BRO. FORNEY.--September 27th from Monmouth, Illinois, I sent you my last sketchings. On same day, and place, parted with Elder W. R. Coovert, who proposed to make preliminary arrangements to attend the College at Monmouth, Illinois, providing he could gain the concurrence of Eldership and churches, to serve a few church points closely adjacent. A few hours later landed me safely at Danville, Iowa, with my family. Same train passed on westwardly, but the rails spreading caused it to be ditched. Several of the cars turning down over the high embankment were badly damaged, killing a few persons, and crippling a number of others, some of whom it is supposed would yet die from the effects of the wreck.

      Stopped with family about ten hours, then on fast line was westward bound. Traveling all night and next forenoon passed over the Missouri river into Nebraska, and at midday reached Nebraska's capital, Lincoln city. Called at the produce and commission house of Brother K. A. Moore & Co., corner of 6th and 12th streets. Brother Moore was an absentee; but soon found him lunching at the City Hotel, and I readily joined him in supplying the wants of the inner man. Some degree of prosperity is visible in the capital city. Business is all astir.

      In afternoon Brother Moore and self, in buggy, came twenty-five miles over the prairie. The ride was enjoyable, and the prairie scenery grand. Evidently no want in these parts. The crops, such as corn, buckwheat, potatoes, &c., will be abundant. Wheat was almost an entire failure.

      The returning prosperity cheers the hearts of the people, and the grass being heavy, hay is made in great abundance. But look out for the first the incoming fall and winter.

      Late in the evening, we reached Cropsey, Gage county, Nebraska, the place for holding the first sessions of

      Cropsey is but a country post-office, occupying a place in a country store-room, amid these widespread prairies, in the Moore settlement, with Mr. Curran Moore as post-master. A Church of God organization, of about one dozen, exists here, worshiping in the Cropsey school-house. At this school-room we met a fair representation of the brotherhood of the Church of God. The writer was expected to speak on church polity, but the lateness of our reaching there hindered. Elder P. K. Shoemaker, of Kansas, took our place. His discourse was a good one. We followed him. After public services came the greeting of welcome. Oh, how pleasant these gatherings of this great brotherhood. We rejoiced to meet again these frontier workmen. They are in a good and glorious cause.

      I am sorry that the absentees were so numerous. Those who were ready to respond to roll-call were:

      Brother James H. Tucker and Edmond C. Gilbert, from south-east Nebraska Mission; Dr. G. E. Ewing, and a brother (whose name I've forgotten) from Cincinnati, Pawnee county, Nebraska; Elders P. K. Shoemaker and C. S. Bolton, and Brother Charles Kilmer, from North Kansas; Elder E. D. Aller and family, and Brothers G. K. Mooney, K. A. Moore, W. A. Gray and others, from the Crete and Cropsey Mission. The Seward Mission with Elder D. S. Warner and his band of preachers and brethren were among the absentees. The Stanton field, with Elder A. L. Nye, was not represented. Elder G. F. M'Elwee, though living but a dozen miles off, was not present. Why, we did not learn. We hope he has a good excuse.

      Prof. J. Kennedy and family from Mount Joy, Pa., were also present, and a Brother J. H. Woodbury from Atchinson county, Missouri; perhaps others who may not be mentioned.

      The sessions were held on Wednesday and Thursday of the 29th and 30th. They were peculiarly harmonious. On several occasions discussion was provoked, especially in the preliminary organization, touching of whom the Eldership should be first composed. It was ended by adopting a resolution declaring that the ministers, and ruling elders of the churches, should compose the same. After which Elder E. D. Aller was placed in the chair, and brother G. K. Mooney, and Elder P. K. Shoemaker made the scribes.

      The usual routine of business was passed through. A constitution and by-laws were prepared by a committee appointed, and adopted; and the preliminary steps were taken for the organization of a missionary society.

      Free discussion was elicited by a resolution offered on the Crete bethel case--the prevailing opinion reflected was to repair the bethel at Crete, and not to build anew. To rebuild would require Elder Aller's time for months to gather the funds; hence, would have to neglect his mission field, besides, the bethel could not be erected this season. To repair will require a stone foundation, straighten the wrenched walls, cut down the steep gothic roof, and replaster the building. This can all be done this fall yet; besides, moneys received in answer to personal appeals to the brotherhood abroad, and help from people in Crete, in connection with the money collected by Brother Aller, will answer to make good the needed repairs, and thus Brother Aller can be retained upon his field, which is a necessity, in order to secure success.

