After the forenoon meeting was dismissed, brethren Henry Kurtz,
Shively, Christian Kline and myself start homeward, and come to
Brother Daniel Kinsey's, where we stay all night.
MONDAY, May 12. We all get to Siler's tavern, where we stay all night.
TUESDAY, May 13. We pass through Lexington, Fairfield, Greenville, and
on to Jacob Forrer's, where we all stay over night. We have fine
weather.
WEDNESDAY, May 14. We all come to Brother Abraham Garber's, and after
dinner go to meeting at the meetinghouse. Hebrews 12 is read. Stay all
night at Brother John Myers's.
THURSDAY, May 15. All go to Brother Frederic Kline's, near Dayton,
Virginia, for dinner. Call at Brother Daniel Garber's, and in evening
get back to my house.
FRIDAY, May 16. In afternoon we have meeting in Brother Samuel Kline's
dwelling house. Brother Shively speaks from John 4:14, 15. Text: "But
whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him,
Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to
draw."
I here give, as nearly as I can, a brief outline of Brother Shively's
interesting discourse. He spoke of water: its purity, its beauty, its
utility, its abundance.
"Water," said he, "when it is free from all extraneous substances, is
the purest thing in the world. The curse that fell upon the ground,
whereby it would no longer yield its spontaneous increase to support
and comfort man, doomed it to bring forth thorns and thistles instead.
'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.' 'Dust thou art,
and unto dust shalt thou return.' These fearful words are still true
of the ground to-day. Wherever man inhabits the earth, labor, sweat
and constant attention are the price which has to be paid for
comfortable subsistence in this world. But water is not included in
all this. It really is not a constituent of the ground. It may be in
the ground, but it is not of it; and its tendency is to leave the
ground as quickly as possible, under favoring conditions, as though it
felt that ground is not its place. The ground gives rise to poisonous
vapors which produce disease; but pure water never does. The only
impurities that ever enter water come from the ground as their
original source.
"It is probable that on this account our Lord used water to represent
the divine truth of his Word. Let us turn to the testimony we may
gather on this subject. First to my text, 'He that drinketh of the
water that I shall give him shall never thirst.' I believe that this
means the truth of his Word. What else could it mean? Now again:
'Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.' Filled with what? I believe that such will be
filled with the love of God and man, through a knowledge of the truth,
to such a degree that they will seek to live righteous lives. 'He that
DOETH truth is righteous.' 1 John 3:7.
"Again: Our Lord says: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me and
drink.' And what is the drink the Lord will give? Not elementary
water, I am sure; but if you will allow the expression, I will call it
spiritual water. Let us return to the text again. If you will trace
the chapter throughout, you will see how gently and tenderly the Lord
approached the dark mind of this woman. He told her of things in her
life that no stranger would be likely to know. In this way he gained
her confidence. She said: 'I perceive thou art a prophet.' This was
one point gained. Next he told her that 'ye' (including the class of
Samaritans to whom she belonged) 'worship ye know not what. We know
what we worship.' This was another step with the cup of living water
in his hand to apply to her lips. His next step was to tell her that
God is a Spirit, and that all true worship must be from the heart, 'in
spirit and in truth,' and that the Father seeketh such to worship him.
I do suppose this is the first time she ever heard God called Father.
It was new to her, so new that she confessed her belief in a coming
Messias, who would be able to tell her all things; but that he would
come in the spirit and love of a kind Father exceeded all her hopes.
"And say, Brethren, did not this poor woman take the cup from the
Lord's hand and drink of the Water of Life? I think she did, for she
turned missionary right away, and if you will read the thirty-ninth
verse you will see something of her success, for 'many of the
Samaritans ... believed on him for the saying of the woman, which
testified, He told me all that ever I did.'
"I will now quote one more text to show that this living water, or
life-giving water, also represents the Holy Ghost in his enlightening
power and love. 'He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he
of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.' Here,
it does seem to me, the believer in Christ is compared to a spring of
pure water. What makes a spring flow, and keep on flowing even in dry
weather? It must be that deep down in the veins of the rocks, away out
of sight, it is being constantly fed by an influx of pure water. What
a lesson we have here! Brethren, the Spirit, or what is the same thing
again, the truth of God's holy Word, must not lie dormant in us. We
must, as the passage quoted puts it, we must give out rivers of living
water. These rivers flow out of our hearts into everything of our
lives in a way to make others know that we are full of the water of
life.
"I very lately read about the Dead Sea. And how did it get its name? I
will tell you. It got the name 'Dead Sea' from its resemblance to a
human being who is constantly taking in God's gifts, and giving
nothing out in any visible way. If you will look at a map of Palestine
you will there see that the river Jordan is constantly pouring its
flood of fresh water into this sea; but with all this influx of fresh
water this sea is so full of all manner of impurities that even fish
cannot live in it, and no waterfowls, I am told, are ever seen on its
shores. Truly it deserves to be called 'Dead Sea.' It has no outlet;
no refreshing stream ever flows from its bosom.
"But, Brethren, if we are truly alive in the Lord we will be like the
garden of Eden that sent out a river to water the garden, whence it
was parted and became four heads, and each head was a river. Does not
all this throw some light on what our Lord meant in what he said to
the woman, 'It shalt be in him a well of water, springing up into
everlasting life;' and this: 'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of
living water?' There is nothing like a dead sea here. All, all is life
from the Lord. But water is beautiful. Who does not admire a clear,
flowing spring or river! In this respect water is an emblem of the
Lord's Word. Can any one read the Scriptures, and not be struck with
their beauty? Take, for an example, the story of creation. Even
children see its beauty and love it. Take the last two chapters of
Revelation. Who can read them without perceiving in them a beauty that
is all divine? The Bible opens in beauty and closes in beauty.
"And now, dear Brethren, whilst my subject has only been touched a
little, I will close by briefly directing your minds and hearts to the
river that John saw in vision, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the
throne of God and of the Lamb. I believe this river to be a symbol of
God's love and truth. It proceeded from the throne of God. Now,
'heaven is his throne, and the earth is his footstool.'
"You know the Lord said to the Pharisees: 'The baptism of John, was it
from heaven, or of men?' They would not answer. But we can answer. It
was from heaven. It was performed in the beauty and clearness of the
truth that the Lord Jesus brought from heaven. It proceeded from the
throne of God. What a high origin our baptism has! It is from heaven.
And the immersion of our bodies three times in water symbolizes, in a
way more impressive than anything else ever could, that we have
implicit faith in the love, wisdom and power of the divine Trinity of
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. There is a trinity in every good thing we
do. There must be the love to prompt or make the start, the wisdom to
direct this love intelligently, and the power to execute what is in
the will and understanding to be done. Our trine immersion of the body
in water, the beautiful emblem of truth, shows our acceptance of it
internally and externally, in life, in death, in heaven.
"One more thought, and I will close. Once within the city, we shall
thirst no more: 'For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne
shall lead us to fountains of living water.' All darkness will be
removed. What is obscure here will be light there. For now we know in
part. There we shall know even as we are known. Amen!"
SATURDAY, May 17. Brethren Kurtz and Shively go to Lost River. Dine at
James Fitzwater's, and stay all night at Celestine Whitmore's.
SUNDAY, May 18. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. Matthew 7 is
read. The brethren both take part in the speaking to-day. Dine at
Jacob Motz's, then take leave of the dear brethren, Kurtz and Shively,
and come home. Those two brethren and I were together three weeks,
lacking only two days. The pleasant conversations we had, the unity of
our faith, and the oneness of our aims in life have wrought in us an
attachment for each other that made separation painful. But we parted
not without hope of meeting again.
