Benjamin Franklin (Restoration Movement)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Franklin was an important conservative figure in the American Restoration Movement
, especially as the leading antebellum conservative in the northern United States branch of the movement. He is notable as the early and lifelong mentor of Daniel Sommer
, whose support of the 1889 Sand Creek Declaration set in motion events which led to the formal division of the Churches of Christ from the Disciples of Christ in 1906.
According to contemporary biographies "His early religious training was according to the Methodist faith, though he never belonged to any church until he united with the Disciples."
in 1812, Franklin was said to be a fourth-generation descendant of a brother of American Revolutionary War
figure Benjamin Franklin
, for whom he was named. He was the eldest son of a fairly big family.
When Franklin was near 21 years old, thus in late 1832 or early 1833, Franklin's father moved the family to farmland about three miles (5 km) south of Middletown
in Henry County, Indiana
. Franklin himself purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²).
, becoming a neighbor of the Franklin family.
Rogers began to preach Restoration Movement
doctrine using a local schoolhouse to deliver his orations. He was quickly rejected as heretical by the Methodist leadership in the area: however, his family was sympthetic toward the neighbor and soon came under his theological influence. Franklin was baptised by full immersion in 1836 by Rogers near Middletown
in Henry County, Indiana
, along with many others who were baptised in the same meeting. (One source also credits Elijah Martindale
in Franklin's conversion.) Of those baptised at this meeting, six or seven would go on to become preachers in the movement: Franklin, three of his brothers, Eider Adamson, John T. Rogers, and possibly another whose name was forgotten by one of Rogers' biographers.
State Meeting in 1842, Franklin was designated as the lead evangelist of the northeastern quarter ("district") of Indiana
: the districting plan soon failed for lack of local funds to pay the evangelists' salary of US$500 per year.
Franklin began preaching at New Lisbon, Indiana
in 1842. He began publishing his Reformer in 1845, soon changing the name to Western Reformer. He moved to Milton, Indiana
in 1846 and published the journal from his own shop. This publication was to be merged with Hall's Gospel Proclamation as the Proclamation and Reformer in 1850. Franklin served as one of two secretaries at the Disciples' eighth state meeting at Columbus, Indiana
, which covened on October 3, 1846.
Later, Franklin published the Christian Age with collaborator David S. Burnet. His last publication was the American Christian Review begun in 1856: following Franklin's death the name of the paper would be changed to the Octographic Review. He was said to have influenced the founding of Butler University
as well as other national societies, and was also said to have been an abolitionist and pacifist, like many of his contemporaries within the movement.
After changing residences several times in Indiana and Ohio, Franklin settled in Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1850, where he remained for 14 years. It was during the 1850s that Franklin changed his views to oppose missionary societies.
. Franklin undertook a rigorous program of publication correspondence, and traveling lectures which took him to "many" U. S. states and Canada.
Franklin's last move was to Anderson, Indiana
, where he lived from 1864 until his death.
. It was here that he attracted the interest of a young Bethany College student named Daniel Sommer
, becoming a lifelong mentor of Sommer, who would take up Franklin's mantle as publisher following Franklin's death. Sommer would become notable for his participation in the 1889 Sand Creek Address and Declaration, a particularly strong statement of exclusivity which helped to drive the split between the Disciples of Christ and more conservative Church of Christ.
.
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
, especially as the leading antebellum conservative in the northern United States branch of the movement. He is notable as the early and lifelong mentor of Daniel Sommer
Daniel Sommer
Daniel Sommer was a key figure in the Restoration Movement and in the separation of the Churches of Christ from the Christian Church....
, whose support of the 1889 Sand Creek Declaration set in motion events which led to the formal division of the Churches of Christ from the Disciples of Christ in 1906.
According to contemporary biographies "His early religious training was according to the Methodist faith, though he never belonged to any church until he united with the Disciples."
Early years
Born near present-day Belmont County, OhioBelmont County, Ohio
Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 70,400. Its county seat is St. Clairsville...
in 1812, Franklin was said to be a fourth-generation descendant of a brother of American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
figure Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, for whom he was named. He was the eldest son of a fairly big family.
When Franklin was near 21 years old, thus in late 1832 or early 1833, Franklin's father moved the family to farmland about three miles (5 km) south of Middletown
Middletown, Indiana
Middletown is a town in northwest Henry County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,322 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Middletown is located at ....
in Henry County, Indiana
Henry County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
. Franklin himself purchased 80 acres (323,748.8 m²).
