The life and times — of — benjamin franklin, — by — joseph franklin, and

CHAPTER IV.

"I was born in old Virginia, November 6, 1789; moved to Kentucky in 1793; settled in Clark county, Kentucky, until 1801. Moved then to Missouri, called Upper Louisiana, then under Spanish rule My mother, a pious Methodist, sewed up her Bible in a feather-bed to keep the priests from finding it. This is the only Bible I ever saw till I was grown. My father urged my mother to leave her Bible, as it might give her trouble in this new country, but she said she must have it to read to her children; and she did read it to us much, and by her piety and counsels tried to impress its truths upon our minds and hearts. As I was the eldest child, this was all the preaching I heard until a young man.

"Bless the Lord! Alexander Campbell came to my relief. His debate with Walker, and then his debate with McCalla, waked up the people, and to me it was like the rising of the sun after a long, gloomy night. I heard him at Wilmington, Ohio, on his first visit. I compared him to Ezra of old, that great reformer who restored to Israel the lost law of God. Stone had given me the book, but Campbell taught me how to read it in its connection. I took his first periodical, the Christian Baptist, and since that time have taken and read everything he ever published. I owe him more than any man since apostolic times. He preached no new gospel, and brought in no new God, but taught us how to worship intelligently the God whom we had ignorantly worshiped, and to go back over the heads of all human teachers to the great Fountain of truth for our faith and practice.

"Alexander Campbell taught as no other man, but with a clearness and simplicity that carried at once conviction to the mind of every man of common sense. He gave me the New Testament he published, with preface and appendix. I have it yet. It is the best of all new translations; his preface and appendix are invaluable.

"I have sacrificed my whole life for this cause; received almost nothing for twenty-five years of the time; baptized my thousands—I think seven thousand, as near as I could tell—but have a beautiful home ready for me on the other side of Jordan. I am in my eightieth year— preach much yet—my voice is as good as ever; can speak in the open air so as to be heard by one thousand people. Amen."

The sketch is characteristic of the man, and also shows the difference between the two reformatory movements described in the last chapter. "Stone had given me the book, but Campbell taught me how to read it," is one of those short and significant sentences which comprehend a whole history. Those who knew Mr. Rogers will not agree that he has exaggerated the facts of his long career. He was naturally an ardent man, and religiously was fired with all the zeal of the great Caneridge revival. He knew the Bible thoroughly, and drew the contrast between it and the compound of mysticism and scholastic theology received by the people generally as religion, with a master hand. After properly instructing the people, he went

on to exhort men to obedience. His exhortations were in the spirit of a man rushing into his neighbor's house to notify him that his house was in flames, and warning him to make haste if he would save his life. The awful realities of death and the judgment seemed to be immediately before him, and he could make sinners feel that they were in danger. Such appeals were, of course, fruitful of good results, and sinners confessed and obeyed the Gospel under his ministrations by scores, by fifties, and by hundreds.

In the year 1834, Samuel Rogers moved into Henry county, Indiana, and settled a near neighbor to Joseph Franklin, Sr. There had been a small congregation of Disciples already formed, which, for some reason, did not harmonize with Mr. Rogers. He preached for a time in a school-house; but presently the disagreement just alluded to fed to his exclusion from the school-house. This exclusion was regarded by most of the people of the community as a manifest injustice, and awakened a general sympathy in Mr. Rogers' favor. He thereafter preached in groves, barns and private dwellings, to increased audiences. It was this general sympathy, shared in by Mr. Franklin, that led him to attend the meetings of the new preacher.

Joseph Franklin and his wife, while residing in Eastern Ohio, were members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and had been immersed. In their new location they found no church of their own, and had affiliated with the Episcopal Methodists. They were very religious people, strong in faith, and well versed in the Scriptures, but still quite committed to the Methodist doctrine, and prejudiced against a horrid something they had heard of, called "Campbellism." When Mr. Rogers first preached in the neighborhood, Mr.

Franklin and a neighbor went to hear

him. Benjamin, who had up to this time given the subject of religion no especial thought, accompanied them. On their return from the meeting, the two older men were in a high state of excitement over the preaching they had heard. Benjamin had himself paid but little attention to the preaching; but the excitement of his father and the neighbor soon attracted his notice. The preacher had held the doctrine, as they avowed, that "baptism is essential to salvation," and it was most abominable heresy. Irreligious as he was, Benjamin had heard preaching, and the Bible had been regularly read to him and his brothers, all their lives. He therefore knew something of its contents, although wholly ignorant of the points of religious controversy, and now, taking part in the conversation, he very innocently inquired whether baptism is not commanded by Christ. They both at once admitted that of course it is. "Well," said he, "is it not essential to obey the commands of Christ?" They were both so taken aback by this way of reasoning on the subject, that they made no direct answer to the puzzling question. Benjamin did not forget the circumstance, and quite frequently related it when discoursing on the design of baptism.

Joseph Franklin took no interest after this in Mr. Rogers, until his sense of justice awakened his sympathy for one who, he believed, had been wronged. This motive at first led him to go regularly to the meetings; but it was not long till a much deeper interest attracted him. He soon learned that the doctrine was not what it had been represented to be. The profound religious feelings of Mr. Rogers impressed him greatly, and he began to see everything in a new light.

