A Sunday night service at the Wilhite-Stewart gospel meeting, Tipton, Indiana, January 1911

A Sunday evening service in the Wilhite-Stewart meeting at Tipton, Indiana, January 1911. From Christian Standard, February 18, 1911, page 286.

Wilhite Meetings, Washington, Indiana, May 1910

As I read in the old church papers, I try to remember that in 1910 the photograph was still ascending as an innovation in printing and publishing and therefore it was still emerging as a staple of social and cultural life.  Standard Publishing appears to have taken full advantage as every issue of Christian Standard from the period carries several nice photographs.  Church architecture is a passing interest, especially the interior spaces designed and built for worship.  So photographs of church interiors, and congregations at worship never fail to catch my eye.  This one shows a full house at the Christian Church in Washington, Indiana, probably at the climax of H. E. Wilhite’s series of gospel meetings.  I have seen plenty of meeting reports that indicate few if any responses and little interest.  A few are as glowing as this one. Most are somewhere in the middle.

This item opens a window: we hear what the evangelist thought about the meeting, alongside a note from the regular minister.  Together they help us understand the social dynamic of the gospel meeting and the formative power of preaching events such as this.  We learn something about how music functioned to complement the preaching, and we learn about the energy poured into the effort by the whole congregation.  The photograph of the large congregation filling all available seats is compelling in its own way.  This is from “Wilhite Meetings at Christian Church, Washington Ind.,” Christian Standard August 20, 1910, page 1470.

“Wilhite Meetings at Christian Church, Washington Ind.,” Christian Standard August 20, 1910, page 1470.

“Wilhite Meetings at Christian Church, Washington Ind.,” Christian Standard August 20, 1910, page 1470.

The gospel auto at work in Clay Center, Nebraska, 1910

Christian Standard 46:51 (December 17, 1910), page 2216

“Your Church Music,” hymnal advertisement, 1915

This is the third in a short series of advertisements that caught my eye as I looked through some back issues of Christian Standard.  Scroll down to see the earlier two, especially the one for The New Make Christ King evangelistic hymnal.

I backed into an interest in hymnody only a few years ago, but it has been a very interesting and enjoyable interest to nurture.  So ads for hymnals and articles that describe or prescribe singing or worship practices are always a delight to discover.

How can this be useful for research?

–Bibliographically speaking, ads like this are helpful because they alert us to books that we might not have otherwise known existed.  Catalogs for publishing houses like Standard Publishing Company, Christian Publishing Company (which by 1915 became Christian Board of Publication), and Gospel Advocate Publishing Company (later McQuiddy Printing Company, then Gospel Advocate Company), were steadily produced at this time, and some even survive.  But, one cannot rely only on the catalogs since hymnals and song books come into and go out of print sometimes quickly.  Unless we have full runs of the catalogs then we will miss things.  And one cannot rely only on observing library holdings since they too have gaps.  It can be laborious to search Worldcat because catalogers sometimes abbreviate publisher names (using the item at hand which often abbreviate ‘Publishing’ as ‘Pub.’ as in Standard Pub. Co.).  This is understandable, however it renders the search process a little trickier than may first be apparent. In my experience, the ads are a good way to begin filling the gaps.  In this case, we have a nice array of hymnals, and looking over this list I see a couple books that are new to me: The Communion Choir and M. M. Davis’ Responsive Bible Readings for the Church chief among them.

–The publishers’ comments, sales pitches really, are instructive.  They reveal how the books are intended to be used.  Therefore we may infer that the hymns and songs selected and included in these books serve (in the minds of the compilers and publishers) to further the aims of activities like Sunday School instruction, ‘C. E. services’, evangelistic meetings, communion services, or the instruction of children.  Right off the bat, I see a book waiting to be written about the use of hymns and songs in the spiritual formation of children.  Or a book about the use of song in revivals and evangelistic meetings (Charles Reign Scoville’s work is a major example). The literature is easily at hand that will support such a study.  Ads like this will help researchers.

Here is the full back-page ad from Christian Standard, vol. 50, no. 44 (July 31, 1915):

Christian Standard, vol. 50, no. 44 (July 31, 1915)

 

 

C. L. Organ’s Gospel Wagon, August 1910

When evangelist C. L. Organ vacationed to Colorado, he fished a while but soon set about to preaching.  The article, from ChristianStandard 46:34 (August 20, 1910), page 140, contains the particulars.  Results: the baptisms of two “mighty hard cowboys.”

