Elder Benjamin Franklin founded the American Christian Review in 1856 as a monthly and then weekly publication. Franklin edited the journal until his death in 1878, and considered it as representative of his lifelong efforts to promote the apostolic faith against human innovations and denominationalism. John F. Rowe edited ACR from 1878 to 1886, when Daniel Sommer took over those duties. Sommer changed the journal’s title to Octographic Review (1887-1913), and then to Apostolic Review (1914-1939). Upon Sommer’s death in 1940 his heirs changed the journal’s name back to American Christian Review, which remained its title until publication ceased in 1965. The journal’s masthead declared its purpose: “Devoted to the Defense, Maintenance and Propagation of Christianity, Religious News and General Intelligence.” Nicknamed the “Old Reliable,” ACR was highly influential among Restoration churches, particularly those in the North. 8,500 copies were published each week in 1860, and subscription lists show the journal grew to just under 10,000 subscribers from 1904 to 1925. Contributors included Moses E. Lard, John Rogers, Elijah Goodwin, Charles L. Loos, and Isaac Errett. Committed to defending apostolic Christianity and the plain words of the Bible, ACR considered biblical silence prohibitive, opposed instrumental music in the assembly, strongly encouraged educational institutions, and took a neutral stance on slavery.
(Adapted from Foster, Douglas A., Paul M. Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams, eds. The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004)
Scanning of this publication graciously funded by Jim McMillon.
Submissions from 1869
American Christian Review, vol.12, no.4, January 26, 1869
American Christian Review, vol.12, no.3, January 19, 1869
American Christian Review, vol.12, no.2, January 12, 1869
American Christian Review, vol.12, no.1, January 5, 1869
Submissions from 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.52, December 29, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.51, December 22, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.50, December 15, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.49, December 8, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.48, December 1, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.47, November 24, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.46, November 17, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.45, November 10, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.44, November 3, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.43, October 27, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.42, October 20, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.41, October 13, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.40, October 6, 1867
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.39, September 29, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.38, September 22, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.37, September 15, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.36, September 8, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.35, September 1, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.34, August 25, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.33, August 18, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.32, August 11, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.31, August 4, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.30, July 28, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.29, July 21, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.28, July 14, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.27, July 7, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.26, June 30, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.25, June 23, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.24, June 16, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.23, June 9, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.22, June 2, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.21, May 26, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.20, May 19, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.19, May 12, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.18, May 5, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.17, April 28, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.16, April 21, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.15, April 14, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.14, April 7, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.13, March 31, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.12, March 24, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.11, March 17, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.10, March 10, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.9, March 3, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.8, February 25, 1868
American Christian Review, vol.11, no.7, February 18, 1868