Brother Warner had the right view of ministerial qualification.
He realized that in order to succeed he must have the spiritual
anointing, and that since it was God's work it was needful that he be
in that divine relation by which it would be God in him accomplishing
the result. He held education to be very useful and it was his
endeavor throughout his life to add to his knowledge; but he regarded
the spiritual qualification as paramount. He soon proved to be gifted
as an evangelist and engaged much in evangelistic work.
Before proceeding far in active ministerial work he was married, on
the 5th of September, 1867, to Tamzen Ann Kerr. It is probable that
he became acquainted with this young woman while he was teaching
school in the vicinity of her home, which was near West Unity,
Williams County. She lived to enjoy his companionship and to share
his labors only about four and one half years. Early in 1872 she gave
birth to triplets, which lived only a few hours. Nor did the mother
long survive the ordeal, as she died on May 26, after a succession
of spasms. A family record in an old Bible shows also the birth of a
son, on Dec. 29, 1868, but fails to record his death. Brother Warner
refers to this son once in his diary.
He was granted a license by the West Ohio Eldership,[2] which met
in its eleventh annual session at Findlay in October, 1867. His
reference to this event in his diary is given in another part of
this book. In this chapter as well as in some of the succeeding
chapters, the copious extracts from Brother Warner's diary will give
the reader a better understanding of his character, his temperament,
his spirituality and devotion, and his work, than would description
by another. Unfortunately these journal records for the first five
years of his ministry (for it is assumed that he kept such records),
which no doubt would be very interesting, are not available. All the
information to be obtained covering this period is from those still
living who had personal knowledge of the events, and from references
to this period in his later records. In one of these he says he began
traveling in 1868. In another he refers to having labored the first
year in Hancock County, at Blanchard Bethel, in connection with
Findlay.
During the first six years of his ministry his activities covered
practically all of northwestern Ohio and a small portion of Indiana.
Persons now living who were present in some of his revivals during
this period state that they were remarkable for manifestations of
God's power. Hard-hearted sinners, some of whom had not attended
a meeting for years, would get under conviction and cry audibly
for mercy. He ranked high as an evangelist--above the average of
his day. In physical appearance he was slightly above average
in height, rather slender and frail in build. His temperament
was sanguine-nervous, eyes blue, hair brown--a fine sensitive
organization. He wore a full beard, which in later years he kept
shortly trimmed. He had the perfect bearing of a minister of the
gospel, and his speech and conduct were fully consistent. His
mentality was keen. His lungs were weak, but he wore well as a
speaker. His voice was musical and possessed good carrying quality.
One of his earliest revivals was held at New Washington, Crawford
County, the home of his boyhood. He refers to it under date of Nov.
24, 1872, as follows:
This town had ever been abandoned to the mercies of Catholics,
Old Lutherans, and saloons, all of which were equally destructive
of all moral good. No protracted effort had ever been made in the
place. No conversions had ever been heard of. In the fall of 1870
I was put upon the Seneca circuit, of which New Washington was
nearly in the center, and knowing the debauchery and ignorance of
the people in general, I determined to lift up the standard of
King Immanuel in that place. Accordingly I settled in the place
and rented a vacant building that used to contain a drug store and
saloon. The owner had speculative motives, having asked quite a
dear rent for the room. But during the winter I and companion made
special prayer to God for his conversion.
The meeting was begun on the 17th of February, 1871. The night
before the owner slept not for deep conviction. As soon as I arose
in the morning he came to me in tears and confessed his sins and
asked my prayers. I directed him to look to Christ for immediate
pardon and deliverance. I gave him some of the great promises of
Christ. And there, standing in his own stable, he looked to Christ
and experienced a full pardon of all his sins. This settled the
rent for the house. The third night six came to the altar. The
meeting was attended with great power and produced a great stir
among the people, many of whom had never seen the like. Fifty-six
were converted, forty-six baptized, and forty-six fellowshiped into
the organization.
Among these converts were a number of his school-mates, old
acquaintances, and neighbors. George Pratt, of Nappanee, Ind.,
an old schoolmate and a former resident of New Washington, makes
this statement concerning this meeting: "The meeting was held in
my father's drug-store building. Brother Warner held the meeting
unaided. He stood there alone and preached while others threatened.
There were bad elements that rose in opposition, the Lutheran being
the worst and the Catholic next. My father protected him. It was a
wonderful meeting and many were saved."
