Benjamin Franklin was a minister of the Disciples of Christ, editor of religious periodicals. His is noted for being the founder of the American Christian Review, which he published until his death in 1878.
Background
Benjamin Franklin was born on February 1, 1812 in Belmont, Ohio, and was the son of Joseph and Isabella (Devoid) Franklin, and a descendant of John Franklin, brother of Benjamin Franklin.
His parents soon moved to a part of Morgan County which later became Noble County, and settled on a stream known as Salt Run. Joseph Franklin was a farmer, miller, and cabinetmaker, and as Benjamin grew up he became more or less proficient in all these occupations.
In 1832 he went with his uncle, Calvin Franklin, to Henry County, Indiana, then practically a wilderness.
Education
The meagerness of Franklin's schooling was something of a handicap, but he knew the Bible thoroughly, understood human nature, and acquired a good practical knowledge of subjects connected with his work.
Career
In 1832 he went with his uncle, Calvin Franklin, to Henry County, Indiana, then practically a wilderness. There he built himself a house.
He supported himself chiefly as a carpenter, but from 1837 to 1840 with his uncle he ran a grist-mill.
In the meantime he had been converted under the ministry of Samuel Rogers, one of the pioneer Disciples of that section, and had immediately engaged in evangelistic work.
After 1840 as preacher, controversialist, and editor he devoted himself wholly to the interests of religion, becoming one of the most prominent Disciples of the West.
Although he was pastor of a number of churches, he was preminently an evangelist.
He made journeys into Eastern and Western states, and into Canada. More than seven thousand persons, it is estimated, were converted under his preaching.
The meagerness of his schooling was something of a handicap, but he knew the Bible thoroughly, understood human nature, and acquired a good practical knowledge of subjects connected with his work.
One of the people himself, he spoke and wrote in their language, and had great popularity among them. He became widely known also as a public debater, some of his disputations being published: among them, An Oral Debate on the Coming of the Son of Man, Endless Punishment, and Universal Salvation (1848), carried on in Milton, Indiana, October 26, 27, 28, 1847, with Erasmus Manford; Predestination and the Foreknowledge of God, A Discussion Held in Carlyle, Ky. (1852), with Rev. James Matthews; and Debate on Some of the Distinctive Differences Between the Reformers and Baptists (1858), with Elder T. J. Fisher.
It was as an editor and publisher, however, that he exerted his widest influence.
In January 1845 he began issuing the Reformer, afterward called the Western Reformer, published first in Centerville, Indiana, and later at Milton, a sixteen-page monthly. Alexander Hall's paper, the Gospel Proclamation, Loydsville, Ohio, was consolidated with it in 1850, and it became the Proclamation and Reformer.
Financial difficulties finally led to the discontinuance of the former, and the Christian Age was sold; but in 1856 Franklin started the American Christian Review, published in Cincinnati, which he edited until his death.
It was long one of the most influential religious periodicals among the Disciples in that part of the country.
Although earlier he seems to have been sympathetic toward the formation of the American Christian Missionary Society and other attempts at organized cooperation, he now set himself against everything deemed progressive, and was the leader of the "old fogies" in their conflict with the radicals.
His supporters christened his paper "Old Reliable, " and his opponents dubbed him "Editorial Pope. " He was much broken in health during the last ten years of his life, but persisted in carrying on the warfare.
He also published two volumes of his sermons, The Gospel Preacher (vol. I, 1869; vol. II, 1877).
One of his tracts, Christian Experience; or, Sincerity Seeking the Way to Heaven, was popular for more than a quarter of a century; and in the year after his death, selections from his writings, A Book of Gems, was issued.
He is buried in Anderson, Indiana, where after 1864 he made his home.
Achievements
Religion
Although earlier he seems to have been sympathetic toward the formation of the American Christian Missionary Society and other attempts at organized cooperation, he now set himself against everything deemed progressive, and was the leader of the "old fogies" in their conflict with the radicals.
According to contemporary biographies "His early religious training was according to the Methodist faith, though he never belonged to any church until he united with the Disciples. "
Connections
On December 15, 1833 Benjamin Franklin married Mary Personnett.