FRIDAY, July 25. Harvest meeting at our meetinghouse to-day. Luke 16
was read. The singing of devotional hymns, the offering of
thanksgiving prayers, with instructions as to the way in which the
worldly gifts of our heavenly Father to us may be most wisely used,
occupied the time we spent together.
How best to help the poor has been a matter of much thought with me.
If we give to such as are able to work and support themselves, but do
not, we rather encourage them in their habits of idleness. If we do
not give to them, they complain that we care but little for them, and
do not feel toward them as we should. I think the best way to help
such is to encourage them to honest labor by aiding them to procure
situations in which they can support themselves. If they then fail to
provide for their families, I think they should be visited by a
committee and instructed in regard to what Paul says: "He that
provideth not for his own, especially those of his own house, hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." Paul never aimed
this stroke of condemnation at any who are not able to provide for
themselves. I am glad to think that we have but very few poor members
who are not able to help themselves. These are the ones of whom the
Lord said: "The poor ye have always with you, and whenever ye will ye
may do them good." In respect to such he also said: "It is more
blessed to give than to receive."
SUNDAY, August 3. Meeting in our meetinghouse. First Peter 3 is read.
Daniel Glick, Hildebrandt, Sister Trump, Mary and Susanna Miller were
baptized to-day.
SUNDAY, September 7. Meeting at Motz's. John 3 is read. Nimrod Judy
and wife, Susan Randall, Mrs. Shireman, the widow Toppan and Mrs.
Ridenour were baptized by me to-day. We have a love feast this
evening.
MONDAY, September 8. Return home. In my absence, on the thirtieth day
of August, the following named persons were baptized in the Linville's
Creek near my house: John Wine and wife, Elizabeth Glick, Mrs. Funk,
Mrs. Rodecap, Mrs. Miller, and a young Sister Niswander.
FRIDAY, September 12. Attend our two days' council meeting above
Harrisonburg. Stop on my way there, and assist in anointing Brother
Daniel Garber with oil in the name of the Lord.
FRIDAY, September 26. Start to Albemarle County, Virginia. Benjamin
Bowman is with me. Stay all night at John Leedy's.
SATURDAY, September 27. Cross the Shenandoah river in a horse boat;
dine and feed at Sipe's; cross the Blue Ridge mountain and on to
Nesterville. Stay all night at Henry Coverston's.
SUNDAY, September 28. We have meeting in the Methodist church. The
latter part of Luke 24 is read. Henry Coverston and wife were baptized
by Benjamin Bowman. I think this is the first administration of the
ordinance of baptism ever performed by the Brethren on the east side
of the Blue Ridge in Virginia.
MONDAY, September 29. Get home after a ride on horseback to-day of
forty-three miles. We got dinner and fed our horses at Donovan's.
SATURDAY, October 11. Meeting and love feast at the Flat Rock. Luke 13
is read. Benjamin Bowman baptized John Rorabaugh and wife.
THURSDAY, October 16. Daniel Miller and Daniel Yount, in company with
myself, start to Hampshire County, Virginia. We get to Jacob
Warnstaff's, in Pendleton County, Virginia, where we stay all night.
FRIDAY, October 17. We have meeting at Bethel church. Matthew 11 is
read. Cross the South Fork mountain and stay all night at Chlora
Judy's. I am not surprised that these people are fond of hunting.
Several deer crossed our path in front of us to-day.
SATURDAY, October 18. Meeting at Chlora Judy's. Romans 6 is read.
Magdalena Rorabaugh is baptized. Brother Daniel Miller spoke in the
German on the twelfth verse of the chapter read; and I interpreted to
such as could not well understand German, following him. Text: "Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body."
He said: "Man, as he first came from the hand of his Creator, was not
a sinner. He was included in the creation which God had just finished,
and upon which he looked down and said that it was 'good, yea, very
good.' With this agree the words of Solomon, greatly gifted in wisdom.
After going over and investigating the whole human family, as far as
his knowledge and wisdom enabled him to go, he returned to his own
reflections and expressed the sad conclusion of his mind in these
words: 'Lo, this only have I found, that God made man upright: but
they have sought out many inventions.' The Word of God from beginning
to end shows us that man is no longer upright. The inventions which
Solomon speaks of are inventions of evil. They are not good
inventions. In the opening chapters of the Bible we learn how man fell
from the high and holy state in which he was created. It is there
declared that 'God made man in his own image, in the image of God made
he him.'
"The Apostle John says that 'God is light.' By this I understand him
to mean that God is infinitely wise, knowing all truth. The same
apostle says that 'God is love.' By this I understand that the Lord
God has a will for good to every creature that he has made. That he
has no other feeling than that of love for the human race and for
every individual of the human family. Now, it was in the image and
likeness of God that man was made at his first creation. Is it not
plain from this, then, that he must have been wise in regard to the
things of his understanding, and filled with love in his heart for all
that is truly good? In this state he could love the Lord his God with
all his heart, and with all his strength, and love his neighbor as he
loved himself. But what does the Bible, and what does the history of
the world tell us about man ever since he fell from this heavenly
state in which he was first created? The Bible declares that the
'heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.'
The Lord said to the Pharisees, a class of people who even claimed to
be religious: 'Ye are of your father the devil; and the works of your
father ye do.' From the Bible we turn to the history of man's career
through all the ages down to the present time, and we find its lines
all written in characters of blood. Revenge, murder, cruelty, deceit,
malice and ill-will of one toward another are manifest on almost every
page of history.
"But in the very face of all this evil God still loved the world; and
he so loved it that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And I
declare him to you to-day as my Savior and your Savior; able to save
to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. And what does he
save us from? He saves us from hell. And what is hell? I say to you
that it is the place where the devil, and all his angels and evil
spirits of men live after they leave this world. It is the fire
prepared for the devil and his angels. It is the everlasting fire into
which the accursed depart. It is the place from which the rich man
lifted up his eyes, tormented, as he himself confessed, sorely
tormented in this flame. But, dear friends, God does not will that any
of us should go to hell; for he says: 'As I live, I have no pleasure
in the death of a sinner, but would that all should turn and live.'
"And he tells us how we are to turn and live. He says to all: 'Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Repent, that your sins may be
blotted out. And what is it to repent? It is to turn away the heart
from the love of sin. It is to die unto sin and live unto God. The
meaning of my text is not to let sin reign in our mortal bodies to
fulfill the lusts thereof. And what does true repentance lead to? It
leads to a life of obedience to all the commands of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name,' that
means in obedience to the command 'of Jesus Christ, ... and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and
to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.' This takes in all. It may be that some who
hear me to-day are very far off. Still, friend, the promise is to you.
And more: I am sure you are hearing the Gospel to-day, so God is
calling you now, and the promise is to as many as the Lord our God
shall call, and this means every one who hears the Gospel sound.
"When I was young I was afraid I had sinned against the Holy Ghost.
But I found some precious words from the lips of our blessed Lord
himself that took away all my fear and gave me a hope which has never,
up to this time, left my heart. You begin to wonder what precious
words these were. I will tell you where they are and you can find them
yourself. John's Gospel, sixth chapter, and the thirty-seventh verse
is where they are, and these are the words: 'And whosoever cometh unto
me I will in no wise cast out.' The word whosoever takes in every one,
without exception. I tell you joyfully, it took me in, and it has kept
me in, and by the grace of God it will keep me in forever.