The earliest of his diary records so far available begin in November,
1872, as follows, when he was on the Seneca circuit and had his home
with a Brother Wright, in Crawford County, Ohio:
=8.= Brother P. Wright brought me to Bucyrus. Staid all night
with Bro. J. G. Wirt. The Methodists had a festival. I and a few
members of the same church (who repudiated these follies and
inconsistencies) met for prayer and the Lord was with us. These
brethren were much dissatisfied with their church relation.
=9.= Left Bucyrus at 7 A. M. Reached Lima at nine. Stopped at the
Burnet House till 1:20 P. M. Wrote a letter to my brother and one
to brother-in-law, L. W. Guiss.
=10.= Sabbath. A. M., prayer-meeting at Brother Dague's, P. M.,
heard a Lutheran minister in Milton. Evening, preached from Isa.
28:16,17. I occupied the Presbyterian house. I preached here some
in the schoolhouse in 1868, the first year I traveled.
=11.= Took the train at 7:30 A. M. for Tontogany, with the design
of finding where God wishes me to labor as a missionary. 0 Lord,
guide thy servant to the place thou canst best use him! Walked
from Tontogany to Brother Hardee's. Evening, went to Evangelical
meeting. Brother W---- preached. Heard a great noise, but to
the congregation it appeared as a tinkling cymbal and sounding
brass, evidently having no effect. Nearly all blew loudly the horn
of sanctification but manifested little of its fruits, such as
travail of soul for the sinner and sympathy for the one soul at the
altar, to whom none gave a word of encouragement, but each in turn
arose and boasted of his holiness. Oh the delusions of Satan! How
manifold they are!
In the entry just quoted the reader will notice his prejudice,
existing at that time, against the doctrine of holiness, or
sanctification. How strange it seems to those who knew him afterward
to be a whole-souled advocate of the doctrine of holiness, that
he should thus speak! It was altogether a matter of light and
understanding. His heart was consecrated and he certainly was not
unacquainted with the Holy Spirit during his early ministry. But as
a definite experience to be believed for and testified to, he knew
nothing about sanctification as yet. Also, it is possible that in its
advocates whom he had met thus far, the doctrine and experience had
not been rightly represented.
It will be observed also from these quotations from his journal
that he meant to stand, and believed he was standing, free from
sectarianism. He had considerable light on the church question and
spiritual Babylon.
The place referred to in the following entry was near Holland, Lucas
County.
=13.= Visited Father and Brother John McNut and Brother Irvin.
Eve, preached in the brick schoolhouse, on Jas. 1:27. Here the
Church of God had long been slandered and persecuted, principally
by the United Brethren Church. One of the epithets they had for
years called us is, "Johnny Cake Church." Bro. Henry S. McNut
lives here nearly alone. He and his wife and their ancestors for
generations past belonged to the United Brethren, but in the fall
of 1870, after a hard spell of sickness in which he feared that
he should die and be lost for not obeying the truth, he came to
the West Ohio Eldership and received a license and began to preach
amidst a storm of persecution from the United Brethren Church. Even
his own companion, though an amiable woman, had been so poisoned
against the Church of God that she joined in to oppose him. But
he was firm and now commands the position. Every foe had fled and
all that truly fear God join in to encourage the truth. Some will
doubtless soon cut loose from sectarian bondage. Those that were
the bitterest enemies now confess that we are right and they are
wrong.
The Church of God, as we have seen, repudiated sectarianism, and the
assumption by that church that it was the Scriptural one was a strong
underlying principle. In some respects it held the correct idea of
the Scriptural church. To some extent, therefore, Brother Warner's
membership in that denomination afforded him light that naturally
led to the full Scriptural standard which he afterward taught. His
affiliation with that denomination in the first place was, as we have
seen, because of a disposition to be Scripturally right on this point.
=14.= Brother McNut and I went to Toledo to look for a place in
which to open a mission in that city.
=15.= Walked nearly all day in search of a place to open a mission.
No success. May God soon open the way for the establishment of his
church in this place.
In his diary Brother Warner recorded something for each day. Every
time he preached it was noted and numbered and the text was given.
The Eldership required each minister to give a report of his work. It
is not necessary to quote all the shorter entries and items from his
diary, which are much the same and generally speak of his visiting
some one, making some trip, reading, writing, preaching, praying,
fasting, baptizing, etc. Only the more interesting items, or such as
are the most representative, will be given.
