New Perspectives on the Campbell-Ferguson Controversy: Spiritualism, Private Property, and Fisher the Revivalist

Alexander Campbell was consistent with the ideals of the Stone-Campbell Movement when he reviewed Jesse B. Ferguson’s “Spirits in Prison” article and pursued a written debate with him. Campbell and others were aware of Ferguson’s spiritualism and recognized Ferguson had violated the principle of private property in printing his opinions. Yet Campbell, a fallible man, was motivated by a previous spat with Ferguson over a revivalist named Fisher.