"As I have told you some things the Bible says about death and hell, I
must tell you a few things it says about life and heaven. Jesus says:
'I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though
he were dead' (as to his body), 'yet shall he live: and whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die.' O, can this be true? Yes,
it is true, because Jesus never said what is not true. He is life and
truth, and when we have him in our hearts we have the witness in
ourselves that what he says is true. We then 'know of the doctrine
that it is of God.' Our bodies will all die, but the real man is more
than the natural body. Paul tells us about a spiritual body that will
never see death. This is what Jesus says 'shall never die.' This is
the body that will rise and live forever.
"Our Lord said to his disciples: 'I go to prepare a place for you.'
The place which the Lord prepares is heaven. In his prayer he said:
'Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am; that they may behold my glory.' Where is the Lord's glory,
and where is he in his glory? We read that he ascended to heaven. He
is in heaven, the heaven of glory and bliss to which he ascended. He
is there preparing a place for you and for me, if we live faithful to
him by our obedience to his commands. Let us be faithful to him, that
we may be accounted worthy to enter in through the gates into the
city."
After dinner we all go to Isaac Shobe's, where we have night meeting
and stay all night.
SUNDAY, October 19. We have meeting at Brother Jacob High's. Acts 3 is
read. Also night meeting at Parks's where we stay.
MONDAY, October 20. Meeting at Solomon Michael's, where we stay all
night.
TUESDAY, October 21. Meeting at Joseph Arnold's, on Patterson's Creek,
in Hampshire County, Virginia. I spoke to-day on 2 Timothy 1:13. Text:
"Hold fast the form of sound words."
This passage of Scripture is a part of the fatherly instruction Paul
gave his spiritual son Timothy. God's works and man's works in the
conversion and regeneration of man are so blended, so connected and
identified one with the other that Paul sometimes speaks of doing what
none but God himself can do. Thus to the Corinthians he said: "For I
have begotten you through the gospel." And to Philemon he said: "I
beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds."
These passages show how clearly the true child of God stands connected
with the Holy Spirit, in his blessed work of regenerating man and
qualifying him for heaven. The conjunction of effort may be compared
with what we see and know to exist in husband and wife. When the twain
are really one flesh, one heart, one mind, what is done by the one is
regarded as done by the other. It must be in a sense somewhat like
this that Paul calls Timothy his son. The aged John also says: "I have
no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." He here
means spiritual children. He calls them his children from the love he
has for them, and the fatherly care he has over them, and the fatherly
instruction he gives them. They are near to him, as children are to
their own parents, and when he sees or hears that they receive the
truth and walk in it, it gives him joy.
When Paul addressed the words of my text to Timothy, most of the New
Testament had been written. It is to the New Testament Scriptures that
he calls Timothy's special attention, where he says: "It is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works." Here, in these Scriptures, is to be
found the FORM of sound words which Timothy is admonished to hold
fast. This instruction harmonizes with what was said to the angel of
the church in Thyatira: "But that which ye have, hold fast till I
come." And in the last of the book of Revelation there are awful
warnings given against adding to or taking from what God has spoken.
The temptation to skip over, misquote, and misinterpret the Scriptures
must be very great, as it is to these three sources that nearly or
quite all the denominational differences among professing Christians
can be traced.
Brethren, it becomes us to be very careful here, "lest Satan should
get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices." I
believe a departure from the form of sound words mainly accounts for
the many errors in doctrine and practice which exist among professing
Christians to-day. A departure from the form of our Lord's great
commission has not only perverted the ordinance of baptism by applying
it to infants; but it has destroyed the ordinance itself by setting
aside trine immersion, which it so plainly teaches.
And what shall we say of the ordinance of feet-washing! When a parent
or teacher wishes to impart to his child or pupil a clear
understanding of some duty or obligation, he usually feels relieved of
all further responsibility when he has given the necessary instruction
to his child or pupil in words which he knows can be understood. But
in the institution of the ordinance of feet-washing our Lord did not
depend upon oral instruction to impart a clear knowledge of his will;
but he went through the performance himself, and at the close he said:
"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you." Are not these sound words? What are sound words, and what is
their form? I answer that sound words are words which have no doubtful
meaning; and the form of sound words is such a use of them as clearly
expresses and conveys to the mind of the reader or hearer just what
the writer or speaker wants him to know. But do the so-called churches
hold fast these words? No, they do not. They let them go as things out
of date, or unnecessary at the present advanced stage of enlightened
thought. But "if the light that is in them be darkness, how great is
that darkness!"
I can say of the Lord's Supper, which Jude calls a feast of charity,
or love feast, which is the same, and which the Lord instituted in
connection with feet-washing, just what I have said of this ordinance.
It is let go. These, with many other omissions and errors, have crept
into the so-called Christian faith and practice, by letting go the
form of sound words. Still more. The injunctions to nonconformity to
the world in dress and other things are all let go instead of being
held fast, and loose reins are given to all manner of worldly forms
and fashions. Professing Christians even defraud one another through
covetousness, which is idolatry, going to law one with another. They
also do not hesitate to bear arms in war, which is the greatest of all
earthly evils.
Brethren and friends, I do not speak in this way from any feeling of
ill-will toward any, but from the depth of love in my heart; for there
is no joy that could be compared with the joy that I would feel could
I see the whole Christian world bowing, meekly bowing under the weight
and power of God's revealed Truth. Our way, Brethren, is to hold fast
"the form of sound words." As we expect to have a love feast here on
to-morrow evening, let each one examine himself to see whether in his
faith or in his works he may have departed from the form of sound
words of warning, of encouragement, of instruction, of exhortation, of
doctrine. And it most assuredly becomes us to inquire whether we have
done our duty in the way of searching the Scriptures, giving ourselves
to reading, to meditation, to prayer. We are too apt to seek for what
pleases the taste of the natural mind, to the neglect of what is
necessary to refresh the spiritual mind and keep that healthy and
strong.
As there was but one rock in the wilderness from which all the tribes
of Israel were supplied with natural water, so to us, God's spiritual
Israel, there is but one Rock from which flows to us the water of
life, and that Rock is Christ Jesus in his Word. On this Rock the
church is founded, and I rejoice to know that the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
WEDNESDAY, October 22. Love feast to-day. Matthew 23 is read.
THURSDAY, October 23. Meeting. Matthew 13 is read. Brother Daniel
Miller goes to the Greenland Gap. I stay all night at old Brother
Arnold's.
FRIDAY, October 24. I and Daniel Yount start for home. We dine at
Sister High's, and stay all night at Vanmeter's.
SATURDAY, October 25. Dine at Elijah Judy's, and stay all night at
Isaac Dasher's on the South Fork, Hardy County.
SUNDAY, October 26. Meeting at Rorabaugh's. John 10 is read. I
baptized Lydia Shireman. Stay all night at Rorabaugh's.
MONDAY, October 27. Preach funeral of Joseph Reel's daughter. Age,
seven years and nine months. Stay all night at James Fitzwater's in
the Gap.
TUESDAY, October 28. Reached home.
SATURDAY, November 8. Brother Benjamin Moomaw and family, from Roanoke
County, come to my house this evening.