=22.= Returned to Auburn. Meeting at Basswood still in progress.
The young men who made a start the last night I was there have
all found Jesus their Savior. Preached from Mal. 3:8. A deep
seriousness pervaded the minds of all. The feeling of that night
shall not soon be forgotten. It was as solemn as the grave. A
sensation of dark and fearful forebodings of some approaching
calamity ran through every mind. Bro. H. Caldwell arose and said
he had a matter revealed to him that he felt impressed to relate,
and that was that before tomorrow's sun should set some one in this
community would suddenly be killed. At his request we arose and
pledged ourselves to offer one more fervent prayer that night in
behalf of poor sinners.
=23.= Spent the day at home in reading, meditation and prayer.
Brother Jenner preached in the evening. I labored hard to bring
penitents to the altar. Three came out, two of whom were old
acquaintances of mine, for whom I had felt a deep interest. One
found peace.
After meeting was dismissed we heard that Ezekiel R----, an old
man eighty-two or eighty-three years of age, who lived one mile
and a quarter east of the schoolhouse, had that day been killed
by the cars in crossing the track at Shelby. I knew the man from
my boyhood; he bought out my father in that country in 1853. He
was very wealthy. God had blessed him with long life, prosperity,
and good health. But he had no thanks to offer to his divine
Benefactor, having set his whole heart upon the god of this world.
There was no place for Christ in his heart. He leaned toward
Universalism, because congenial to the carnal mind. He was filled
with skepticism and was always in the habit of speaking lightly
of preachers and professors of religion. I visited him twice
during the meeting at Auburn last winter and conversed with him
on the subject of religion. He acknowledged that there is one
thing in the Bible that caused him to study a good deal, and that
is the new birth, which he said, was perfectly dark to him. He
told of having once gone to hear one of the greatest champions of
Universalism preach on the subject. "But," said he, "I received no
light whatever." His case was a clear fulfilment of 1 John 2:11,
"Darkness hath blinded his eyes," and 2 Cor. 4:4, "The God of
this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." He
had a very large development of brain, of which firmness was the
largest developed organ. What a pity that the devil perverted these
faculties!
I was informed that he was going that day to close a mortgage and
take a widow's farm from her. His last words to his wife, who
cautioned him to beware of the cars at the crossing, were, "I was
not made to be killed by the cars." This is like one who said to
his soul, "Thou hast much laid up for many days; eat, drink, and
be merry." But God said "Thou fool! this night shall thy soul be
required of thee." He said "I was not made to be killed by the
cars." But God said, "Thou fool! this day shalt thou be killed by
the cars." His brains were dashed out and strewn along the road.
His body was much mangled. But his poor soul has gone with all its
guilt to where another rich man opened his eyes in torment.
The entry for the 24th, which was Sunday, records his preaching a
farewell sermon to the congregation at New Washington, and also his
reference to the revival held there in February, 1871. He had had the
care of the congregation there.
=25.= I and Bro. S. Kline came to Conlay's, near Annapolis,
Crawford County, Ohio, and began my first protracted effort in the
name of Christ. Preached from Psa. 85:6,7. A good interest was
manifested. Oh that God would visit the place in power, save many
precious souls, and raise up a people for his name!
=27.= Started early for Bucyrus on our way to the Standing
Committee at Rock Run. Took train at 10 A. M., arrived there
at noon. I was chosen to fill a vacancy on the committee. Upon
us devolved the solemn and responsible duty of trying and
dis-fellowshiping Elder L. E---- for immoral conduct. Oh, what a
pity! May the Lord have mercy upon him and help him to repent
and be restored to the confidence of the people. May he be saved
in the day of wrath. Oh, how careful the man of God, especially
the minister of the gospel, should conduct himself in this wicked
world! Lord, deliver us from temptation.
The meetings referred to in the next few entries were a protracted
effort at the Conlay Bethel, near Annapolis, now called Sulphur
Springs, Crawford County, Ohio.
=Dec. 4, 1872.= Visited a sick saint, J. McEntire, who has been
afflicted for many years. He was near his last. Oh, what a happy
soul. The night before he was almost gone. Said he, "I saw a convoy
of angels around my bed waiting to carry my spirit home. I thought
I was going home. Here I am yet lingering on the shores of time."
