A Nashville-area native, my roots extend to the hills of east Tennessee, eastern Kentucky, central Ohio and West Virginia.
A teacher at heart, I’ve pursued this vocation in a variety of contexts. Since 2011 I have interpreted late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century Tennessee history at Historic Mansker’s Station and the Bowen-Campbell Plantation Home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. I was Director of Research Services at Disciples of Christ Historical Society from 2006-2010 and taught Biblical Studies at Ezell-Harding Christian School from 1999-2006.
My research and writing interests center in the broad areas of Biblical theology, Nashville Churches of Christ, Christian history, and Stone-Campbell studies. Occasional speaking engagements at churches, schools and conferences afforded me avenues to pursue each of these interests.
I live in the Nashville area with my spouse Laura and our three daughters. An educator and musician (piano and flute), Laura is Director of Fine Arts at Ezell-Harding Christian School.
About the blog:
A good deal of this blog focuses on my on-going historical investigation of the Stone-Campbell Movement (or Restoration Movement). I am deeply interested in how the story of this religious movement intersects Nashville history and culture.
Alexander Campbell’s outdoor hexagonal brick study was for him a space sacred for both retreat and study as well as conversation and engagement. The study – or scriptorium if you will — was purposefully lit from above by a skylight: he labored by the conviction that all light comes from above. Here he retreated each morning to pray, to read, to reflect on the ancient scriptures. Here he engaged the ideas of his day. Lastly, here he wrote books, periodicals, essays, sermons, speeches, and debates. From his scriptorium he participated in the larger community of scholarship and ministry.
I’m certainly no Alexander Campbell, yet I’m inspired by his study: what it meant and what it yet means. So eScriptorium is one effort of mine to participate in both the academic and faith communities.
Hello,
I read your most recent post in my Reader, but it is not posted here, which is odd. The post was Exploration in Bibliography #5, and stresses the need for a Restoration Movement Bibliography. I agree with you 100%, but don’t know if anyone will be taking this on soon. So, I have a suggestion.
What if we do it? If everyone who reads your blog (and others, once the word is out) would create entries from their own collections/ libraries we could have a decent bibliography put together for the most knowledgeable scholars to look at and fill in the holes. It could be hosted on the DCHS website, providing another service to Restoration scholars. A database would be cool, allowing for searches according to any field, and could include tagging by users. What do you think?
Best,
I read with great interest in the closing of Clover Bottom. I worked there 3 years as Personnel Director. It was a place dear to my heart. There were many devoted employees earning little pay at that time.
There was also so ugly things at Clover Bottom in which I
tried to correct while I was there. After three years, I moved on into the General Hospital setting but thinking back many years ago it was probably one of my most rewarding jobs.
Thank you.
Jim Marler
Baltimore, MD
I have a book that I have a question about and thought you might be able to help me. I found a book by J.W. Chism that was published my the Gospel Advocate Publishing Company in Nashville, Tenn the date is 1901 If you could email me back and tell me what you know I would really appreciate it. I have done internet searches and all I pulled up was one item on amazon and there isnt much info to go on. The title of the book is Cambellism What is it? by J.W. Chism
Mac, I was referred to your blog by cousin Kevin Owen at the Lebanon College Hills church, trying to make a contact point. About three years ago you gave the wife, Clema, and I a tour at the museum. I took a picture of a log cabin meeting house but failed to document what it was. I am not reading Memoirs of Alexander Campbell, a book recently given to me, and wonder if the log cabin in the picture was the one constructed as a meeting place for the Christian association prompted by Thomas Campbell. Seems likely but can you confirm or deny?
I will visit your blog ofter now that I know of it.
I sent the museum a book I put together on the history of the church in Laredo, Texas. I presume you got it.
Chuck Owen
chxowen@stx.rr.com
I commend and appreciate your efforts to search and document the history of the church around Nashville, where I was born and still feel at home. Apparently it’s an ill internet search that doesn’t lead you to further understanding of your world and yourself. As an amateur and part-time genealogist, I have been fascinated to find Great-Great’s on both sides of my family in the midst of the Restoration movement of the Lord’s Church 150-100 years ago. It bolsters my genealogy interest, and although the UDC and DAR would scarcely acknowledge it… this is a heritage of faith that I can be proud to pass on to my sons.
It was in searching for anecdotal information about my great grandfather that I found your blog. Before I found you, I found the history of the Mt. Juliet, TN Church where he – George Van Buren Goodall was one of the founding elders about 1891. You would find the deed restrictions placed upon the church property in 1915 to be fascinating: [http://www.mtjuliet.org/sermons/archives/002143.html] I did, along with the confirmation that the author of those words, Bro. Elam, was the minister who officiated at my grandparent’s wedding in 1909. I have my grandmother’s wedding book and many of the people who signed it were members of the early Mt. Juliet Church. My grandmother was a faithful member of the church and reader, subscriber of the Gospel Advocate until her death at age 96. This is my father’s family.
My mother’s Great Grandfather, David Purviance McCorkle, was named after his great uncle, David Purviance – a preacher and compatriot of Barton Stone. When D.P. McCorkle’s grandfather William married David Purviance’s sister and started following the teachings of Barton Stone,”he freed all his slaves and took up preaching” according to family history. These McCorkle’s are from the same family of staunch Scots Presbyterian parents – different son – that produced Samuel Eusebius McCorkle, Presbyterian revivalist and one of the founders of the University of North Carolina. Near Newbern in West Tennessee, these McCorkles help establish the Lemalsamac Church of Christ [http://www.lemalsamaccofc.com/Blog/?p=10] and a McCorkle family history says Jane M. McCorkle, D.P. McCorkle’s mother, was baptized into Christ as a charter member of that church in 1847. Her descendants have worshipped there for 163 years. As her 4th great granddaughter, I find it amusing to find a few relatives from that period named after great evangelists of the restoration… and heartwarming to know that I on the Lord’s day worship the way my family has for more than 150 years as well as the first disciples did after Pentecost. The newest reborn Christian is far greater in the Kingdom than I, but my responsibility to my Lord and my family has grown through these discoveries – which delight my soul.
Karen Moore Waugh
Tampa, FL
That is wonderful Karen. Thank you for your kind words; I appreciate it very much. Please keep me in mind if you learn abything else about these churches.
Mac, Been too long looking at your blog – until today. Still interested in keeping up with you and Restoration/reformation. BTW, I recently had the biography of Campbell given to me. Enjoy the read and glad to have it in my library.
Hello Mac,
I wanted to let you know that I finally finished my book entitled From Campbell to Katrina: A History of the Churches of Christ in New Orleans.
Your name appears in my preface section because of your wonderful assistance when I came to the Historical Society awhile back.
Take care and God bless,
Eric Dishongh
Hello Eric,
It is great to hear from you. Congratulations on the book! Would you consider sending a copy so I can review it here on the blog? I’ll do what I can to publicize it. Grace and peace, Mac