SUNDAY, November 9. Brother George Kline's little Daniel died
to-night. I was with him when he died. Just three years and four days
old. How deep the grief with which this kind family is stricken! On
Tuesday, October 21, while I was in Hampshire County, Virginia, Anna,
aged seven years, two months and nineteen days, was laid in the cold
grave. On the thirty-first, only nine days later, little Mary passed
away, aged four years, seven months and eleven days. And now, only
nine days later still, another, little Daniel, passes away. All three
bright, promising, happy children. We can only lift up our voices and
weep. The only light that breaks in upon the darkness of this
providence comes from heaven. There is light beyond the cloud that now
hangs so darkly and heavily in the sky above our heads. God is our
refuge. His promise is: "When thou passest through the deep waters, I
will be with thee." Thou wilt not leave nor forsake us now. The little
lambs have been gathered into his arms. He took them into his arms and
blessed them here; how much more can he bless them there, for "of such
is the kingdom of heaven."
THURSDAY, November 27. Have night meeting in Winchester, Virginia, in
the Methodist church. I speak from Luke 13. Subject: "The Strait
Gate." Stay all night at Henry Krumm's.
FRIDAY, November 28. Breakfast at Brother Fahnestock's; dine at
Brother Mummert's, and have night meeting in the Quaker meetinghouse.
Speak on John 4:24. Text: "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him
must worship in spirit and in truth." As the house in which we have
met for worship this evening has been erected by the Friends, or
Quakers, and called after their name, I feel that it will not be out
of place for me to speak from a passage of Scripture upon which they
very much rely, as a strong support to their faith and ways of
worship. I must, at the same time, confess that I love these people
dearly, as far as my acquaintance with them goes. Their views and
convictions in regard to simplicity in manners, and plainness in
dress, and general nonconformity to the world; in regard to bearing
arms, and using human laws in the adjustment of difficulties between
brethren, are so very much like our own that I cannot avoid a strong
attachment to them in my religious sympathies. And I would not desire
to eradicate this sympathy from my heart if I could. These
considerations, in connection with my early knowledge of them in
Pennsylvania as being an honest and virtuous people, have always kept
me in friendly love with the Quakers.
The language of my text is part of the instruction given by our Lord
to the Samaritan woman at the well. She said to him: "Our fathers
worshiped in this mountain; but ye [meaning the Jews] say that
Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." She alluded to the
temple, I suppose. But our Lord at one stroke levels every support on
which these false conceptions of him rested in her mind, by assuring
her that God is a universal Spirit, and not confined to any one place;
and that the worship which he delights in is not that of form and
ceremony, but that of the heart, in the inner man, in spirit and in
truth. The meaning of my text also lays the axe at the root of all
hypocrisy and spurious professions of religion.
In addition to all this it sets up the only true sanctuary for his
worship on earth, the sanctuary which is found in the heart of every
sincere and obedient believer in him. Paul says to the Corinthian
brethren: "Know ye not that ye are the sanctuary of God? If any man
defile the sanctuary of God, him will God destroy; for the sanctuary
of God is holy, which sanctuary ye are."
Every step the sinner takes in his return to God, and every step the
Christian takes in his walk with God, must be in spirit and truth.
Repentance is heartfelt hatred of sin. Faith is a loving acceptance of
Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. This confession includes all the ordinances of God's
house, which is the church of the living God. How men can think, as
many seem to think, that they can confess Christ in spirit and truth,
and at the same time reject the chief means by which Christ intends
this confession to be made public, I can not see. Baptism, or the
immersion of the body in water by a proper administrator, in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is either laid
aside entirely, or argued out of form, or very lightly regarded. The
ordinance of feet-washing, the salutation of the kiss, and the Lord's
Supper are entirely cast away. In love I say all this, because I burn
with desire to see the Truth accepted in the love of it and obeyed
from the heart. When man does this, like little Samuel of old, he
responds to the call of the Father who seeketh such to worship him.
WEDNESDAY, December 31. In the year that is just closing, I have
traveled 3,578 miles. This I have done mostly on horseback. I have
done what I could for God and humanity. I hope that when I come to die
I may not have cause for deep regrets, or to mourn over a misspent
life. I hope to lay my body down in peace, in the bright hope of a
glorious waking up at the call of my Lord.
THURSDAY, January 8, 1846. Go to Christian Shoemaker's in the Gap and
perform the marriage ceremony of John C. Miller and Deborah Shoemaker.
Stay all night at Ely Spitzer's.
THURSDAY, January 15. Write a letter to Henry Kurtz, and one to George
Hoke.
TUESDAY, February 17. Make an amicable adjustment of complicated
business matters between the widow Judith Detrick and Abraham Detrick.
It is pleasant to straighten between members of our body business
matters which present a somewhat crooked and tangled appearance, when
all the parties are willing to have things adjusted through the
mediation of disinterested Brethren. How much better this than to go
to law! The tendency of private adjustments by arbitration is to heal
over breaches of friendship and love between members; but going to law
before the world is almost sure to widen them. I am glad to be able to
add, here, that I say this, not from any experience with law that I
have ever had in my own case, or in that of any of the Brethren; but I
speak it from what I have observed in others who have gone to law.
THURSDAY, February 26. Go to David Kline's and perform the marriage
ceremony of Abraham Neff and Elizabeth Kline.
TUESDAY, March 3. Perform the marriage ceremony of Josiah Sowder and
Elizabeth Dove.
SATURDAY, March 21. Abraham Knopp and I go to Lost River. Stay all
night at Jacob Motz's.
SUNDAY, March 22. Meeting at the Lost River meetinghouse. Luke 24 is
read. Come to Abel Dove's and perform two marriage ceremonies; one for
Isaac Whetzel and Catharine Dove; the other for Michael Myers and
Julia Ann Dove. Stay all night.
SUNDAY, April 5. Meeting at the Flat Rock. John 6 is read. Brethren
sent out on the yearly visit. I and Jacob Wine go together. We stay
all night at the widow Cherryholms's in Brock's Gap.
TUESDAY, April 7. We get through with the visit. The members generally
expressed themselves as being in sympathy and full fellowship with the
church. We hope they told the truth.
WEDNESDAY, April 8. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jacob Wine is
elected speaker. He gives promise of becoming an able and active
worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
FRIDAY, April 10. Council meeting in the Brush meetinghouse. Joseph
Miller, son of Daniel Miller, is elected speaker. John Wine, son of
Samuel Wine in the Brush, and John Miller, are elected to the
deaconship.
SATURDAY, April 11. Council meeting in the old Garber meetinghouse.
Solomon Garber is elected speaker. He likewise gives promise of
becoming a very useful man in his calling. Surely the Lord has
established a beautiful order in his house. "Whatsoever ye shall bind
on earth, shall be bound in heaven." When the church fairly chooses a
brother to any office or service, to the ministry of the Word or to
attend to the temporal duties connected with keeping the Lord's house
according to order, he need no longer question as to whether the Lord
has called him or not. The Lord uses the church to show his will in
these things. "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world." I was once very much impressed with the answer a beloved
brother gave in the presence of some three or four others, just
outside the meetinghouse, after an election had been held just about
an hour before. The church had voted for two, only one of whom was
needed. The vote had been so nearly a tie that the brother elected had
a majority of but one. Some one asked: "Are we to infer from this that
the Lord wanted both of these brethren elected?" The brother above
referred to answered promptly, "No, he only wanted to show that both
were fit for the place."
Michael Flory and Samuel Long are elected to the deaconship.
FRIDAY, April 17. Go on the visit in the Cove, in company of Jacob
Mathias.
SATURDAY, April 18. Finish the visit in time to have council meeting
in the Lost River meetinghouse. In all my visiting this spring but
very little complaint or dissatisfaction has been laid. Our council
meetings, too, have been harmonious. The members generally show a
heartfelt will to live in the church, to be built up in the church,
and to help to build up the church so long as the church keeps house
according to God's order.
