From Wikipedia:
John William (J. W.) McGarvey (March 1, 1829 – October 6, 1911) was a minister, author, and religious educator in the American Restoration Movement. He was particularly associated with the College of the Bible in Lexington, Kentucky (today Lexington Theological Seminary) where he taught for 46 years, serving as president from 1895 to 1911. He was noted for his opposition to theological liberalism and higher criticism. His writings are still influential among the heirs of the conservative wing of the Restoration Movement, the Churches of Christ and Christian churches and churches of Christ.
Although McGarvey wrote extensively throughout his lifetime, he is perhaps most remembered for his writings on the book of Acts. He and his wife Ottie lived full lives---rearing eight children, moving several times, and weathering the tumultuous Civil War years. McGarvey held some unconventional views, such as opposing instrumental music in worship, and he was a pacifist. From my few hours of research, I've concluded he was involved in the Church of Christ segment of the original Disciples of Christ movement, though I wouldn't swear to it being clear in my mind.
How did J.W. McGarvey and Philip Pendleton come into acquaintance? First, they were both from the same geographic region in Kentucky. More significantly, McGarvey attended Bethany College from 1847-1850 where he was taught, mentored, and baptized by Philip's father, William Kimbrough Pendleton (1817-1899).
W.K. Pendleton's "mother was an Episcopalian, but his father claimed no religious affiliation until about 1833 when he became intensely interested in the writings of Alexander Campbell." W.K. Pendleton attended the University of Virginia and originally planned to pursue a career in law and politics. Alexander Campbell visited him while at the university and once brought his daughter Lavina along. Eventually W.K. and Lavina fell in love and married. Lavina died young from consumption, and so did her sister, Clarinda, his second wife. Philip Pendleton was born from Pendleton's third marriage with Catherine Huntington King.
I imagine that J.W. McGarvey adn Philip Pendleton met at Bethany College, both counting Alexander Campbell as a strong influence in their spiritual formation and lives. McGarvey's parents were influenced by the teachings of this movement, and Alexander influenced McGavey during his time at Bethany.
Alexander Campbell has his own story of legacy and influence stemming from his father:
Alexander Campbell (12 September 1788 – 4 March 1866) was a Scots-Irish immigrant who became an ordained minister in the United States and joined his father Thomas Campbell as a leader of a reform effort that is historically known as the Restoration Movement, and by some as the "Stone-Campbell Movement." It resulted in the development of non-denominational Christian churches, which stressed reliance scripture and few essentials.
Thomas Campbell (1 February 1763 – 4 January 1854) was a Presbyterian minister who became prominent during the Second Great Awakening of the United States. Born in County Down, he began a religious reform movement on the American frontier.[1] He was joined in the work by his son, Alexander. Their movement, known as the "Disciples of Christ", merged in 1832 with the similar movement led by Barton W. Stone to form what is now described as the American Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement).-Wikipedia
Thomas Campbell's journey was inspired by the writings of Enlightenment thinker John Locke:
"Campbell proposed the same solution to religious division as had been advanced earlier by Herbert and Locke: "[R]educe religion to a set of essentials upon which all reasonable persons might agree." The essentials he identified were those practices for which the Bible provided "a 'Thus saith the Lord,' either in express terms or by approved precedent." Unlike Locke, who saw the earlier efforts by Puritans as inherently divisive, Campbell argued for "a complete restoration of apostolic Christianity." Thomas believed that creeds served to divide Christians. He also believed that the Bible was clear enough that anyone could understand it and, thus, creeds were unnecessary." -Wikipedia
Stone and Campbell were influential in the American Reformist tradition and in the creation of the Disciples of Christ movement, which was an effort to unify the Church as opposed to all of the denominational tendencies.
From the Disciples in Christ Historical Society website: "In Kentucky, Barton Warren Stone (1772-1844) was a Presbyterian minister who, along with others, called for a return to simple New Testament Christianity. In fact, Stone believed that followers of Christ should go by no other name than “Christian.” In Pennsylvania and what is now West Virginia, father and son Thomas Campbell (1763-1854) and Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) championed the idea of “one Church of Christ upon earth.” They, too, believed that followers of Christ should not be identified by sectarian names and asked that only “Disciples” be used."
What a web of truth seeking through the ages--from John Locke, to Thomas Campbell, to his son Alexander, who sought to unify the Church but ironically created new denominations instead. J.W. Garvey and Philip Pendelton were the offspring of their mentors, yet another link in the influential chain of Christian thinkers. I'm sure I could lose myself in researching John Locke's key influences and the influencers or his influences and so on.
I'm inspired by this chain---each generation seeking truth and influencing those around them to continue to do so. Along the way, each effort is imperfect but earnest nonetheless. I'm humbled because the groups born from these beginnings are uneven and some even cultish (International Church of Christ). I'm not sure that I agree even with all of the teachings of the Christ of Christ which was born out of the Disciples of Christ. I'm confirmed in my thinking that humankind is excellent at division and horrible at unity. As much as we long for the harmony and peace of full unity, our efforts seem doomed to failure until Christ comes again. Perhaps this is an appropriate prelude for my study of Ecclesiastes, which is where I'm thinking I'll head next. No family, no government, no movement, no little "church" is able to create or perpetuate a perfectly unified and harmonious anything on earth.
Despite the fragmentation and mutations of the Stone-Campbell tradition, it seems it was founded on solid principles:
"Stone-Campbell churches fall into the category of Protestant free-church. That is, individual congregations are seen as the pinnacle of church expression, are independent/autonomous organizations, and advocate the separation of church and state.
The Stone-Campbell churches are characterized by a focus on New Testament teaching, shared governance between clergy and laity, baptism by immersion, ecumenism, and the regular celebration of communion during worship." -discipleshistory.org
Getting back to J.W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, my faith has been strengthened by their insights in The Fourfold Gospel, and by the sincerity of their hearts for Christ as it shines through their comments. It's comforting and humbling to think upon the lives of the faithful who have walked before me. Their words, though increasingly obscure, continue to impact lives long after they rest waiting for His return.
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