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William Rogers Buried at Cane Ridge Meetinghouse, Near Paris, Kentucky Significance Of The Grave Marker Of William Rogers William Rogers was a leader in the church at Cane Ridge, Kentucky in the early 1800s. It was reported that he served in various capacities among his brothers and sisters at Cane Ridge Church of Christ. At one time he was the treasurer for the church. There are some significant things that should be pointed out concerning the grave marker that identifies William Rogers' gravesite. Much has to do with the dates on the marker, as well as the fact that it says that he identified with the church of Christ at Cane Ridge. For years those in Churches of Christ, Christian Church and Disciples of Christ have been falsely identified among religious people as "Campbellites." Alexander Campbell, and his father Thomas, loathed the idea that anyone would identify the church they were apart of as being a "Campbellite" church. Their desire was to simply be members of the Church of Christ, the one that began in the New Testament book of Acts. Roger's grave helps to bear out the fact that the Restoration Movement is not to be identified as the "Campbellite" church. Read the stone below and note that William Rogers, with his father, became members of the Church of Christ at Cane Ridge in 1807. Thomas Campbell did not arrived in America until May 18, 1807. Alexander did not arrive until September 29, 1809. Neither had heard of the Church of Christ that met at Cane Ridge until years later. The Campbells remained among the Baptists until as late as 1830. Hence, writings in stone help to verify that the group the Campbells united with New Years Day, 1832, had considered themselves the church of Christ many years before. Another point of verification given by the Rogers monument is the name "Church of Christ." Those who participated in the development of the American Restoration Movement desired to do Bible things in Bible ways. They desired to speak where the Bible speaks, and remain silent where the Bible is silent. They desired to use Bible names. There are a number of names used in the New Testament to describe the church that Jesus built. One such name is found in Romans 16:16 - "the churches of Christ salute you." There was common understanding that such an identification should never be a title, but a designation. The desire was to be the church that belongs to Christ, or the Church of Christ. With the addition of the American Christian Missionary Society in 1849, and the addition of the instrument of music in worship, most notably beginning at Midway, Kentucky in 1860, divisions took place. These changes split congregations, and ultimately the brotherhood. The continued question was, Dare we speak where the Bible is silent? Yet many did, resulting in division. By 1906 two groups were recognized by the U.S. Census, the Christian Church and Church of Christ. Before the departures both groups were known by either of the designations. Sadly revisionists of history, especially historians among those who added the instrument and the Societies, report in their histories that Churches of Christ split off from their movement. Today many deny any connection whatsoever to the Church of Christ, believing them to be a splinter group. However, again, history is our friend, for names in stone give historical accuracy. Note that the grave marker of Rogers identifies him as a member of the Church of Christ in 1807. They had neither instrument or missionary society as a part of their worship and work. As a rule, Churches of Christ today do not either. In this same cemetery Elder Barton W. Stone is buried. See his stone, and note that the Church of Christ at Cane Ridge contributed the monument. Stone's own periodical, The Christian Messenger, began in 1826. The first volume, and every volume he published until his death in 1844 identifies him as an elder in the Church of Christ. Then there are others places of note: Raccoon John Smith's memorial stone in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky, identifies him as an elder in the Church of Christ. Note the church building at Bethany that Alexander Campbell had built in 1852. It was called Bethany Church of Christ. For years after Campbell's death in 1866, the family strongly objected to the addition of the instrument in that building. Today that building is owned and maintained by Bethany College, a Disciples of Christ College. Note the cornerstone on the Acworth Christian Church in Acworth, Georgia. It shows that when the building was built in 1873 it was known as the Church of Christ at Acworth. Many such cornerstones on church buildings are dotted throughout America that were once known as a Church of Christ, but now is a Christian Church, or even The Disciples of Christ. The question for many remains: Who split from whom? Words in stone settle this question.
William Rogers BORN IN Campbell Co. VA July 7, 1784. Removed With His Father To Caine Ridge Bourbon Co. Apr, 1798 United With The Church Of Christ At Cane Ridge In 1807 DIED Feb. 15, 1862. In The 78 Year Of His Age. He was the friend of God
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