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Barton Warren Stone
Biographical Sketch On The Life Of Barton W. Stone
Barton
W. Stone was born in Maryland, December 24, 1772. At the time of his birth
the religious world was in a state of confusion. Chaotic conditions
prevailed among the different denominations as well as in the midst of
each denomination. Mr. Stone received the impressions of the prevailing
religious customs early in his youth. After a peculiar religious
experience, he joined the Presbyterian Church.
He
had grave doubts about some of the points of doctrine of the Presbyterian
Church. Before he joined this church he had a long conversation with two
Presbyterian ministers, relating to them the state of his mind on some
points which disturbed him. These ministers wished to retain so
promising a young man for the Presbyterian Church. They asked him how far
he would be willing to subscribe to the Confession. He replied: "As
far as it is consistent with the word of God." This showed his great
respect, even while he was in the wilderness of confusion, for the word of
God. When he was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church, he
gave the same answer to the presbytery-that he would subscribe to the
Confession only so far as it was consistent with the word of God. His
answer to those who questioned him about his faith in the Confession
indicated the character of the man.
Mr.
Stone in appearance was grave, holy, meek, plain, and humble. He was firm
in his convictions and true to the word of God as he saw it. His preaching
the Bible soon brought him into trouble with the Presbyterian Church. He
soon saw that the wearing of the name "Presbyterian" encouraged
a party spirit. He at once called together the churches for which he was
preaching and informed them that he could no longer conscientiously
preach to support the Presbyterian Church and that his efforts henceforth
would be directed to the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Later he
said: "I sacrificed the friendship of two large congregations and
an ample salary. I preferred the truth to the friendship and kindness of
my associates in the Presbyterian ministry." After casting away the
Presbyterian name and the man-made creed, he took the name "Christian"
and set forth on the mission of a child of God under that name. As a
result of his close study of the New Testament and his desire to follow
it, he, with five other Presbyterian ministers, published the "Last
Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery." At this time he
was laboring in Kentucky. The first item of this will reads as follows:
"We will that this body die, be dissolved, and sink into union with
the body of Christ at large; for there is but one body and one Spirit,
even as we are called in one hope of our calling." The second item
reads: "We will that our name of distinction, with its reverend
title, be forgotten, that there be but one Lord over God's heritage, and
his name One." The last item of the will reads: "Finally, we
will that all our sister bodies read their Bibles carefully, that they may
see their fate there determined, and prepare for death before it is too
late." The effect of this document was great upon the Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Stone did not intend to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church
at that time. He thought that the whole Presbyterian Church would see that
it was an unscriptural organization and that all would unite with him on
the New Testament. In this he was disappointed. He soon saw that he could
not remain in the Presbyterian Church and at the same time advocate the
principles which he then believed. He had a higher regard for the
new-found truths of the New Testament than he had for the Presbyterian
Church; so he had to give it up.
The
movement which he had started soon began to take on larger dimensions.
Soon the greater part of Central Kentucky was influenced by this movement.
His next step was to adopt faith-baptism as the only baptism; that is, he
gave up infant baptism and accepted immersion only as baptism, and that
for the remission of sins. He gradually came to a fuller knowledge of
the truth as revealed in the Bible. He applied himself diligently to the
study of the New Testament, and rejoiced in every new-found truth that he
discovered therein. He was especially impressed with the simplicity of
the New Testament teaching as contrasted with the theories of human
creeds. Many saw the truth with him and helped him to form churches after
the New Testament order. These churches multiplied rapidly throughout
Kentucky and Ohio.
Mr.
Stone at this time had never met Alexander Campbell. There were two
movements which were independent of each other, if not wholly ignorant of
each other. These two movements were led by Alexander Campbell and Barton
W. Stone. They seemed to be running parallel. Mr. Campbell was laboring in
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia; while Mr. Stone was laboring in Kentucky
and Ohio. Both movements had practically the same purpose and work to
achieve. Each was calling upon people to cast aside all human names and
man-made creeds and take the Bible as the basis for Christian union, to
follow it and become and be just what it directed. It is probable that the
movement headed by Stone was begun a little earlier than the one begun by
Mr. Campbell. As has been observed in the sketch of Alexander Campbell's
life, he was affiliated with the Baptist Church; and while thus connected
in a loose way with the Baptists, Stone was leading many of the
Presbyterians out of denominational bondage. Mr. Campbell and Mr. Stone
met for the first time at Georgetown, Ky., in 1824, and they soon became
steadfast friends. Each was in full sympathy with the other. They had so
much in common and so little difference that the two movements began to
converge. Mr. Campbell was publishing the Christian Baptist, and Mr. Stone
began publishing the Christian Messenger in 1826. These publications
helped to bring together the two movements.
Those
who were associated with Mr. Campbell called themselves "Disciples of
Christ," while those who were associated with Mr. Stone called
themselves "Christians." Their enemies called the movement led
by Campbell "Reformers" or "Campbellites," while the
enemies called Mr. Stone and his followers "New Lights" or
"Stoneites." Most of those who were associated with Stone came
from the Presbyterians, while most of those who were associated with
Campbell came from the Baptists. In January, 1832, a meeting was
convened at Lexington, Ky., with the view of uniting these two movements
into a permanent union. The emphasis with Mr. Stone had been placed upon
the idea of uniting all men under Christ, while Mr. Campbell had placed
the emphasis on exact conformity to the primitive faith and practice. The
one had the New Testament idea and spirit of unity, while the other had
the idea of work and worship according to the New Testament. It was not
difficult to unite these two, as both were New Testament teachings.
At
the meeting in Lexington, Mr. Stone found himself fully in accord with the
thought and purpose of the union and
gave full and hearty endorsement to it. Both parties had been wearing
Scriptural names. Both had been making the blunder of excluding all
other Scriptural names. They now saw that God's people could be disciples,
Christians, brethren, and heirs of God. Mr. Stone never ceased to
rejoice in the success of the truth of the gospel. He loved the truth of
God supremely and devoted all the energies of his life to the church of
his Lord.
Barton
W. Stone died at Hannibal, Mo., in November, 1844. He was buried at Cane
Ridge, Ky. A marble shaft bearing this inscription marks the spot:
"The church of Christ at Cane Ridge and other generous friends in
Kentucky
have caused this monument to be erected as a tribute of affection and
gratitude to Barton W. Stone, minister of the gospel of Christ and the
distinguished reformer of the nineteenth century. Born December 24, 1772:
died November 9, 1844. His remains lie here. This monument erected in
1847."
-Biographical
Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, c.1932. pages 28-32
Audio Lectures
Life of Barton Warren Stone (2.0 Megs; 32.37 Min.; Lecture On the Life Of B.W. Stone At Faulkner University Lectures, 1997)
The Church of Christ at Caneridge & other generous friends in Kentucky have caused this monument to be erected as a tribute of affection & gratitude to BARTON W. STONE Minister of the gospel of Christ and the distinguished reformer of the 19 Century. BORN Dec. 24, 1772 DIED Nov. 9, 1844 His remains lie here. This monument was erected in 1847.
Directions To Cane Ridge & Stone's Final Resting Place Cane Ridge is located north of Paris, Kentucky. Take I-75 north of Lexington, Kentucky. Take Exit 125 and go east on Hwy 460. When coming into Paris, Hwy. 460 will dead into Hwy. 68. Turn right and then left on Hwy. 460 again. Go a quarter mile and turn left on C0. 537. Go 4 or 5 miles and the Meetinghouse is on the left.
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