Thoughts on the GA 8-24-04
Some history: This writer (R.D.Ice) has preached among the Churches of Christ since 1950 and does not worship with an "instrument." I do remember the past and things which have taken place.
"Each time some new interpretation of Scripture is espoused, a wall is built, shutting out all who do not accept it." Dennis Loyd, GA 8-04
History shows this to be true. For example, among the heirs of Stone-Campbell, the issue of "instrumental music" had been "cussed and discussed" for some years. Some used it and some opposed it. Yet at Sand Creek, IL, 1889, Daniel Sommer erected a wall by breaking fellowship over the issue, making this a matter of The Faith. It wasn't enough to reject the instrument, it became necessary to condemn and disfellowship all who used it. This was a "new doctrine."
Austen Sommer, Daniel's son, raised the wall even higher by making "mutual edification" a new test of fellowship. Others added "one cup" and "no Sunday School," etc. In recent years, "The Law of Silence" raised a new wall, and also the "Non-Institution Debates" broke fellowship and created a new Brotherhood.
A. K. Guthrie wrote: "David Lipscomb must have lived in a vacuum! It's difficult to understand how, in this time of general unrest in our brotherhood North and South, that news from Illinois required three years to get to Nashville. Mason-Dixon must really be a line!
Perhaps Lipscomb didn't want to hear--in this period, he tended to oppose division while Sommer tended to egg it on.
Lipscomb, it appears, agreed with the thrust of the Declaration. "The evils opposed, we oppose." He didn't object to the "can not and will not regard them as brethren" attitude. He did object to the nature of the gathering which produced the Declaration and, thereby, pushed it aside."
A. K. Guthrie was a dear friend and an elder of the Fort Avenue Church of Christ in Lynchburg, VA. He was intensely interested in the history of the Churches of Christ. He wrote to preserve the importance of the church-division that is typified by Sand Creek and Daniel Sommer. R.D.Ice 8-7-03
SAND CREEK ADDRESS AND DECLARATION (by David Lipscomb)
From Gospel Advocate, November 7, 1892
(Transcribed by , April 26, 1996, from photocopy)
SAND CREEK ADDRESS AND DECLARATION
Bro. Sommer publishes for our benefit the Sand Creek "Address and Declaration, by the congregations represented by their respective church officers in a mass meeting at Sand Creek, Shelby County, Illinois, August 17th, A. D. 1889."
We never saw it before. The evils opposed, we oppose. But there is no more authority for officers of different congregations to assemble in a meeting or convention to oppose and provide a remedy for these sins of individuals and churches, than there is for individuals and church representatives to assemble to oppose and provide a remedy for the failure of Christians and churches to evangelize the world. This was a convention of the elders to oppose and remedy one class of evils. The society is a convention to oppose and remedy another.
Then they say: "We state we are impelled, from a sense of duty, to say that all such as are guilty of teaching or allowing and practicing the many innovations and corruptions to which we have referred, that, after being admonished and having had sufficient length of time for reflection, if they do not turn away from such abominations, that we can not and will not regard them as brethren."
This was signed by the elders and members of six churches. This looks very much like a convention unknown to the New Testament exercising judicial and executive functions to oppose error and maintain truth, and it looks very much like doing the thing they condemn. It has been the besetting sin of Christians, when they start out to oppose a wrong, to commit another wrong to oppose this. There is no more authority for that convention of elders to rectify these wrongs, than of the convention to rectify the wrongs of Christians and churches in failing to preach the gospel.
Bro. Sommer delivers a long lecture to the Advocate on its failure to be settled in the truth and be satisfied therewith, which we duly appreciate. But, Bro. Sommer fails to quote a single scripture we violate or fail to teach. Bro. Sommer's opinions as to mass meetings and such things are not law and gospel. We shall dissent from them when we deem their influence dangerous.
He makes three complaints against the Advocate: We published the card directing those wishing to attend the late Convention how to write to get entertainment [lodging, RDI]. Bro. Sommer knows no one was led by this to think we approved the Convention. It may not have been according to Bro. Sommer's taste. But we must remind him that his taste and his opinions are no part of the law of God. And he must allow others to exercise their own taste and judgment. Bro. Sommer published at one time that he intended to attend. Was not this advertising the Convention? If he could attend, we do not see why it was a crime for us to tell him and others how they could find entertainment, as requested by the managers.