Then a brother came in, to whom he remarked, "Sister Polly has gone
home. I thought I would beat her, but I am left behind. All summer
I and Cousin Patrick and Aunt Polly have had a hard race, but they
have both crossed over and I am left to struggle on; but every gale
wafts my little ship nearer the shining shore." "Oh!" said he, "It
is all bright ahead, not a cloud do I see." After a little rest
he remarked, "Oh! Brother, I know that my spirit will not go down
into forgetfulness until the resurrection; but I am going to Jesus,
which is far better. Oh, how sweet the name of Jesus!" I spent the
day with this brother, sang and prayed with him. Eve, preached from
Acts 3:19.
=9.= Spent the day in fasting and in much wrestling and prayer for
poor souls under the guilt of sin. Preached from Luke 13:6-9. One
young lady came to the altar.
=10.= Under much discouragement during the day. Evening, while
singing the opening hymn I was greatly refreshed at the coming in
of Bro. William Burchard, from Auburn, who was converted under my
labors and baptized by me last winter. He was a very wild, wicked
man, but has become a model of piety and earnest devotion. He has
a brilliant intellect and has already made great proficiency in
preaching. Thank God for such men of holy zeal. He being tired
with the walk of eleven miles, I preached, from Ezek. 33:11. The
penitent of the previous night came out and soon the good news went
to heaven that another soul was saved by grace. It was a glorious
meeting. One sister shouted. I got a great victory and was very
happy. Likewise testified the convert and all the rest who spoke.
=17.= Good day meeting. Rebuked a boy for trying to pollute the
house of God by spitting tobacco juice and quids on the floor.
I said nothing to him, knowing that I should be insulted in
return. But being filled with the Spirit I tried to encourage the
three little mourners (girls who had come to the altar) and then
addressed the brethren upon the importance of laboring for the
early conversion of children, stating that it is enough to make
the angels in heaven weep to see how the devil is leading even the
children to wallow in sin and "glory in their shame." "Now, look
at that poor boy," said I, pointing to him. "Ever since he came in
here he has been doing his best to defile the house of God with his
filthy tobacco. It was once said that 'He that doeth evil cometh
not to the light lest his deeds be reproved,' but the devil has so
polluted poor souls that even children in broad day-light do not
blush to do such evil and dirty work for the devil as that. Christ
said, 'That which cometh out of the mouth defileth the heart.' How
defiled that heart must be, all that stench having come out of his
mouth! A few nights ago a dog was accidentally shut in here and
remained until the next evening, but did not pollute the house one
half as much as that boy has done in half an hour." At this he
grabbed his hat and, "being convicted in his own conscience, went
out." God pity that boy and help older people to take a hint.
=18.= A. M., wrote most of the time. P. M., visited Brother
McEntire. Found him much cast down and depressed, being overanxious
to be absent from the body, in which 'tabernacle we groan, being
burdened.' I told him that he ought to wait patiently till his
"change cometh," knowing when he got home once he would have long
time to stay there, even through all eternity; and the longer he
should be tossed about upon the dark and tempestuous sea of this
troublesome life the greater would be his joy when at last he
should land in the peaceful harbor of the great city of God. After
reading and singing and praying with him, he had great peace and
perfect resignation to God.
=25.= Another Christmas is here. O thou Child of Bethlehem, may we
this day bring the offering of a grateful heart! May every tongue
on earth and all the angels in heaven join together to spread the
glory of Jesus' name! Dear Lord, we thank thee for the unspeakable
gift of thy Son to man. Oh, may every heart prepare him room! Dear
Savior, draw poor sinners to thee. Show them thy bleeding hands,
temples, and side. Oh that the star of hope would this day guide
many poor wandering souls to thee!
=28.= Came to the place of meeting. Distance thirteen miles.
Schoolhouse was full. Good attention. Went to Solomon B----'s, an
infidel. Talked till twelve at night.
=29.= Sabbath. Talked with Mr. B. until 10:30 A. M. He is a very
smart man. Has his excellent memory stored with the writings of
almost every wretch that ever dared to attack God and his holy
religion. He is one of the best readers I ever met. What a pity
that this noble intellect should be so basely employed! His horrid
utterances are enough to chill the blood and heart of man and cause
the angels of heaven to weep. He claims to be "a smarter man than
Christ." "The devil is a gentleman compared with God." "Your God
is not fit to be worshiped by a dog." "All professors are either
hypocrites or fools." Oh, that God would pity that poor wretch who
in the blindness of his depraved heart dares to rush with violence
upon the Almighty!