ChristianStandard, 46:34 (August 20, 1910), page 140

A Sunday evening service at the Wilhite-Stewart meeting at Tipton, Indiana, January 1911

A Sunday evening service at the Wilhite-Stewart meeting at Tipton, Indiana, January 1911.                            Christian Standard, February 18, 1911, p. 286.

 

A Charles Reign Scoville Precis

I thought this postcard sent by the Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company in 1913 would make an interesting holiday-themed post. I set about to compose a paragraph or two accompany it.

Postcard, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, 1913, obverse

Postcard, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, 1913, reverse

An afternoon later I had as an exhaustive bibliography as I could manage and almost three pages of biographical notes.  I would like to consult a few articles in Christian Standard and Christian-Evangelist before I publish the full biographical sketch.  That will have to wait until January when I am back in the office.  In the mean time here are a few scans of Scovilleiana and the bibliography.

Photograph of Charles Reign Scoville, obverse.  This card was likely mass-produced, ca. late 1910s.  It appears in Peters’ book.

Photograph of Charles Reign Scoville, reverse, bearing Scoville’s autograph.  This card was likely mass-produced, ca. late 1910s.

Scoville was active as an evangelist throughout his career. These scans are of ephemera from his 1906 Atchison, Kansas revivals.  The leaflet on baptism is from the middle-to-late 1910s and possibly circulated in response to criticism that his meetings downplayed baptism.

Invitation card, “Scoville Meetings”, Atchison Kansas, 1906, obverse

Invitation card, “Scoville Meetings”, Atchison Kansas, 1906, reverse

The Evangel, July 14, 1906, from First Christian Church, Atchison, Kansas advertising a Scoville Meeting, p. 1

The Evangel, July 14, 1906, from First Christian Church, Atchison, Kansas advertising a Scoville Meeting, p. 2

The Evangel, July 14, 1906, from First Christian Church, Atchison, Kansas advertising a Scoville Meeting, p. 3

The Evangel, July 14, 1906, from First Christian Church, Atchison, Kansas advertising a Scoville Meeting, p. 4

Invitation card, side 1, for “Women Only”, Atchison Kansas, 1906

Invitation card, side 2, for “Men Only”, Atchison Kansas, 1906

Leaflet on baptism used at Scoville meetings, ca. 1910s, obverse

Leaflet on baptism used at Scoville meetings, ca. 1910s, reverse

In 1906 he left congregational ministry in Chicago to devote his full time to evangelistic services. By 1909 he was regarded as one of the foremost national evangelists among the Disciples and exercised a leading role in the Pittsburg Centennial.

Prospectus of the 1909 Centennial Convention Report, front cover

Prospectus of the 1909 Centennial Convention Report, showing description of the climactic ‘Day of Evangelists’ moderated by Charles Reign Scoville.

From 1906-1921 he was heavily involved in hymnal publishing through the Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, which he sold to Standard Publishing Company in 1922. His publishing interests also included the ‘Cross-Reference Bible’ which he co-edited with Harold Monser and others.  First published in 1910, it was reprinted by Baker Book House as late as the 1970s.

Advertising prospectus, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, Chicago, ca. 1912, front cover

Advertising prospectus, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, Chicago, ca. 1912, title page.

Advertising prospectus, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, Chicago, ca. 1912, rear cover

Advertising prospectus, Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, Chicago, ca. 1912, song specimen page, Scoville’s arrangement of Knowles Shaw’s ‘Bringing in the Sheaves’

Crowns of Rejoicing, hymnal compiled by Charles Reign Scoville, front cover.

Advertisement for Cross-Reference Bible, 1918 Yearbook of Churches of Christ (Disciples), Yearbook issue of American Home Missionary, p. 399.

Advertisement for ‘The King of Glory’ hymnal from Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, 1918 Yearbook of Churches of Christ (Disciples), Yearbook issue of American Home Missionary, p. 365.

When H. H. Peters published this ‘authorized biography’ Scoville was at the zenith of his influence and activity among the Disciples. He meetings regularly drew immense crowds, his preaching was in constant demand, and his activity in parachurch affairs was broad. W. T. Moore included him as one of a new generation of preachers featured in his New Living Pulpit in 1918.

W. T. Moore’s biographical sketch of Charles Reign Scoville, The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 181

W. T. Moore’s biographical sketch of Charles Reign Scoville, The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church, 1918, p. 182

H. H. Peters, Charles Reign Scoville: The Man and His Message, front cover

H. H. Peters, Charles Reign Scoville: The Man and His Message, title page

H. H. Peters, Charles Reign Scoville: The Man and His Message, illustration placing Scoville among “the four great evangelists” with Walter Scott, Knowles Shaw, and J. V. Updike

Portion of a long photograph (18″ long) from H. H. Peters, Charles Reign Scoville: The Man and His Message, showing the Melbourne Australia meeting.  Scoville standing at pulpit.

