Excerpts from the Christian Record, an early publication of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Copied at the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, TN. Retyped 1999 by Dennis Nicklaus. Elisha Scott is Dennis' 3great-grandfather. The Alexander Scott mentioned is Elisha's father. John Scott is Alexander's brother. Levi and Caleb Scott are Elisha's brothers. ----------------- August, 1845, pp 55-56: Brother Shockey gives us an account of a very interesting meeting which was recently held at Burnett's Creek, White co. Several teaching brethren were present, and two additions made to the church, on by immersion, and one from the Baptists. He informs me that the following churches co-operated in said meeting: No. of Mem. Spring Creek, 70 J. Scott, Elder. Mil Creek, 33 Wm. Troutman. Burnett's Creek, 32 A. Scott, and Wm. Hitt. ----------------- September, 1852, p. 96 News from the Churches. Wild Cat Prairie, Tippecanoe Co. August 19, 1852 Bro. Mathes: --- The cause is progressing in these parts. I have been laboring through this section of country since March last, up to this time there has been 70 additions to the several churches for which I have been laboring. At some of the points brother Elias Shortridge and Wm. Young rendered efficient aid in the good work. To the Lord be all the praise, Elisha Scott ----------------------- October, 1852, p. 121 News from the Churches. West Point, Wild Cat Prairie, Tippecanoe Co., Ind. August 19, 1852 Bro. Mathes: -- At a meeting of ten days, held in West Point by Bros. Elias Shortridge and E. Scott, including the second and third Lord's days in June, there were thirty-four additions. Since that time there has been eight more, making in all forty-two. Praised be the Lord for his goodness and the power of His word. Yours in the bonds of Christian love, James Kinkennon ----------------------- Feb. 1853, p. 255 West Point, Ind., Feb. 10th, 1853 Brother Mathes: -- I have been so very busy that I have not had opportunity to do as much for your excellent paper as I could with, but I expect to be able to do much more for it in the future.... I also assisted bro. E. Scott, an excellent preacher, at New Town, and bro. W. A. Young came to our aid, towards the close of the meeting. The church at that point is in a very healthy condition. Your brother, E. W. Shortridge ----------------------- April 1853, pp. 292-293 Missionary Agent's Report, No. III. Graham's Creek, Fountain Co., Ind., March 6th, 1853. To Ovid Butler, Cor. Sec. Ind. Ch. H.M.S. Dear Brother: -- On the 8th February I left home for my month's work, and during the remaining three weeks, I obtained the sum of $137.10, as reported before. Life Memberships ... 5. Clark's Prairie Congregation, Tippecanoe county, resolved to constitute Elder Elisha Scott a life member, which was done by the following individuals ... [List of 11 individuals, 9 contributions of $1.00, 2 of $.50 omitted --- DJN]; in all, $10.00. ... 7. Church in Newtown, Fountain county, resolved to constitute Joseph Galbreath, one of their Elders, a life member; which was effected by the following individual donations, viz.: Elder Elisha Scott, $2.00,... J. P. Scott, $2.00,... [others omitted --- DJN]; total, $10.00 Annual Memberships Newtown, Fountain County --- Rush Scott, Nancy Jane Mathews, Martha Jane Kerr, Lynn Stafford, Susan Clark, and Dolly Hodges, each one dollar -- $6.00. Cold Springs, Fountain County -- ... Unity McClure,... each one dollar... Note by Dennis Nicklaus. The following issue, May, 1853, page 350, corrects the name of "Rush Scott" to "Ruth Scott." April 1853, continued, page 293-4 Facts and Observations ...4. There is a congregation of choice spirits in Wild-cat Prairie. They have manifested their Christian liberality in various ways. They have recently erected one of the most respectable country churches I have seen for many months. ...5. There is a noble little band of Disciple's in Clark's Prairie -- a new organization yet without a house of worship. ...7... Elder Elisha Scott has helped me much. The churches where he labors, entertain a just appreciation of the nature of their high vocation. Were all the churches in the State favored with such teachers as they have in these regions, there would be no opposition to the great evangelical enterprise. ----------------------- November 1853, pp. 142-3 Abstract Of the proceedings of the Semi-Annual District Meeting, of the 1st District, composed of the counties of Benton, Clinton, Tippecanoe, Boone, Montgomery, Fountain, and Warren: held at the Christian Chapel on Wild Cat Prairie, per adjournment, September 27th and 28th, 1853. The meeting decided that it was not advisable to form county co-operations, and appointed a committee of correspondence, composed of one from each county in the District, (except Warren,) to correspond with the churches, send the Records, and notify them of the next District Meeting, and also in regard to the formation of county co-operations. Benjamin