=30.= Spent the day in reading, writing, and prayer, at Brother
Conlay's. Eve, preached from Rom. 2:4. Good congregation. Saw some
omens of good.
=31.= This is the last day of another year. How swift the years
roll around and each brings us nearer eternity! Lord, help us to
redeem the time and so "number our days, that we may apply our
hearts unto wisdom," that at last it may not be said of us that
"we spend our years as a tale that is told." Oh that each hour of
my short life may bring some good account at last, when life's
conflict is o'er! Great and many have been the changes of the last
year. Yea,
"What countless millions of mankind
Have left this fleeting world!
They're gone, but where? oh, pause and see,
Gone to a long eternity!"
One there was, the dearest of my earthly friends, who a year ago
stood by my side, the joy of my life, the sweet, innocent object
of my fervent love. But she is gone, that dear companion upon
whose rosy cheek and harmless lips I used to impress the kiss of
burning, never-dying love. O Tamzen! thy heart and life, as pure
as the white and fleecy snow that this morning covers thy peaceful
resting-place, has reared an everlasting monument in the hearts of
all that knew thee on earth.
I have now seen thirty years pass into eternity. Not quite eight
years have been devoted to God. The year has been one of God's
goodness to me, notwithstanding the loss of my blessed wife, which
is her gain and God's glory, and therefore I am willing to travel
on a lone pilgrim in search of souls for Jesus' sake.
'Twas very stormy. Wrote and read. Preached from Psa. 90:9, "We
spend our years as a tale that is told." Tried to show the folly of
living in sin.
=Jan, 1, 1873.= This is the first day of the year. O my soul, set
out afresh for heaven! Lord help me to spend the year all to thy
glory if we live to the end. But if it is said of me, "This year
thou shall die," may I be ready to enter into rest.
=7.= Preached from Rom. 6:1. Told my dream, the subject of which I
thought was in the way of a score of souls.
=8.= Fasted today. Very solemn meeting at Brother Crim's. All wept
for poor sinners. O Lord, hear the prayers and groans and bottle up
the tears of thy children and bring thy salvation nigh! Preached
from Heb. 2:3. The meeting has received a great backset. I fear the
whole work is killed. Before I came here I had a peculiar dream in
which I saw a face that was strange to me. There was much confusion
in those features, as in the midst of a council it stood out
conspicuous, and there was something in the position of the person
that pierced my heart. Last night I announced that I had recognized
these features since I came here. Mr. B., the infidel, arose and
asked whether he were the man. I said no. Tonight Esq. K., a poor
blind Lutheran, came to meeting, and before I closed he arose and
enquired if he were the man. While I was talking, I was powerfully
baptized by the Spirit of God and replied, "Thou art the man." He
was daunted, but stammered out a denial; but before I had time to
ask a question he confessed that he had forbidden his family to
come out to the altar. They are five young men and one daughter,
three of them were under deep conviction and others serious. One
of the boys is married and his wife and all their associates were
serious and some anxious to come out, but all were prevented from
coming to Christ by this poor wretch, whose form of religion fitted
him to do this work for the devil.
In this attack I realized the fulfilment of the promise of Christ.
'In that same hour it shall be given you what ye shall answer, for
it shall not be you but the Spirit that speaketh.' I warned him of
the fearful account he would have to give at the judgment-bar of
God.
=9.= Meeting at Samuel Shell's. We were all cast down and felt the
Spirit of God had been grieved out of the community. Eve, preached
from Jer. 28:16. Gave a farewell address and closed the meeting
because, first, the work was so stagnated that nothing could be
expected to be accomplished without a longer effort than I could
devote to the place and, second, because it was highly probable
that as soon as the work should break out again Satan would stir
up trouble again from some source. I gained many warm friends and
sowed seed which I trust will bring fruit to God. Some of the young
men that desired religion I think will not give up the struggle.
They sent me some money and word that if I would hold a meeting
somewhere in reach that they would attend and seek religion, but
there they had not the heart to come out.
=25.= Visited Brother and Sister Chapman. She is an excellent
saint. Found her much afflicted. Brother C. had for many years been
a skeptic and Universalist, but a year ago he came out at a meeting
held by Bro. T. James and me. He is a faithful brother. A neighbor
of his by name of L----, who was the means of breaking up the
fore-mentioned meeting, dropped dead in his tracks a few months ago.
