e-Publisher's
Note
On August 17,
1889, a statement was read by P. P. Warren to a group gathered at the meeting
place of the Sand Creek Church of Christ near Sand Creek, Illinois. The
statement was signed by representatives and members of several Churches of
Christ and published in the Octographic Review of September 5, 1889,
and in the Christian Leader of September 10, 1889. Since the text of
the two publications are not exactly alike, we present them below in parallel
format with textual differences highlighted in red.
(We have not highlighted differences in punctuation.)
First,
the introductions are presented separately, then the text of the speech is
displayed with each paragraph in parallel format as non-breaking lines prefaced
by "v.1" and "v.2" for versions one and two, respectively. These documents may be
accessed from the
Daniel Sommer Page of the
Restoration Movement site
maintained by Dr. Hans Rollman at the Memorial
University of Newfoundland.
Bob D. Lewis
SCM e-Prints
ADDRESS AND DECLARATION (Version I)
From Octographic Review, September 5, 1889
Transcribed April 6, 1995 by A. K. Guthrie from imperfect photocopy
--Followed a speech--duration one hour and forty minutes--by Daniel Sommer--
(Elder P. P. Warren then took the stand and addressed the audience substantially
as given below)
My brethren--
I come before you today with thoughts and feelings different from what I have
ever had before in addressing you. For about forty years I have stood in this
and adjoining communities as a proclaimer of the gospel. I took up the work in
company with those who were the pioneers of this country. We started on the
platform of the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible. The New
Testament we took as our rule of faith and practice. "Where the Bible speaks we
will speak and where the Bible is silent we will be silent" was our watchword.
Then we prospered and became, as our brother who preceded me has shown you, a
great and a mighty people. For a continuation of this order of things we hoped
and labored and prayed. But there have arisen many among us who have shown
themselves to be unsatisfied with what is written. They have introduced things
which our King has never authorized, and as a result have made us a divided and
an unhappy people. We pled and entreated that we might have the peace of the
gospel, but they would not hear our entreaties. Therefore, after much earnest
thought on the part of loyal brethren it was decided that something should be
said and done which would relieve those who intend to be true to the Lord Jesus
Christ from responsibility for the misdemeanors, of those who are not satisfied
with what is written in the word of God. That is to say, these brethren decided
that those who are loyal to Christ should no longer have thrust in their faces
by wordlings and their religious neighbors, such taunts as this: "Why your
people have fairs--your people have festivals and your people have a good many
things that Christ never authorized." As a result a goodly number of Churches
sent prominent brethren and we met yesterday, August 17th, in the Sand Creek
house of worship and decided upon the following document which I will read:
ADDRESS AND DECLARATION
BY THE CONGREGATIONS REPRESENTED BY THEIR
RESPECTIVE CHURCH OFFICERS IN A MASS MEETING ASSEMBLED AT SAND CREEK, SHELBY
CO., ILL., AUG. 17th, A. D. 1889
TO ALL THOSE WHO IT MAY CONCERN: greeting
ADDRESS AND DECLARATION (Version II)
From Christian Leader [Published by J. L. Rowe from Akron, Ohio], September 10,
1889
Transcribed April 11, 1995 by A. K. Guthrie from photocopy
ADDRESS AND DECLARATION
By the Congregations Represented by Their Respective Church Officers in a
Mass-meeting Assembled at Sand Creek, Shelby Co., Ill., August 17, 1889
To All Those Whom It May Concern, Greeting:
v.1: Brethren:
v.2: Brethren--
v.1: You doubtless know that we as disciples of Christ (with scarcely an
exception) many long years ago took the position that in matters of doctrine and
practice, religiously, that "where the Bible speaks we speak, and where the
Bible is silent we are silent;" and that
further, we held that nothing should be
taught, received or practiced for which we could not produce a "thus saith the
Lord." And doubtless many of you also know that as long as the above principles
were constantly and faithfully observed, that we were a
happy and prosperous people. Then we were of one heart and of one soul, we lived in peace and
prospered in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Then what was written as doctrine and for practice was taught
and observed by the disciples. And, it may not be amiss in this connection to
say that many, yes, very many in the sectarian churches saw the beauty,
consistency and wonderful strength and harmony in the plea, as set forth by the
disciples, for the restoration of primitive or apostolic Christianity in spirit
and in practice; and so came and united with us in the same great and godly
work.
