The Trail of Blood
Encyclopedia
The Trail of Blood is a booklet by the Baptist
minister, Dr. James Milton Carroll
. It is a collection of five lectures he gave on the history of Baptist
churches, which he presented as a succession from the first Christians.
The full title is The Trail of Blood -: Following the Christians Down through the Centuries - or, The History of Baptist Churches from the Time of Christ
, Their Founder, to the Present Day. Carroll presents modern Baptists as the direct succession of a strain of Christianity dating to apostolic
times, which was a Landmarkist
view first promoted in the mid-nineteenth century by James Robinson Graves
. He started an influential movement in Tennessee and the western states. The Landmark controversy divided many Baptists, and ultimately led to the formation of the American Baptist Convention in 1924, as well as Gospel Missions and unaffiliated churches.
Carroll claims a descent by modern Baptists from such earlier groups as the Waldensians
, the Cathari, the Paulicians (a sect of Adoptionist heretics), and the Donatists. Carroll acknowledges a number of other writers, including G.H. Orchard and John T. Christian
. The title is taken from James Robinson Graves
' The Trilemma. The book was published in the year Carroll died. Today the copyright to Carroll's book is held by Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky
.
Carroll's work, 'The Trail of Blood,' was opposed by James Edward McGoldrick's response, 'Baptist Successionism' which gave researched opposition to the theory of "Baptist Successionism
" promoted by Dr. JM Carroll in the early twentieth century.
Note: Trail of Blood is also the title of an unrelated 1976 historical novel by Kenneth Bulmer
, writing as Neil Langholm, part of Bulmer's "Vikings" series.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, Dr. James Milton Carroll
James Milton Carroll
James Milton Carroll was an American Baptist pastor, leader, historian, author, and educator.- Early life and education :...
. It is a collection of five lectures he gave on the history of Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches, which he presented as a succession from the first Christians.
The full title is The Trail of Blood -: Following the Christians Down through the Centuries - or, The History of Baptist Churches from the Time of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, Their Founder, to the Present Day. Carroll presents modern Baptists as the direct succession of a strain of Christianity dating to apostolic
Apostolic
Apostolic may refer to:An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission*The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles...
times, which was a Landmarkist
Landmarkism
Landmarkism is a type of Baptist ecclesiology--it may also appear as Old Landmarkism in some works. Adherents are normally styled Landmark Baptists or simply Landmarkers within the United States, but are known as Landmarkists in the United Kingdom. The term Landmarkism originates in : "Remove not...
view first promoted in the mid-nineteenth century by James Robinson Graves
James Robinson Graves
James Robinson Graves was a US Baptist preacher, publisher, evangelist, debater, author, and editor. He was born in Chester, Vermont, the son of Z. C. Graves, and died in Memphis, Tennessee. His remains are interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.Though raised in a Congregational background, he...
. He started an influential movement in Tennessee and the western states. The Landmark controversy divided many Baptists, and ultimately led to the formation of the American Baptist Convention in 1924, as well as Gospel Missions and unaffiliated churches.
Carroll claims a descent by modern Baptists from such earlier groups as the Waldensians
Waldensians
Waldensians, Waldenses or Vaudois are names for a Christian movement of the later Middle Ages, descendants of which still exist in various regions, primarily in North-Western Italy. There is considerable uncertainty about the earlier history of the Waldenses because of a lack of extant source...
, the Cathari, the Paulicians (a sect of Adoptionist heretics), and the Donatists. Carroll acknowledges a number of other writers, including G.H. Orchard and John T. Christian
John T. Christian
John Tyler Christian was a Baptist preacher, author and educator. He was born December 14, 1854, near Lexington, Kentucky. His family moved to Henry County, Kentucky, when he was six years old...
. The title is taken from James Robinson Graves
James Robinson Graves
James Robinson Graves was a US Baptist preacher, publisher, evangelist, debater, author, and editor. He was born in Chester, Vermont, the son of Z. C. Graves, and died in Memphis, Tennessee. His remains are interred in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.Though raised in a Congregational background, he...
' The Trilemma. The book was published in the year Carroll died. Today the copyright to Carroll's book is held by Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
Carroll's work, 'The Trail of Blood,' was opposed by James Edward McGoldrick's response, 'Baptist Successionism' which gave researched opposition to the theory of "Baptist Successionism
Baptist successionism
Baptist successionism is one of several theories on the origin and continuation of Baptist churches – also known as "Baptist perpetuity" or "The Trail of Blood". It is the theory that there has been an unbroken chain of churches since the days of Christ which have held similar beliefs of the...
" promoted by Dr. JM Carroll in the early twentieth century.
Note: Trail of Blood is also the title of an unrelated 1976 historical novel by Kenneth Bulmer
Kenneth Bulmer
Henry Kenneth Bulmer was a British author, primarily of science fiction.-Life:Born in London, he married Pamela Buckmaster on 7 March 1953. They had one son and two daughters, and were divorced in 1981...
, writing as Neil Langholm, part of Bulmer's "Vikings" series.
External links
- Trail of Blood, Online version of J. M. Carroll's book
- Trail of Blood Timeline, adapted from book by J.M. Carroll, Trail of Blood.org