Early in December the preaching began to show some visible results. Benjamin and Daniel Franklin obeyed

the Gospel. A week later, Benjamin's wife and his brother Josiah were baptized. In a short time some thirty or forty persons became obedient to the faith. Among these were Joseph Franklin, another brother of Benjamin, and John I. Rogers, a son of Samuel Rogers. The work went right on and reached to the adjoining settlements, resulting in the forming of several other churches. Early in the spring, or perhaps in the winter, a church was formed, and Joseph Franklin, Sr., and his wife became members.

"The ultimate results of this revival eternity alone can tell." Benjamin, Daniel, Josiah, and Joseph Franklin, and John I. Rogers, all became preachers.

John I. Rogers is a preacher well known personally throughout Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri, and through the religious periodicals known everywhere as an able defender of "the faith once delivered to the saints."

Daniel Franklin still lives, and preaches regularly. He is almost as well known throughout Eastern Indiana as his brother Benjamin. He is thought by many to be a better speaker than Benjamin was. The breadth and depth of his resources as a preacher may be appreciated when we stale that he has been the regular preacher for one church for seventeen years, closing out the seventeenth year with a protracted meeting, which brought into the church a large number of the leading citizens of the community. He has a large family, all Christians except one or two, who are yet of tender years, and one son a preacher. He resides on a farm two miles from Middletown, and very near the place where he and his brothers were baptized. From the resources of his memory, and that of his youngest brother, David, we

gather many of the facts of the early life of Benjamin Franklin.

Josiah Franklin early became an invalid, and, after many years of sorrow and suffering, went to his reward about the time of life when strong men are in the vigor of their manhood. He did not follow up the work of the ministry very long, but was always an efficient member and overseer in the congregation with which he worshiped.

Joseph Franklin, Jr., continued to preach as long as he lived, but divided his attention and energies between preaching and the practice of medicine. He died while yet a young man, at the residence of Benjamin, in Centerville, Ind., whither he had gone on a visit. The circumstances of his death will be noted elsewhere.

At the time of the revival above described, Washington and David were not more than half-way "through their teens." They did not obey the Gospel until some years afterward. Washington Franklin preached some for a time and then turned his attention to merchandizing. He lived many years in Middletown, but at present resides on a farm near Atlantic, Iowa. Although he gave up the work of the ministry, he did not give up the work of living a Christian, and always was one of the overseers in the church of which he was a member.

David Franklin began to preach soon after he obeyed the Gospel, and has kept it up ever since. His method has been to have four regular monthly appointments for preaching, and to spend four or five days each week on his farm. He has just entered upon his thirty-first annual engagement with one church. In leisure seasons he held many protracted meetings, until disease and the cares of a large family drew upon his energies so largely that he could not engage in such work. He has been

a great debater, and has met in discussion representatives of nearly all the religious parties in Eastern Indiana, and also Spiritualists and other skeptics. He resides on a farm about ten miles south-east of Anderson, Indiana.

The wives of Joseph Franklin, Sr., and Samuel Rogers, and mothers of the preachers just named, were by no means silent spectators while all this good work was going on. They prayed and exhorted most fervently in the meetings of the church, and from house to house continually warned and exhorted both saints and sinners. Mrs. Franklin was not always as "orderly" in the meetings as her sons thought she ought to be. Raised in the Methodist Church, where it was esteemed as evidence of a superior work of grace to become "shouting happy," and of that temperament which renders any one a fit subject of that sort of religion, she did not leave off her early habits until long after her youngest son had become a preacher. Indeed, it was with difficulty that she restrained herself throughout the discourse the first time she heard her grandson preach; and, while a song of invitation was sung, she went about shaking hands with everybody and talking as she went. Her sons made such an ado about it, and urged the Scripture, "let all things be done decently and in order," with such vehemence, that she gradually left off shouting while any one was speaking, praying, or singing; but when she was "entitled to the floor," her exhortations were continually interrupted with shouts and ejaculations of praise.

The meetings were held for two years at the house of Joseph Franklin, Sr. Mention has been made of his fits of despondency. If one of these happened on a day of meeting, he would leave the house and not return until

the meeting was adjourned and the people were gone. One Sunday morning he had gone off to the woods to avoid the meeting. When the services were about hall over, he came in and took his seat among the brethren After he had been in for a few minutes, Mr. Rogers called on him to take part in the devotions. He arose, and, without any attempt at concealment or palliation, told his experience of that morning. He had gone off to the woods, he said, so as not to be at the meeting, "but the mosquitoes were so bad" that he could not stay out. In the effort to talk to the church, he soon rallied and recovered his usual tone. These despondencies were probably the effect, for the most part, of a physical infirmity, but they usually occurred on this wise: He was of a fractious temper and sometimes lost his self-control. As soon as he would cool down from the excitement, he would feel an utter contempt of himself, and he would almost despair. It is rather an unusual experience, and yet perhaps not so uncommon, if the secrets of all hearts could be known. Some persons are capable of maintaining an unruffled exterior when all is tempestuous within. But it was not so with Joseph Franklin, Sr. He never made any effort, apparently, to dissemble his real feelings.

