THE subject of this sketch has long been known as among the most accomplished writers of the Christian brotherhood. The "Millennial Harbinger" has been the frequent vehicle of his able effusions for the past thirty years. Indeed, he is far more generally known through this channel than by his public addresses, as his professional duties in other departments have limited his pulpit opportunities.

      ROBERT RICHARDSON was born in Pittsburg, Penn., September 25, 1806, of Irish parents. These being members of the Episcopal Church, he was educated according to that theology.

      He had strong religious impressions as early as his sixth year, and from that time was accustomed to read the Scriptures, and to reverence them as the Word of God, engaging likewise, frequently, in private prayer. It is unnecessary to detail the particular incident through which his mind first became impressed with his relations to God and to eternity. Suffice it to say, that it constituted what would be regarded among the sects as a marked religious "experience," and its effects in his after life were never obliterated. He, ever afterward had the utmost reverence for the things of religion, and for those who seemed to him to be pious men. Among his teachers, he particularly [153] loved and reverenced THOMAS CAMPBELL, (father of ALEXANDER CAMPBELL,) who taught a school in Pittsburg, and whose pupil he was when from ten to twelve years old. Subsequently, WALTER SCOTT, then a youth just from Scotland, became tutor in the Richardson, family, in which he resided for some time. Young Richardson became much attached to him; and, from his intercourse with him, learned to appreciate the value of a direct and personal trust in Christ. This was in 1821, and before the views now held by the brotherhood were developed--the effort at that time being chiefly to unite Christians on the Bible alone. About the year 1824, he was confirmed by the Right Rev. William White, the venerable Bishop of Pennsylvania, who had been chaplain to the First Congress, and immediately became a regular communicant in the Episcopal Church at Pittsburg, ("Trinity,") then under the charge of Rev. J. H. Hopkins, now Bishop of Vermont. Upon his leaving the university, his parents and Episcopal friends were desirous that he should prepare to enter the ministry in that Church; but being very retiring in his disposition, and having a great repugnance to appear before a public audience, he finally chose the profession of medicine. Having pursued this study for some years, and attended medical lectures at Philadelphia, he commenced the practice of medicine some thirteen miles west of Pittsburg. Being here in the midst of a Presbyterian community, and recognizing no essential difference between their general views of Christianity and those held by Episcopalians, he requested permission to unite with the congregation in its communion and its religious services, without relinquishing his connection with the Episcopalian Church, a privilege which was cheerfully accorded him by the elders and preacher in charge. [154]

      In regard to the circumstances that brought him into the fellowship of the "Reformation," he thus writes:

      "While successfully pursuing the practice of medicine in the locality above mentioned, WALTER SCOTT, then on a visit to Pittsburg, called out to see me. He had left Pittsburg some years before, and had been teaching in Steubenville, but was then engaged, as he informed me, in preaching on the Western Reserve. He told me he was baptizing for the remission of sins, as had been done in the beginning, when the Gospel was first preached on Pentecost, as recorded in the second chapter of Acts. This seemed to me a very extraordinary proceeding, but, after his departure, upon referring to the transactions of the day of Pentecost, I could not deny that the Record sanctioned it. Feeling somewhat unsettled by the discovery that in the beginning converts were baptized for the actual remission of sins, and knowing that Mr. SCOTT regarded immersion as the action denoted by baptism, I resolved to examine this question particularly, and as I had never before done, having previously confided implicitly in the views and usages of the clergy. I soon fully satisfied myself that the true meaning of the word baptism was immersion; and finding that I had all my life been mistaken and deceived in regard to it, in consequence of trusting to the interpretation of the clergy, I determined that henceforth I would be guided solely by the Scriptures themselves, and that I would follow whithersoever they would lead me. Having soon made up my mind to obey the Gospel, and not knowing any one of similar views with Mr. SCOTT, I rode out, in the month of June, 1829, to Campfield on the Western Reserve, where he was then living. I learned that he was absent, holding a meeting, some thirty-five miles distant, in Shalersville. Pursuing my journey, I arrived [155] at the place of meeting about 2 o'clock P. M., just as the congregation had been dismissed. Some six persons had presented themselves for baptism, and I joined myself to the number, having thus never heard a discourse, or received an invitation from any human being in reference to the subject, nor had I ever witnessed the ceremony of immersion until that occasion. On, my return home, I came round by Bethany, to visit Brother ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, who, as I learned from Brother SCOTT, for the first time, held similar views, and, after spending a day or two very agreeably, reached home, and resumed my professional labors, taking advantage of every opportunity to diffuse a knowledge of the Gospel. Several converts were made, with whom I commenced regular meetings; and Brother SCOTT coming in soon afterward, quite a large number of additions were made to the Church."

