Church of Christ (Brewsterite)
Encyclopedia
Church of Christ was a schismatic
sect of the Latter Day Saint movement
that was founded in 1848 by James C. Brewster
and Hazen Aldrich
. Because of the church's belief that Brewster was a prophet
, the group is often called the Brewsterites.
, Ohio
, to pick up the remnants of the church there. The group adopted the original name of the Latter Day Saint church, the Church of Christ. Two principles of the movement were to (1) accept David Whitmer
as leader, and (2) declare Kirtland as the proper center of the church.
At the organization of the church in Springfield
, Illinois
, Aldrich was selected as the organization's first president. He selected Brewster and James Goodale has his counselors in the First Presidency
. The church published a periodical known as the Olive Branch, which often contained revelation
s that Brewster had obtained. Notable adherents included John E. Page
, one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve
.
Because Brewster lived in Springfield, Illinois
, the newspaper eventually moved operation to Illinois. In October 1849, a newspaper article indicated that Kirtland was a temporary headquarters, and they planned to move to California. On June 23, 1849 the group held a General Assembly in the Kirtland Temple
. Six members accepted Brewster's revelation.
In 1850, Brewster declared that there was a land called "Bashan" in the Rio Grande Valley
that God had selected as the new gathering place for church. In 1851, Brewster and Goodale led a wagon train of followers to find Bashan, while Aldrich — who had begun to doubt Brewster's prophetic abilities — remained behind in Kirtland.
There were disagreements between Brewster and Goodale and among the other member of the church on the journey to Bashan, and most of Brewster's followers, including Olive Oatman
and her family, deserted Brewster and headed for California
. Brewster also settled in California and the church was never reorganized.
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
sect of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
that was founded in 1848 by James C. Brewster
James C. Brewster
James Colin Brewster was the cofounder of the Church of Christ , a schismatic sect in the Latter Day Saint movement.Brewster was born in New York...
and Hazen Aldrich
Hazen Aldrich
Hazen Aldrich was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., Aldrich went on to lead a small denomination of Latter Day Saints known as the Brewsterites....
. Because of the church's belief that Brewster was a prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
, the group is often called the Brewsterites.
History
After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., William M'Lellin and other early church leaders returned to KirtlandKirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, to pick up the remnants of the church there. The group adopted the original name of the Latter Day Saint church, the Church of Christ. Two principles of the movement were to (1) accept David Whitmer
David Whitmer
David Whitmer was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon's Golden Plates.-Early life:...
as leader, and (2) declare Kirtland as the proper center of the church.
At the organization of the church in Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Aldrich was selected as the organization's first president. He selected Brewster and James Goodale has his counselors in the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. The church published a periodical known as the Olive Branch, which often contained revelation
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
s that Brewster had obtained. Notable adherents included John E. Page
John E. Page
John Edward Page was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.Born in 1799 in Trenton, New York, Page was the son of Ebenezer and Rachael Page. He was baptized into the Church of Christ, established by Joseph Smith, Jr., in Brownhelm, Ohio in August 1833 by missionary Emer Harris, brother...
, one of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
.
Because Brewster lived in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, the newspaper eventually moved operation to Illinois. In October 1849, a newspaper article indicated that Kirtland was a temporary headquarters, and they planned to move to California. On June 23, 1849 the group held a General Assembly in the Kirtland Temple
Kirtland Temple
The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, on the eastern edge of the Cleveland metropolitan area. Owned and operated by the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , the house of worship was the first temple to be...
. Six members accepted Brewster's revelation.
In 1850, Brewster declared that there was a land called "Bashan" in the Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
that God had selected as the new gathering place for church. In 1851, Brewster and Goodale led a wagon train of followers to find Bashan, while Aldrich — who had begun to doubt Brewster's prophetic abilities — remained behind in Kirtland.
There were disagreements between Brewster and Goodale and among the other member of the church on the journey to Bashan, and most of Brewster's followers, including Olive Oatman
Olive Oatman
Olive Oatman was a woman from Illinois who was famously abducted by a Native American tribe , then sold to another . She ultimately regained her freedom five years later. The story resonated in the media, partly owing to the prominent blue tattooing of Oatman's face by her captors...
and her family, deserted Brewster and headed for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Brewster also settled in California and the church was never reorganized.