Since the Eldership I have taken a short tour in the western part of the State. Met with a great many of my old friends. Preached once more at old Fairview; also preached the funeral sermon of Father Piper, who was a member for many years of the M. E. Church, yet he was in full sympathy with the Church of God. He passed over the river of death triumphantly. His age was 63 years. A part of his family are worthy members of the church at Neptune. Bro. John Gill took me to Bro. Reynold's, south of Celina. Here I preached to a large congregation of people. Here is, I think, a good opening for the Church of God. Bro. R. is a thorough-going Church of God man, and is pleasantly situated here at this place.

      From Mercer county we came back to old Wyandot county, a place I dearly love. Not the place so much as the people, yet it is a nice place enough. This people I labored among for three years, and I became so thoroughly attached to them that I was loth to leave them to come to my new charge. I was often made to mourn with those that mourned, and rejoice with those that rejoiced. I truly hope that the converts will be faithful to God and to his church, and to all the commandments. Converts, remember my advice. Never, never, NEVER backslide or go to sectarianism; but always "contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." The Lord bless you all and reward you all for your kindness toward unworthy me. I hope when the trials of life are o'er, when we have done our last day's work, have offered our last prayer, have sung our last hymn, that we shall all, yes, all, with whom I have labored be so unspeakable happy as to be permitted to strike glad hands upon the sunny banks of sweet deliverance where parting will be no more, and where no farewell tear is shed.

      From Wyandot county I came to my new work, Findlay, Hancock county, Ohio, and I am glad to say, that I have been very kindly received by this people. And, I am now pleasantly situated among them. So far our meetings have been good. I am glad that some can shout amen in time of preaching in Findlay as well as in Wyandot county. I see plenty do. What is going to be accomplished this year I do not know. I shall try and do all I can by the help of God to build up the church here. We expect to commence a series of meeting now soon, and we hope that some of our ministerial brethren will come to our help, and everybody else come that can. You will be perfectly welcome if you will work for Christ. We trust every love of the cause of Christ will remember us in their prayers. Yours in the defence of the glorious gospel of Christ.

[The Church Advocate 41 (November 22, 1876): 5.]

      Jacob Van Updike's "A Tour Through Western Ohio" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 30 (November 22, 1876), p. 5. 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.