The next complaint is the statement that the Advocate has steadily spoken against it (the Sand Creek Address) and all other unauthorized conventions.
The brother who wrote this was mistaken as to what the Advocate had done. Bro. Srygley had criticised [sic] some things about it. Bros. Sewell or McQuiddy, so far as I know, had never referred to it. All my allusions to it were hypothetical, for none of us had seen it. I have now seen it, and do oppose all such unauthorized conventions, to exercise judicial or executive powers to suppress or maintain truth. The order of the scriptures must no more be violated to maintain truth than to oppose error.
We prefer, for the present, to let the matters involving the use of public questions for personal ends rest, though ready at any time to give reasons for the charge. D. L.
Continuing: But Somer's own son, Austen, built the wall higher. "Mutual edification" was the only true way. This was also a new doctrine. The Christian Standard said: "Rumor has it that nearly all the churches at Sand Creek have signed the four articles of the new faith. They have had serious trouble in formulating them. There is, however, substantial agreement that they shall read as follows:
ART. I.--That missionary societies are man-made and therefore to be avoided as sinful and unholy.
ART. II.--That church festivals, especially if there be an admittance fee at the door, are wrong and therefore can not be tolerated.
ART. III.--That "the organ in public worship is a corruption of the worship," is a very wholesome doctrine and full of comfort.
ART. IV.--That one man [a preacher, RDI] should be employed to give all his time to taking heed to the flock, is a practice dangerous to liberty, and specially subversive of the privileges of the elders. Better that the flock be not cared for, than one man should do it."
The Standard saw Austen adding:
ART. V.--That Sunday-schools are man-made institutions, and to be avoided as sinful and unholy.
ART. VI.--That religious papers are man-made institutions, and therefore not to be subscribed for or circulated.
Continuing: Others built walls against "Sunday Schools," "One Cup," and spent most of their time "capsizing sectarians rather than glorifying Christ."
I remember that in the 50s a "new doctrine" arose opposing "Orphan homes and other institutions." There was a massive breaking of fellowship and to this day two different churches of Christ may exist in one city - each claiming the other does not respect the Bible. It was not enough for each congregation to make a decision to not support "institutions." This was a matter of "The Faith." And those who did support "institutions" (as I did) were damned to hell.
I am afraid the very same thing is happening now with those who oppose what they see as a "new doctrine" ["freedom in Christ"] creating their own version of "Sand Creek" and all that it stands for.
Where is Jesus Christ in all this??? Are we throwing the "baby out with the bathwater?" Are we "leaving our first love" for Christ as did the church at Ephesus? Will the Lord "remove our candlestick?"
Sommer's Paper published a cry for unity - The Rough Draft. "Can't We Agree On Something?" And Somer said something about: "The New Testament is the Book we disagree on."
The Lord will judge us all. I will continue to preach as Peter did in Acts 2:38 and sing with the Spirit and the understanding. I will continue to baptize as Peter did, and tell "seekers" what he told them. And I will continue to pray for everyone of my brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere. "The Lord knoweth them that are His."
R. D. Ice October 20, 2004
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sommer - Change
Sommer And Change
[I write from 58 years of preaching among the non-instrument Churches of Christ. I have experienced something of our history. My Bible has the words of Jesus in red letters. Jesus said we would be judged by the words He had spoken. Unity is as much a command as "repent and be baptized." We are to be One In Christ. R.D.Ice]
Daniel Sommer was a godly man and honest and loved the Lord. Yet he was to be a "change agent" producing results which he did not anticipate. He had "blind spots" (don't we all?) and believed he was standing for Truth. Yet he unintentionally introduced distortion by his understanding of "Bible authority" and how to establish it. On the plus side he held Gospel Meetings (Revivals) for many years, continuing even when he was blind in his old age.
At Sand Creek. Illinois, August 17, 1889, a fiery young preacher - Daniel Sommer - called for a rupture of fellowship with all who adopted instrumental music in worship. "....that we can not and will not regard them as brethren." In 1904, the two factions at Sand Creek took their case to the courts in order to retain control over the church property, since it was obvious that the two wings could never worship in harmony. The case went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court, who decided in the favor of the non-instrument group. They received possession of the Christian Church building at Sand Creek.