Crist, of Tippecanoe; George Campbell, of Benton; P.T. Russell, of Boone; E. Scott, of Fountain; M. Council, of Clinton; and S.M. Huston, of Montgomery, compose this committee. The churches in Warren are to be notified by brethren Scott and Campbell. Brethren Young, Scott, and Campbell were appointed a committee to prepare a full statistical table, to accompany the minutes for publication the the Ch. Record. Brethren Wm. Young, G. Campbell, B. Crist, E. Scott, J. Longley, and P.T. Russell, were appointed Messengers, from this District Meeting, to the next State Meeting, to be held at Indianapolis, October 5th, 1853. ----------------------- December 1853, p. 191. OBITUARY Departed this life on the 14th day of August, 1853, at her mother's residence, at Waveland, Ind., my cousin, sister AGNES ADALINE McCLURE, aged 18 years, daughter of Samuel McClure, deceased. Sister McClure was immersed at Crawfordsville in her 14th year. She fell asleep in the Lord after an illness of eleven weeks. She endured her afflictions with patience, and died happy, with the bright prospect of heaven. She desired all her friends, and the whole world, to prepare to meet her in heaven. We sorrow not as others that have no hope. Elisha Scott ----------------------- June 1854, pp. 189-190 Meeting Of First District Bro. Mathes: The semi-annual meeting of the first district, Ind., was held at Lafayette on the 11 & 12th days of April, 1854. Besides other business, many good speeches, and pleasant investigation, the following resolutions were passed: Resolved, That we recommend to the brethren to form county co-operations. Resolved, That we recommend the Bible Union to the brethren every where. Resolved, That we the Christian people, will always maintain a position in the advance corps of the mighty army of the great temperance reform of the nineteenth century, and that we will by one strong, united long protracted, unceasing effort, labor intensely for the final expulsion of the hydra monster, intemperance, from our fair coasts, by obtaining the most stringent legal enactments prohibitory of the manufacture and vending of alcoholic beverages!! The last above passed unanimously with a hearty amen. Resolved, that we well continue the district meeting, and that our next meeting be held at Potatoe Creek Church, on the last Tuesday in September, 1854, at 2 o'clock, P.M. County co-operations seem to be growing in favor with our brethren very rapidly. We hope the time is not far distant when we shall behold most, if not all the counties organized and sending up full reports to the State Meeting. Bro. Martin was at the meeting and gave a statement of facts connected with his success in organizing counties, which was listened to with great interest. O! for more such spirits as bro. Martin. If we had more such zeal, energy, and devotion as he possesses, we would see the work move rapidly. We would call attention particularly to the resolution on temperance. Let us carry it out. Yours in the bonds of love, Elisha Scott ----------------------- June 1854, p. 191. Church News Monticello, Ind., April 25, 1854 Dear Brother Mathes: We have had a glorious meeting in this place. Bro. R.B. Roberts commenced a protracted meeting on the Thursday before the third Lord's day, and continued the effort 16 days. The result of the meeting was glorious. When the meeting commenced there were but two members in the place known to us. He leaves us with a church in our town (county seat of White county) of 38 members, 14 of whom were immersed, and 24 had been immersed before. Your brother in the one hope, Alex. Scott. ----------------------- Feb. 1854, pp. 46-47 Fountain Co. Co-Operation At a meeting of delegates from the Christian Churches in Fountain County, Ind., held at Cold Spring Church, commencing Dec. 15th, 1853. Resolved, That the association appoint and sustain two Evangelists, assigning three churches to each, and requiring of them to perform the greatest amount possible of pastoral labors for the edification of the congregations, and setting in order all things wanting, as well as preaching the gospel publicly, and from house to house, for the conversion of man. Brothers Elisha Scott and Elder Clark were appointed to the work, at salaries of $300 each. ----------------------- Oct. 1854, p. 306 Cass County Organized Brethren John Scott and John Wilson conduct the affairs of Spring Creek congregation tolerably well; this one, compared with our numerous communities, which are destitute of Overseers, in the scripture sense of Flock Feeders. But even Spring Creek, blest as she is, with these good men's labors of love, when compared with a congregation scripturally organized, enjoying the devotional, earnest, unremitting, self-sacrificing, services of a godly Shepherd, wholly given up to the work, I say, even Spring Creek is "Tekel, Tekel." ...Brother John Scott carried me all over the county, as did his brother A. Scott of White county, when I was there, last