MONDAY, April 20. Get home in the night. Go right on to John Zigler's.
Catharine is very sick. She dies at 4 o'clock in the morning.
WEDNESDAY, April 22. Catharine Zigler is buried to-day.
FRIDAY, April 24. Jacob Wine, Joseph Miller and I go to Forrer's
furnace in Page County, Virginia, and have night meeting. Jacob Wine
speaks from John 1:29. He prefers the German language. He makes a
right good stagger even in English for a beginner, but he will need
much practice before he can use this language with much freedom. But
it is not by the might nor the power of man that souls are saved, but
by the might and power of the Lord working with man.
SATURDAY, April 25. Dine at Isaac Spitler's, and stay all night at
John Huffman's, both in Page County.
FRIDAY, May 8. Go to Brother John Harshbarger's on my way to
Albemarle.
SATURDAY, May 9. He and I go to the Ferry on the Shenandoah river, but
finding the river too high to ferry in a horse boat, we go around by
the bridge, and get to Brother Coverston's in the night.
SUNDAY, May 10. Meeting at Brother Coverston's. Matthew 7 is read.
"The Strait Gate" is the subject.
MONDAY, May 11. Dine at John Conrad's, and come across the mountains
by a _desperate path_, home; thirty-eight miles. The path by which we
came to-day is almost or quite as steep in places as stairsteps, and
very rough from large stones in its bed, with others projecting into
it on either side. Brother John was in front of me slowly leading his
horse down one of the very steep places, when his saddlebags slid out
of the saddle down over the horse's neck and fell on his arm. He
pleasantly looked back at me saying in a very cheerful way, "It looks
as if my baggage wants to go ahead of the horse that carries it."
WEDNESDAY, May 13. Love feast at our meetinghouse. Five persons
baptized. Brethren John Bowman, from Franklin County, and John
Barnhardt are with us. They are this far on their way to the Annual
Meeting.
FRIDAY, May 15. Start to Pennsylvania.
SATURDAY, May 16. Through Winchester, Virginia; Opequon past fording,
go round by the bridge, and stay all night at Smithfield.
SUNDAY, May 17. Through Charlestown, by Harper's Ferry and
Fredericktown, on to Daniel Bowers's, where we stay all night.
MONDAY, May 18. Get to Uncle John Garber's, where we stay all night.
TUESDAY, May 19. Spend day in visiting Henry Beecher's, Widow Deahl's,
William Deahl's, and get back to Uncle John Garber's.
WEDNESDAY, May 20. Visit John Pfoutz's, Jacob Saylor's and Solomon
Garber's, where we stay all night.
THURSDAY, May 21. Get to Brother George Deardorf's, where we stay all
night.
FRIDAY, May 22. Get to Brother Balsbaugh's, beyond Harrisburg.
SATURDAY, May 23. Meeting and love feast at Brother Balsbaugh's. Seven
persons baptized to-day.
SUNDAY, May 24. Visit George Copp's, Joseph Long's, Christian Gipe's,
and stay all night at Abraham Gipe's. In all my visits I make it a
point not to leave a house without making an effort to speak on the
subject of religion, and say something that may leave an impression
for good.
MONDAY, May 25. Meeting. Acts 10 is read. Visit Brother Shank's, and
stay all night at David Zug's.
TUESDAY, May 26. Meeting. Romans 6 is read. Visit George Fesler's,
Michael Fesler's, and stay all night at Benjamin Landis's.
WEDNESDAY, May 27. Visit Daniel Zug's and several other families; and
at 11 o'clock meeting begins preparatory to love feast this evening.
First Peter 1 is read. Stay all night at Brother Minick's.
THURSDAY, May 28. Meeting at 11 o'clock. John 5 is read. In afternoon
visit John Royer's, and stay all night at George Keller's.
FRIDAY, May 29. Yearly Meeting begins. Many brethren and sisters
present.
SATURDAY, May 30. The Yearly Council closes at noon. Much love and
union exists in the Brotherhood. Public meeting this afternoon, and
love feast to-night. Much spiritual joy is manifested by the singing
of hymns and the offering of prayers. May our heavenly Father grant
that the same love and union may continue with us to the end of the
world. Our Yearly Meetings will continue to do much good so long as
they show to the world our love for one another. "Hereby shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another."
From this meeting Brother Kline set his face homeward, but on the way
he managed to attend six appointments for preaching, and two love
feasts besides. In tracing his course on his journeys, and noting the
amount of active service he performed in the way of preaching and
visiting, one is forcibly impressed with the proofs he gives of the
order and system that must have characterized and attended his labors.
Not unfrequently he has one or two appointments ahead for every day in
the week; and with only a very few exceptions in the whole course of
his life, and they were on account of sickness, he never failed to
meet the congregations that were looking for him. Soon after getting
home from this journey he attended to gathering the grass and grain
harvests on his own farm. He reports twenty-eight tons of hay made
this year. He likewise had a tolerably large wheat harvest. About the
eighteenth of June heavy rains set in, and they continued to fall at
intervals of only a day or two apart for the next six or seven weeks.
The Diary reports a very heavy rain on Sunday, June 28. From this time
on for the next six days it reports a flooding rain every day, and
very high waters. The grain suffered very much on account of continued
wet weather for many days following. This has ever since been known as
"the wet harvest." Much of the wheat sprouted in the head before it
could be cut; and much of what stood in shocks suffered in the same
way. The Diary for July 15 says: "We finished hauling in our grain
to-day, some of which had stood in shocks over three weeks. Such
extraordinary seasons come along once in a while; but I do imagine it
will be a good while in the future before people can generally say, 'I
never saw such a wet harvest as this,' alluding to the one they may
then be passing through."
Between this time and the first day of August, Brother Kline went on
another tour to the county of Hardy, in which he attended several
meetings; baptized Rebecca, wife of Elijah Judy, on Saturday, July 11;
and performed the marriage ceremony of George Runion and Susan Aubrey,
on the thirteenth.
SUNDAY, July 26. Meeting at Jacob Whetzel's. Matthew 24 is read. I
baptized Jacob Pope and his wife.
SUNDAY, August 2. Meeting at our meetinghouse. Samuel Kline and Samuel
Roller and his wife are baptized.
MONDAY, August 10. This day Brother Kline started on a journey to
Ohio, in company with George Hoover, Joseph Miller, Katy Hoover and
Benjamin Wampler. They went in two carriages across the western part
of the State of Virginia (now West Virginia) into Pennsylvania, and
through the western part of that State into Ohio. As this trip was
made specially memorable by a very severe spell of sickness which
Brother Kline passed through while making it, as well as by the sad
effect it had upon his beloved wife, Anna, at home, the editor will be
very particular in giving, from the Diary, all the points of interest
connected with it.
The second day they crossed the South Branch mountain by what is
called the Howard's Lick road. The view from the top of this is
perhaps unsurpassed by any point in the entire range. A very large
part of Hardy County, with its magnificent streams and rich bottoms,
is visible to the eye. The town of Moorefield from this view reminds
one of a child sleeping in its cradle.