Then in 1906 David Lipscomb (editor of the Gospel Advocate paper) instructed the US Census that the Church of Christ (non-instrument) was a separate and distinct organization no longer connected with the Christian Churches.
"Each time some new interpretation of Scripture is espoused, a wall is built, shutting out all who do not accept it." Dennis Loyd, Gospel Advocate 8-04
History shows this to be true. For example, among the heirs of Stone-Campbell, the issue of "instrumental music" had been "cussed and discussed" for some years. Some used it and some opposed it. Yet at Sand Creek, IL, 1889, Daniel Sommer erected a wall by breaking fellowship over the issue, making this a matter of The Faith. It wasn't enough to reject the instrument, it became necessary to condemn and disfellowship all who used it. When "non-instrument" changed to "anti-instrument" it became an "unwritten creed" which was imposed to force compliance. This became a "new doctrine."
Daniel Sommer expected his move to unite the brotherhood. However his understanding of "Bible authority" opened the way for additional division. [Jesus warned against the "leaven of the Pharisees" (Matt. 16:12), which distorted things.] Sommer said later: "If the Lord had told us to splinter into as many factions as possible, we could not have done a worse job." He said: "The New Testament is the Book we disagree over." He published an article in his paper, "The American Christian Review" in June, 1932: "Can't we agree on anything?"
That our readers may see the real extremes to which the party spirit will carry men, we reproduce herewith an appeal from "The Warrior," published in the issue of August 1, 1959: "Brethren: We wish to compile and publish a list of LOYAL congregations. We want to make a directory of loyal congregations for the benefit of the traveling brethren who wish to worship with loyal congregations; secondly, for the benefit of brethren who are desirous of moving to a loyal congregation. To compile this directory we need the following information. Describe every act of worship in your assemblies. Describe your position on the Communion. Do you have one or two communions on Sunday? Do you use only one cup and one loaf? Do you fellowship the Sunday School or clips brethren? Do you fellowship the Old Paths Advocate? Or other digressives? Do you advocate any doctrine or act of worship that is called a hobby by most of the brotherhood? If you want to be counted among the honored few, give us correct answers to all of our questions, otherwise you will be left out of our directory.... Are you living in a state of division, having pulled off from another congregation? Please answer all questions. Do you contend that the cup must have a handle on it? Do you contend the cup must not have a handle on it?"
Look at: http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/forum/reflect.html
[I write from 58 years of preaching among the non-instrument Churches of Christ. I have experienced something of our history. My Bible has the words of Jesus in red letters. Jesus said we would be judged by the words He had spoken. Unity is as much a command as "repent and be baptized." We are to be One In Christ. R.D.Ice]
Daniel Sommer was a godly man and honest and loved the Lord. Yet he was to be a "change agent" producing results which he did not anticipate. He had "blind spots" (don't we all?) and believed he was standing for Truth. Yet he unintentionally introduced distortion by his understanding of "Bible authority" and how to establish it. On the plus side he held Gospel Meetings (Revivals) for many years, continuing even when he was blind in his old age.
At Sand Creek. Illinois, August 17, 1889, a fiery young preacher - Daniel Sommer - called for a rupture of fellowship with all who adopted instrumental music in worship. "....that we can not and will not regard them as brethren." In 1904, the two factions at Sand Creek took their case to the courts in order to retain control over the church property, since it was obvious that the two wings could never worship in harmony. The case went all the way to the Illinois Supreme Court, who decided in the favor of the non-instrument group. They received possession of the Christian Church building at Sand Creek.
Then in 1906 David Lipscomb (editor of the Gospel Advocate paper) instructed the US Census that the Church of Christ (non-instrument) was a separate and distinct organization no longer connected with the Christian Churches.
