LP-29-Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

IT may be safely affirmed, that no preacher among the Disciples is more generally known than the subject of this sketch. He has been so long connected with the Press, and has traveled so extensively, that wherever, among Christians, the Bible alone is the rule of faith and practice, there the name of Benjamin Franklin is as familiar as household gods.

He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, February 1st, 1812. His early religious training was according to the Methodist faith, though he never belonged to any church until he united with the Disciples. In the year 1836, when he was about twenty-four years of age, he was immersed, near Middletown, Henry County, Indiana, by Elder Samuel Rogers, then extensively known as one of the most successful pioneer preachers of the current reformation.

Soon after his obedience to the Gospel, Brother Franklin began to preach in the name of the Lord, and has been engaged actively in the work ever since. During the first twelve years of his ministry, his labors were chiefly confined to Eastern Indiana, where he was instrumental in establishing many churches, and scattering the good seed of the kingdom generally. He next labored extensively in Ohio and Kentucky; and, of late years, has traveled and preached in more than half the States of the Union, as well as portions of Canada. Under his personal ministry, about eight thousand persons have obeyed the Gospel; which speaks more for his zeal, industry, and fitness for his work, than any thing else that could be said. He is most at home in the general field; possesses little adaptation to pastoral work; and, in this department of labor, has met with little success. He has held some twenty-five public discussions, five of which have been published, and had considerable sale. This fact would seem to indicate that he takes delight in controversy; but it should be remembered, that his method of working is well calculated to place him frequently in positions where he can not consistently avoid collision with the religious parties of the land. And, when he thinks it necessary, he never hesitates to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints." That he is particularly averse to discussion, need not be affirmed; but that he loves discussion for discussion’s sake, may be successfully denied. He has lived and labored through the stormy period of the Reformation, when a great deal of unpleasant work had to be done; and he has never shrunk from any duty because it was not calculated to polish him, and fit him for the elegant walks of life. He has evidently been deeply in earnest in the work committed to his hands; and, consequently, has had little time for anything but work--constant, laborious work. He is emphatically a self-made man, and has had to labor to his present position through most discouraging poverty. On the 1st of January, 1843, he began his editorial career--taking charge of the "Reformer," a monthly of sixteen pages, published from Centreville, Indiana. This he continued to publish for about seven years; the last three from Milton, Indiana, He then removed to Cincinnati, and formed a partnership with D. S. Burnet, by which they published, jointly, the "Reformer" and "Christian Age," for one year. The two papers were afterward consolidated, and Franklin was employed as editor; which position he held for nearly three years. During the next two years, he published the "American Christian Review" as a monthly. He then came into possession of the "Christian Age," and commenced the publication of the "Review" as a weekly, which paper is now conducted under the style of "Franklin & Rice," and has an extensive circulation, and several assistant editors.

Brother Franklin is about six feet high; has bold, strong features, large gray eye, prominent mouth, well-developed chest and lungs, and weighs about one hundred and ninety pounds. His whole physical and mental organization indicates that he is capable of an immense amount of work; and this is shown to be the fact in the active, laborious life he has lived. As a writer, he lays no claim to elegance, his articles too frequently bearing unmistakable marks of haste in their preparation. But he is generally forcible, and, as a writer for the masses, has been quite successful. He has written a number of tracts, all of which have been very popular; and the one entitled "Sincerity Seeking the Way to Heaven," has had the largest sale of any tract ever published by the Disciples.

He speaks very much as he writes; or, rather, he writes very much as he speaks, for his extemporaneous style in speaking characterizes all that he writes. He does not depend upon either elocution or rhetoric for effect, but upon the power of the truth, which he presents to the people. He speaks as if he believed what he says. There is no hesitating--no doubting in his manner. And as he illustrates and simplifies every thing, so all can understand him, his preaching carries conviction to all honest hearts. Before a popular audience, he exerts a wonderful power.