Walter Scott 1796-1861
Walter Scott was born on October 31, 1796, in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He received a quality education and attended school at Edinburgh College. It was done with a view toward his being a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Much of his piety was gained from a very godly mother who possessed remarkable piety herself.
Scott came to the United States when he was 20 years of age. He spent a few years with an uncle. He then decided to migrate from New York and ultimately arrived in Pittsburg around the year 1818. He then opened an academy that became the city’s premier educator. The school held one hundred and forty pupils which Scott taught with no help from an assistant.
When he first arrived in the city he came upon an acquaintance of Mr. George Forrester who was a very godly man. Forrester also came from Scotland and had been under the influence of the Haldanes. Mr. Scott soon found that Mr. Forrester held views that were then quite peculiar, though fortunately, they are not so peculiar now. “Mr. Forrester’s peculiarity consisted in making the Bible his only authority and guide in matters of religion, while his young friend had been brought up to regard the Presbyterian, Standards as true and authoritative exposition and summary of Bible truth.” Being a diligent student of the Word of God, he soon saw the consistency of Mr. Forrester’s position. The Bible had for him a new meaning. It was no longer a storehouse of texts to confirm dogmatic systems, but a revelation, an unveiling of the will of God. “The gospel was a message and to believe and obey that message was to become a Christian.” Seeing that religion was personal and not a matter of proxy, he made a careful study of the conditions of pardon and being a thorough Greek scholar, he was soon convinced that baptism should symbolize his death to sin and the rising to live a new life in Christ. He was baptized by Mr. Forrester who soon after gave up his academy and placed the management of it entirely in the hands of Mr. Scott. Mr. Forrester was a great influence on Scott and vice versa. It was at this point a pamphlet on Baptism came into Mr. Scott’s view. It greatly affected him. There was also an “Extra on Remission” from the pen of Alexander Campbell of Virginia. Both Scott and Forrester were greatly affected by these writings. It was shortly after this that Mr. Forrester died by drowning. Scott was left on his own.
Around this time a pamphlet came to his attention that had been put out by a congregation in New York city that was important in the direction that he would take. This particular congregation consisted mainly of Scotch Baptists that had been under the influence of the Haldane brothers. The pamphlet, written by Henry Errett (father to Isaac Errett), would do much to affect Scott’s further direction. It set forth with clarity the teaching of the Scriptures as to the design of baptism and was published in 1820. This tract made a profound impression on the conscientious mind of Mr. Scott. Unfortunately, he found the congregation to fall far short of what had been presented in the pamphlet.
But he was sadly disappointed. He found the practice of the church far below its high ideas. This same experience he had concerning independent bands worshiping in Baltimore and Washington. Regarding his Washington City experience, he said: “I went thither and having searched them up I discovered them to be so sunken in the mire of Calvinism, that they refused to reform, and so finding no pleasure in them I left them. I then went to the Capitol, and climbing up to the top of its lofty dome, I sat myself down, filled with sorrow at the miserable dissolution of the Church of God.”
He was first married to Sarah Whitsett at age 26. She inspired his ministry, overlooked his lack of money sense, endured his poverty, and of her, he wrote at her death: “Best of wives, tenderest of mothers, the most faithful of friends, a Christian in faith, works and charity.”
After this Mr. Scott returned to Pittsburg and took up his teaching career. Around this time, he was brought into contact with Alexander and Thomas Campbell. He wrote for The Christian Baptist under the name of “Philip.” It was at this point-1826-that he was married and moved to Steubenville, Ohio. In 1827 he accompanied Alexander Campbell to the Mahoning Baptist Association which met in New Lisbon, Ohio. Although Scott was only what was referred to as a “teaching brother” he was chosen at this meeting as an evangelist for the Association.
Scott began to enthusiastically teach that which he had learned from all his influences. In his first meeting, he began to preach the simple gospel, as in the days of the apostles at New Lisbon, Ohio where he had only a few months previously he had been appointed as an evangelist. This meeting brought several conversions. He first focused on the divinity of Christ as being central to conversion. Next, he arranged the elements of the gospel in the simple order of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Remission of Sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then he made baptism the practical acceptance of the gospel on the part of the penitent believer where he came into contact with the death and resurrection of Christ. The believer was to arise to walk in a new life. It was Walter Scott, who at the last meeting of the Mahoning Association freed the disciples from the last vestige of human authority and placed them under Christ with his Word as their guide.
He was incessantly a hard worker and also labored with several others such as Adamson Bentley, John Henry, and William Hayden, to name some. His work gave a great evangelistic impulse to the infant Restoration Movement. The Messiahship of Jesus was the central theme of all his preaching. As to writing, he was second only to Mr. Campbell, his co-worker in his writing.
Scott’s work on the western reserve resulted in a great revival among Mahoning churches-but an entirely different kind than that which occurred at Cane Ridge and other locations throughout the west. No emotionalism, no exercises, or continuous camp meetings. Scott’s meetings were built on the gospel, faith, confession, repentance, baptism, and gift of the Holy Spirit. For Scott to have baptized 1000 each in 1828-29, he had to love the Bible and engage in some mighty hard work. His work on the Western Reserve mushroomed, but not without opposition. On one occasion, a young man threatened to shoot him if he baptized his mother. The Sects became aroused, names were called and challenges were given. Despite the opposition, Scott was highly regarded and eagerly sought. Within two years the people were stirred up like nowhere else.
In 1832 Scott began “The Evangelist.” This work was meant to spread the principles of the gospel even further than his personal teaching could go. His writing was direct in style, flavored with the beauty of language and clearness of thought. Scott wrote with the burning desire to present the gospel restored.
On November 10, 1836, he became the president of Bacon College. He served for one year as such. In 1839 he moved his large family back to Cincinnati to better educate his children.
In 1849 his wife, Sarah, died. 1850 brought his marriage to Annie B. Allen. One child would be born to them. Annie died in 1854. His final and unhappy marriage would be to Elize Sandidge. Although she treated him quite poorly, he would not give up the love of his life; that is, preaching the gospel.
In 1860, Scott became depressed at the prospect of his beloved country dividing. On April 16, 1861, Scott took ill with Typhoid Pneumonia. He died on April 23, 1861. So was the end of one of the greatest evangelists in the restoration movement.