"Each time some new interpretation of Scripture is espoused, a wall is built, shutting out all who do not accept it." Dennis Loyd, Gospel Advocate 8-04
History shows this to be true. For example, among the heirs of Stone-Campbell, the issue of "instrumental music" had been "cussed and discussed" for some years. Some used it and some opposed it. Yet at Sand Creek, IL, 1889, Daniel Sommer erected a wall by breaking fellowship over the issue, making this a matter of The Faith. It wasn't enough to reject the instrument, it became necessary to condemn and disfellowship all who used it. When "non-instrument" changed to "anti-instrument" it became an "unwritten creed" which was imposed to force compliance. This became a "new doctrine."
Daniel Sommer expected his move to unite the brotherhood. However his understanding of "Bible authority" opened the way for additional division. [Jesus warned against the "leaven of the Pharisees" (Matt. 16:12), which distorted things.] Sommer said later: "If the Lord had told us to splinter into as many factions as possible, we could not have done a worse job." He said: "The New Testament is the Book we disagree over." He published an article in his paper, "The American Christian Review" in June, 1932: "Can't we agree on anything?"
That our readers may see the real extremes to which the party spirit will carry men, we reproduce herewith an appeal from "The Warrior," published in the issue of August 1, 1959: "Brethren: We wish to compile and publish a list of LOYAL congregations. We want to make a directory of loyal congregations for the benefit of the traveling brethren who wish to worship with loyal congregations; secondly, for the benefit of brethren who are desirous of moving to a loyal congregation. To compile this directory we need the following information. Describe every act of worship in your assemblies. Describe your position on the Communion. Do you have one or two communions on Sunday? Do you use only one cup and one loaf? Do you fellowship the Sunday School or clips brethren? Do you fellowship the Old Paths Advocate? Or other digressives? Do you advocate any doctrine or act of worship that is called a hobby by most of the brotherhood? If you want to be counted among the honored few, give us correct answers to all of our questions, otherwise you will be left out of our directory.... Are you living in a state of division, having pulled off from another congregation? Please answer all questions. Do you contend that the cup must have a handle on it? Do you contend the cup must not have a handle on it?"
Look at: http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/forum/reflect.html
Daniel Sommer
to Gene West
4-2-07
Greetings from The Bend of The River, Barbour County, WVa. R.D.Ice
It is interesting you invoke the name of Daniel Sommer. He was a man of influence, equal to David Lipscomb in many ways. He was "located" at Reynoldsburg, Ohio at one time (my home congregation). I wrote: "Some of this history comes from DANIEL SOMMER, A BIOGRAPHY compiled by WILLIAM E. WALLACE, c. 1969." I have put together the following history.
Daniel Sommer was a unique personality. Born of German immigrant parents, on January 11, 1850, he lived for ninety years, and formed a human bridge between the early restoration pioneers and the 1900s. He was contemporary with Alexander Campbell for sixteen years, and entered Bethany College four years after the death of its founder. A rather slow, but methodical student, he resolved to master the content of divine revelation and to proclaim it "without fear or favor." He viewed the spirit of departure from the original design of the scriptures [as he saw it] as a sad and doleful commentary on the influence of pride and ambition among the disciples of Christ and began to raise his voice against the innovations he felt would make impossible the "return to the primitive order of things."
Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was made famous among the "disciples" [those of the Stone - Campbell Movement, who were united as one at that time] by a debate between Elder Benjamin Franklin (of the Church of Christ) and an Elder Thompson (of the Regular Baptist Church). As I remember being told, this debate must have been sometime in the late 1860's. The Reynoldsburg Church of Christ grew out of this. The original frame building was erected on Walnut Street.
Daniel Sommer speaks of being called to Reynoldsburg in the autumn of 1879 to conduct a Gospel Meeting. The meeting lasted four weeks and twenty or more were baptized. He was invited to "locate" at Reynoldsburg. In 1880 Daniel, with his wife and four little boys, moved to Reynoldsburg, to "half of an old hotel with sunken foundations" that the brethren had rented for them. The town had some six hundred inhabitants in a rural setting. It was ten miles from the center of Columbus. They stayed with Elder William Sprague until their furniture arrived. It had been shipped by rail from Chester County, PA, to Columbus, Ohio, and then out to Brice Station (about four miles from Reynoldsburg). Sommer lived at Reynoldsburg from May 1880 to August 1884. He preached probably two Sundays each month there, and the other time was involved in evangelistic efforts in surrounding counties.
