Around Old Bethany: A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis by R. L. (Robert Lee) Berry — Summary & Review

Around Old Bethany tells the story of Robert and Mary Davis, settlers in an 1885 Missouri community newly reached by the railroad, where diverse denominations and beliefs create confusion and rivalry. Seeking clarity, the Davises request doctrinal summaries from local churches and study the Bible deeply to find truth. Their journey leads them to embrace holiness teachings emphasizing entire sanctification and divine healing, introduced through a religious paper from Robert's sister.

The narrative centers on intense theological debates, especially between Robert and Peter Newby, a dominant local religious figure. They clash over whether Christians continue to sin after conversion, with Robert arguing for the possibility of holy living empowered by Christ, while Peter insists sin is inevitable. These debates draw community interest but also cause tension and division. Mary Davis supports Robert spiritually, even leading hymn singing to calm conflicts.

Robert commits to understanding the New Testament church, studying its nature, name, and membership, concluding it was a visible, organized body called the church of God. A property dispute with Jake Newby escalates into a physical fight, which Robert deeply regrets. His humble confession and offer of forgiveness lead to reconciliation and spiritual awakening in the Newby family, who begin questioning their own church's spirituality.

The story also explores challenges from new religious movements. Kate Newby briefly embraces Christian Science, adopting its mystical and worldly views, but later renounces it after scriptural refutation by Robert. Mary Davis is swayed by Seventh-Day Adventist Sabbath teachings but returns to biblical understanding after Robert's explanations. Mary's serious illness and miraculous healing through prayer and anointing by Church of God minister D.W. Monteith become a pivotal moment, inspiring hope and drawing attention to holiness doctrines.

Revival meetings led by Monteith and Robert face opposition, including a violent mob and a disruptive 'tongues' revival marked by ecstatic and chaotic behavior. Kate Newby initially embraces the tongues movement but later rejects it after witnessing its harmful effects. A subsequent, more orderly revival brings genuine conversions, sanctifications, healings, and the establishment of a Church of God congregation practicing baptism, feet-washing, and the Lord's Supper with solemnity. Former opponents like Peter Newby publicly repent, and the church grows in unity and social influence, sending missionaries abroad.

Throughout, the narrative emphasizes personal conviction, scriptural authority, and the struggle to live a holy life amid human weakness and community pressures. Robert and Mary Davis's journey models earnest seeking, humility, and perseverance in faith, while the community's varied responses illustrate the challenges of religious reform and revival in a diverse, changing frontier town.