Brother Kline, as usual, had a line of appointments for meetings by
the way, and he met them as regularly and timely as a train of cars
gets to its destined stations. He must have had the name and address
of almost every prominent member in the denomination, and they must
have had implicit confidence in his word; for the Diary nowhere
intimates that he was ever disappointed by not finding the expected
congregation when the weather permitted. Nothing of any special
interest occurred until the night of Saturday, August 15, at which
time we find the company at Colley's tavern in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania. At this place Brother Kline complains of being sick. He
takes some medicine and is able again to travel on through the next
three days, and fill one appointment. But on
WEDNESDAY, August 19, there is an appointment in waiting for him which
he cannot attend. He says: "I am sick. Cannot go." Bowling Green was
the place. He is now at John Shelly's. Notwithstanding his illness,
he, with the company, traveled thirty-one miles the next day; and the
day after attended a love feast at Brother Daniel Wise's.
His next appointment was at Brother Shively's. He requests George
Hoover and Joseph Miller to go on to that place, while he remains at
Brother Wise's with Benjamin Wampler and Katy Hoover. He says again:
"I am sick." On the evening of
SUNDAY, August 23, we find him at Brother Hershey's, near Lewistown.
He says in the entry for that evening: "I am still sick. Take more
medicine to-night." On
MONDAY, August 24, he sent for Dr. Jacob Myers, who gave him a course
of medical treatment. The doctor came again the next day, and gave him
another course of treatment. He says: "I took another emetic of
lobelia to-day, and perspired freely." If lobelia is the poisonous
drug that some seem to think it is, we can hardly account for the
improvement which Brother Kline reports to have experienced in his
feelings, following every administration of it. For on the next day,
WEDNESDAY, August 26, he says: "I feel some better to-day; so much so
that I write my will."
THURSDAY, August 27. His own words: "Start again, and pass through
Canton, Massillon, Brookfield, Greeneville, Dover, and on to Brother
Jacob Kurtz's, where we stay all night." We have to wonder how a man
laboring under a well-defined attack of typhoid fever could keep on
going for twelve consecutive days before the final breakdown came. It
makes one think of Paul, who could even be stoned until he was thought
to be dead, and next day be found preaching again. But the crisis with
Brother Kline came at last. The entry in the Diary for
FRIDAY, August 28, says: "To-day Brother Hoover and Brother Miller, at
my request, leave me; Brother Wampler and Sister Katy remain with me.
What a precious thing love is! My dear Brethren have not only staid
with me day and night, but they have constantly watched for
opportunities to minister to my comfort or necessities. The Lord
reward them abundantly in this life and the next: and bless them at
the meetings which I now feel I cannot attend. Dr. Overholtz comes at
my request and gives me medicine."
SATURDAY, August 29. Suffer extremely, but not quite so much as last
night. I now feel as if I were just on a balance between life and
death: almost gone.
SUNDAY, August 30. Dr. Overholtz comes again and gives me another
course of medicines. I am slightly relieved, but still suffer very
much. The Doctor reports fever not as high as yesterday.
MONDAY, August 31. Rest to-day, but am very weak.
TUESDAY, September 1. Doctor does not come to-day.
For some days past the Diary has been kept in a strange hand. Some
kind but intelligent friend has made the daily records in perfect
imitation of Brother Kline's unaffected style and manner.
SATURDAY, September 5. The Doctor is here, but does not give me
medicine. I write a letter home.
This letter created overwhelming distress in the mind of Anna, Brother
Kline's wife. She had heard about his illness prior to this time; but
when she read this letter her mind seemed to give way, and when
Brother Kline got back home he found her very ill, both in body and
mind. They told him at home that when she read the letter all hope
of ever seeing him again vanished, and the shock was more than her
sensitive nature could bear. It is very sad to relate, but true, that
she never again seemed fairly to realize his being in her presence.
His kindness to her was shown in unremitting attentions, to the day of
his death; and I am persuaded that few men could be found to bear such
a dire calamity with so much patience and resignation.
There were no entries made in the Diary from September 1, to the
fifth. He must have been very sick indeed, during the three days that
are omitted.
SATURDAY, September 6. He says: Brother Samuel Buck gives me a course
of medicine; it works well. Fever entirely broken. Have some appetite.
Begin to mend.
MONDAY, 7. To-day I have rest. Eat some toast bread.
TUESDAY, 8. Still continue to mend, but somewhat slowly.
WEDNESDAY, 9. Take another course of medicines.
THURSDAY, 10. Feel very much better. Can be up some.
FRIDAY, 11. Still mending.
SATURDAY, 12. Doing well. Write a letter home, and one to William
Lupton.
SUNDAY, 13. Still continue to do well.
MONDAY, 14. Still well, but sit out in the cool air too long, and take
a slight backset.
TUESDAY, 15. Do not feel so well, but appetite good.
WEDNESDAY, 16. Still not very well, but appetite good.
THURSDAY, 17. Do not feel very well. Dr. Overholtz comes again, and
gives me another course of medicines.
FRIDAY, 18. Feel a little better again.
SATURDAY, 19. Not much change from yesterday.
SUNDAY, 20. Dr. Overholtz gives me another course of medicines.
MONDAY, 21. Do not feel entirely relieved yet.
TUESDAY, 22. Take another course of medicines, and am much relieved.
WEDNESDAY, 23. Brother Benjamin Wampler takes me in the carriage to
Brother Buck's, two miles off, and back home.
THURSDAY, 24. Much rain to-day. Cannot ride out.
FRIDAY, 25. Brother Benjamin takes me to Brother Samuel Myers's
to-day, and back home. Rain in the afternoon.
SATURDAY, 26. Paint the top of carriage, and do some other work to it.
SUNDAY, 27. Visit Brother Reuben Pinkerton and return home. How very
kind all of these dear people have been to me! They will accept
nothing in return for all their kindness to me, but my gratitude and
love, and, heaven knows, my heart is full of that.
TUESDAY, 29. Go to Brother Jonathan Gaines's for dinner; then to
Wooster, and stay all night with Dr. Overholtz.
WEDNESDAY, 30. Go to the bank in Wooster and attend to some other
business. Dine with Dr. Overholtz, and in evening get back home to
Brother Jacob Kurtz's.
THURSDAY, October 1. Fix to start towards home.
FRIDAY, October 2. Take leave of my very dear Brother Jacob Kurtz and
family, who have nursed and cared for me through all of my sickness.
Such kindness as he and his family have shown me relieves affliction
of half its distress. It is almost a luxury to be sick where so much
love is shown. I can never forget Brother Benjamin Wampler. He is so
calm and gentle in the sick room that his very presence is a comfort
to the sick.
The Diary does not contain anything of special interest on their way
home. Brother Kline noted the distance traveled over each day, from
the time they left Brother Jacob Kurtz's till he arrived at his own
home. According to his report the whole distance was 264 miles. This
they made in eleven days. Their average daily rate of travel was just
twenty-four miles. They arrived at his house on the evening of the
twelfth, having left Brother Kurtz's the morning of the second day of
October. Brother Kline often notes some reference to the satisfaction
of getting back home after a long absence; and it is painful to find a
record the exact reverse in this instance. But no murmur at the Divine
Will, or word of impatience or complaint against any one is to be
found on the page of the Diary.
From this time to the close of the year Brother Kline never went far
from home. A few marriages solemnized, funerals preached, neighborhood
medical visits, and near-by meetings attended make the sum of his work
from home. His afflicted wife required his daily attentions.
THURSDAY, January 21. Perform the marriage ceremony of Josiah Wampler
and Mary Kline.
TUESDAY, February 23. Go to Michael Wine's and perform the marriage
ceremony of Isaac Harpine and Barbara Wine.
THURSDAY, March 4. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Andes and
Catharine Miller, at the widow Miller's in the Forest.
