Disciples Historical Society

Explore the history of the Stone-Campbell Movement

A stadium filled with people.
Date of establishment: October 11, 1909 (Active for 116 years)

The October 11-19, 1909, General Convention that celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the publication of the Declaration and Address, then generally considered the earliest expression of principles advocated by the Stone-Campbell Movement. 

The convention was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the nearest city to Washington, Pennsylvania, where the Declaration and Address was first printed. Careful preparations were made by a committee from the various agencies represented in the General Convention. The theme for the Convention expressed the aim of the Movement: “The Union of All Believers, on a Basis of Holy Scriptures, to the end that the World may be Evangelized.” 

Logistics of the Convention exceeded anything hitherto attempted. Chartered trains were organized in several areas of the nation. Hotel facilities were inadequate, and residents shared their homes with participants. Since no auditorium could accommodate the 25,000 in attendance, it was necessary to hold simultaneous sessions in the largest churches in the city. On the Sunday of the Convention, 250 churches welcomed Disciple preachers into their pulpits. That afternoon a huge communion service, possibly the largest ever observed in America, was held in Forbes Field, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. The magnitude of the Convention and the dynamic of its witness caused the religious world to take note. 

A hall fully seated with older men
Photo Caption: On Saturday, October 16, the Convention had a special service to honor “veterans,” men and women over 70 years old who had given their lives in service to the Movement. Among those seated in the front row are J. W. McGarvey (2nd from left), C. L. Loos (3rd from left), and Helen Moses (lower right corner). Courtesy of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Significant consequences may be traced to this Convention. Agency cooperation led to unification in 1919. Energy was generated for the Men and Millions Movement, which was launched in 1913 to raise $6,300,000 and enlist 1,000 men for ministry abroad or at home. 

Bibliography Centennial Convention Report (1909). 

Henery E. Webb

Foster, Douglas A.. The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement (pp. 582-583). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition. 

This entry, written by Henry E. Webb, was originally published in The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement (Edited by Douglas A. Foster, Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004), pages 167. Republished with permission.