We held meetings a few evenings in the Bruce neighborhood. The nights being short, and the brethren being crowded with work, being deprived of the use of the school house during week night evenings, we thought we would wait until after the meeting house was finished, then commence a meeting and continue it as long as any good could be done. The meeting house is raised now, and will soon be done, if nothing happens to stop its progress.

      If any church ever had to suffer for its doctrine the church in this neighborhood has to suffer. Ever since this organization has existed it has been persecuted by some members and friends of the U. B. Church.

      On Lord's day, May the 21st, 1876, Wm. Smalley, treasurer of Wyandot county, O., committed suicide by shooting himself with a revolver. He was in good circumstances. Everything was all right in the office. He had been elected for the second term. He was highly respected by nearly everybody. His funeral took place yesterday in the U. B. Church, of which church he was a member.

      We have held seven ordinance meetings this year. All the meetings were good. We believe in doing whatsoever Jesus says we ought to do.

      Could there not be arrangements made somehow, different from the present, to circulate Bro. Winebrenner's Doctrinal Sermons? They could do an excellent work. Last year I left the book lying into a store. A man got the book who had been brought up a Presbyterian, read the sermon on baptism, and the consequence was the writer had to baptize him. He was already blossoming for the grave. They are powerful sermons if carefully read.

[The Church Advocate 41 (June 7, 1876): 2.]

      Jacob Van Updike's "From Elder Updike's Field" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 6 (June 7, 1876), p. 2. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article printed from a microfilmed edition of the newspaper held by the State Library of Pennsylvania. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for arranging for the interlibrary loan, and to St. Vincent College Library for the use of its microfilm reader/printer.

      Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 25 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.