Photograph showing a Scoville Meeting.  Titled “Dr. Scoville Speaking to Men,” this card was likely mass-produced ca. late 1910s.   It appears, without the caption, in Peters’ book.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS

Acts of Apostles.

Parents: Please Read This Copy of a Letter Written by Dr. Scoville to Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn. [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [19–/]. 1 folded sheet ([3] pages).

Sermons.

Instructions for Workers in Gospel Meetings Conducted by Charles Reign Scoville. Jacksonville: Printed for the author from the Press of Henderson & DePew [1899]. 32p.

Compiled with Gabriel Charles H., J. E. Hawes, and W. E. M. Hackleman, Twentieth Century Songs, Part One, A Collection of New and Popular Sngs with Standard Hymns for Church, Sunday School, Young People’s Societies, and Special Services. Indianapolis: Hackleman Music Company, and Ada, Oklahoma: J. E. Hawes. 1900. 192p.

Evangelistic Sermons Delivered During the Great Meetings at Pittsburg and Des Moines Des Moines: Christian Union Publishing Company, 1902. 298p.

Gospel and Revival Sermons. 1904? 300p.

Calvary’s Praises, for Church, Sunday School and Gospel Meetings. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, n.d. [ca. 1906] 256p.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism: Paul, Ephesians iv, 5. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1906. 52p.

Compiled with Smith, DeLoss, Songs of the King. Chicago: Scoville & Smith, 1906. 247 hymns.

The Gospel of the Helping Hand: An Address Delivered as the New Orleans Convention, 1908. St. Louis: National Benevolent Association [1908]. 15p.

Every Christian An Evangelist. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, [ca. 1906]; reprinted [?] as Centennial Leaflet no. 2. [1908-1909?] 8p.

Edited with Excell, E. O., Christian Gospel Hymns, for Church, Sunday School, and Evangelistic Meetings, Contains the Cream of All the Old Songs and the Very Best of the New. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, 1909. 224p.

Edited with Monser, H. E., J. W. Monser and D. R. Dungan. Cross-Reference Digest of Bible References, A Topical Index of the American Standard Edition of the Revised Bible. New York: Cross-Reference Bible Company, 1910. 681p. Various printings through 1910s. Reprint Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1960 and 1979 under title Monser’s Topical Index and Digest of the Bible.

Compiled with Excell, E. O., Crowns of Rejoicing, for Church, Sunday School, Evangelistic and Young People’s Meetings. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, 1912. 224p.

Front Rank Songs, A Very Choice Collections of the Best Standard Hymns and Gospel Songs, for Sunday-School and All Religious Services. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, 1913.

Sermon to Railroad Men: Also a Thesis on Hebrew Poetry. Chicago: [Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company?], [ca. 1914]. 13p.

Scoville’s Sacred Solos: Solos, Duets, and Quartettes. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, [ca. 1915?]. 61 hymns.

Crown Hymns for Church, Sunday School, Revival and Chorus Choirs. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville Publishing Company, 1916. 36p.

Songs of Beulah. Chicago: Charles Reign Scoville, 1920.

Edited with Towner, D. B., King of Glory, Choice Gospel Hymns for the Church, Sunday School, and Evangelistic Meetings. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1923.

Compiled with Hackleman, W. E. M., et al., Wonder Hymns of Faith, A New General Purpose Song-Book Compiled by Charles Reign Scoville, W. E. M. Hackleman, J. E. Sturgis, orchestration by J. C. Blaker, Responsive Readings Selected by E. E. Violette. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, n.d. [ca. 1924]. 282 hymns.

Nineteenth Hundredth Anniversary of Pentecost. [ca. 1932-1933?] folder. 10p.

ESSAYS or CHAPTERS

“Introduction,” in Coombs, J. V., Christian Evangelism. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1908, v-vii.

“Preaching of the Cross—the Power of God” in Moore, W. T., ed. The New Living Pulpit of the Christian Church. St. Louis: Christian Board of Publication, 1918, pp. 181-191. Includes portrait and biographical sketch.

PERSONAL PAPERS AND ARCHIVAL MATERIALS

Archival materials are held at Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Bethany, West Virginia. See note in Discipliana 25:5 (November 1965), 78, describing “six well-filled note books containing sermons, sermon notes, sermon outlines and clippings—all having to do with his evangelistic ministry….and a book in Dr. Scoville’s own hand in which he has alphabetized his sermon topics.”