=Feb. 28, 1873.= Good day meeting at Brother McClintock's. [near
Larue, Marion County]. Eve, preached from Eph. 2:2. Four came
to the altar and were blessed, one of whom had been an avowed
Universalist. Others doubtless would have come out but the house
was so densely filled that we could not crowd the people back to
get more room for penitents.
=Mar. 1, 1873.= Spent the day at Mother Melvin's. Wrote an article
for the Advocate. Brother Burchard preached. Four at the altar. All
were blessed, I think. House crowded and many outside.
=2.= Sabbath. Speaking at ten. Preached on Church of God, Acts
20:28. Eve, the house was packed and all the windows were crowded
on the outside. Preached, Jer. 13:16. By hard work we got a little
space at the altar and four presented themselves for prayer.
=5.= Meeting at Brother Deen's. Fellowshiped twelve. P. M., because
of the immense crowd that thronged the schoolhouse we divided the
meeting. I preached at Windfall, from Job 22:15-17. Several rose
for prayers. Brother Burchard preached at the Ellen Schoolhouse,
one and one half miles north.
=9.= Sabbath. Brother Small and I went to the Shertzer Schoolhouse,
where he preached at 11 A. M. on church matters, after which we
received in fellowship eleven members, most by letter from the
Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. After taking a hasty
dinner we mounted our steeds and rode four miles, partly through a
woods, in the midst of a rain and severe storm. Reached Windfall at
2:30 P. M. Eve, preached on Acts 26:18. One at the altar.
=10.= Prepared a dam to baptize. Eve, Num. 10:28.
=11.= A. M., preached on sisters' right to speak and pray in
meeting, after which we had a speaking-meeting. Fellowshiped
fourteen members. House crowded and many on the outside. One
brother who was always opposed to women's speaking arose and
confessed his error. We then proceeded to the water, where I
baptized twenty-two converts in eleven minutes. It was a glorious
and beautiful baptismal service. All came out shouting and praising
God. Eve, preached on Luke 13:6-9. Several rose for prayers, some
of whom were old in sin. We had a speaking-meeting. All that had
been immersed said that it had been a happy day for them and
that they had turned a new and brighter page in the history of
their pilgrimage. Oh how good it is to obey God! A good part of
the number had been sprinkled, some after making a profession of
religion in adult years. Great God, what a pity that the world is
cursed by an unholy sectarian ministry "who teach for doctrine the
commandments of men!"
=12.= Eve, preached on barren fig-tree. Matt. 21:18-22. Four came
to the altar, one blessed. Went home with Mr. William Riser, who
brought a horse for me to ride. It was a beautiful light night, and
a ride of some two miles winding through the woods was somewhat
pleasant. Did not retire until twelve o'clock.
=13.= This morning I spent an hour rambling far out in the dense,
rolling forest to breath the pure air and to hold communion with
my God. At ten William Riser's house was filled with brethren and
sisters. We had a glorious meeting. All were happy, many shouted.
It was something very strange to have a meeting in this house. All
remarked that it was something they had never expected to see. Mr.
R. is a man of nearly fifty years and a great sinner. His wife has
been converted and I think the Lord is striving with his heart and
his brother's, who is still older. Oh that God would raise them up
as monuments of his mercy! Eve, Luke 19:10. Two at the altar.
=14.= A. M., meeting at schoolhouse. P. M., just before preaching
I met with a few brethren who had been at variance, and helped to
form a reconciliation, which was a perfect success. Preached on
Matt. 22:21.
=16.= Sabbath. Preached one and three fourths hours on Ezek.
43:10,11, after which we fellowshiped and then baptized three. Eve,
Brother Crawford, Baptist minister preached. Closed the meeting.
Result, thirty-five converted, twenty-five immersed, church formed
of thirty-three members. Expect more additions soon.
=20.= Eve, met the church at Windfall. Decided to build a
meeting-house. Preached on church officers. Elders and deacons
elected.
=Apr. 3, 1873.= Came to New Haven [Huron County]. Eve, met a number
of my dear spiritual children in prayer-meeting. Had a good time
and they exhorted me to meet them in heaven.
=4.= Beautiful day. How bright the sun shines! How the heart is
gladdened at the return of warm and sunny days after such a long
and hard winter as we have passed through! Oh, how I appreciate
the Savior's beautiful metaphor in the Song of Solomon, where the
present state of the church is represented by the winter with its
dark clouds and howling winds, fierce with cold and hunger and
hardship! But glory to God, the spring will come; already the
fig-tree is putting forth her leaves, the turtle dove is heard
in the land, and soon we shall hear the voice of the bridegroom
calling, "Rise up, my beloved, my fair one, and come away; for the
winter is past, and behold, thy beloved has come for thee." What a
happy time that will be when, rising from the grave, we shall meet
our dear friends and our Savior!
