."
A meeting of the ministers was convened in Springfield in the later fifties with the purpose of "disciplining" one of their number. This action Mr. Sweeney earnestly opposed, contending that it was contrary to the congregational independence of the New Testament, and as forming a possible precedent that would result in evil. In such cases, the preacher is responsible to the local church in which he holds membership.
Probably the most eminent service ever rendered the Disciples in Illinois by Mr. Sweeney was in his course toward the Russell defection. Walter Scott Russell was a graduate of Bethany College. Shortly thereafter, he became an extreme and pronounced mystic. Associated with him were some of our leading preachers in the State, who became open advocates of this doctrine. Among these were T. J. Melish; Frank Apperson, a brilliant young Englishman; F. N. Carman, publisher of the Christian Sentinel, the only paper of the Disciples in the State at that time, which indorsed the articles and addresses of Mr. Russell; W. W. Happy, an able and veteran preacher, who was then president of the State Missionary Society, while Samuel Callaway was its treasurer, and Prof. P. Lucas, of Berean, was its secretary. All of these men were in full accord with the views of Mr. Russell. These men thought to reform the Restoration movement on the basis of this inner-light theory.
The State Missionary Convention met in Bloomington, September, 1858. The new doctrine was uppermost in the minds of all It was the general feeling that a real crisis was at hand. On the evening of the second day of the meeting, Mr. Sweeney was to preach. Not one person knew anything of his attitude toward the new teaching. Intense anxiety pervaded the great assembly of the saints. Mr. Sweeney chose for his text, John 16: 13, 14, and unfolded it into a most masterful sermon. It was a pivotal discourse that was to make or unmake myriads, and he rose fully to the occasion. The peculiar teachings of Mr. Russell were clearly shown to be contrary to the Scriptures and enlightened human reason.
This was the beginning of its end. The new movement was put upon a course of rapid and ultimate extinction. Mr. Russell died. Professor Lucas went to the law; Messrs. Carman, Callaway and Happy to the Baptists, but later the last named returned to the Disciples. Mr. Melish went to the Baptists and later to the Episcopalians. Berean College went to ruin. And in later years the breach in the Jacksonville Church was wholly healed.
Mr. Sweeney was a participant in about seventy-five public discussions, generally against his inclination.
General Remarks on the Sweeneys:
The Sweeney family, the father and four sons all able ministers of the primitive gospel, was one of the great spiritual forces of the Restoration Movement. They all served for varying periods in Illinois.