Restoration Principles and Personalities, Dabney Phillips

Restoration Principles and Personalities, Dabney Phillips

When I recently guided a tour to Alexander Campbell’s home in Bethany, WV, I was looking for some stories about some of the Restoration Pioneers to pique interest in others to read further of those who did so much to call us away from denominationalism and back to, using a Campbell term, “New Testament-ism”. Restoration Principles and Personalities contains stories about Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, “Raccoon” John Smith, Walter Scott, Moses Lard, J. W. McGarvey, and others. It also discusses prominent schools and periodicals of the period. The book is easy to reference and enjoyable to read.

Be sure to read other works on Restoration History because historians are fallible and sometimes leave unintentional mistaken impressions. Also reading related works sometimes dispels misconceptions that are often made. One I found in this book relates to the drowning of Alexander Campbell’s son. The book states he drowned in a pond on the farm; however, other sources state he drowned in Buffalo Creek that had flooded and created what is sometimes called a mill pond. Reading additional works provides other worthwhile perspectives. In fact, Medley of Restoration, also by Dabney Phillips, records the death being in Buffalo Creek.


Dabney Phillips taught at David Lipscomb and Restoration History at Faulkner University or several years prior to his death. He attended David Lipscomb College, Harding Graduate School, and other colleges.

Originally printed West Virginia Christian, Vol. 12, No. 3, March 2005, p. 8. Reprinted by permission.