I am writing these lines in the beautiful cemetery near New Haven,
Ohio. Before me is the little mound which shows the resting-place
of my three little infants who a little over a year ago passed in
a few hours through this vale of tears, and their little spirits
are forever at rest with Jesus; and in one little box their bodies
await the Savior's coming. What a glorious morning when all these
graves shall burst open and the bodies shall come forth! they that
have done good to the resurrection of life and glory, and they that
have done evil to the resurrection of shame. Oh, may I be among the
former class! Lord, make me a good man and keep me pure in heart.
Farewell, sacred spot. Farewell, little tomb, with thy three-fold
treasure.
=16.= Went to Bryan [Williams County] and ordered a tombstone for
my wife's grave. The one selected cost fifty dollars, has a Bible
lying on it, and I gave the following epitaph:
How sweet and pure in social life,
As daughter, sister, friend, and wife!
Now done with cares below the sun,
She shines before the snow-white throne.
=18.= Came home. Found Father and Mother and Brother well.
=23.= Commenced an editorial on Islamism.
=24.= Wrote and studied phrenology alternately.
=26.= Sent my article on Islamism. Brother Cassel and other
preachers in Illinois send an urgent invitation for me to come to
that State.
=27.= Sabbath. Preached today from 2 Pet. 1:10 in the Cogswell
Schoolhouse [near his father's home], where I made my first
effort to preach the gospel, on Easter night, 1867. 'Twas in a
Methodist Episcopal protracted meeting. The text was Acts 3:18.
Never preached there since. In those six years I have preached
all over northwest Ohio and some in two counties in Indiana, in
all 1241 sermons. The number of converts 508, about the same
number fellowshiped, some less baptized. Thanks be to God for his
blessings and his presence! Though always of weak lungs, thought
oft to be consumptive, yet my health has been better since in the
ministry than ever before. Bless God for his goodness! I have never
missed but one appointment on account of health. The years have
swiftly passed, but, thank the Lord, I have enjoyed great peace and
many rich blessings from the Lord.
=May 13, 1873.= Visited Tamzen's grave. Disappointed in not finding
the monument up. Visited D. W. Dustin, one of my scholars. Exhorted
him to give his heart to Christ.
=15.= Prepared a sermon on the evidence of the divine origin of the
Bible.
=16.= Argument with Mr. Butler on the soul.
He attended, from the 21st to the 23rd, the meeting of the Board of
Missions. He does not indicate where this meeting was held, but says
in connection that he "preached in the Smithville Bethel" and "had
very poor liberty, owing perhaps to the presence of many eastern
ministers." It was at this meeting of the Board of Missions that he
received his appointment to the mission in Nebraska, of which he thus
speaks:
=23.= Beautiful day. Business finished up at 5 P. M. Brother Small
was appointed to Chicago, I to Seward mission, Nebraska. Again I
lay all upon the altar of God. It is very hard for me to leave my
dearly beloved brethren of West Ohio. Thank God, for the great Head
of the church is with them and his cause is greatly prospering
here, and I must go help the cause in the far West. We parted with
tears and many farewells.
=24.= Brother Small and I took train at 7:14 A. M., he for Marion,
I for Larue, which I reached at 12 M. Received a letter from my
beloved brother Sol. Kline. All our dear spiritual children are
yet doing well on Seneca circuit. Wrote two letters. Preached at
Windfall, 2 Pet. 1:13. Great row after meeting.
=28.= These days I have been low spirited and much cast down. It
is the first anniversary of the death and burial of my blessed
companion. How lonely I feel! My bereavement comes with all its
weight upon me. Lord, be thou my comforter in all my loneliness.
In eve, preached in Larue on the Church of God. Text, Eph. 1:10. I
treated it as follows:
1. Notice the purpose of God.
2. "One" church.
3. Extent--heaven and earth.
4. Provisions for oneness:
(a) One church typified.
(b) One, bought, sanctified, made, built.
(c) One faith.
(d) One spirit to animate it.
(e) One head, Christ.
(f) One name, Church of God.
(g) One law to govern it.
