During the period of Disciple expansion it is improbable that any other religious body had more essayists and local reporters, who expounded views and joyously told of 'the number added.'

      The Disciples have always created and maintained religious journals as if their ongoing and success depended upon them. By their aid often they bridged the gaps which lay between themselves and other bodies, and especially were their necessarily localized journals valuable in informing and inspiring the rank and file of the Brotherhood. That Brotherhood, too, seems to have had a unique regard for its journals, and to have perhaps used them more widely as an aid than other bodies. For, it can be said (not perhaps without some thinking) that the Disciples have been a propagandist body, calling men to a neglected aspect of Christ's cause, as well as generally devoted to the whole effort of a Christian church. Perhaps a most familiar thought about our papers is the habit our people have of becoming attached to them and following their leadership. A natural result from a body often lacking strong leadership. As I search the crumbling pages of the past in my Collection of a century, it is plain that the "faith once for all delivered to the saints" received a popular interpretation, as well as that coming from our most understanding preachers. Nothing is plainer in decades of print than that the victory of Christian baptism has been too often stressed by local reporters above spiritual embracement. But, one thing is true (and I hope some loyal collectors of 'old papers' see it as additional thanks) the Histories in Part Two (a description of our entire effort locally) in Canada, could not have been written without 'our papers.'

      Our papers represent our enriching experiences of new and old truth served to all through a splendid medium, but they also represent our divergencies of thinking--sometimes of what seems to be faith. That is a terrible mistake. All available Christian print is valuable; but a study of such 'helps' can never equal the enrichment and fidelity which only come from close and frequent searching of the Word. It is my opinion that a complete famine of news print for six months might mean a revival of interest in our grand Cause. [231]

      Our journalism began narrowly and intensively. Age broadened it and revealed diversified patterns. We are now in a period when we are seeking a new unity which will provide a better basing than can be enjoyed by a pilgrimaging group. When a fine Christian tolerance can in each category of thought allow the existence of others, the Disciple body will have matured.

      Those intimate in Disciple history know few words with more 'key' thought in them than the Christian Baptist (beginning 1823) and the Millennial Harbinger (beginning after the suspension of the former journal, in July, 1830). Something has been printed regarding these journals in chapter 5 but much more is desirable. The first was an iconoclastic monthly with plenty of enunciation of the errors of the Churches of the day and much of which its author renounced in more matured days. The Millennial Harbinger was an attempt to announce a new day for the Church through the development of the principles of the Reformation. A third journal of great importance also was the Christian Messenger, of Barton W. Stone, begun in 1826. It was a small-sized monthly, able in thought, and had great sway in announcing the principles of the reformation. (See story of Jos. Ash in Canada, 1830). These Journals are 'sources' of History. They were once Disciple 'household words'.

      Coming to the Canadian scene, the journals of the Disciples are here touched on in the order of their appearance. Some of this descriptive matter from the writer's pen appeared in the Canadian Disciple of May, 1939.

      FIRST: the Gleaner, published at Halifax, N.S. by Lewis Johnstone. Dean Todd of the School of Religion, Irvington, Ind. stated in the Christian Standard 4 February, 1939, that the Millennial Harbinger referred to it on page 132 of the 1833 volume. In his collection there is a bound volume of monthly issues from March, 1836 to May, 1838, and evidences are there that an 1835 volume was published, all said to be the work of Lewis Johnstone. Of the Gleaner W. H. Harding (who was born in Halifax) declares that it was known to him as a quarterly, with John Naylor, publisher, and . . . Creed, editor--though the editor was against creeds.

      SECOND: the Gospel Vindicator, Cobourg, Ontario: monthly, began June, 1837 running in ten issues to March, 1838. This was in Ontario's testing time over Responsible government. It was published by a committee, so as to appear impersonal. The committee were said to be Joseph Ash, Oshawa; Murdoch McDonnell, Port Hope; E. S. Hubbell; and the [232] printer, E. Hart. Vigorous essays of the iconoclastic type, no news. W. H. Burr (preacher) states that his parents cherished it. I was privileged to borrow it, as a small cloth-bound volume, and described it on its centenary in a page article in the Canadian Disciple, June, 1937. This rarity is said to be in the School of Religion, Irvington, Ind.

      THIRD: the Christian, St. John, N.B.; W. Wentworth Eaton, editor; monthly; began in June, 1839, and completed a second year in May, 1841. Revived in 1847 and ran two years, to December, 1848. Its editor was a scholar, preacher and journalist as well; the contents were of a high quality; similar in type to the journals of D. Oliphant, but somewhat more liberal. Eaton preached widely in the Maritimes, New York State and elsewhere in U.S.A. He died in Chicago in September, 1889, greatly revered and beloved. (See Biographies.) Complete files are in the Victoria Collection.