v.2: You doubtless know that we, as disciples of Christ, with scarcely an
exception, many long years ago took the position that in matters of doctrine and
practice, religiously, "Where the Bible speaks we speak, and where the Bible is
silent we are silent." Further, we held that nothing should be taught, received
or practiced religiously, for which we could not produce a "Thus saith the
Lord." And doubtless, many of you also know that, as long as the above
principles were constantly and faithfully observed, we were a
prosperous and
happy people. Then we were of one heart and of one soul; we lived in peace and
prospered in the things pertaining to the kingdom of God and the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Then what was written as doctrine and for practice was taught
and observed by the disciples of Christ. And it may not be amiss in this
connection to say that many--yes, very many--in the sectarian churches saw the
beauty, consistency, and the wonderful strength and harmony, in the plea as set
forth by the disciples for the restoration of primitive or apostolic
Christianity in spirit and in practice, and so came and united with us in the
same great and godly work.
v.1:
It is, perhaps, needless for us to add in this connection that we, as a
people, discarded all man-made laws, disciplines, and confessions of faith, as
means of governing the church. We have always acknowledged and do now
acknowledge the all-sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to govern us as
individuals and as congregations. As an apostle has said, "All scripture is
given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
v.2: It is, perhaps, needless for us to add, in this connection, that we, as a
people, discarded all man-made laws, rules, disciplines and confessions of faith as means of governing the Church. We have always acknowledged, and do now
acknowledge, the all-sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to govern us as
individuals and as congregations. And as an apostle has said: "All Scripture is
given us by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
v.1:
And now, please allow us to call attention to more painful facts and
considerations. There are those among us who do teach and practice things not
taught nor found in the New Testament, which have been received by many well
meaning disciples, but rejected by those more thoughtful and, in most instances,
better informed in the scriptures, and who have repeatedly protested against
this false teaching and these corrupt practices among the disciples. Some of the
things against which we protest are the unlawful methods resorted to in order to
raise or get money for religious purposes, NAMELY, that of the church holding
festivals of various kinds in the house of the Lord or elsewhere, demanding
sometimes that each participant shall pay a certain sum
for an admittance fee; the select choir to the virtual, if not the real, abandonment of congregational
singing; likewise the manmade society for missionary work, and the one man,
imported preacher-pastor to take the oversight of the church. These with many
other objectionable and unauthorized things are now taught and practiced in many
of the congregations, and that to the great grief and mortification of some of
the members of said congregations.
v.2: And now, please
to allow us to call attention to some painful facts and
considerations. There are among us
those who do teach and practice things not
taught or found in the New Testament, which have been received by many
well-meaning disciples, but rejected by those more thoughtful, and in most
instances better informed in the Scriptures, and who have repeatedly protested
against this false teaching and those corrupt practices among the disciples.
Some of the things
of which we hereby complain, and against which we protest,
are the unlawful methods resorted to in order to raise or get money for
religious purposes,
viz: that of the church holding festivals of various kinds,
in the house of the Lord, or elsewhere, demanding that each participant shall
pay a certain sum as an admittance fee;
the use of instrumental music in the
worship; the select choir, to the virtual, if not the real, abandonment of
congregational singing. Likewise the man-made society for missionary work, and
the one-man, imported-preacher pastor to
feed and watch over the flock. These,
with many other objectionable and unauthorized things, are now taught and
practiced in many of the congregations, and that to the great grief and
mortification of some of the members of said congregations.
v.1:
And, now, brethren, you that teach such things, and such like things, and
those who practice the same, must certainly know that they are not only not in
harmony with the gospel, but are in opposition thereto. You surely will admit
that it is safe, and only safe to teach and practice what the divine record
enjoins upon the disciples. To this none can reasonably object,
and this is
exactly what we want and for which we contend.
v.2: And now, brethren, you
who teach such things and such like things, and
those who practice the same, must certainly know that they are not only not in
harmony with the gospel but are in opposition thereto. You surely will admit
that it is safe, and only safe, to teach and practice what the divine record
enjoins upon the disciples. To this none can reasonably object. This is exactly
what we want and for which we contend.