5. Standard of oneness--"As I and the Father are one."
6. Time of this oneness.
7. To be visible, "That the world may believe," etc.
8. Object of oneness.
9. Apostasy and restoration of the church.
10. Illustrations:
(a) Paths, Jer. 6:16.
(b) River.
(c) House.
(d) Corner stone.
The Lord gave me great liberty and boldness. Thank his holy name!
=29.= Staid last night with Bro. L. Orr. Sister O. is afflicted;
prayed to the Lord for her recovery. Preached in Larue, eve, Ezek.
43:10,11.
=30.= It had been announced in the Larue Citizen that I would speak
on the Church of God. This brought out quite a large congregation.
Both nights I spoke plainly and boldly against the evil of
sectarianism and other abominations. Many were ill at ease. Some
preachers were present. The Lord gave me good liberty. Last night I
diagramed my subject with chalk upon the blackboard. 2 P. M., took
train for Pentecost meeting at Pleasant Hill.
Brother Warner became a strong exponent of the prophecies. Note his
reference to some reform near at hand. This meeting was held at West
Auburn, Crawford County, after his return from Pleasant Hill.
=June 8, 1873.= Sabbath. Thank God for life and health and this
beautiful day! Behold the throngs pressing toward the house of God!
Speaking-meeting was to begin at half past nine. Ere the time the
house was filled. Others kept coming in continually, much to the
detriment of the interest of the meeting. After all were seated
that could be and the aisles were filled, there were numbers yet
without. The house had been purchased by the Church of God from the
Methodist Episcopal Church and repaired in good style. At eleven,
preaching began. Text, Haggai 2:9, "The glory of this latter house
shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of hosts."...
I then took up the text used in the forenoon and showed that the
destruction of the Temple and the Babylon captivity typified the
dark age. The different attempts to rebuild typified the different
reformations. Its final completion, i. e., all the so-called
churches arising in and growing out of the Dark Age, including
the sects, in which are many of God's people, who are, however,
commanded of God to "come out of her." Further showed that
according to the type and other Scriptures the church of God must
arise to a glory excelling that of the first age, and that, owing
to the fact that the world is near its end (of which we gave some
Scripture evidence), some great revolution must be near at hand to
bring about this prophesied glory of the church.
Some remarks were made on the ordinances, after which we engaged
in the ordinances. Had a glorious time. A great many brethren and
sisters were present to engage in following the Lord. Oh how I love
those dear people! What a host of true hearts! God bless them.
=14.= Traveled by buggy to the grove-meeting at Windfall, four
miles south of Larue. Brother Burchard preached an excellent sermon.
=17.= Received letters from Brother Bolton requesting me to come
soon to my mission [in Nebraska] and one from Brother Shoemaker
requesting me to stop and preach over Sabbath in Chicago.
=19.= Wrote out the record of the Church of God at New Washington.
Eve, preached at Union. Here the church have a peculiar attachment
to me. All wept much at my departure. A more true and faithful band
is hard to find. God bless them. They are very dear to me. About
half of the church are my converts.
=20.= Visited Brother E---- and Sister P----. They embraced
religion under my labors, and I joined them in marriage. Came home
and packed for my journey.
=21.= Finished matters up to start. Received a letter from a =kind
friend=. Went to New Haven in the evening. Farewell meeting at New
Haven.
=22.= Sabbath. Thank God for a beautiful day. Many brethren came
in from Union, New Washington, Auburn, and Liberty, and Brother
Mitchell and others from east Ohio. We had a glorious meeting. I
preached on Luke 13:29, "They shall come from the east, and from
the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit
down in the kingdom of God."
After preaching, Brother Jenner baptized four souls, two of
whom had been converted here at New Haven, the other two were
from elsewhere. Thus out of eight souls converted only two were
baptized. This is the result of deferring to baptize for six
months. Evening, preached on John 6:66-68. Had a good time in
observing the ordinances. With many tears and farewell greetings,
we gave each other the parting hand. Oh what friends are these! It
tries the heart-strings to leave them. What a glorious thing that
there is a meeting that knows no parting! What must it be to be
there! May we all meet at last, when the storms of life are over.
Before leaving for the West, a correspondence was arranged with
Sarah A. Keller, of Upper Sandusky. She is doubtless the "kind
friend" just referred to with emphasis. Out of this correspondence
there soon sprang a glowing flame of love, the beginning of a
companionship that meant for him so much of both weal and woe.