A HISTORY OF OLD LANDMARKISM, 1900
By Livingston Mays
Th.D. Thesis
SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYTo My Fellow Student, The Reverend Byron H. Dement
PREFACE The historian's task is always difficult. It is especially so when he undertakes to write the history, not of a nat1on or of an individual, but of a system of philosophy or doctrine, for theories and faiths are not so tangible as the ordinary subjects of historical research. If he enters a new field of enquiry his work is yet harder because, having none to guide him, he must explore unknown regions, frequently finding no reward. Still another burden is added if he treats of a controversial subject, for then it is not only necessary for him to adduce facts but he must also bring forward documentary proof of each statement. All three of these difficulties have been met with in the preparation of this history and it is hoped that an appreciation of their magnitude will cause a charitable view to be taken of the following pages.
The vast number of quotations in this thesis may at first excite surprise, but nearly all of them are gleaned from docunents contemporary with the events of which they speak and are useful in giving a picture from the inside, which is far better than the description of an outsider who could scarcely convey himself into an atmospher of half a centnry ago. I hope that this sketch will cause some, at least, who differ among themselves to see eye to eye on several questions which now divide Southern Baptists.
Louisville, Kentucky, March 31st, 1900.
TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I. DEFINITION OF OLD LANDMARKISM: Definitions of T. T. Eaton - J. B. Gambrill - - B. H. Carroll - J. M. Pendleton - A. H. Newman - B. F. Riley - Geo. A. Lofton - J. R. Graves. p. 3 - Discussion of the definitions - church succession - Alien immersion - Romanizing tendencies - Table slowing Attitude of various classes of Baptists to Old Landmarkism.
p. 13 - CHAPTER II. IS OLD LANDMARKISM OLD? Landmarkers affirm antiquity of their doctrine - Examination of those claims. p. 23 - CHAPTER III. ORIGIN OF OLD LANDMARKISM: The ordinary arguments of Baptists in favor of restricted communion - Events which seem to weaken this argument. - Invention of a new system of doctrine so as to provide a new basis for restricted communion.
p. 27 - CHAPTER IV. - INITIAL STEPS OF THE LANDMARK MOVEMENT - Agitation of J. R. Graves on the subject - "The Cotton Grove Resolutions" - "An Old Landmark Re-set" - Things favorable to the advance of the Old Lanmark Movement - Arguments of the Landmarkers - Replies to the arguments - Extreme expressions.
p. 33 - CHAPTER V. DISSENSION AND DIVISION - The Nashville Difficulties - Landmarkism: Their Foundation - Resolution - Action of the General Association and North Alabama - The Nashville Council - Action of the Southern Baptist Convention - Opposition to the Southern Baptist Convention - Great Discord - Disasterous Results - Threatened Division of Southern Baptists.
p. 41 - CHAPTER VI. WAR THE CAUSE OF PEACE.
P. 43 - CHAPTER VII. READJUSTMENTS AND NEW ISSUES - Restoration of ante-bellum enterprises - Cessation of oposition to the work of the Southern Baptist Convention - State Convention with Landmark tinge - Attack on the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - Dr. Gambrell and the Missionary Baptist Record - Non-intercommunion - The Whitsitt Controversy.
P. 49 - CONCLUSION
The paper and type is so poor that the remainder of the document will need to be read from the orginal. [Jim Duvall]
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