      The sessions thus passed off pleasantly and harmoniously. The social services were pleasant, closing up on the last evening with the observance of church ordinances.

      in the State of Nebraska, or rather in the Nebraska Eldership territory, are promising for successful church work. If the ministers and brethren are faithful to their trusts, the God of heaven will succeed their efforts to do good. Many calls come from this scattered brotherhood for help. The reverses occasioned by drouth and grasshoppers are obliterated measurably by returning prosperity in most parts of the State. Hence they feel to "thank God and take courage." It will not be long hence until the fields will be self-sustaining, then we can open out new fields of labor in this and other States. As the Eldership territory has about fifteen preachers and still more ruling elders, it takes its initiative under most favorable circumstances. May the Lord of Hosts bless and direct the movement that the greatest good may be realized from the same.

      The Eldership being over, the ordinances observed, and the parting hand given and taken, Elder Edmond C. Gilbert and the writer came to the Adam's station, on the Atchinson and Nebraska railroad, Brother Gilbert returning home to Fall's City, and the writer coming on to the

      The writer opened out this mission year before last. Elder W. J. Howard was missionary last year. I preached in the evening in the Baptist house of Falls City. Had a pleasant meeting. Removals have reduced the church to nine members. Meetings are kept up regularly, and some prospects for church up-building. Bro. Gilbert speaks frequently for the brethren.

      At Barada the writer spoke several times. Amid the reverses during the past year many of the church moved away, hence, the church has suffered thereby. The want of a suitable place to worship weighs against church aggression here; but, in our own meetings, arrangements have been made, if properly carried out, that will so far result in completing our bethel that it can be occupied for religious services in short time. When this is accomplished, then larger audiences will be secured, and the sphere of usefulness of the church will be extended.

      At Flower Dale, Richardson county, Nebraska, known as the Hays school house, if a point where a few disciples were gathered by Elder Howard, but no church regularly organized--no officers elected.

      At Rosefield's school house, is another point where Elder Howard gathered a band of believers. These were organized. I preached at these two last named points. They have but little other preaching; hence, opportunity for successful church work more flattering. As there will be plenty in this land for man and beast to live upon, people were cheering up, and I think Christ's cause will prosper the more. The Board of Missions had instructed the writer to assume the supervision of this mission, but as he is in the collecting agency, and cannot well do so, the Nebraska Eldership by resolution, requested Elder C. S. Bolton to be so appointed by the Board as to divide his labor between North Kansas West Mission, and the Southeast Nebraska Mission, specially, as on the former mission, on account of removals, the prospects for successful mission work are not so good. Two of the Board agree to this, hope the rest will also. The arrangement, I think, will be a good one. The work in Nebraska is onward. Thank the Lord.

      In my tour I stopped at Shenandoah, Page county, Iowa, in the Shenandoah Valley. Here I was met by Elder D. R. Long. A brother in an early day from Mount Joy, Pa., and later from Illinois, and recently licensed to preach the gospel by the Iowa Eldership. I intended to preach at night, but the rain hindered. The brother preaches on Lord's day, at various points in this rich land. May he be a means to accomplish much good. The brother conveyed me over the prairie lands. These lands are beautiful and richly soiled. He returned me to the railroad, from whence I came to Decatur county, Iowa, a mission field awarded to my care by the Iowa Eldership. Same Eldership gave me South English mission also. I can work on these mission fields only occasionally amid my collections.

      Oct. 8. Walked seven miles to Bro. J. H. Vanhorn's, near Decatur City. Night spoke in an Advent chapel, in Decatur city. The rain hindered a large turn out.

      Oct. 9. Horse race at Decatur City. Much interest apparently prevailed--much more than about their souls' welfare. So it goes in these latter days. Night, and twice on Lord's day, spoke for the church near Leon. Enjoyed good meetings. Church withdrew fellowship from nine persons. Those claimed they were no more the Lord's children. Hence, church did its duty. Church ought to be free from all dead weights.

      Oct. 11. Reached home again. I found all in health. Since last report no money was received for the mission's cause on pledges.

      Will the sub-collectors please gather all on the pledges that they can, and forward the same to me, so that I can report it accordingly. Let us close up the old pledges. More by and by.

[The Church Advocate 40 (October 27, 1875): 5.]

      R. H. Bolton's "Bolton's Notes by the Way" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 26 (October 27, 1875), 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; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

                  Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 5:      Nebraska's capitol, [ Nebraska's capital,
            capitol city. [ capital city.
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 18 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.