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?The Earnest Christian?
Life and Works of Benjamin T. Roberts TABLE OF CONTENTS
| |
|Introduction |
| |Chapter I |
| |Chapter II |
| |Chapter III |
| |Chapter IV |
| |Chapter V |
| |Chapter VI |
| |Chapter VII |
| |Chapter VIII |
| |Chapter IX |
| |Chapter X |
|Appendix |
|Photographs |
|Author |
INTRODUCTION As the centennial celebration of the founding of the Free Methodist Church
of North America draws near, the conviction grows that the history of that
church for almost one hundred years reflects, to a great extent, the life
and works of one man, Benjamin Titus Roberts, its founder. Emerson's
assertion that "An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man" is
clearly depicted. Generally as the shadow lengthens it becomes vague, but
with some men its outlines remain distinct while the area of influence
widens. With the subject of this study, the shadow has not only lengthened
in the enlarged church, but Mr. Roberts is being more fully recognized in
renaming, in his honor, the school which he founded, and in the
republication of one of his books, entitled Fishers of Men, in 1948. The
torch that was held in his hand is the church that he suffered to found;
the flame of that torch, his burning love for God and all mankind,
especially the poor and oppressed. He tried to promote earnest Christianity
in this land. For thirty-three years he edited a magazine significantly
named The Earnest Christian. He himself was an EARNEST CHRISTIAN, filled
with zeal, a flaming example of his Master's holy anointing.
Time softens the characters which it touches. The ecclesiastical conflict,
which centered in the person of Mr. Roberts and which resulted in the
formation of the Free Methodist Church, has grown dim through the mist of
the years. The wounds and bitterness that arose in connection with those
disturbances have been allayed, and even though certain issues are
necessarily reviewed here, they will probably be judged more charitably, in
the light of subsequent events, than would have been possible for those so
closely involved in the ecclesiastical ferment of the times. Abel Stevens,
prolific writer of Methodism, said, "Great events, involving as they
naturally do, extensive controversies and agitations, require time for
their right estimation; the characteristic portraiture of their leaders
(the best dramatis personnae of history) cannot be impartially made while
the chief actors or their families still survive." During the writing of
this work, the last member of the family of Mr. Roberts, Benjamin Titus
Roberts, M. D., passed away. The dictum of Longfellow, that if a life is
worth writing at all, it is worth writing "minutely and truthfully," has
been heeded.
This biographical work of Mr. Roberts is significant for Methodist history
because of his relation to the ideas and development of the parent body. To
the larger church, he is mainly important as a center of the religlo-social
developments that resulted in the formation of a new church. His attitudes
on national affairs are particularly interesting with reference to the
problems peculiar to the Civil War period, and organizational activities on
behalf of the farmer. His strong opposition to monopolies and trusts, and
his comments on labor organizations, and on social and economic questions,
supplement the highly devotional character of his writings with their
strong emphasis upon piety. His call to return to what he considered the
elemental gospel pulsates throughout. Considerable interest is found in the
fact that his advanced ideas economically and socially are combined with an
extreme conservatism in the field of religion. There is no better comment
of loving devotion than the relations of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. They shared
together the founding and development of the educational institution now
known as Roberts Wesleyan College, significant mainly because of its
emphasis upon a work-study program.
Herein is attempted a reorientation and interpretation of the life and
works of Mr. Roberts with the avowed purpose of presenting him in his more
human and intimate relations. Inasmuch as the published works of Mr.
Roberts grew mainly out of his life task, an effort has been made to
project his ideas into all the major activities in which he was engaged. An
emphasis is laid upon organizational form and consecutive development,
particularly significant with reference to the church he founded. The
social-economic implications are given a larger place than formerly.
As to its scope, the entire life of Mr. Roberts has been reviewed. The
initial purpose had been more or less to waive the controversial issues
involved in the church, but as the study was made, the life of the man was
seen to be so largely involved in the organization that its inclusion
became essential to a complete picture. His educational interests were also
such an integral part of the life he lived that it became necessary to
treat this field more fully. The travel aspects of his ministry were
largest since he moved as General Superintendent throughout this country
and Canada, so that more space proportionately has been given to them. His
life has been treated as consecutively as possible from the historic
viewpoint. However, in the interests of a comprehensive whole, particular
aspects of his life have been grouped and reviewed, and a few necessary
touches have been added incidentally from a following period, or are
reviewed briefly from a preceding one. Since all of his travels could not
be included, certain portions were chosen that indicated more life and
movement.
The original source materials for this study have been unusually large,
most significant of which is a large collection of letters and papers of
the Roberts family which have been preserved, and which had never, until
this time, been made available for study. Much of this has been background
material and unquoted. More than eight hundred of those letters which were
read, were filed; besides, certain excerpts were taken from a large number
of others which were not retained on file.
This work as originally done was submitted to the Graduate School of the
University of Pittsburgh in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which was conferred in 1951. Acknowledgment
is gratefully made to Dr. John A. Nietz, thesis advisor and Professor at
the University of Pittsburgh for his assistance and his close and valued
supervision, and to Dr. Lawrence C. Little, Professor of Religious
Education, for his advice and constant encouragement. Dr. S. P. Franklin,
in whose classes the first incentive to complete this work was augmented,
and Dr. Charles Reed Zahniser, now deceased, who greatly encouraged the
author, deserve appreciation. The most important contribution came through
the generosity and kindness, as well as confidence, of Dr. and Mrs. George
W. Garlock who lent invaluable aid by making available original materials
never before studied or published. Also the kindness and assistance of Miss
Hazel Sager, and the use of materials from Miss Celia Lawton and Mr.
Wallace Worbois are noteworthy. Various librarians were most courteous and
helpful, especially Miss Ora Sprague of Roberts Wesleyan College, Mr. Beach
of Garrett Biblical institute, and Miss Wilson and Mrs. Day of the Buffalo
Public Library.
Appreciation is hereby expressed to Mr. B. H. Gaddis for making available
materials at the General Headquarters of the Free Methodist Church, to Mr.
Howard Updyke, Dean of Roberts Wesleyan College, for making available some
primary materials, and to the preachers and members of the Pittsburgh
District of the Free Methodist Church over which the author was District
Superintendent during the period in which most of the writing was done.
Miss Clara Hogue has also graciously consented to the use of materials from
her father's two volume history.
Cordial acknowledgment is extended to the following publishers and authors
who have consented to the reprinting of excerpts from their works: Beacon
Press, Inc., Boston; The Macmillan Company, New York; The Epworth Press,
London; The Americana Corporation, New York; Harper Brothers, New York; The
Gannett Company, Rochester, New York; The Free Methodist Publishing House,
Winona Lake, Indiana; Mr. Mead Killion, North Chili, N. Y.; Dr. Elton True-
blood, Richmond, Indiana; Dr. David Saville Muzzey, New York; and Dr.
William Warren Sweet, Dallas.
DEDICATION THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED TO MY WIFE, FANNIE ELIZABETH,
without whose help this work could not have been done, spending, as she
has, long weeks in typing and correcting copy, as well as giving valued
criticisms. CHAPT