The Alabama Restoration Journal An Historical Perspective of Churches of Christ In Alabama John Mulkey 1773-1844 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4 July 01, 2012 Earl Kimbrough’s Latest….. John Taylor-The Life & Times of A Backwoods Preacher The life of .John Taylor, one of the most beloved of the pioneer gospel preachers ever in Northwest Alabama, is a story that must be told. Who better to tell this story than Franklin County’s own, Earl Kimbrough. In writing this book, John Taylor, the Life and Times of a Backwoods Preacher, Earl comes home— home to the hill country of Franklin County, Alabama. Earl was born and raised in Russellville, the county seat of Franklin County. This is a story close to his heart. We are greatly indebted to Earl Kimbrough for telling this story of joys and sorrows of John and Polly Taylor, as they labored for the Lord until the time of their deaths. $24.95, 260 pages, cloth bound with dust jacket. + 3.50 Shipping ____________ Earl Kimbrough, who gave us The Warrior from Rock Creek: Life, Times, and Thoughts of F. B. Srygley (1859-1940) in 2008, has, out of his vast knowledge of Restoration history and superb writing talents, given us another Restoration classic, John Taylor: The Life and Times of a Backwoods Preacher (1807-1885). Taylor labored among the poor in the hills of Northwest Alabama. Reared under the prevailing religious influence of the day--Calvinism--he sought to "get religion." Having never heard of Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, Walter Scott, or any of the other leaders of the Restoration Movement, Taylor, on his own study of the Bible, learned the way of truth. "While Taylor was unknown outside his field of labor, he was contemporary with Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone. He was preaching the Bible alone and establishing New Testament churches [in Alabama] at the time of Walter Scott’s great Restoration evangelism on the Western Reserve of Ohio" (page 21). As Kimbrough states in the Introduction to the book, "The purpose of the work is to honor the memory of a man who pioneered, circulated, defended, and preserved New Testament Christianity, mostly among the poor people that inhabited the rugged hills and meandering hollows of Northwest Alabama in the nineteenth century." Any one who loves the church of our Lord and the plea for non-sectarian Christianity will thrill at reading this beautifully told story. --Hugh Fulford ORDER FROM Clay Publishing Company P.O. Box 398 Russellville, Alabama 35653 Pho. (256) 668-3135 Or Order thru PayPal CONTENTS STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE 1. Forgotten Heroes page 1 The object of The Alabama Restoration Journal is to preserve and disseminate an historical record of the Restoration Larry Whitehead Movement primarily as it functioned in Alabama prior to World 2. News And Notes page 2 War II. Larry Whitehead Brotherhood controversies as they unfolded in the years following this period are not included in this history, not because 3. In this Issue page 2 they lack historical validity, but because they do not fall within Larry Whitehead the frame of our primary time and area of coverage and because our interest is basically in our common roots. 4. John Mulkey: Standing On The Bible Alone page 3 Some articles and items may extend beyond our borders Frank Richey of state and time period, when the editor deems them pertinent to the main objective, when they are reflective of, or connected 5. The Huntsville Thespians page 9 directly with, earlier history, or when they are purely of a human Earl Kimbrough interest nature. The Journal is not a “church paper” and is not designed 6. Leonard Johnson page 10 to teach doctrine as such. It will not promote any hobby, Kenneth Randolph controversy, or theological point of view that does not fall within the scope of the Restoration ideal within the time and area of 7. Missing Churches Of Clay County page 14 primary interest. Earl Kimbrough The editor and contributing editors are responsible for keeping the material they submit for publication, whether written 8. The Movement 1860-1875 page 15 by them or selected from other sources, in keeping with the Larry Whitehead objects of The Journal. The editor will retain the right to make the final 9. Restoration Tidbits: “Old Brother Srygley page 19 determination of whether an article, or a portion thereof, fits the Hugh Fulford objective of The Journal. No editing of material, other than routine editorial work, 10. The Sacred Music Of Zion: J.D. Patton page 20 will be made on any writer’s work without his prior knowledge Earl Kimbrough and consent. All historical material submitted for publication must be 11. Opposition To The Cause: Christian Church page 22 verifiable by documentation. Any opinions or conclusions based Bobby Graham in part or whole upon supposition, while valid, will be given as such and not as historical facts. 