The young members brought in by this revival were nearly all more or less active in the congregation, and eight of them became preachers.

We cannot better close this chapter than by an extract from a chapter of reminiscences by John I. Rogers, furnished to the Apostolic Times on hearing of the death of Benjamin Franklin. After giving the facts substantially as above, he adds:

"The young Franklins began to assist in the meetings by prayers and exhortations, which made a profound impression upon all who heard them. "This revival resulted in the conversion of hundreds of souls; eight of whom became preachers of the Gospel. Four of the Franklins and the writer of this sketch were of the number. If such results followed from the uniting of the heads of two families, what might be accomplished if all who love the Lord Jesus Christ were united into one body?

"Joseph Franklin, Sr., was a good man, but he was not at all times happy. He gave way to feelings of despondency which at times made him very unhappy. My mother described him as dwelling either in the garret or the cellar. Sister Franklin was always cheerful and hopeful, and when her husband was not in a happy frame of mind, she would, at his suggestion, lead in the family devotions. I have heard her often make prayers that would melt every one to tears—and prayers so fervent and eloquent, that I became ashamed of my own poor, weak attempts to talk to my heavenly Father.

"At our meetings she and my mother used to offer invariably the best prayers, and deliver the best exhortations; at least, so brother Ben. and I thought. I suppose that such things would not be tolerated now; nevertheless I should not wonder if things are tolerated at the present day not near so creditable to the church, nor half so much calculated to incline the hearts of the children to the service of the Lord, as the earnest prayers and plain but touching exhortations of our Christian mothers.

"From the day brother Ben. Franklin confessed Christ, he began to exhort sinners and to speak in defense of the truth, both in public and in private. He carried his Testament with him everywhere, and having a ready recollection, he soon treasured up its contents. His zeal for the Master's cause knew no bounds. On one occasion he

attended a Methodist camp-meeting, and greatly annoyed the preachers by taking notes of their discourses, and looking now and then into his New Testament to see if they had not misquoted the Scripture. This I think was the summer after his conversion. About the same time he was challenged to debate some question which I have forgotten, and I cannot now recall any of the circumstances, except that he had me to represent his adversary a few days before the debate was to take place; his brothers, Daniel and Joseph, being our moderators. I distinctly remember, however, that I came off second best. In company with his brothers, I often visited him, when it was our invariable custom to read the Scriptures, sing some stirring song of praise, and offer prayers to God. Religion was his theme, morning, noon and night. Sometimes he retired to the deep forest to find hours for undisturbed prayer.

"His first written production was a contribution to the Heretic Detector, a periodical edited by the lamented Crihfield, then of Middleburg, Ohio. I read it with much interest. As well as I can remember, it was an earnest exhortation to sinners to turn to God, by all the motives of heaven and the terrors of hell. This article must have been written about two months after he united with the Church."⁵ During the summer (1837, ) I accompanied him to his first appointment, which was at a private house, some four miles from his own house. His text was Luke ix., 35: 'This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.' How prophetic was his subject that day of what was to be his theme during the remaining forty years of his Christian ministry!

"At the close of his discourse he invited me to speak, but my heart failed me. He then called on his brother Daniel, who responded in a few remarks. In all my associations with Brother Franklin, there was but one thing which rendered his company the least unpleasant to me, which was the fact that his burning zeal administered to me constant reproof. He outstripped me so far in endeavors to save sinners that I was ashamed of myself. He would propose some plan for the accomplishment of a desired end, and be-fore I had fairly adjusted myself to the scheme, he had the work half done. He left no space for dodging between the resolution and the execution. He would say, 'Let us do this,' and by the time he had fairly pronounced the words he was at work. In the beginning I have the advantage of him in the way of general reading, and I suppose my education was something better than his; yet he ventured freely upon ground that I was too cowardly to occupy. He urged me to employ myself more actively in trying to save sinners. My answer was, that when I had prepared myself, I intended to devote my life to preaching the Gospel. He said in reply, 'You know enough now to tell a poor sinner how to be saved, and work will so stimulate your mind that you will gather up more knowledge, as you proceed in the Master's cause, than yon can get in the same time at any school in the country.'

"Soon after this our paths diverged, he going on his way working and studying, and I on mine, idling and half studying; so that, when we next met, he was more than a head and shoulders above me in knowledge, and I was farther from being ready to preach than ever.

"A few months after this, I visited a friend in Wilmington, Ohio, during the progress of a very interesting meeting which was being conducted by Walter Scott, who was then in his prime. From some cause I was hindered from attending the meeting on a certain day; and when the family returned from church, they informed me that I had missed hearing the best sermon of the whole meeting. "Why," said I, "did Brother Scott surpass the sermon he made on Sunday morning?" "O, it was not Brother Scott," answered they, "but Brother Ben. Franklin from Indiana." I was not long in joining the company of my brother Ben. I found him surrounded by old brethren who had followed him to his lodgings for the purpose of drawing from his rich storehouse treasures of knowledge. "This occurred, I believe, in the autumn of 1841."