Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell was born at Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland,
in 1788, while his father was conducting a school there. Almost
all his early education was received from his father. Thomas
Campbell drilled his oldest son in Latin and Greek classics,
French, English literature, and philosophy-and made him like
them as well as learn them.
Exactly one month after the passenger/freighter Hibernia had
broken her hull against the sunken rocks in Lochin Deal, off
the Island of Islay in the Herbrides, a little man in a worn
black coat stared impassively at a sprawling new signature on
the register of the University of Glasgow. "November 8,
1808, Alexander Campbell." He read slowly, rolling the words
under his tongue. He looked up.
"Twenty-five years ago I matriculated the father. And
now, the son. An auld habit of the University, and a good one.
But I dinna ken ye will do as well." He shook his head doubtfully.
"Your father was a vurry gude mon; and ye are entering the
sessions late."
Alexander nodded gravely, aware of the welcome in the eyes
of the old registrar; conscious of the Scotch wariness that caused
him to speak cautiously.
"I shall do my best, sir," he said. "Father
has a good mind, an excellent perception. I am not confident
I can equal his record as a student." [Cochran, 1958]
 Alexander entered
the University of Glascow and made his mark well among his peers.
It was there that his mind and heart were challenged like never
before. His naturally inquiring mind worked overtime in developing
new ideas. He found his old convictions regarding infant baptism
gaining strength day by day. In addition, the more he saw of
poor people being found "not worthy" to receive holy
communion by church standards of the day, the more he wanted
to throw off the yoke of ecclesiastical doctrine.
May of 1809 brought the annual observance of the Lord's Supper
by the Seceder Church. This service focused on the sacred solemnity
of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Prior to this holy day, the
officiating elders of the church visited all the members to ascertain
their worthiness to partake of the sacraments. Many members came
to the table in fear, others were sanctimonious beyond belief,
and many hesitated all day before deciding their worthiness.
Each carried a token to be placed upon the table at the moment
of communion. This was to indicate they had been officially declared
worthy by the elders. This whole idea repelled Alexander. He
was convinced that no man had the right to determine the worthiness
of another to receive God's forgiveness. When his turn came,
he returned his token to the elders, refused to take communion,
and in his heart renounced any allegiance to the Church of Scotland,
or to any other church that proclaimed its path as the only way
to the throne of God.
Finally, August 3, 1809, the family set sail again for America.
On September 29, 1809, they gazed at the New York skyline, such
as it was. A few days later, Alexander and the rest of the family
met Thomas Campbell on the road to Pennsylvania. In his saddle
bags Thomas carried the proof sheets of his Declaration and Address,
ready to share them with his son. |
