Barton W. Stone

Barton Warren Stone was born on a large farm near Port Tobacco, Maryland, December 24, 1772. His father was John Stone, a man of considerable wealth and influence. Barton was a direct descendent of William Stone, the first member of the Second Continental Congress and one of four men from Maryland to sign the Declaration of Independence. Barton applied himself diligently to the studies of Latin, Greek and English. He was licensed as a Presbyterian preacher but was confused by many of the abstruce doctrines of Presbyterianism. He later declared an entire abandonment of all authoritative human creeds and held to the Bible alone as the only rule of faith and practice in religion. After accepting the Gospel way of salvation as it is taught in the Bible he started into evangelistic work, which proved effective, as several churches of Christ were established in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Like the apostle Paul, he was persecuted by enemies of the Truth, but he continued on with his message of hope and salvation. Stone was unexcelled as a preacher, teacher, writer and editor. He preached his last sermon on October 21, 1844 at Bear Creek, Missouri, and passed from this life on November 9, 1844.

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Walter Scott

Walter Scott was born into a strong Presbyterian family in Moffat, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, October 31, 1796. Walter was of the same family as his world-famous namesake, Sir Walter Scott. He graduated with honors from the University of Edinburgh before coming to America in the year 1818. Walter walked from New York City to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he spent much time in Bible study. Being sprinkled as a small child, he learned that he had not been scripturally baptized and was immediately immersed by a friend. He continued to search the Scriptures with an earnest desire to know the will of God and a strong determination to follow the Word of God where ever it led him. Without doubt, Walter Scott played a dramatic role in the Restoration Movement of the nineteenth century. While in Pittsburgh he started a school where he tutored more than one hundred students. As a teacher, he was a strict disciplinarian. His rules were summed up in three words, obedience, order and accuracy. He took special pains to familiarize the students with the ancient tongues; with the Greek of the New Testament. The students became so familiar with the Scriptures that some of them could repeat the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Greek language. Scott emphasized the fact that the creed of the first church was "Christ." He was one of the first to "extend the gospel invitation at the conclusion of each sermon - inviting and admonishing people to come to Christ upon terms set forth in the New Testament." He died on April 23, 1864.

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Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell was born February 1, 1763, in County Down, North Ireland. Possessing a deep religious character, he developed a love for the Scriptures. In 1783, at the age of twenty, he enrolled as a student at Glasgow University. After graduating with honors, he enrolled in a theological school operated by the anti-Burger branch of the Presbyterian church. For several years, he taught and preached as opportunities presented themselves. At the age of forty-four, he came to America. Arriving on April 8, 1807 in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent much time in Bible study and as his knowledge in Scripture increased, his doubt in Presbyterianism became stronger. Finally he declined "all ministerial connections with, or subjection to, the Associate Synod of North America." While in Ireland, Thomas had no connection with any Restoration Movement, but in America, he found himself teaching and preaching a complete return to the Bible for all belief, doctrine and practice in religion. He believed in accepting only the Bible for all things in matters of faith in religion. He preached and taught only the Bible. He started no new religion nor any new church but preached only that everyone must believe and obey the Word of God.

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Alexander Campbell

Alexander Campbell was born in County Antrim, September 12, 1788. At the age of twenty years, he enrolled in the University of Glasgow, became proficient in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French and English literature, Philosophy, Logic and Church History. In his study of the Bible he discovered that Presbyterianism, the religion of his family was not the doctrine of the Scriptures and therefore, proposed to take the Bible as his only guide in matters of faith. He also believed it was possible to restore the church of the New Testament by using the Bible as a blue print. On September 29, 1809, he came to America where he found men that were already involved in pleading for the complete restoration of the first century church of Christ, to speak where the Bible speaks, to be silent where the Bible is silent and renounce the practice of calling themselves names after their earthly leaders, that everyone obeying the Scriptures should be called "Christians." (Acts 11:26), and would be, by the Lord, added to His one church (Acts 2:47). In his zeal to restore New Testament Christianity he was not without persecution, being accused of starting a new religion, but neither he nor any of the early restorers ever had in mind any other than a complete restoration of the New Testament church of Christ.