v.1:
And, now, we say, that we beg of you
to turn away speedily and at once from
such things, and remember that though we are the Lord's freemen yet we are bound
by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that by keeping His
commandments and not the commandments of men that we have the assurance of his
approval. Therefore, brethren, without addressing you further by using other
arguments, and without going further in detailing these unpleasant, and as we
see them, vicious things, you must allow us in kindness, and in Christian
courtesy, and at the same time with firmness, to declare that we cannot tolerate
the things of which we complain; for if we do, then we are (in a measure at
least) blamable ourselves. And, let it be distinctly understood,
that this
"Address and Declaration" is not made in any spirit of envy or hate, or malice or any such thing. But we are only actuated from a sense of duty to ourselves
and to all concerned; for we feel that the time has fully come when something of
a more definite character ought to be known and recognized between the church
and the world. Especially is this apparent when we consider the scriptural
teachings
in the matters to which we have herein referred--such for instance
as
the following: "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed, by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God."
v.2: And now we
may say that we beg of you
that you turn away speedily and at
once from such things, and remember that though we are the Lord's freemen, yet
we are bound by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that
it is by
keeping his commandments, and not the commandments of men, that we have the
assurance of his approval. Therefore, brethren, without addressing you further
by using other arguments, and without going further in detailing those
unpleasant and, as we see them, vicious things, you must allow us, in kindness
and in Christian courtesy, and at the same time with firmness, to declare that
we can not tolerate the things of which we complain, for if we do we are (in a
measure, at least) blamable ourselves. And et it be distinctly understood this address and declaration is not made in any spirit of envy or hate or malice, or
any such thing. But we are only actuated from a sense of duty to ourselves and
to all concerned; for we feel that the time has fully come when something of a
more definite character ought to be known and recognized between the Church and
the world. Especially is this apparent when we consider the scriptural
teaching
on the matters to which we have herein referred. Such, for instance,
is the
following: "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God."
v.1:
It is therefore, with the view, if possible, of counteracting the usages
and practices that have crept into the church, that this effort on the part of
the congregations hereafter named is made. And now, in closing up this address
and declaration, we state that we are impelled from a sense of duty to say, that
all such as are guilty of teaching, or allowing and practicing the many
innovations to which we have referred,
that after being admonished and having
had sufficient time for reflection, if they
do not turn away from such
abominations, that we can not and will not regard them as brethren.
v.2: It is, therefore, with the view, if possible, of counteracting the usages
and practices that have crept into the churches that this effort on the part of
the congregations hereafter named is made. And now, in closing up this address
and declaration, we state that we are impelled from a sense of duty to say that
all such as are guilty of teaching or allowing and practicing the many
innovations and corruptions to which we have referred, after having had
sufficient time for meditation and reflection, if they
will not turn away from
such abominations, that we can not and will not regard them as brethren.
v.1: [Signed]
v.2:
[Signed]
v.1:
P. P. Warren, A. J. Nance, Daniel Baker, Peter Robertson,
J. K. P. Rose,
James W. Warren,
v.2:
P. P. Warren, A. J. Nance, Daniel Baker,
J. P. K. Rose, James Warren,
v.1: Officers of Sand Creek Church.
v.2:
Officers of Sand Creek Church.
v.1:
Randolph Miller, Charles Erwin, W. K. Baker, Wm. Cozier,
v.2: Randolph Miller, Charles Erwin, W. K. Baker, Wm. Cozier,
v.1: Officers of Liberty Church.
v.2:
Officers of Liberty Church
v.1: [Signed]
v.2:
v.1: Wm. R. Storm, Ash Grove Church.
v.2:
Wm. R. Storm, Ash Grove Church
v.1: J. H. Hagan, Union Church.
v.2:
J. H. Hagan, Union Church
v.1: Isaac Walters, Mode Church.
v.2:
Isaac Walters, Mode Church.
v.1:
The brethren whose names stand alone in signing this document, represented
the churches from which they came. Beside these, Elder Colson, of Gays, and
Elder Hoke, of Stricklyn congregation, signed as individuals only, because the
congregations whence they came had not been called together and formally sent
them.
v.2:
v.1:
Green Creek congregation was represented by letter from Bro. Jesse Baker,
indorsing the movement.
v.2: