Having had our last issue printed on our neighbor's steam-press, we
concluded it would pay us to trade our old press on a jobber and
have them print the paper regularly.
Our chief reason for so doing was this: in the time that it would
take us to print them on the slow old press, we could make more
on job-work than would pay the printing. But, behold, when our
neighbors learned that we were getting a job-press, they seemed
to think we were intruding on their territory, and not having the
utmost confidence in their typographical ability they thought
to make us pay a sort of royalty for the privilege of doing
job-work here, by raising the price of printing the trumpet from
four dollars to eight dollars an issue; and while we conceded
the perfect right to charge that price, we were happy for the
privilege of saving that amount and printing on our job-press.
Of course, we can print but one page at a time, which makes four
impressions for a folio; and if we print as large as the Trumpet
has been, it will take eight times running through the press,
which, after all, can be done in about the same time it took to
print it in two impressions on the old press, and takes one to run
instead of three.
When the paper comes to you only half the old size we will call it
but a half number, so we will not defraud our subscribers in the
least. But we desire to send you eight pages every two weeks if we
possibly can. When we can not, please bear with us until the kind
providence of God and the liberality of the saints help us to get a
paper-press.
The eight-page proposition did not then materialize. About this time
was adopted the motto, which was carried for many years: "First
pure, then valiant for the truth." The home of the Gospel Trumpet
was not long at Cardington. Brother Warner was desirous of having
a permanent home for the Trumpet, where he would not have to pay
rent. When he moved to Cardington, he did not feel that that would
be the permanent place for the paper. Kind brethren in Michigan made
very liberal offers and asked him to come there; but a place was
opening at Bucyrus, twenty miles distant, in Crawford County. While
he was in prayer pleading earnestly for God's direction, three teams
drove up. It was the brethren from Bucyrus, who had come to move the
office to that place and also help it out of financial difficulties.
There was great joy in Brother Warner's heart as he realized that
God had answered prayer and sent help. One of these brethren, D. D.
Johnston, assisted in the matter of finances. He purchased a lot and
furnished material with which to erect a building. His name appeared
as publisher in August, 1883.
Brother Warner proceeded to build a small office on the lot at
Bucyrus. In the last number printed at Cardington he writes as
follows:
While you read this paper, the editor will be personally at work
erecting a house in which to carry on the work of the Lord. If we
were building a house for ourself we should want to count the cost
before commencing; but we are building this house unto the Lord,
and the earth and the fulness thereof are his, hence, we need not
stop to count since he says go forward. The undertaking is wholly
by faith. While at work with our hands we shall pray without
ceasing to our heavenly Father to send us the means.
* * * * *
We have had experience enough in our business to know that we
never can carry on the paper and pay rent. It is claimed that a
paper is not self-supporting with most any number of subscribers
without receiving advertisements. Just yesterday in the office
of a temperance paper we were told by an editor and publisher
that we ought to take in one thousand dollars every year for
advertisements, and he could not see how the paper could be
carried otherwise. But, beloved, it must be carried otherwise or
not at all. Neither do we wish to do any secular job-work if we
can help it. We shall dispose of our job-press and material as
soon as possible. Now, beloved, when we shall have obtained a good
paper-press (and it is already bought, thank God) and a place free
of rent, with much self-denial and care we shall be able to send
you a paper 22 by 32 every two weeks.
Some of our dear brethren have in love censured us occasionally.
We find generally these two points, sometimes in the same letter,
namely, "Why do you not send your paper out more frequently and
more regularly?" the other, "I think you have not been on your
guard enough to keep out of debt." Well, there it is. We could have
kept entirely out of debt if we had issued fewer papers, and we
might have issued every two weeks had we gone more in debt. But no
one of our experience could possibly have issued more frequently,
with our income and slow facilities. Our dear brethren are without
a knowledge of what they are talking about. But now, beloved, as we
are in this desperate effort to get entirely out of debt and to get
situated so as to cut off much of our past expense, we hope that
all will send us the help they can.
The move to Bucyrus was made in May, 1883. About that time the
first good press was purchased. It was a rebuilt Country Campbell,
allowing either belt- or hand-power to be used, and costing perhaps
six hundred dollars.
The trying times through which the Trumpet had to pass in its early
years are known only to God. It was perhaps his design that it should
be tried as gold is tried. There were always a few consecrated hearts
who contributed of their means. Some put everything they had into
the work. Thus the work was kept alive. Little did Brother Warner
realize, when he was located at Bucyrus and the prospects looked
good, that there he should go through the bitterest trial of his
life. The light of the Trumpet came very near being snuffed out
entirely. Bucyrus was the narrows in the Trumpet's voyage, through
which it barely passed. This will be described in our next chapter.
The office of the Trumpet remained at Bucyrus nearly a year. Some
brethren in Michigan were desirous of having it moved to their
locality. Progress had been made at Bucyrus, but it was through
the furnace of trial rather than any extension of influence. But
doubtless all this experience was necessary as an equipment for
greater usefulness.
