Sir--FROM the nature and design of this work, as stated in your proposals to the public, and from the character of those who may be supposed desirous to patronize it, as a work not devoted to the interests of any party, but merely and exclusively to the evolution and exhibition of christianity in its primitive simplicity and native excellence; it is presumed that an essay on the proper and primary intention of the gospel, with its proper and immediate effects in those that received it, would be a suitable introduction to such a work, as it would not only furnish an interesting and radical criterion, whereby to judge between the present and primitive state of christianity; but also would serve to show the grievous and Incalculable privation of blissful and efficacious privileges, occasioned by a long and almost universal departure from the original apostolic exhibition of it; and thus tend to excite a general and just concern in the public mind, to repair the incalculable loss, by strictly adverting to the pure original gospel as exhibited by the apostles, and thus to contend earnestly for the faith as it was once delivered to the saints. If you, sir, think with the writer, that such a subject would be a suitable commencement; and that the following will, in some good measure, answer that purpose, you will please accept it as a token of sincere desire for the utility and success of your undertaking, and as a pledge on the part of the writer, of his hearty determination to contribute any assistance in his power, to the accomplishment of so worthy an object.

[The Christian Baptist, September 1, 1823, p. 11.]

      The identity of T. W. is revealed in the signature line ("T. W., alias THOS. CAMPBELL") to his "Reply" to a Constant Reader in The Christian Baptist (Vol. 7, No. 4, November 2, 1829). See College Press reprint (1983) of the Burnet edition (1835) of Alexander Campbell's The Christian Baptist, p. 598.

      Thomas Campbell's "To the Editor of the Christian Baptist" was first published in The Christian Baptist, Vol. I, No. 2, September 1, 1823. The electronic version of the letter has been produced from the College Press (1983) reprint of The Christian Baptist, ed. Alexander Campbell (Cincinnati: D. S. Burnet, 1835), p. 11.

      Pagination has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in the letter.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 6 January 1998.
Updated 7 July 2003.