The meeting at Findlay closed with 4 at the altar of prayer. Immediately after closing the meeting here I went to Hickory Grove Bethel, where there used to be a large organization, but by removals, deaths, backslidings, and neglect upon the part of somebody, the organization became extinct. The Evangelical Association went into the house, held a meeting, and organized a small church. They held a meeting this winter, but had no success whatever. I thought I would see what could be done. I preached a good part of two weeks. Six came to the altar, three were converted, and we closed the meeting because we could not go into the work as circumstances seemed to require. I had to be in Findlay every Sabbath, and I thought that in order to save many in Findlay that made the good profession I ought to give my time to the place. This miserable sectarian prejudice prevails to a wonderful extent in this neighborhood. Some rejoiced very much because we closed, but I intend, God being my help, to "hold the fort" this summer. In order to be successful we must visit, and talk, and pray, and be right there all the time. This I could not do at this time. Hence, I closed. Had we been able to continue the meeting, I believe we would have had better success.

      Brother J. H. Stedcke asks me some very peculiar questions. I did not know whether to answer or not. But as he belongs to one of the denominations mentioned, I thought I would just say that I meant just what I said. You may call it "narrow-hearted," or what you please to call it, for it is a fact that these are persons that belong to the denominations just spoken of that are "sinners." I invite "sinners" of all denominations to Christ. And it does my soul good to see them come.

      A man can be a Catholic, Universalist, U. B., Albright, Methodist, etc., and not have a spark of religion. Hence, if he is unconverted, his belonging to some man's church will never save him.

      I won't take up the different questions in rotation. I believe that there is but one "faith, one Lord, and one baptism;" one heaven, and only one way to get there, and that is by following Christ. If we follow Christ as we ought, we must do everything that Jesus says we ought to do. There is but one hell, and if we get there it will be because we have not done what we ought to do. Many of these denominations do oppose God's word, and oppose God's servants. I have no faith in sectarianism. My faith is in Christ. Though I do not claim to be better than many others, yet I claim to belong to the church of the living God.

[The Church Advocate 41 (May 9, 1877): 3.]

      Jacob Van Updike's "From Findlay, Ohio" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 45 (May 9, 1877), p. 3. 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 26 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.