March. These brethren helped me much in the Lord. Corbly Martin. Elkhart, Ind. 12th Sept. 1854. ----------------------- Oct. 1854, p. 317 Church News Cole Creek, Ind., Aug. 25, '54 Bro. Mathes: Since my last, the preachers of Fountain county co-operation held a meeting at Graham's Creek of 11 days, including the 2d and 3d Sundays of this month. The result was 30 accessions, 21 by baptism. The meeting was well attended by a large and attentive audience. The church there has a Sunday School doing well. All the churches in the county have Sunday Schools except two. For which we are mostly indebted to an agent of the A.S.S. Union. The cause is looking up in these parts. Praised by the name of the Lord! Yours, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- Oct. 1854, p. 319 Church News Cole Creek, Ind., Aug. 11, 1854 Bro. Mathes: On yesterday we closed a meeting of about seven days, at Scott's Prairie, conducted by brethren Watson Clark, M. Fowler, and myself. The result was 18 additions to the church there, 13 of them by immersion, the others had been immersed. It was a glorious meeting. Within a little over two months we have had 37 additions in this county, including the above. Our County Co-operation works well. Unto the Lord be all the Praise! Yours in the one hope, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- Nov. 1854, p. 338-9 Minutes of the Annual State Meeting of the State of Indiana Held in the City of Indianapolis on 4th, 5th and 6th days of October, 1854. From Fountain County, Watson Clarke and E. Scott presented themselves as delegates from their district. Bro. E. Scott presented the statistics on the cause in Fountain county. ----------------------- March 1855, p. 93 Church News Cole Creek, Ind., Feb. 8, 1855 Bro. Mathes: We held a meeting at Newtown, including the 3d and 4th Lord's days in January, at which there were 9 additions to the good cause: 5 by immersion. We cut the ice, which was some four or five inches thick. The attendance was good, notwithstanding the great snow storm which fell during the meeting. The church was much revived, and engaged. We held a social meeting each day through the week, in which a good part of the members, male and female, took a part; also members of other denominations. We had truly a rejoicing time. We endeavored to cultivate a feeling of friendship towards all religious people, and to go together as far as we could. We obtained the attention of the people, and we believe removed a great deal of prejudice. So much union of feeling I had not witnessed in a long time. Our county co-operation has entered upon its second year, and is moving on smoothly. We thank the Lord and take courage. Yours in the Christian love, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- October 1855, pp. 289-291 On the 2d day of August, we left the noise and bustle of the Rail Road City, for an excursion of a few weeks to Northern Indiana.... While at Spring Creek, we partook of the hospitalities of brethren W. R. Smith, John Scott, J.R. Henton, John Wilson, and our brother Reuben Wilson. On Friday morning, the 11th Aug. in company with our excellent brother John Scott, we went some ten miles North West of Spring Creek, to the Burton settlement, where a meeting of several days was to commence that day... Here, as at Spring Creek, we met a great many brethren and sisters from a distance. Among the number were our old a beloved brethren, E. Dukes, A. Allen, and M. Troutman, from Fulton county, and brethren James Elliot, sister and mother, Elder Alexander Scott, Levi Scott, and C. Scott, and many others, all of Burnett's Creek, White county. After delivering two discourses on the Lord's day to a very large audience, we left in company with the White county friends, and went to Burnettsville, some ten or twelve miles west... On Monday 13th, we addressed a good audience in this village at 10 o'clock, A.M., and 8 o'clock P.M., in the commodious meeting house of our brethren.-- Here we have quite a fine congregation, who seem to be doing well. Here we also partook of the hospitalities of our old brother, Alexander Scott, and his pious companion. Elder Scott is an old resident of White county, and together with some half dozen sons, among whom are Elder Elisha Scott, now of Fountain county, and brother James P. Scott, now a student at the State University, have exerted a powerful influence in favor of the truth in all that region of the country. On Tuesday morning the 14th, brother Alexander Scott took us in his buggy to the New Albany and Michigan City Railroad, a distance of sixteen miles, where we boarded the cars at 11 o'clock, A.M., and at 5 o'clock, P.M. we were seated with our dear family in this city, after an absence of twelve days, all as well as usual. ----------------------- March 1856, pp. 82-83 Eld. Alexander Scott of Burnets Creek, White County is mentioned in the discussion of one R. B. Roberts who was forced to leave the church. ----------------------- October 