The pagan system of Freemasonry began to make inroads in the body of
Christians known as the Indiana Eldership of the Church of God. A
storm of opposition arose from some who were of the more spiritual
element of the Church when a number of the members became affiliated
with the Masonic Lodge. It appears that the main body of the
Eldership did not object to secret societies, and the result of the
agitation was that a number of ministers who stood for the opposition
and refused to fellowship Freemasons were expelled from the Eldership
and were denied a renewal of their licenses. Others left the body of
their own accord. In consequence a new Eldership was formed called
the Northern Indiana Eldership.
Among those who constituted the original members of the new Eldership
were Elders J. Martin, J. S. Shock, C. Clem, E. B. Bell, B. F. Bear,
I. W. Lowman, and J. W. Ray. The new body came into possession of
most of the church property and the best churches. They appointed
a Board of Publication, which took steps to begin publishing a
paper devoted to the interests of the cause for which they stood.
Accordingly there appeared in January, 1878, the first number
of the Herald of Gospel Freedom, a monthly periodical published
from Wolcottville, Ind., at fifty cents a year. It stood for the
promotion of gospel truth and freedom, opposition to all oathbound
secret societies, Freemasonry in particular, and loyalty to God and
conformity to his Word. I. W. Lowman was editor.
At the Eldership meeting which convened at Beaver Dam on Oct. 5,
1878, and which was the third annual session, Brother Warner was
voted a member. In his diary for October 5 appears this account of
the proceedings:
=5.= A good deal of time was given to prayer during the day. Much
unnecessary business usually gone through within the various
Elderships was dispensed with. All went off smoothly and with
love. Not a grating word or discordant note in all that was said
and done. No one was called to order; no one was materially out of
order. The manner in which business was done and the good degree
of devotional spirit with which it was pervaded was a great stride
from the carnal and formal wranglings of Elderships of the present
to the simplicity and spirituality of an apostolic Eldership.
Praise God, he is leading his children out into the glorious
freedom of the gospel.
The most of the time was devoted to the publishing interests. A
very important measure was enacted--that of enlarging the Herald,
issuing it semi-monthly and devoting a part of it to the promotion
of Bible holiness. Praise God for this glorious movement. It is
wonderful how he is controlling things for his glory. Probably
a large majority of the Eldership are not in the experience of
full salvation, and of course some are disbelievers in it, among
whom are some of the preachers. Brother Shock, one of the number,
the present speaker, is probably our most talented man. But all
glory to the name of God, he controlled all these elements so
that Satan could not move one to open his mouth against this work
of God, and this Eldership voted to support holiness as a second
experience. Trusting in God, I can see glorious results from this
project. It is bringing about what the Lord showed me last winter;
that is, a people straight before God in holiness and truth. By
this blessed little organ God is going to bring the true church
foundation and Bible truth into the hands of holiness people, and
holiness doctrine into the hands of Church of God members, which
must result in a divine union of truth and holiness. And this is
just what is wanted to save the world. Holiness, the great lever of
power, has since the Reformation been weakened and encumbered by
party names and creeds and human traditions; whereas the Church of
God, though established upon eternal truth, has nevertheless been
without strength to accomplish her mission for the want of perfect
holiness, the divinely appointed power to bring the world to God.
At this session of the Eldership, as Brother Warner says, special
attention was given to the Eldership's paper, the Herald of Gospel
Freedom. During its first year it had been a 10 by 15 four-column
folio. It was now increased in size to a five-column 13 by 20. It
was made a semi-monthly and its subscription price advanced to
seventy-five cents. Lowman was reelected editor and publisher and
Brother Warner was elected associate editor to conduct a new holiness
department. A number of special contributors were chosen. A music
department, already established and conducted by Professor J. F.
Kinsey, of Cincinnati, was to be continued. The best exchanges were
secured, and with this prospect the paper started on its second year,
1879. A portion of the prospectus for that year is here given.