12. The Wade Baptist Church page 25 Simple documentation may be supplied within the Larry Whitehead articles published, but it will be our purpose generally to omit footnotes. 13. John Taylor On Debates page 28 The editors may not agree on all aspects of New John Taylor Testament Christianity as currently practiced, but they have a common interest in Restoration history that transcends other 14. Restoration Ramblings: In The Heart Of Dixie page 30 differences, hold one another as brethren in Christ, and consider Earl Kimbrough each other as committed to and capable of representing the Restoration ideal of speaking where the Bible Speaks and being 15. A Godly Woman: Sallie Russell Lambert page 31 silent where Bible is silent. Scott Harp The writing of a particular story or the recording a particular event should be understood as reflecting the editor and 16. The Puzzled Dutchman page 33 associate editors perception of history and not necessarily as Earl Kimbrough reflective of their own personal view. Every effort will be made by the editor and writers to 17. Uncle Isaac Sez page 34 record history as it is and not to rewrite it as they might like for Isaac it to be. Historical revisionism is not the object of The Journal and will be excluded to the extent or our ability. 18. The Final Say: What Is Happening To Us page 35 Source information for all articles will be available for Alan Highers those who request same. Our Cover The Editors Earl Has done one of his best ever on the portrait of John Mulkey. His art work adds so much to each issue…. *************** ********** The Alabama Restoration Journal An Historical Perspective of churches of Christ in Alabama "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,” Jer 6:16 Editor Larry Whitehead Contributing Editors Earl Kimbrough C. Wayne Kilpatrick Frank Richey Scott Harp Bennie Johns Bobby Graham Kenneth Randolph Hugh Fulford Administration Hilda Logan Lavaga Logan Volume No. 5 Issue No. 4 Date July 01, 2012 FORGOTTEN HEROES Larry Whitehead Hilda Logan recently asked a young lady about in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was closely associated some material on Gus Nichols. The young lady, a with James E. Matthews, Abner Hill and B.F. Hall. This member of the church, asked, “who is Gus Nichols?” I group were chiefly responsible for persuading Barton Stone was giving a presentation on the history of the church to open the pages of the Christian Messenger to a lengthy in Birmingham. I handed out a paper that I had done discussion of the idea of baptism for the remission of sins. on John T. Lewis. A young man said to me, prior to In fact Hall is credited as being the first to preach this the presentation, “I have heard the name, who was doctrine. Following is a report submitted by James E. John T. Lewis?” Still more recently, I mentioned the Matthews to Stone’s Christian Messenger: name of Gus A. Dunn to a young preacher friend. He said, “never heard of him.” Makes one want to Religious Intelligence. scream, JUST THREE OF THE BEST GOSPEL Bartons, Ala. Dec. 12, 1831. PREACHERS TO EVER GRACE A PULPIT! All three DEAR BROTHER;—Our Conference commenced on the were household names in the home of every last day of Sept. During the meeting 19 persons were Christian, not only in Alabama, but across the immersed, and a number more professed faith in Jesus; country. These three led untold thousands to most of whom have been baptized since. In Limestone obedience. How soon we forget? We have raised a county 23 were immersed, and others confessed the generation that knows nothing of our history and the Lord Jesus. In Morgan Co. 4 were immersed; and in great men and women of our past. What a shame. Blount county 8 were baptized, and several from other Our colleague, C. Wayne Kilpatrick is fond of saying societies united with us. At all the camp-meetings in “we are standing on the shoulders of giants.” …..How North Alabama, and in the South of Tennessee, about can we know this, if we don’t know who these heroes 176 persons put on the christian name by immersion, were? and from the best information that I have received John Mulkey, featured in this issue, is one such probably 180 more have been added to the churches hero and is another of the almost forgotten ones of the since. The following Elders were present at Conference, restoration cause in Alabama. He was among the first to viz. John Mulkey, Isaac Mulkey, John Hooton, William make several pilgrimages to this new frontier to aid in Hooton, John M'Donald, Elisha Randolph, Eph.