      After some months, he was induced to remove to Wellsburg, Va., eight miles distant from Bethany, where he resided for four years, occupied with professional labors, and with the care of the Church in Wellsburg, together with frequent visits to the Churches in the vicinity.

      In 1833, he removed to Carthage, Ohio, and entered into partnership with Dr. Wright, in the practice of medicine, where he remained about two years. At the end of this time, Brother CAMPBELL having invited him to aid him in editing the 'Harbinger,' he removed to Bethany, in the vicinity of which he has resided ever since, with the exception of four year, from 1859 to 1863, which he spent in Kentucky, to aid in the organization and establishment of the Kentucky Christian University. Previously, he had been for eighteen years professor of chemistry in Bethany College, and, during this period, co-editor of the "Millennial Harbinger." [156]

      He was married in Wheeling in 1831, and has had five sons and five daughters, all living but one son.

      Soon after his baptism, he received a letter of remonstrance from J. H. Hopkins, the pastor of the Episcopal Church in Pittsburg, to which he replied, in two letters. This correspondence was published in the 'Christian Baptist,' vol. vii, for 1829, pp. 80-85, and 103-106, his letters being signed 'Discipulus.' It may be proper also to mention that, under this same signature of 'Discipulus,' he wrote seven essays on the subject of Regeneration, which were published in the first volume of the 'Millennial Harbinger.' In the second of these essays, printed in May, 1830, was, for the first time since the apostasy, presented the scriptural meaning of Regeneration as a begetting by the Spirit through the Gospel, and a subsequent birth of water in immersion. (See 'Millennial Harbinger' for 1830, pp. 205, 206, to p. 323.) This view was adopted by Brother CAMPBELL, and given in his celebrated extra on Remission, published in the following July, (Extra, pp. 29-36,) and has since been received universally by the brotherhood. In May, 1834, he published, in the 'Evangelist,' edited by WALTER SCOTT, an Essay on Parables, in which he exhibited the meaning of the term 'Kingdom of Heaven,' previously mistaken as synonymous with 'Church,' showing the application of the parables to the different things embraced in the term, as the King, the Subjects, the Territory, etc. This exposition was adopted by Brother CAMPBELL, and was thought of so much importance that he made it prominent in an extra on the Kingdom of Heaven, published in the following August. (See 'Millennial Harbinger' for 1834, pp. 408-412.) Another subject to which he has devoted a number of articles, is the 'Gift of the Holy Spirit,' which he has labored to exhibit in [157] its true scriptural light, and to defend from various misconceptions and perversions, unfortunately too common even among ourselves. His essays would make several volumes. He has usually signed his initials 'R. R.,' but, on 'Converting Influence,' he employed some letters of the word of Luke. In some other cases he used the word 'Discipulus,' and also 'Alumnus.' In a few cases he employed the initials 'D. A.' He has written more or less for most of our periodicals, but chiefly for the 'Harbinger.'

      DR. RICHARDSON is about five feet ten inches in hight, and weighs about one hundred and thirty pounds. Hence he is not overburdened with flesh. In the private circle he is exceedingly genial and affable, and withal has a vein of humor in his composition which renders him a most agreeable companion. His whole career through life has exhibited great firmness, independence, and decision of character, which are fully illustrated in the brief sketch here drawn. [158]

[CPG 153-158.]

      M. C. Tiers's "Robert Richardson" was first published in his The Christian Portrait Gallery: Consisting of Historical and Biographical Sketches and Photographic Portraits of Christian Preachers and Others (Cincinnati, OH: M. C. Tiers, 1864), pp. 153-158. The electronic version of has been produced from a microfilm copy of the book published by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. The text has been scanned by Colvil Smith and formatted by Ernie Stefanik.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Created 29 July 2000.