BIOGRAHICAL AND INTERPRETIVE

Brown, L. E. Europe and the Orient: As We Saw It. Frankfort, IN: News-Banner Press, 1901. 96p.

Nichols, James Thomas. Story of the Des Moines Campaign in the Year Nineteen Hundred and Nine: With a Brief History of Our Churches in Des Moines. Des Moines: [publisher not identified], [1909?]. 78p.

Scoville Gospel Meetings: A Great Man-Making Community Uplifting, Soul-Winning Campaign, First Christian Church. Marion, IL: Republican-Leader, [1923]. 1 folded sheet ([4] pages), portraits

Peters, H. H. Charles Reign Scoville, The Man and His Message. St. Louis: Bethany Press, 1924. 401p. Illustrations.

Thornton, E. W., ed. Who’s Who in Churches of Christ, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Ministers and Other Leaders, John T. Brown. Cincinnati: Standard Publishing Company, 1929. Brief biographical sketch, with photograph, on p. 239.

Charles Reign Scoville, In Memoriam, October 14, 1869—January 23, 1938. 32p.

Horton, Roy. Visitation Evangelism. [United States] : [publisher not identified], [19–]. 96, 7 p. illustrations. Related to Scoville’s estate ‘Inspiration Point’ near Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Horton, Roy F. Inspiration Point and Its Personalities. St. Louis: Bethany Press, 1961. 96p.

Brewer, Robert Sidney, The Preaching of Charles Reign Scoville in His Evangelistic Campaign in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1912. MA Thesis. Louisiana State University, 1966. vi, 173 leaves with illustrations and facsimiles.

Shaw, Wayne E., “Charles Reign Scoville: Awakening in Anderson,” in Krause, Mark S. Essays on the Restoration Plea In Honor of Dr. Harold W. Ford. Edmonds, WA: PSCC Litho, 1986.

Gresham, Charles and Keith P. Keeran, eds. Evangelistic Preaching. Joplin: College Press Publishing Company, 1991. 367p.

McAllister, Lester G. “Just As I Lived It,” Discipliana 53:4 (Winter 1993), 128, in which McAllister remembers a Scoville meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas 1923-1924.

Two Cane Ridge Revival items, 1852 and 1889

A few days ago I blogged James Trader’s want-list for the archives at Cane Ridge.  Two items on the list are available on Google Books.  I am pleased to learn of them as I do not recall seeing reference to either.  Here are two points in the history of memory of this momentous event.

First, the Magazine of Western History, December 1889 issue has this long article by Isaac Smucker:

Second, Henry Howe, Historical Collections of the Great West in 2 vols.  Vol. 1 notes the exercises; vol. 2 notes Cane Ridge in particular.

From vol. 1, pp. 189-190:

Volume 2, pages 215ff

Gospel Meeting Broadside, Fisk, MO

Newsprint broadside, 9 x 11 in, advertisting a series of “10 Gospel Lessons of God’s word” at the Church of Christ, Fisk, Missouri.  Undated.

Name Authority for Nashville, Tennessee Stone-Campbell Congregations

Name Authority for Nashville Tennessee Stone-Campbell Congregations, September 2012

Click above to download a document listing 319 variants of time-, place- and character-names for the 227 known congregations of the Stone-Campbell movement in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee from 1812 to September 2012.

To my knowledge my work in this area is the only such compilation, and therefore, the most complete.  The initial publication of the list to this blog was in May 2010 as a first step in my research toward a book on the Restoration Movement in Nashville.  I blogged then:

With over 200 congregations in this county, the congregational research alone will take years, perhaps the remainder of my life.  If I live to be 100 I may not finish even a rudimentary survey.  It may be too much:  too many congregations, too many preachers, too much ‘story’ to tell.

But this is where I am at the present.  I publish the list here to generate interest, additions, subtractions, corrections and clarifications.  Look it over and if I need to make changes, please let me know.

While congregational history is only one aspect of this project, this is where it all played out…on the ground in the congregations on a weekly basis.  Few congregations have attempted more than a list of preachers or a narrative of the expansion of the church building.  What I propose, as I wrote above, may be too much…too far to the other extreme.  But that fact changes not one whit the necessity of it being done.

The story of these churches in Nashville needs to be told.  I ask for your help in telling it.  look over my list; I solicit your critique. Contact me at icekm [at] aol [dot] com.

(The first version of the name authority, from May 2010, can be found here.)