WHAT IS THEIR NAME?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 3, 1876

WHAT IS THEIR NAME?

We never refer to the branch of the Baptist Church of which Alexander Campbell was the primitive bud as “Campbellites,” because we do not think they are Campbellites, and, further, because they refuse the name. But long as we have known them, we do not yet know how to designate them. We cannot call them, by way of distinction, “Christians,” because, 1. that is a generic title, and therefore is liable to mislead the reader; and 2. because the “New lights,” so-called, claim that distinctive appellation—though they do not believe in the divinity of Christ.

The Oskaloosa Evangelist speaks of its church—the one of which Alexander Campbell was a leading minister, as “The Church of Christ,” using the phrase to the exclusion of all other denominations. But that is a new kink, and it would not generally be understood. We usually employ the name “Disciples,” as one which Mr. Campbell seemed to prefer, but it is not current.

Now there are plenty of names lying around loose, and that large and respectable body of Christians ought to have one. Let them adopt something of their own, and come to us and we will baptize them in it. We cannot conscientiously “plunge, dip, submerge, bury” them, but we will undertake to give them satisfaction as to the amount of water used, even if it is necessary to call out the united fire departments of Chicago and St. Louis. It shall be a sprinkle, but we are willing to make it a boomer!—Interior (Presbyterian).