A Gospel Meeting In 1845
On the Editorial page of the Arkansas Gazette of Sunday December 31, 1967, under Chronicles of Arkansas, we find the following headlines written by Margaret Ross. "Two Kentucky Evangelist Successful During a 26-day Revival at Little Rock." She says: John T. Johnson and R. C. Ricketts, elders in the Christian Church from Ky. conducted a 26-day revival meeting at Little Rock in February of 1845 that gave their church 95 new members and decimated some of the other congregations."
Our readers will understand that the Lord's church in those days was often spoken of by denominational people, as the Christian Church. In the next paragraph she gives some history of Brother Johnson. "Mr. Johnson was a member of an illustrious family, the most famous member being his brother, Richard Mentor Johnson, vice president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. Another brother was Benjamin Johnson of Little Rock, who had come to Arkansas in 1821 as judge of the territorial Superior Court, a position he held until statehood, after which he was a judge of the federal District Court. Another brother, James, had been a congressman from Kentucky. The revivalist himself had served two terms as a congressman from Kentucky, but had abandoned a promising political career to become an evangelist for the Campbellite reformation movement." Miss Ross continues, and says of Brother Johnson: "He had made his first tour outside Kentucky in Missouri in the spring of 1843. His biographer and intimate friend, John Rogers, stated his mission in life: He was determined to devote his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor, to the best of all causes — the cause of uniting God's people and saving the world."
Miss Ross then says: "The report of the revival at Little Rock, written by Mr. Johnson and signed by both Johnson and Ricketts, was addressed to the churches at Georgetown and Maysville, Ky., which had agreed to underwrite this tour." The report of brethren, Johnson and Ricketts follows:
Our arrival was most unexpected to the brethren; but the surprise was most agreeable, and we were welcomed in a manner most grateful to our feelings. The meeting house was small — quite ordinary — and our brethren were few in number, but respectable. The opposition had been so great, and prospects so gloomy, that the cause seemed to be laboring for existence.
We there met our beloved brother Stephenson, whose fortunes had been identified with the congregation. His soul was elated and fired with hope, and he acted his part in a manner to commend him in the sight of men and angels. No labor was to arduous for him to perform; no service was to menial for him to attend to. In a word, his heart was burdened with the cause.
On Saturday night we commenced the siege. We continued day and night, until the 26th at night, being 26 days. The first two Lord's days, the Representative Hall was kindly granted us by Mr. Triplett. The remainder of the time, we preferred to confine the meetings to our house, as most favorable to success.
The citizens, in general, manifested the greatest kindness and respect; and the truth began to prevail a few days after our arrival. A feeble opposition set in from several quarters; but of little avail. The citizens of Little Rock were not to be deterred or dictated to. Like the noble Bereans, they examined, were convinced and obeyed.
Our success was gradual and constant, and beyond all calculations. It was a source of astonishment to all, and rejoicing to many. The result was 90 additions. Brother Ricketts remained some weeks on business, and gained five more, making 95.")
It thrilled my heart to read this report of a gospel meeting held in 1845, by a man that had given up a promising political career, in order to devote his life to the cause of Christ. As John Rogers said of him: "He was determined to devote his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor, to the best of all causes — the cause of uniting God's people and saving the world."
The reader will please note that this meeting was conducted four years before the beginning of the American Christian Missionary Society in 1849 that divided the churches. The work was being done just like it was in apostolic days, with no sponsoring church that had set itself up, to collect money from other churches and take the oversight of the cause of Christ in a certain locality.
Meetings like this (and there were many) is proof positive that the Lord's plan of spreading the gospel of Christ, without a missionary society, or sponsoring church set-up, will work when it is put into operation. What brethren need most today is a consuming desire to spread the gospel, and trust the Lord to make the additions.
Solon Borland, Jr.. Editor of the Arkansas Banner, gave this account of the meeting in 1845. "When we heard them, the burden of their discourses was immersion. They contended that it is the only scriptural mode of baptism — that it is for the remission of sins and that one's sins is not pardoned until immersed. They contend furthermore that there is no abstract operation of the Spirit, that it operates alone through the word or scriptures — and that they are right, all others wrong; and they exhort all denominations to abandon their churches, and unite with them."
The Gazette of February 17 had this account of the revival. "Such a revival we have never had among us; upwards of fifty new members have joined them, comprising many of the most worthy and respectable citizens of our place. Several of them, though belonging to other denominations, and esteemed steadfast members thereof, have been brought to acknowledge that they were wrong, and that they have found the better way."
Such reports fills one with desires to go back to the "good old days" when the brethren were united, and the gospel was being preached with power. When there was no pussy-footing, but truth was contrasted with error, in such way that an honest person could learn he was wrong.
Just think what the results would have been by now, if the Missionary Society had not been established, and later instrumental music introduced by the advocates of the society. The truth of the original gospel was taking the country by storm. The citadels of error were being exposed, but when these things were introduced it brought division to a once happy people, and struck a mighty blow at the cause of Christ. The brethren that believed in "a thus saith the Lord," had to devote much of their precious time to fighting these unauthorized innovations, instead of preaching to the lost of earth.
Today some of us are having to fight the same battle. Many brethren of today endorse the sponsoring church plan, the Herald of Truth missionary society; youth camps; church sponsored baseball, basketball and volley ball teams; plus kitchens and fellowship halls, so called.
It is no wonder then that the truth of God to a great extent lies trampled in the street of the "great city of Babylon."
We hope and pray that as time goes along many brethren will see the great damage that such things are doing to the cause of Christ, and will return to the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.