No person that has the real cause of God at heart can fail to
deplore the fact that in this city two papers are now being
published, both claiming to be holiness papers, having of course
conflicting interests.
That this state of affairs must weaken and wound this sacred cause,
and hedge up its way by destroying the confidence of the people
in the great truth of holiness, is very apparent to all thinking
minds. This being true, fearful responsibilities rest somewhere,
and the people have a right to know where.
It is a painful task to refer to the reproach that is brought
upon the pure cause of holiness; but it is largely known, and can
be remedied only by a statement of the causes and terms of the
dissolution of the Trumpet firm. Two papers in the same place with
rival interests can not both be of God--there is no use trying to
smuggle the fact.
The blame must be located, and though its location exposes personal
character, it must be done. Paul wrote even with tears of some whom
he pronounced enemies of the cross of Christ. Alas, how often the
blessed Son of God is sacrificed at the shrine of selfishness, and
sold for a few pieces of money!
The office having been donated by the Church of God in northern
Indiana, for the use of the Trumpet, we entered into a
consolidation and partnership, agreeing that "each should do one
half of the labor, pay one half of the expenses, and receive one
half of the income."
We went to work in good earnest, published two papers at Rome City,
and then shipped the office to this city.
But before it arrived we found ourself bound to a chilling iceberg,
an austere, worldly, complaining, and mere money policy. Though
rather incongenial to our feelings, we thought it probably all for
the better and were willing to go ahead; but ere long the Spirit of
God clearly indicated to us that we should not work with this man.
We gave the matter all into the hands of God, and told the Lord
that if he wished a dissolution, he should bring it about in his
own time and his own way.
We had made no note of labors at Rome City, but thought when we set
up here we should be under the necessity of doing so; but wishing
to avoid every shadow of blame for the separation that we knew
was coming, we continued to waive our right in the agreement, and
went on working for the Lord, while partner gave his time to the
Cincinnati Times-Star, with the exception of an occasional call of
a few minutes at the office.
It pleased God to withhold a competent income from the paper.
This soon wrought a divine purpose, and partner proposed to
dissolve--offered to give or take one hundred dollars, and the
party taking the office pay all the debts on the firm. Having
the will of God clearly revealed to us, we could not, without
disloyalty to God and infidelity to the brethren who donated the
office, abandon it. We also had one hundred and seventy dollars
in the office that partner did not, having released notes to that
amount against those churches when they kindly donated the office.
We remarked, however, that as the office had been given for the use
of the Trumpet, it was not right that, withdrawing from the paper,
he should ask that amount of money. But the answer was that the
Pilgrim field which had been merged into the Trumpet was worth that
to him. We therefore consented to pay the one hundred dollars to
satisfy him for the field. But when we remarked that he of course
would feel himself under obligations not to start another paper
here, both because of the amount received for the field, and for
shame's sake, as it could only expose the cause to reproach, we
were surprized that he would not make a fair promise. We insisted
upon it as our right, and he remarked finally that he did not think
he would start another. Just then the Spirit said, "Trust it in the
hands of the Lord, God will himself manage the matter." From that
time we said no more about it....
We feel that our skirts are clear from the harm that holiness must
suffer from this bad example to the world. And if God can bless the
little opposition sheet (for such is the spirit of its first issue)
we shall be thankful.
Bless the Lord! We have nothing to fear, because we have nothing
to lose. The Trumpet is indeed all burned up for God; but out
of its ashes shall continue to rise honest, holy, God-fearing
pilgrims, instead of "happy pilgrims" who rejoice in unrighteous
gain. God is now on trial. He is our only resource. On the other
hand, a crafty policy slyly gets up a little paper, changes the
association meeting from =home= to Terre Haute, presents it to
the congregation, gets =four votes= in its favor, then himself
pronounces it adopted; is elated that he was "sharp" enough to get
the one hundred dollars and the field also, and now boasts that he
will take away the Trumpet subscribers. O Lord, pity and save such
a one for Christ's sake!
Just now we feel a deeper concern for his salvation than for all we
may suffer through his competition. Though doubtless we shall lose
some readers through this assumed organ of the State association,
a thing that lives only in name, and whose head, professing to be
called to labor in the vineyard of the Lord as a gospel minister,
prefers the vineyard of the worldly paper as more lucrative, we are
thankful that the Gospel Trumpet rests only upon God and its own
merits.
Our Father in heaven still owns the universe. Truth has not lost
its power, neither have the =four votes= cast at Terre Haute
dethroned the Almighty. Halleluiah! Jesus reigns.
After dissolution of partnership with Haines, Brother Warner was
supplied with a colaborer in J. C. Fisher, who took a half interest,
and was very effectual in starting the work in Michigan, where he
resided.[10]
Illustrative of the poverty of the Trumpet in its infancy as well as
the construction of the first publishing office, is another editorial
from the June 1 number here given. The location of this new office
was on Brother Warner's lot at 625 West Vermont St., adjoining his
residence.