Some things may appear in this book that are of little interest to the
general reader. In this respect, however, it may not differ from many
other books. The reader should kindly bear in mind that nearly all of
the ministers and other Brethren whose names appear, in the fore part
of the work especially, are known on earth no more, save as they live
in the memory of those whom they have left behind.
In the list of deceased ministers are to be seen the names of Peter
Nead, Abraham Flory, Daniel Garber, Daniel Miller, Martain Miller,
George Hoke, Benjamin Bowman, Jacob Wyne, John Wyne, Daniel Thomas,
John Harshberger, and a host of others. The records of these noble
ministers of the Word are on high. No earthly monuments have ever been
reared in honor of their achievements; and they need none. The good
they have done by leaving the world and the church better off than
they found them has won for them a crown of glory in heaven as
imperishable as the throne of the eternal. The reader should remember
that a sort of filial love for these men still lingers in the memory
of many, who, in their younger days were personally acquainted with
them. They heard them preach; and they looked up to them as children
to parents. A lock of hair from a loved one long since passed away, is
a little thing,--a _very_ little thing in the eye of a stranger,--but
in the eye of a loving friend it is above price. So some things in
this work, apparently trivial to the general reader, may be highly
prized by others. I will give, for an example, the following
statement:
MONDAY, November 21. Peter Nead and Benjamin Bowman go with me to
Harrisonburg, and obtain license of the County Court of Rockingham
County, Virginia, to perform the ceremony of marriage.
This statement, taken from the Diary, may seem of no consequence to
some; they may feel, as their eyes glance over it, that it is of no
interest to them; when at the same time, to others it will be an
incident they will never forget. Many can now say that one or the
other of these ministers performed the ceremony when their father and
mother were married. One or the other of these names stands upon the
"Marriage Record" in many an old Family Bible. Even the grandchildren
will find interest in things like these; and to learn more about
these, and many other great and good men who have lived and died in
the church of the Brethren, will not only interest the mind, but
improve the heart.