Copyright, 1945
By
C. D. Pantle

First Printing, Sept., 1945
Second Printing, June, 1946

Printed in the United States of America

PREFACE

In an earlier volume, I recited the history of theDisciples of Christ under the title, Religion Followsthe Frontier. The phrase was designed to emphasizethe fact that this religious movement was born underpioneer conditions on the American frontier, in thedays when the frontier was just crossing the Alleghenies,that much of its formative thinking followed patternscongenial to the frontier mind, and that its earlyexpansion kept pace with the westward wave of migration.

Since that book is now out of print, while interestin the theme is increasing, it has seemed desirable torewrite the history. If this were merely a sequel tothe other, I would call it Growing Up with the Country.

It remains true that the pioneer beginnings must beremembered and understood if the initial motives andmethods of the Disciples and the processes of theirgrowth are to be understood. But important as thefrontier is, as a fact in the history of the United Statesand of every phase of culture in the Middle West, anequally significant fact is that, as the frontier rolledwestward, it left behind it a widening area in whichpioneer conditions no longer prevailed. As the countrywas growing by the expansive drive of which thefrontier was the cutting edge, it was also growing up,both behind and on the frontier. The process of maturingis as significant as that of expanding.

Since the present purpose is to survey the historyof the Disciples through both of these phases, I haveresisted the allurement of this second title and amgiving the book a name which includes both; for the6movement is distinctively American, and every Americanmovement which began in pioneer days and haslived through the cycles of American life until now hasboth followed the frontier and grown up with thecountry.

As to the future—I am only a historian, not aprophet. But I shall be disappointed if this record ofthe past does not leave with the reader an acquaintancewith the essential data upon which, using his ownjudgment and imagination, he will be disposed toproject the curve of a future development far beyondany present attainments in promoting the ends forwhich the Disciples of Christ came into existence—theunity and purity of the Church, a reasonable andpractical religion, and the enrichment of life throughfellowship in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

W. E. G.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. Prelude 9

II. Ideas with a History: Union and Restoration 14

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