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.

Medley of the Restoration, Dabney Phillips

Medley of the Restoration, Dabney Phillips

When selecting books to review, I generally refrain from referencing a location to purchase a book from unless there is a compelling reason to do so. This is one of those compelling reasons. Sam Hester, owner of Hester Publications, reprints books in paperback and makes them readily available for distribution. Brother Hester is a Bible Professor at Freed-Hardeman University and we both share similar interests—books and Restoration History. In fact, he conducts the Restoration Tour in Henderson, TN during the FHU Bible Lectureship (which I highly recommend). Feel free to visit his web site at http://www.hesterpublications.com/ or email him at shester@fhu.edu.

Medley of Restoration includes anecdotes of Restoration Leaders which are intriguing to read. The book includes humorous events as well as tragic ones. Some of the wives are discussed in this book. The book also provides brief stories about Blacks and the Restoration Movement. The book truly is a medley of topics relating to the Restoration Movement. The book is brief and rather inexpensive. It is a good way to introduce others to key participants of the call of people back to the Bible.

One of the preachers I always enjoy hearing on Restoration History is Basil Overton. Speaking in Martinsburg, WV on the WVC Lectureship he impressed upon the audience that the pioneers were not perfect so Restoration History is filled with mistakes made a long the way. But, brother Overton would go on to say, the Restoration Plea of going back to the Bible for our sole authority is perfect. There are those among us who are using/twisting the writings of some of pioneers to take us away from the aim of that perfect plea.

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.