The move to Williamston, Ingham County, Mich., was made in April,
1884. A Mr. Horton, a business man of Williamston, in whom the
Lord had planted a love for the truth, went to Bucyrus and had the
office equipment shipped. The saints in Michigan had in the meantime
obtained possession of a two-story building 28 x 84, and they had
it partitioned, or remodeled, to suit the need, the upper story to
be used for a hall or assembly-room, the rear of the lower floor
to be used for living rooms and the front for an office. Brother
Warner rejoiced with tears when the work got started in its new and
enlarged quarters in Williamston. The first number of the paper
published there was dated April 15. From its columns we quote the
following greetings:
We are happy to greet your ears once more, beloved, with the sound
of the trump of God. The devil has spent all his infernal powers
in vain to crush this work of God. We have thoroughly learned
his attitude toward us. In his hellish clamor about us for many
days, saying, 'You must give up the Trumpet,' he has clearly
committed himself against this cause, and all who are against this
dissemination of the light of God we know are on the devil's side,
either wilfully or ignorantly. Oh, how hell has poured forth upon
us! Night after night we had to leave our bed at two, three, and
four o'clock, and go to the office and cry unto God to drive away
the hosts of hell that had encamped against us. And every time the
power of God dispersed these infernal spirits of darkness, the Lord
recommissioned us to blow the Trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm
on his holy mountain, and we were made joyfully conscious of his
approving smile for not having backed down before the legions of
hell. But the devil having drawn to his side the best agents he
could ever expect to use against us, was fierce and determined to
hush the trumpet-sound of freedom from all sin and Babylon yokes.
Oh, halleluiah!
During this terrible combat with the powers of darkness, we had
to do more fighting than working, hence the work went on slowly.
We were ready to print about the first of February, then the
Lord called us by telegram to Kalamazoo, Mich. The next day our
printer accidentally spoiled the rollers, so that he could not
print. So the work lay until our return. After looking to the
Lord until he assured us that the office would be cleared from
the mortgage, we ordered new rollers, and went to work again in
the name of the Lord. About the time we were ready to print, God
sent Bro. Thomas Horton, from Williamston, Mich., who paid off the
five hundred-dollar mortgage, some other debts, chartered a car,
loaded us up, and moved office, household goods, Master Willie, and
ourself to this place. Wife and child having remained behind to
visit with friends. Moving just at the time caused a few days delay
in this issue, but now we expect to greet you regularly. Praise
the Lord! "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed
be the name of the Lord!" So said Job. If it was the devil that
took it away, he had to get a permit from God before he could
do it, therefore it was of the Lord, and "blessed be the name of
the Lord"; for when he permits the devil to take anything away he
has given to his children, he always returns fourfold. We have
understood this principle long ago, and have thrown it in the face
of the devil every time he has shown his teeth at us. Blessed be
God forever and ever! And thus hath God done unto us again. We left
an office where we were hampered up in 14 × 26 feet, and here has
God furnished a building two stories high, 28 × 84 feet, all of
which is dedicated to the Lord. It contains a large meeting-hall,
and plenty of room for office and all families connected with it.
It is, however, under repairs, and we have taken temporary quarters
for a few weeks.
Every change that was made gave occasion for new hopes for the
advancement of the publishing work. Accordingly we read in the first
issue at Williamston: "After one more issue we expect steam-power,
and there is no telling what God will yet do for the Trumpet if the
devil doesn't quit his hellish opposition." An engine was purchased
during the first year at Williamston. It was of three horse-power and
cost two hundred dollars. Thus, after the trying times of the first
four years of its life, the Trumpet work began to make substantial
progress and the reformation cause to expand and become permanent.
The next move for the Gospel Trumpet was in the summer of 1886. Near
Bangor, in Van Buren County, was a yearly camp-meeting. There were
many saints in the vicinity and near Grand Junction, seven miles
north. At the Bangor camp-meeting in June, 1886, the subject of
moving the Trumpet Office to that part of the State was considered.
It seemed to be the mind of the Spirit and of all the saints that
the removal should be made. A commodious and substantial building in
the town of Grand Junction was offered for eight hundred dollars, or
about half its worth. The saints agreed to purchase the property,
and money was raised to pay moving-expenses. An encumbrance of five
hundred dollars on the machinery was also paid off. Accordingly it
was decided to move. One freight-car held the entire outfit of office
material, machinery, and household goods.
Grand Junction, "where two lightning tracks lay crossing," was a
small town of a few hundred inhabitants, the junction of the Chicago
and West Michigan (now the Pere Marquette) and a branch of the
Michigan Central Railways, ten miles from South Haven on the lake and
thirty miles west of Kalamazoo. This became the permanent home of the
Gospel Trumpet during twelve years of its history.
Before the move to Grand Junction, Bro. S. Michels, of South Haven,
assumed with his means a portion of the financial responsibility.
Being thus directly connected with the publishing work, his name
appeared as publisher, which position he held till relieved by N. H.
Byrum, in 1895.
About a year after the publishing office was located at Grand
Junction, the publishing work, and the church as well, suffered the
defection of J. C. Fisher, who had been on the editorial staff and
had been useful in the ministry.[11] He was succeeded as assistant
editor by E. E. Byrum, who remained on the staff for many years, and
after Brother Warner's death became editor.
The Gospel Trumpet was a mighty factor in the reformation work, a
very effectual means of spreading the truth. At Grand Junction the
Office grew to a substantial printing-plant, sending out tons of
literature. Books were printed, a children's paper was started, and
the Trumpet became a weekly. It was here that Brother Warner's death
occurred, in 1895. We close this chapter with the publishing work
located at Grand Junction. Brief reference to its present status will
be made in another chapter. [Illustration: Office and Home of the
Gospel Trumpet. Grand Junction, Mich., 1889]