      FOURTH: the David Oliphant monthlies, in series, beginning as Witness of Truth, November, 1845; ran longest as Christian Banner and Banner of the Faith, with earlier and later variant as Christian Mirror and Message of Goodwill; ran 37 years to 1882, ending in London, Ontario, as Living Laborer. In January, 1880 he began a series of essays and included ten pages of Wellington County history, but never added to it. His monthlies seemingly had not perfect acceptance of the leaders, although written in the style of a scholarly student of the sage of Bethany, from whose College he graduated in 1841 or '42. He was keen, at times humorous, deeply pledged to the Restoration cause, and much that he wrote was speculative and beyond common ken, thus not so suitable for a plain journal of propaganda for the people. In the writer's opinion, he made the most distinguished contribution to Disciple publications. A proposal to make his journal a Brotherhood journal failed in 1863. He possessed a rare and sweet Christian spirit, preached and sang also. He died in London in March, 1886. His daughter, Miss Mary E. Oliphant placed 27 volumes of his works in the School of Religion. A partial but adequate Collection of them (made by Norris Black, of Toronto) is in the Victoria Collection.

      FIFTH: the Adviser; a 16 page monthly; dated at Toronto; its editors, James Black, Rockwood and Lazarus Parkinson, Guelph; subscription price 30 cents. Norris Black looked after the printing. Began July, 1860 and is said to have lived three years. Eight numbers of this fine journal are treasured. [233]

      SIXTH: the Indicator. Began as a monthly in 1869, by that active laborer, Charles J. Lister. Its life, three years. It bears a good record, but no sideline journal can succeed. The fifth and sixth numbers are extant.

      SEVENTH: the Bible Index, Toronto, by James Beaty, Q.C., M.P. and Robert Beaty, banker. It began with January, 1873, a book-page size journal of 32 pages. It became the organ of the Beaty party, a quite distinct phenomenon in Ontario. In 1875 Hugh McDiarmid came from Bethany College to evangelize in Ontario. He was a fine scholar in the classics and keen writer. In time it was worked out that he should be editor of a new journal. An arrangement with the Beatys then was secured by which a committee should control the Bible Index as an experiment, with Hugh McDiarmid as editor. This lasted until January, 1880 when the Beatys resumed publication of the Bible Index. Then the Christian Sentinel was begun by a committee, with H. McDiarmid as editor. But the policy of two papers from Toronto looked badly and there was another merger called the Bible Index and Christian Sentinel, edited by H. McDiarmid. About 1882, McDiarmid was called to the editorship of the Christian Standard, Cincinnati, O. and on January issue, 1883, the Bible Index was resumed. It ran until December, 1893. In another chapter the opposition of the Beaty brothers to a 'co-operation', a 'society', an 'organ', 'organization' is shown as quite pronounced and satisfied the wishes of all who believed there should be 'contention' for the faith once delivered (Some facts herein from Jos. Ash.) Many yearly bound volumes are in the Victoria Collection.

      EIGHTH: the Christian Sentinel, by Hugh McDiarmid, in the interim as before related, supported the growing desire for permissible liberty in interpretation. In his personality and service lies the only historical clash of the moderate view with what is called 'anti-ism.'

      NINTH: the Disciple. It was published by a Maritime preacher named T. H. Blenus, beginning at Falmouth, N.S. and moving his removals, its last place being River John, N.S., where John Gauld co-operated in publication. Blenus was a fine attractive preacher, but his journal by modern standards, seems sparse of real content of teaching value. But, it was a preacher's valiant effort, to be followed by others, who lost much of their financial support by supporting the brotherhood paper.

      TENTH: the Christian Worker, Owen Sound, Ontario, begun November issue, 1881 with C. A. Fleming manager and evangelist H. B. [234] Sherman, editor. Our first large 4-page sheet, monthly, 50 cents yearly. It arose under the Georgian Bay Co-operation and got a fair circulation. At its third issue it was removed to Meaford, with H. T. Law and J. C. Whitelaw publishers, editor being unchanged. Editorially it was weak; the contributors were worthy; and a famous phrase was used in its columns once, stating that "the danger of being like other Christians seems a disease with some people." Our journal here became a newspaper for the first time. In it Jos. Ash, pioneer preacher (See Biographies) then aged, published 21 articles called "Reminiscences" which are about our only early sources in print. Also of historical note therein is the statement in the August issue,1884 that a young doctor named W. E. Macklin was to go forth as a medical missionary, and an appeal was made by George Munro to contribute to the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. In the January issue, 1885, Mrs. Carrie Angle asks the women to co-operate with the somewhat new Christian Women's Board of Missions. These are premiere announcements in Canada. The complete journal, bound, lies in the Victoria Collection.

      ELEVENTH: the Christian, begun by Convention order, November, 1883. St. John, N.B., Barnes and Co. publishers; Donald Crawford, editor (later T. H. Capp and O. B. Emery and others became editors after Crawford's long service.) This journal-sized news sheet became the household word reference in Maritime homes. Its name was a revival of a previous Christian, our third journal. In its later years (from 1912) it had the energies of the late W. H. Harding as editor, who in 1913 was the first to suggest a national paper for the Disciples. He stepped aside when in January, 1923 our first national paper was issued. The Barnes family made a big contribution as publishers. James W. Barnes in the last twenty-five years has sustained the reputation. He donated his bound files to the Brotherhood Collection, in Victoria College.