1856, pp. 318-319 Chambersburg, Fountain Co., In.d Aug. 22, 1856 Bro Mathes: With your permission I will report, through the Record, the progress of the good cause, since last January, in the bounds of my labors. At Cold Spring church, at a meeting in Feb. there were 4 additions. I was assisted by brother Wm. Evers. In March one baptized by brother Clark; in April I baptized 5, making 10 additions. At Scott's Prairie, in June, one; July, one; and in August, 12, -- total 14. At the last meeting we had the help of brethren Evers and Galbreath. At Jacksonville brother Evers held a meeting in March, sent for me during the meeting; and the result was 15 additions. Bro. Evers was back in April, and obtained 9 more, and in May, one; -- total 25. At Graham's Creek, in April, one, in Aug., 8, making 9. At the last meeting we had the help of our beloved brother Wilson, the blind man; he did good work, and made a deep impression. The above churches are all in Fountain county. At Locust Grove, Tippecanoe county, at a meeting in June, we had 18 additions. Here we also had the help of brother Wilson. He secured the attention of the people, and in his mild, humble, and devoted manner, removed much prejudice, and left a good and lasting impression. Brother Galbreath also fell in towards the close of the meeting. In June I baptized 2 more, making 20 at that church: making in all 73 additions, most of them by confession and baptism. I also baptized one at Burnettsville, White county. We have reason to rejoice and take courage. Yours in the bonds of love, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- July 1857, pp. 214-215 News from the Churches Cole Creek, Ind., June 5, 1857 Brother Mathes: -- Brother M. Dudley requests me to answer your letter, and say to you, that he moved from this place to Vermillion County, Ill. last October. And since going there he has had the misfortune to lose two of his boys with small pox. I was out there some three weeks since, and preached the funeral of his children and baptised two persons. Yours truly, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- Oct. 1857, pp. 310-314 Prayer By Elisha Scott [This was a long sermon on the subject of prayer. I've included only a couple paragraphs here. D. Nicklaus. 1999] No subject is of more importance to the Christian, than the subject of prayer. It is plainly taught throughout the bible, not only as a duty, but as a high privilege. Though God is so far above man, though he created the heavens and the earth, and all things therein, and gives every blessing we enjoy; yet he has made it the privilege of poor, weak, mortal man to approach him in prayer. ... How my soul chills to hear individuals appeal to philosophy (falsely so called) against prayer. Saying that prayer will not change the mind of the Deity, and that prayer only affects those that hear it. Our prayer does not change the mind of God, it is his will to bestow all his blessings on conditions, and when we comply with those conditions the Lord grants the blessing. His mind does not change, for it was his mind before to bestow the blessing on those conditions, but we change and come to his will. Now prayer is one of the conditions, upon which blessings are promised. ...We must work for the object for which we pray. Though we should pray morning and evening, for the poor and needy, if we shut up our bowels of compassion against the poor that are around us, our prayers will not be heard. ----------------------- Nov. 1857, p. 329 Proceedings of the Indiana State Meeting Held 24th day of September, 1857 Delegates from churches. Spring Creek. -- Brethren John Scott and Greenbury Mullis. ----------------------- Nov. 1857, pp. 341-342 News from the Churches September 22d, 1857. Bro. Mathes:-- I am happy to inform you of the success we have had of late in the good cause. Bro Joseph Franklin and myself commenced a meeting at Scott's Prairie, Fountain County, Ind., on Saturday before the 1st Sunday in Sept., which continued over two Lord's days, and resulted in 27 additions, 23 by confession and baptism, four reclaimed. We had truly a time of rejoicing. There had been four additions there during the summer. On Friday during the meeting I left for Liberty church, same co., leaving Bro. Franklin to continue the meeting. I commenced at Liberty, on Saturday before the 2d Sunday in Sept., continued till Friday following; bro. Franklin, coming to my assistance on Tuesday night; the result was 8 additions, 5 by baptism. The prospect was good for more. I left Bro. Franklin to continue the meeting over Lord's day. The church there was organized last Oct. with 11 members. When I left they numbered 41. Including the 5th Sunday in Aug., I held a meeting at Pleasant Grove in the North part of Vermillion county, Ill., which resulted in 6 additions. To the Lord be all the praise, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- March 1858, page 88. South English, Keokuk County, Iowa, January 27th, 1858 Bro. Mathes:-- Since I came to Iowa, we have had some good meetings. Bro. Springer and myself held two meetings at Nevada, (North English P.O.,) Iowa County, one of eleven days, commencing Dec. 27th, the other of seven days, commencing Jan. 15th. The result of these meetings was one hundred additions, seventy-seven by baptism. At the last meeting, Bro. Springer was alone until towards the close of the meeting. Among the number was one Catholic. I also held a meeting of seven days at this place, including the 1st Lord's day inst., with ten additions, seven by baptism.