Restoration Movement conversion
In November 1834, pioneer Restoration Movement preacher and elder Samuel Rogers moved to the Falls of Rough Creek in Henry County from KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, becoming a neighbor of the Franklin family.
Rogers began to preach Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
doctrine using a local schoolhouse to deliver his orations. He was quickly rejected as heretical by the Methodist leadership in the area: however, his family was sympthetic toward the neighbor and soon came under his theological influence. Franklin was baptised by full immersion in 1836 by Rogers near Middletown
Middletown, Indiana
Middletown is a town in northwest Henry County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,322 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Middletown is located at ....
in Henry County, Indiana
Henry County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, along with many others who were baptised in the same meeting. (One source also credits Elijah Martindale
Elijah Martindale
Elijah Martindale was an Indiana pioneer and a leader of the Restoration Movement in that state. He was called Elder Elijah Martindale.-Background and Family Life:...
in Franklin's conversion.) Of those baptised at this meeting, six or seven would go on to become preachers in the movement: Franklin, three of his brothers, Eider Adamson, John T. Rogers, and possibly another whose name was forgotten by one of Rogers' biographers.
Early ministry and editorship
At the ConnersvilleConnersville, Indiana
At the 2000 census, there were 15,411 people, 6,382 households and 4,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,894.5 per square mile . There were 6,974 housing units at an average density of 857.3 per square mile...
State Meeting in 1842, Franklin was designated as the lead evangelist of the northeastern quarter ("district") of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
: the districting plan soon failed for lack of local funds to pay the evangelists' salary of US$500 per year.
Franklin began preaching at New Lisbon, Indiana
New Lisbon, Indiana
New Lisbon is an unincorporated town in Dudley Township, Henry County, Indiana....
in 1842. He began publishing his Reformer in 1845, soon changing the name to Western Reformer. He moved to Milton, Indiana
Milton, Indiana
Milton is a town in Washington Township, Wayne County, Indiana, United States. The population was 490 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Milton is located at ....
in 1846 and published the journal from his own shop. This publication was to be merged with Hall's Gospel Proclamation as the Proclamation and Reformer in 1850. Franklin served as one of two secretaries at the Disciples' eighth state meeting at Columbus, Indiana
Columbus, Indiana
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 44,061 at the 2010 census, and the current mayor is Fred Armstrong. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, on the east fork of the White River, it is the state's 20th largest...
, which covened on October 3, 1846.
Later, Franklin published the Christian Age with collaborator David S. Burnet. His last publication was the American Christian Review begun in 1856: following Franklin's death the name of the paper would be changed to the Octographic Review. He was said to have influenced the founding of Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
as well as other national societies, and was also said to have been an abolitionist and pacifist, like many of his contemporaries within the movement.
After changing residences several times in Indiana and Ohio, Franklin settled in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in 1850, where he remained for 14 years. It was during the 1850s that Franklin changed his views to oppose missionary societies.
The American Christian Review
In 1856, Franklin began to publish the ultra-conservative American Christian Review, which he published until his death in 1878. Its influence, initially considerable, was said to have waned following the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Franklin undertook a rigorous program of publication correspondence, and traveling lectures which took him to "many" U. S. states and Canada.
Franklin's last move was to Anderson, Indiana
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
, where he lived from 1864 until his death.
Traveling orator
In 1871 Franklin gave a series of sermons at Wellsburg, West VirginiaWellsburg, West Virginia
Wellsburg is a city in and the county seat of Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2000 Census recorded a population of 2,891, down from a count of 3,385 in the 1990 Census...
. It was here that he attracted the interest of a young Bethany College student named Daniel Sommer
Daniel Sommer
Daniel Sommer was a key figure in the Restoration Movement and in the separation of the Churches of Christ from the Christian Church....
, becoming a lifelong mentor of Sommer, who would take up Franklin's mantle as publisher following Franklin's death. Sommer would become notable for his participation in the 1889 Sand Creek Address and Declaration, a particularly strong statement of exclusivity which helped to drive the split between the Disciples of Christ and more conservative Church of Christ.
Personal life
Franklin married Mary Personet on 15 December 1833 with whom he had eleven children. Nine survived to adulthood. He died suddenly at his home in Anderson, IndianaAnderson, Indiana
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God and home of Anderson University, which is...
.
External links
- Works by Benjamin Franklin at the Restoration MovementRestoration MovementThe Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
pages of the Memorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of NewfoundlandMemorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
.