      TWELFTH: the Ontario Evangelist, Guelph, Ont. large monthly sheet, 50 cents; editors T. L. Fowler and George Munro, ministers and evangelists. Began May, 1886, editorially an advance on what had been. These brethren were keen evangelists and organizers, not only in co-operative work but in the cause of ministerial education. Our third--and still existing Co-operation--was born in July, 1886. A enthusiastic and expectant note was evident in our work and on the whole the cause was growing. In 1889 George Munro was alone as editor and he developed his sheet, enlarging it greatly, making it at his own expense, a competitive [235] journal with all others. He removed to Hamilton, where he became pastor, and as a semi-monthly the paper was styled The Canadian Evangelist and Disciple of Christ. His editorial work was well-seasoned with sense and sometimes humour. He enjoyed the confidence of his brethren and Mrs. Munro was an admirable helpmate. Eclipse happened to the loyal work at this self-sacrificing editor at a Toronto convention in 1896, over the question of organic union with the 'Christian' body. Some shared Bro. Munro's convictions about the question of loyalty to the N.T. in the union; but be seemed correct in stating that the Co-operation had no power to authenticate such or any union with other bodies. Under his protest no action was taken that was decisive, and thus for the third time in our history this very proposal was rejected. Bro. Munro had been carrying a far too heavy loss annually on his paper. He then closed it down and ended his career in Ontario. It is the writer's view that his ten years of journalism for the Disciples have never been surpassed in insight, courage and plain usefulness to the cause. (Complete files are in the Collection.)

      THIRTEENTH: the Christian Messenger,. Toronto; twice a month $1. a year, January 1897. The distinguished Charles T. Paul (See chapter 17) was editor for three years; followed by Reuben Butchart, editor and manager (with later years of editorial service after 1908 up to 1922). Later editors were S. J. Duncan-Clark, J. A. Aiken, R. W. Stevenson, E. Wyle and J. P. McLeod. After 10 years in Toronto, served by the press of Saturday Night, the paper was removed to Owen Sound in 1906, with the Fleming Publishing Co. printers, and Miss May Stevenson, office editor, under whom most of the fore-named editors co-operated by mail. The sheet had a happy financial record, considering how much a labor of love it was. It was the best typographically up to that time. For the first ten years it was issued twice a month. Features of the Messenger were news (illustrated often) and as voluminous as possible. There were for the first time departments for Sunday Schools, Christian Endeavor, the C.W.B.M., and Foreign Society and Home missionary aids were freely provided. An active Christian energy was at work at this period; the journal reflecting this, naturally got into our thinking--tracts almost ineradicably. With the call of All-Canada it too (with the Christian) was merged in a national paper, after 25 years of constructive service.

      FOURTEENTH: the Canadian Disciple. Founded by the All-Canada committee in Toronto, January, 1923. Size, 11 x 14 inches, 12 or 16 [236] pages, $1.00 a year. Reuben Butchart, editor and manager for seven years. Its editorial work was adapted to the cause of "All-Canada", including all other necessary features suitable to the work of the Disciples. Probably our list of writers was increased and with very full reports from far-away sources the volume of service to the cause was more than doubled.

      Hugh B. Kilgour, then All-Canada secretary succeeded as editor in October, 1929, uniting both services in one. In January, 1936, Miss Marion V. Royce became editor, serving until November, 1939, as an 'extra' to other work. In December, 1939, Miss Grace M. Lediard, long-time worker in other branches, took over the task also as an 'extra' and has, like Miss Royce, earned the gratitude of many readers. She is still at it in 1948.

      It may well be enquired--why did so many papers fail or become abandoned? Considering the time involved and all other factors of human effort, the record looks little different from other avenues of service. One important reason tending to non-success was the fact that editor and publisher were always carrying other Brotherhood burdens. Even a 'Christian' public has sentiments on what may be called service and is unwilling sometimes to support what has become seemingly less an advantage. Real failures have occurred because the editors were lacking in journalistic training. A paper is not just a form of preaching: it is always a risky economical experiment, requiring to be handled expertly. This view has not yet been apprehended in Canada, but should be with increased resources.

      The growth of opinion in regard to forms of Christian thought and work--and especially co-operative work--occasioned many changes, and sometimes disturbance. Few if any editors were rewarded and all carried problems that had to be solved by patience, and sometimes; only through prayer. Their unpublished valedictories were often reviews of a Calvary.

      During the long formative period which our journalism lights up, when the Disciples were evolving from the most rigid conservatism anywhere, agreement as to principles and practice were never easily within the editor's grasp. He did the best he could. Surely the remedy is to integrate journalism with the controlled co-operative enterprise of our Brotherhood. The very idea of a Brotherhood Press (now a fixture in the U.S.A. since 1909) seems to have originated in Ontario. It is a task that should only be placed on capable shoulders.

      At present (1948) the world outlook seems clouded by unyielding nationalism, rampant vice and moral decadence which we assume are [237] results; of the last war. This all stresses the need for leadership in print and a united Voice seems to say once more, Give us a Man!--or some surpassing personality, such as Errett or Garrison. Through the long years since 1830 our most conspicuous leaders have wielded a pen. [238]

[DCC 231-238]