Robert Henry Boll was deeply influenced by his stay at the Nashville Bible School from 1895 to 1901, first as a student and then as professor and department head of Modern Languages. After his conversion from Roman Catholicism and believer's baptism in Columbus Britain's Pond near Smyrna, Tennessee, in 1895, Boll set off for Nashville and was accepted personally into the school by James A. Harding. This story is repeated in his obituary article of James A. Harding, available from the Boll page. David Lipscomb, Harding's co-worker, must also have been an important influence in Boll's life. His separatism and pacifism persists in Boll, albeit in a somewhat weakened form. But Lipscomb's signal value for Boll remained his intellectual independence. During his dispute with the editors and publishers of the Gospel Advocate, Boll repeatedly invoked the name of David Lipscomb during the discussion. He considered Lipscomb's views on civil government as controversial as his own about the interpretation of prophecy, with the difference, however, that David Lipscomb's views remained tolerated, whereas Boll's were censured. This intellectual similarity and yet differential treatment, discussed in 1915, is still very much on the mind of Boll in this obituary article, as is Boll's admiration for David Lipscomb's fairness, capacity to listen and learn from views different than his own, and his personal integrity. Boll's defiant response in 1915 to his fellow editor Kurfees, who wanted him to subscribe to the position of the Gospel Advocate--"I will do no such thing, I do not know what the 'position' of the Advocate is, or might turn out to be. I can subscribe to nothing and nobody except Jesus Christ."--has its correspondence in Boll's appreciation of Lipscomb's "non-sectarian" Christian commitment. In Boll's own words: "It seemed never to occur to him to see first whether his findings in the scriptures harmonized with the views of ''the brotherhood" or not. -- Editor

In the passing of David Lipscomb the Church suffers the sore loss of a great man of God. He was great in his simplicity, great in ability, great in spiritual insight and power, great in fearless honesty and faithfulness. His mind and character was laid out on big lines. If any man in the Church of Christ realized the breadth and limits of its true, nonsectarian calling it was he. Frank and straightforward almost to a fault, he was just as generous and fair, and tolerant on the other hand. His own convictions were strong and clear; and yet he coupled with that a remarkable ability of viewing a matter from the standpoint of those who differed from him, and of rendering calm and kind and just decision. No man could be truer to the truth he knew, and yet give others more credit for every good point and argument, and for every evidence of honest intent. His famous Watertown (Tennessee) debate of some forty years ago, is still remembered, in which he treated his opponent with such courtesy and in such a spirit of fairness, humility, and love of the truth, that all who heard it, and heard of it, were profoundly impressed; and the good fruit of that discussion abides until yet. I refer to this incident because it is characteristic; such was his attitude always. His position on the Christian's relation to civil government (a vision far ahead of his time, set forth :fully in his book on the subject) created much stir everywhere, and does so yet, for that matter; but he was not only willing to consider all objections, but meant that all men should hear the ablest objections to his view, so that they might weigh and decide for themselves. While I was at the Nashville Bible School Brother G. G. Taylor delivered by request and invitation, a series of addresses by way of criticism of Brother Lipscomb's position on civil government; to which Brother Lipscomb himself listened attentively, and to which he replied, in one short speech and with such modesty and reserve, that it seemed rather like a commendation of Brother Taylor's faithful purpose, and in praise of his every well-taken point, than a refutation. He was never afraid but that the truth honestly, kindly and fearlessly set forth, would be able to take care of itself.

As to his teaching, his method was as unpretentious and unostentatious as the man himself. He simply stated what he found the Bible to teach, and in language severely plain and direct. He was as far as possible from ornate expression or any effort at effect. Moreover he never cared whether his teaching would meet with approbation or censure at the hands of his friends or his enemies. It seemed never to occur to him to see first whether his findings in the scriptures harmonized with the views of ''the brotherhood" or not. His doctrine was in the true sense non-sectarian. Not being infallible, he doubtless made mistakes now and then; but he was perfect in spirit and purpose. [493] His manifest integrity and depth and power commanded a certain respect for him even on the part of bigots and partisans; and there were things he said to which, if they had come from a smaller man, there would have been hot opposition, but which passed without objection, and even got consideration because David Lipscomb said them..

The sum of his life and work was that he loved and spoke and did the truth, and that he walked with God. Some three or four years ago, when I visited our venerable brother--he and his aged wife sitting on the front porch of their home; she, never idle, with her sewing-basket; he, as his custom was, with a Bible and a writing tablet, on which he made a jotting now and then, with trembling hand--I remarked to him about the undiminished value and vigor of his writings. "Well," he said, "I don't know about that, but so long as I can I will do what I can. It won't be long now and my day will be over. I am glad to stay as long as God wills, and glad to go when the time comes." And he and Sister Lipscomb began to talk about the nearing departure with a freedom and a cheerfulness and satisfaction which made one feel that to them it was but the prospect after a long life of faithful service, of the sabbath-rest that remains to the people of God.