I remember being told of a Gospel Meeting which Sommer held at Mount Pleasant, near Lancaster, OH. As Sommer walked down the street, a shower of rain came up, and he was sprinkled by it. Some townspeople were watching. "Why Brother Sommer, I didn't think you believed in sprinkling!" Sommer turned. "I don't object to sprinkling when it is administered by the Lord." He walked on.
There were elders at times, and the church would grow, then be set back by problems. Bro. Sommer mentions internal conflicts while he was there. Probably personality conflicts and disagreements are the usual church problems."
Sommer maintained great control over many by means of his Papers (such as The Octographic Review, The American Christian Review). He raised "issues" expecting to weld the churches who agreed with him into a solid unit honoring the Lord. But things did not go as he expected. Look at: http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/people/dsommer.html There was sectarian conflict among the churches and even among his own family. Austen Sommer, his son, raised even more issues ("mutual edification") and began his own paper, "The Macedonian Call."
'"Can't We Agree On Anything" was an article in Sommer's Paper. He (or his editor) said: "To those of the churches of Christ who desire a plan for Unity, we submit the following for your consideration. We cry 'Unity,' and say that Unity can be obtained only on a New Testament basis; and yet the New Testament is the Book we disagree on. If we can search out the things we can agree on, and unite on them, and work together, we'll have Unity!" The "Rough Draft" grew out of this list of things agreed upon. But Many, whose opinions had been formed by Sommer, threw up their hands in horror! Sommer had written a creed! One of his own children, D. Austin Sommer, started an opposition paper, "The Macedonian Call." The net effect of this was to increase the problem of disunity. The Restoration Movement had once again shot itself in the foot.
In 1933 Daniel Sommer, then eighty-three years of age made a preaching tour of the South. He spoke at David Lipscomb College and at many churches in the Southland. The time was coming when Daniel Sommer was beginning to realize that he should not force his opinions on others. This is not to say that he changed his views on anything, only to say that he put them in their proper perspective.
In the '30's and '40's there were efforts made to unite the parties of the Restoration Movement. James DeForrest Murch and Claude Witty led theses. They held Unity Meetings in many cities. Daniel Sommer was among the speakers. In his old age he still had all his mental faculties, although he was blind. Allen R. Sommer, writing in the American Christian Review, dated January, February, March 1965, writes the following. "He had attended a Witty-Murch unity meeting of several days in this city (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1939). Spoke along with Morris, Murch, Boles, Witty, Errett and McMillian. Jorgenson led some singing. No instrumental music. It was in a Christian Church building, too. Some free-for-all discussions livened the occasion. When one such seemed getting out of control, Don Carlos Janes brought order when he pleaded, 'Brethren, let us pray.'"
As the apostle John wrote, we are simultaniously justified and sinner (1 John 1:7-10). We sometimes build with "gold, silver, precious stones," but at other times with "wood, hay, straw," and "the fire will test each one's work" 1 Cor. 3:10-17. We trust in the "righteousness which is by faith" Phil. 3:9-11. R.D.Ice
4-2-07
Greetings from The Bend of The River, Barbour County, WVa. R.D.Ice
It is interesting you invoke the name of Daniel Sommer. He was a man of influence, equal to David Lipscomb in many ways. He was "located" at Reynoldsburg, Ohio at one time (my home congregation). I wrote: "Some of this history comes from DANIEL SOMMER, A BIOGRAPHY compiled by WILLIAM E. WALLACE, c. 1969." I have put together the following history.
Daniel Sommer was a unique personality. Born of German immigrant parents, on January 11, 1850, he lived for ninety years, and formed a human bridge between the early restoration pioneers and the 1900s. He was contemporary with Alexander Campbell for sixteen years, and entered Bethany College four years after the death of its founder. A rather slow, but methodical student, he resolved to master the content of divine revelation and to proclaim it "without fear or favor." He viewed the spirit of departure from the original design of the scriptures [as he saw it] as a sad and doleful commentary on the influence of pride and ambition among the disciples of Christ and began to raise his voice against the innovations he felt would make impossible the "return to the primitive order of things."
