History of the Restoration Movement


Commodore Wesley Cauble

1874-1935

C. W. Cauble

Commodore W. Cauble was born near Salem, Washington Co., Ind. He taught two terms in the district school, and at the age of twenty-one entered the College of the Bible at Lexington, Ky.

He graduated with the class of 1899, and preached one year for the church at Dyersburg, Tenn. In the fall of 1900 he entered Indiana University at Bloomington. and received his master's degree in the Philosophy Department in June. 1903.

He was in the Divinity School of Harvard University during the year 1903 and 1904. While a student at Bloomington, he preached for the church at Orleans, and while at Harvard he preached for the little church at Manton, R. I.

On Oct. 1, 1904, he began a four years' pastorate at Greencastle, Ind. In the winter of 1908 he spent four months in Egypt. Palestine and southern Europe. He held a short pastorate with the Sixth Church, Indianapolis, and reluctantly gave up that work to go to his present field. He has been pastor at Martinsville since Nov. 1. 1909.

He is president of Bethany Assembly, and gives freely of his time and energy to the brotherhood in that important work.

-The Indiana Pulpit, William Henry Book, page 235


Commodore Wesley Cauble Wrote
Disciples of Christ in Indiana
Published In 1930

Introduction

In the minutes of the meeting of the board of directors of the Indiana Christian Missionary Association held in Indianapolis on June 7, 1926, we note the following record:

"The matter of the importance of the history of the Disciples of Christ in Indiana was brought before the board. The idea met with enthusiastic response, with the result that C. W. Cauble was chosen and commissioned historian, in the thought that out of his close touch with the church in every 'nook and corner' as well as in the great centers of population, there might, in the years ahead come a history of which the State would be proud."

Approximately four years have elapsed since that action was taken and the author, commissioned to write the history of the Churches of Christ in Indiana, has completed his task and the manuscripts are ready for the press. Mr. Cauble has given himself with abandonment to
this work. In addition to the previous experience which he brought as a preparation for the task he has traveled widely, has read extensively, and has diligently searched the records for original sources of information and assembled data which will enable him to make a very valuable contribution to Indiana church history.

The author is a native Hoosier, having been born near Salem, Indiana. He was educated in the public schools, is a graduate of the College of the Bible, Lexington, Ky., and the Indiana State University. He took a Master's degree at the latter institution in 1903, and spent an additional year in graduate study at the Divinity School of Harvard University.

During the past generation he has been an active participant in the church and institutional life of our movement in Indiana, having held ministries in our local churches at the Sixth Church, Indianapolis; Greencastle, and Martinsville. In 1904 he spent two months in northern Europe and in 1908 together with his wife, spent threemonths in Egypt and Palestine. While serving at Martinsville he was for several years the president of Bethany Assembly.

In October, 1913, he entered upon his duties as corresponding secretary of the Indiana Christian Missionary Association, and continued in this capacity until August, 1926. During these years there was a steady development in the strength, efficiency, and scope of work of our State organization. During this period the membership of our churches in Indiana advanced from third to first place in the number of communicants as listed by States, and an increasing financial support for the work was gained. During these years Mr. Cauble was steadily developing power and efficiency as a minister of finance; in the dedication of churches, and leading in special financial efforts. The calls for his services came from almost every State of the Union. At last he felt himself impelled to accept this special ministry as his life work. Upon his retirement from the State secretaryship, the State Convention of the Churches of Christ, meeting in Bloomington on May 18, 1926, recognized Mr. Cauble's call to this larger ministry in the following resolution:

"During the thirteen years of Mr. Cauble's services with the Association he became a church dedicator of national reputation. He has dedicated churches in twenty-six States, the District of Columbia, and in Canada. Indeed, we Hoosiers think that the mantle of L. L. Carpenter, that prince among church dedicators, has fallen upon the shoulders of our own Commodore W. Cauble.

"Therefore, Be It Resolved, That we, the Disciples of Christ in Indiana, in convention assembled, in Bloomington, this the 18th day of May, 1926, hereby express our sense of loss that is to be sustained by the Association and the work tinder its care, by the conclusion of the efficient services of Brother Cauble.

"Be It Further Resolved, That we express to him our thanks for services rendered the cause of Christ in Indiana, and that we express our deepest interest in his future work and wish him Godspeed as he goes forth to the greater work of the kingdom for which he is so eminently fitted.

"Be It Further Resolved, That we commend Brother Cauble to the Brotherhood at large as a church dedicator whose ability is unquestioned and in whose integrity we have the utmost confidence."

That great church dedicator of the past generation, F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, paid Mr. Cauble the following tribute:

"C. W. Cauble is entirely at home in a church dedication. He is blessed with resourcefulness, tact, and good cheer, all reinforced with sound Scriptural argument. He appeals to the highest motives. He wins hearts, opens pocket-books, and leaves a deep and permanent spiritual impression. His good presence, his clear voice, his optimistic outlook, and his world-embracing views, all combine to make him delightful on the platform. He has enjoyed uniform success and I rejoice exceedingly in the splendid service he has rendered."

The reading and study of the History of the Disciples of Christ in Indiana is a matter of the utmost importance. A generation has come forward that is not acquainted with the ideals, the purposes, and the spirit of this great movement. Those living today should be made familiar with the great personalities connected with this history. The attempt to write a complete history of this communion in Indiana has never before been undertaken. Mr. Cauble has, therefore, done a pioneer service for our Brotherhood in Indiana. Using the spare time of a very busy ministry he has made his contribution to the history of the Christian Churches in this State. We trust that the volume which he has written may have a very wide reading.

G. I. Hoover, History of Disciple Of Christ in Indiana, 1930.

Directions To Grave

For directions to the grave of Commodore W. Cauble, head north from Louisville, Kentucky on I-65. After entering Indiana, go to Exit 7, and turn left (Hwy. 60) and head to Salem, Indiana, about 34 miles. Head all the way into town and turn right on S. Main St. Then, turn left on W. Small St. Then right on N. Water St. Turn left after NAPA, then left on S. Shelby St. Then right on Nicholas Ave. then bear to the left on West St. straight into the cemetery. After the fifth little lane to the left stop the car and look to your left for the Cauble monument. While in the cemetery find the grave of a couple other graves of note. Benjamin Franklin Taylor, a gospel preacher, and Tilford Boling, an Adventist who debated C.R. Nichol.

GPS Location
38°35'56.9"N 86°06'30.4"W
or D.d. 38.599145,-86.108444

Commodore W.
Cauble
1874-1935

Photos Taken 09.17.2014
Webpage produced 08.31.2024
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com

Special Recognition: Special thanks to Larry Miles for finding and photographing the grave of Commodore W. Cauble. Also, we appreciate him for making the photos available for posting here.

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