WEDNESDAY, March 31. Dr. Newham is at my house to-day. We start my new
electro-magnetic machine, and give Anna an electric shock, in the hope
of its vitalizing her enfeebled nerves. Dr. Newham regards her case as
not being out of the reach of relief by a course of protracted and
judiciously applied medical treatment.
THURSDAY, April 1. Council meeting at the Brush meetinghouse. Perform
the marriage ceremony of Seth Alger and Rosina Fifer.
SATURDAY, April 3. Abraham Knopp and I go to Page County. Call to see
old Sister Gibbons who has reached a very high age. We read and prayed
with her, and her heart seemed to overflow with joy. She said: "I love
all the friends of Jesus. Brethren, I will soon be gone; but I hope
the Lord may leave you here many years yet to do his blessed will, by
calling many sinners from darkness to light, and by comforting his
saints as you have comforted me this day." When we took leave of her
she said: "Farewell: and may the God of love and peace be with you."
Sister Gibbons is the mother of Samuel Gibbons, and is now living with
him on the Hawksbill Creek, not far from the town of Luray, in Page
County, Virginia.
SUNDAY, April 4. The brethren and sisters meet us very early this
morning for prayer and exhortation on the visit; after which the
regular public meeting opens. John 5 is read. Dine at Isaac Spitler's,
and stay all night at Henry Gander's.
FRIDAY, April 16. Abraham Knopp and I go to Lost River. Attend the
burial of Celestine Whitmore's child. Age, seven years, four months,
and one day. In afternoon Jacob Pope and I go on to the visit. Stay
all night at Henry Moyers's.
SATURDAY, April 17. After getting through with the visit we have
council meeting. The reports brought in by the visiting brethren are
mostly encouraging, and show a good spirit existing in the
Brotherhood.
SUNDAY, April 18. Meeting at the meetinghouse. Luke 12 is read. After
meeting perform the marriage ceremony of Washington Cook and Anna Jane
Parker at Brother Whitmore's; then come to William Fitzwar's and
perform the marriage ceremony of Frederick Nasselrodt and Catherine
Weatherholtz. Get home at nine o'clock in the night.
THURSDAY, April 29. Perform the marriage ceremony of William Halterman
and Elizabeth May, at Samuel May's, in the Gap.
SUNDAY, May 2. Meeting at Nasselrodt's in the Gap. I baptized Lotty
Koon.
TUESDAY, May 18. On this day Brother Kline starts to the Annual
Meeting. He takes Anna and Sister Betty Knopp with him. They get to
the widow Nipe's in the evening of the nineteenth. He left Anna and
Sister Betty at this place, whilst he went on to the Annual Meeting at
Brother Jacob Deardorff's, which opened Friday, May 21. The business
features of the meeting closed on Saturday, May 22; and on Sunday, May
23, he started back after the eleven o'clock service. He found Anna
somewhat more cheerful than usual. She stood the trip remarkably well.
From some cause, I know not what, he gives not a word of comment on
the state of feeling, matters considered, or anything else pertaining
to it.
FRIDAY, May 28. We have a love feast at our meetinghouse. _Union in
the evening._ A fine day and good behavior. Some of the older Brethren
will no doubt know what Brother Kline means by the word _union_, here
and elsewhere used in the Diary in a specific sense.
TUESDAY, June 8. To-day I attended two buryings in one graveyard.
Christian Eversole, age, sixty-nine years; and Samuel Bowers, age,
twenty years; both buried at the Brush meetinghouse.
SATURDAY, July 3. Cross the Blue Ridge mountain to-day, and get to
Henry Coverston's late this evening.
SUNDAY, July 4. Meeting in the Methodist meetinghouse. John 4 is read.
I spoke as best I could on the Water of Life and kindred topics, but
in this country we feel sadly the want of encouragement and sympathy
which we are used to in our own houses and congregations. Our
doctrinal views and practices as a denomination are not well
understood in Albemarle County, Virginia. The prevailing denominations
here are Baptists and Methodists. We have one consolation, however,
even here. We can preach the Gospel to the poor, and they are ready to
hear it. But there is one barrier between us and the wealthy classes
which will continue, God only knows how long; and that barrier is
African slavery. Many, seemingly good and reasonable people, in this
country justify themselves in their own eyes, even on scripture
grounds, for taking part in and encouraging the holding of slaves. I
fear, however, that the god of this world has blinded their eyes, so
that seeing they see not, and hearing they understand not.
A gentleman whom I met here and who said that he had traveled a great
deal in the slave-holding States, told me that he witnessed the sale
of some slaves in a town in North Carolina. A mother and her three
children, two boys and a girl, were put up for sale separately. It
happened that the mother was bought by one man, the two boys by
another, and the daughter by a third. The daughter was twelve years
old; and the boys respectively eight and ten. They were now to be
parted, never to see each other more. There was no hope left them of
ever hearing from each other again. The gentleman said the little boys
did not seem to mind it so very much; but, said he, the agony of the
mother, and the distress of the daughter were past description. It
is to be hoped that such heart-rending scenes are not often to be
witnessed; and I do believe that the time is not far distant when
the sun will rise and set upon our land cleansed of this foul stain,
though it may be cleansed with blood. I would rejoice to think that my
eyes might see that bright morning; but I can have no hope of that.
TUESDAY, July 6. On this day Brother Kline made arrangements to move
to Orkney Springs with Anna. Some account of this place is given
elsewhere in this work, and need not be repeated here. He and Anna
staid here about five weeks, and he reports her general health as
being much improved by the use of the different waters, as well as by
the cheerful society she enjoyed. Whilst staying at this place Brother
Kline reports some interesting acquaintances made with several noted
persons whom he had only casually seen before. Among these was the
Rev. Henry Brown, a Presbyterian minister of Harrisonburg.
SATURDAY, July 17, he says: Take a walk over some of the surrounding
eminences with preacher Henry Brown of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Mr.
Brown is a very sociable and pleasant man to be with. Whilst we differ
on a good many points of Christian doctrine, we can still walk and
talk together sociably; and I enjoy his company very much. It would be
pleasant to believe, did the Scriptures warrant the conclusion, that
all the differences which mark the divisions of Christians here will
melt away in love and be forgotten there. Of one thing I am sure: No
one will ever have a just right to boast of his own goodness, or lay
claim to preferment on the score of his own obedience. "When ye," says
our Savior, "have done all these things that were commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which it was our duty
to do." Whilst it is true that the Presbyterians are zealous advocates
of education and moral improvement, and as a people exhibit in their
daily lives many Christian virtues and graces, still I fear they are
occupying dangerous ground by rejecting some of the plain commands of
our Lord Jesus. "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the
disobedient appear?" I know of no righteousness but that of obedient
faith, or, as Paul puts it, the righteousness of faith that works or
obeys from love, and in this way purifies the heart. A hungering and
thirsting after this righteousness
"Gives exercise to faith and love;
Brings every blessing from above."
If this dear Christian friend is in darkness as to the nature of
obedience and its blessed fruits, himself misled and misleading
others, I pray that the scales may drop from his eyes, that he may see
clearly the whole truth which God has placed in the line of our duty
to do and teach.
SUNDAY, July 18. Friend Henry Brown preached to-day. He is a very
clear and pleasant talker. In his discourse, however, he made me think
of some beautiful birds that hop over what they do not wish to touch,
and take hold gracefully of what they are pleased to alight upon.
THURSDAY, August 12. This day Brother Kline moved back home. He says:
Anna much improved in health. The season at the Springs has been quite
pleasant, with the exception of atmospheric dampness from the
abundance of rain we had while there.