Reynoldsburg, Ohio, was made famous among the "disciples" [those of the Stone - Campbell Movement, who were united as one at that time] by a debate between Elder Benjamin Franklin (of the Church of Christ) and an Elder Thompson (of the Regular Baptist Church). As I remember being told, this debate must have been sometime in the late 1860's. The Reynoldsburg Church of Christ grew out of this. The original frame building was erected on Walnut Street.
Daniel Sommer speaks of being called to Reynoldsburg in the autumn of 1879 to conduct a Gospel Meeting. The meeting lasted four weeks and twenty or more were baptized. He was invited to "locate" at Reynoldsburg. In 1880 Daniel, with his wife and four little boys, moved to Reynoldsburg, to "half of an old hotel with sunken foundations" that the brethren had rented for them. The town had some six hundred inhabitants in a rural setting. It was ten miles from the center of Columbus. They stayed with Elder William Sprague until their furniture arrived. It had been shipped by rail from Chester County, PA, to Columbus, Ohio, and then out to Brice Station (about four miles from Reynoldsburg). Sommer lived at Reynoldsburg from May 1880 to August 1884. He preached probably two Sundays each month there, and the other time was involved in evangelistic efforts in surrounding counties.
I remember being told of a Gospel Meeting which Sommer held at Mount Pleasant, near Lancaster, OH. As Sommer walked down the street, a shower of rain came up, and he was sprinkled by it. Some townspeople were watching. "Why Brother Sommer, I didn't think you believed in sprinkling!" Sommer turned. "I don't object to sprinkling when it is administered by the Lord." He walked on.
There were elders at times, and the church would grow, then be set back by problems. Bro. Sommer mentions internal conflicts while he was there. Probably personality conflicts and disagreements are the usual church problems."
Sommer maintained great control over many by means of his Papers (such as The Octographic Review, The American Christian Review). He raised "issues" expecting to weld the churches who agreed with him into a solid unit honoring the Lord. But things did not go as he expected. Look at: http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/people/dsommer.html There was sectarian conflict among the churches and even among his own family. Austen Sommer, his son, raised even more issues ("mutual edification") and began his own paper, "The Macedonian Call."
'"Can't We Agree On Anything" was an article in Sommer's Paper. He (or his editor) said: "To those of the churches of Christ who desire a plan for Unity, we submit the following for your consideration. We cry 'Unity,' and say that Unity can be obtained only on a New Testament basis; and yet the New Testament is the Book we disagree on. If we can search out the things we can agree on, and unite on them, and work together, we'll have Unity!" The "Rough Draft" grew out of this list of things agreed upon. But Many, whose opinions had been formed by Sommer, threw up their hands in horror! Sommer had written a creed! One of his own children, D. Austin Sommer, started an opposition paper, "The Macedonian Call." The net effect of this was to increase the problem of disunity. The Restoration Movement had once again shot itself in the foot.
In 1933 Daniel Sommer, then eighty-three years of age made a preaching tour of the South. He spoke at David Lipscomb College and at many churches in the Southland. The time was coming when Daniel Sommer was beginning to realize that he should not force his opinions on others. This is not to say that he changed his views on anything, only to say that he put them in their proper perspective.
In the '30's and '40's there were efforts made to unite the parties of the Restoration Movement. James DeForrest Murch and Claude Witty led theses. They held Unity Meetings in many cities. Daniel Sommer was among the speakers. In his old age he still had all his mental faculties, although he was blind. Allen R. Sommer, writing in the American Christian Review, dated January, February, March 1965, writes the following. "He had attended a Witty-Murch unity meeting of several days in this city (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1939). Spoke along with Morris, Murch, Boles, Witty, Errett and McMillian. Jorgenson led some singing. No instrumental music. It was in a Christian Church building, too. Some free-for-all discussions livened the occasion. When one such seemed getting out of control, Don Carlos Janes brought order when he pleaded, 'Brethren, let us pray.'"
As the apostle John wrote, we are simultaniously justified and sinner (1 John 1:7-10). We sometimes build with "gold, silver, precious stones," but at other times with "wood, hay, straw," and "the fire will test each one's work" 1 Cor. 3:10-17. We trust in the "righteousness which is by faith" Phil. 3:9-11. R.D.Ice
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