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- Religious Leader. Famous and renowned minister of the Restoration movement. Started a revival in August 1801 at Cane Ridge in Bourbon County, Kentucky, that drew nearly 30,000 people. Nearly 5,000 of those same people dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ during the week revival. Stone was an Ordained Presbyterian minister and is credited with founding the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (bio by: John Wright)
findagrave.com
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. After two previous burials, he was finally laid to rest 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."
?From Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo Boles, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1932, pages 28-32
http://www.therestorationmovement.com/stone,bw.htm
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1772 - 1844 (71 years)