-- At a meeting at Millersburg, Iowa Co., Bros. Springer, Bonham and myself held a meeting of one week including the 2nd Lord's day inst., which resulted in 27 additions, 19 by baptism. On the 4th Lord's day in this month I organized a church of twelve members in Sigourney, our county seat, which increased to fifteen before I left; I baptized one on Saturday before in the vicinity. Making 104 baptisms withing less than a week, and 137 additions besides the church organized. We have great reason to rejoice and take courage. Yours in the bonds of love, Elisha Scott ----------------------- Oct. 1859, p. 253 News from the Churches Bro. Elisha Scott, of Keokuk county, Iowa, writes that at recent meetings which were held at two different points, embracing the 5th Lord's day in May, and the 1st of June immersed three persons, and four others united with the church who had been immersed before, one by the Wesleyan Methodists, one by the Baptists, and one by the Episcopal Methodists, and one by the brethren. E.G. [The initials E. G. are apparently for Elijah Goodwin. --- DJN 1999] ----------------------- Oct. 1859, pp. 330-331 State Meeting The State Meeting of the Christian Brotherhood of the State of Indiana, convened in Christian Chapel, in Indianapolis, September 15h, 1859, and continued until near noon of Saturday, the 17th. The following districts were represented by Messengers, viz: ... The Church at Spring Creek, Cass Co., by Bro. John Scott. The following committees were appointed, viz: On Nominations -- Brethren John B. New, John Scott and John Brown. ----------------------- Jan. 1860, p. 30. Letter from Levi Scott of Garden City Minn., Nov. 9, 1859 Tells of their congregation now numbering 23 members. ----------------------- May 1860, p. 158. South English, Iowa, April 2, 1860 Bro. Goodwin:-- Including the first and second Sundays in March, we held a meeting at Indianapolis, Mahaska Co., the immediate result of which was 21 additions by confession and baptism, 8 by relation, and 3 restored. Since then we have had 8 additions at Crosse's school house, 6 by baptism. Yours, truly, Elisha Scott. ----------------------- June 1860, p. 191. Near South English, Iowa, April 20, 1860 Bro. Goodwin:-- We have just closed a very interesting meeting at White Pigeon; the immediate result was 8 additions; 3 by recommendation, the rest by confession and baptism. -- Among the number were three intelligent Presbyterians, and one from the United Brethren. Yours, truly, Elisha Scott. ---------------------------------------------------------- From the Millenial Harbinger, another early Christian publication. Aug. 1839, p. 383: Brandywine, Shelby county, Ia., July 1st, 1939 Brother Campbell, There appears to be a necessity, which we did not anticipate when we advertised Spencer K. Milton, of describing his person. This necessity arises from the fact of his having changed his name in Illinois, and having latterly again changed his name, which last cognomen is forgotten. Said Milton is of ordinary stature, near forty years of age, having scarcely any hair on his head, sandy complexion, low forehead, very prominent on the back part of his head, which presents, together with his baldness, a very singular appearance. He has a harsh voice. The above description, with others before published, is deemed sufficient to enable the brethren to detect him wherever he may be. We wish the brethren in Iowa, or wherever he may be to give information to brother Campbell where he is, and by what name he is called. T. J. Matthews The very and identical Spencer K. Milton is, as we have recently learned, a disguised Universalist. He is the true and proper author of the communication signed "Spencer," from which sprang the Universalian controversy. He pretended to be a Disciple of Christ, and associated with us, while in heart he was a thorough going Universalist dyed in the wool. A. C. [Note by D. Nicklaus, 1999. The state abbreviation, "Ia." and the year "1939" on the letter are as printed in the Millenial Harbinger. Obviously, they should have been "Ind." and "1839." From the place and subject matter, it is clear that T.J. Matthews is, in fact, T.Q. Matthews, who had earlier submitted a letter describing Spencer K. Milton.] ----------------------- Sept 1839, p. 431: Query from T. J. Matthews "Should a brother be retained in the church who keeps a tippling house, or deals in ardent spirits?"