MONDAY, August 23. This day Brother Kline started on another journey
to Pennsylvania. It may be irksome to the general reader to follow his
daily steps from this date to the thirteenth of September, the day on
which he returned home, so I will only name the families he visited or
stayed with all night, in the order given in the Diary. His habit on
this was the same as on other journeys of like motive; he preached as
he went, and never failed holding family worship where he stayed all
night, when well enough to do so. Few of those that were fathers and
mothers then are living now; but their children and grandchildren may
be living, to whom these reminiscences will, doubtless, be pleasant.
Reflections like these instinctively impress us with a consciousness
of time's rapid flight; and make us, who were young then, realize,
with more or less acuteness of perception, the impressive truth that
we, too, are growing old. To such of my readers as find no pleasure or
profit in things of this kind I gently say: Pass over it as you would
an advertisement in which you feel no interest, in a newspaper you may
be perusing: Daniel Fahrney's; John Shank's, near Greencastle; William
Etter's; Allen Mohler's; John Sollenberger's; George Copp's; Dr.
Fahnestock's, in Middletown, Pennsylvania; Abraham Gipe's, near
Lebanon; Jacob Gipe's; Abraham Balsbaugh's; Peter Miller's, this side
Harrisburg; George Deardorf's; Daniel Longenacre's; Widow Bowman's,
near Middletown, Maryland; John Garber's, Jr.; John Garber's, Sr.;
Jacob Rupp's; Nathaniel Bondsack's; Jacob Saylor's; William Deahl's;
David Reinhardt's; Sherk's, near Sharpsburg; Fahnestock's, near
Winchester, Virginia; George Shaver's, in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Some may say: This reads like a bill of goods with the prices omitted.
But think a little, my friend. Let us suppose that business would
compel you to mount the back of a horse away off in Rockingham County,
Virginia, and travel day after day, until you had completed the round
of visiting every family above named; and in addition to this attend a
meeting of some kind every day or two, and yet be compelled to do all
this in the short space of twenty-one days; would you not think it a
task worthy of mention? Now Brother Kline did all this, but not on the
score of any business interest whatever. Instead of seeking any
worldly gain by it, the direct opposite was the truth, for he came
home with less money in his pocket than he started with. It was just
what he expected and felt assured would be the case. But he went. And
what induced him to go? The love of Christ constrained him. The love
of doing good to others by pointing out the way of salvation to them.
Have I, have you, such love?
Between the last date given and the twenty-first of October Brother
Kline attended a love feast at Beaver Creek, Virginia; one on Lost
River; and one at Flat Rock. Besides these, he attended the regular
Sunday meetings, council meetings, and visited, medically, a
considerable number of patients. He reports much rain in October, and
several times his life was endangered crossing high waters.
FRIDAY, October 22. On this day he started on a journey across the
mountains of western Virginia. He followed a line of love feasts and
other meetings through the counties of Hampshire, Virginia; Garret,
Maryland; Preston and Monongalia, Virginia, to Dunkard Creek in
Pennsylvania, not far this side of Wheeling. He returned over nearly
the same route by which he went, filling appointments he left on his
way out. He reports, on this journey, 371 miles traveled on horseback,
over some rugged mountains and bad roads much of the way. He arrived
home November 4, after an absence of two weeks.
TUESDAY, November 30. Attend the burial of old Mother Horn. Age,
ninety years, two months and two days.
SUNDAY, December 5. Attend the burial of old Mother Conrad. Age,
eighty-five years and nine months.
WEDNESDAY, December 15. Louis and Samuel Kline, of Pennsylvania, visit
us. I take them around to see their and my kindred.
TUESDAY, December 21. Perform the marriage ceremony of Samuel
Hinegartner and Catharine Ralls, at Christian Crider's.
FRIDAY, December 31. Meeting of general council in our meetinghouse.
In the year that is now about to close I have traveled 3,424 miles,
nearly all on horseback. The work of another year is done; and the
record has passed into eternity. As clay, once formed by the hand of
the potter and burnt in a kiln can never be reduced to clay again and
worked over into other forms, so our deeds in life, once done, are
done forever. A vase may be broken, it is true, but the fragments are
apt to reveal the form of the vessel from which they came. So the hand
of jealousy, of envy, of persecution even, may shatter the results of
our best efforts here; but God will gather up the pieces and be able
to tell by their appearance and quality that they belonged to a vessel
of honor in his sight. Seeds sometimes lie a long time in the ground
before they grow and make a blade; so it may be with much of the good
seed that I and others of our beloved Brotherhood have sown this year.
Backward springs and other unfavorable states of weather during the
early part of the growing season are sometimes followed by rich
harvests. We do not know what the future may bring forth, but we do
know that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. In
him I trust.
SUNDAY, January 1. Attend the burial of old Mother Baer, at Brother
George Kline's. Age, ninety-six years, four months and twenty days.
THURSDAY, February 3. Perform the marriage ceremony of Michael May and
Julian Custer at George Riddle's.
About this time Brother Kline became deeply interested in the
construction and erection of a bridge across a ford in the North Fork
of the Shenandoah river. His design in this, however, included more
than the avoidance of one dangerous ford; it took in two others. It
was equivalent to spanning three bad fords with one bridge. His plan,
which has since been exactly carried into effect, was to cut down the
end of the mountain in the Gap where it projects into the river, open
up a good highway through the cut, and thus shorten the distance very
materially and shun two dangerous and ever-shifting fords, one above
and the other below the cut. His patience and perseverance in this
great enterprise yielded to no discouragements, and he saw the bridge
built, and the projecting end of the mountain cut down. Like all other
men who have embarked in great enterprises above or beyond the grasp
of ordinary comprehension, he had to combat opposition from some who
should, on the score of direct personal interest in the improvement,
have been most willing to aid in the work. Brother Kline did not live
to see his design fully executed, but it has been carried into effect
within the last decade by the construction of a new bridge upon the
old abutments, and a new road on the very line he proposed. As the
improvement under consideration is a very great one, and originally
undertaken by individual contributions; and as future generations may
wish to know who the prime movers were, and when the first move was
made, the following entry in the Diary will be given here:
FRIDAY, February 25. Attend a meeting of some public-spirited men, at
Samuel Coots's store near the Gap, for the purpose of agreeing upon
the construction of a bridge across the river near the store; for
cutting down the face of the Gap Rock; for making a new road through
the Cut; and for raising funds to meet the same.
Samuel Coots, State Senator from Rockingham County, took an active
part. Abraham Funk, Benjamin Bowman, John J. Bowman, with many other
prominent citizens, nearly or quite all of whom have passed away,
deserve to have their names enrolled as patrons of the enterprise.
WEDNESDAY, March 8. Attend the burial of Brother David Hollar's wife
to-day. Age, forty-seven years and five months.
FRIDAY, March 10. Go to Michael Wine's and attend the burial of his
mother. Age, ninety-three years, three months and fourteen days.
WEDNESDAY, April 12. Attend the funeral of Mrs. Wells Hevner in the
Gap. Age, thirty-three years.
THURSDAY, April 13. Council meeting at our meetinghouse. Samuel
Wampler and myself are established in the ministry, and Joseph Miller
advanced.
FRIDAY, April 14. Council meeting at the Flat Rock. Jacob Wine is
advanced to the second grade in the ministry of the Word.
MONDAY, April 17. Council meeting in the Lost River meetinghouse.
Jacob Pope is chosen speaker.