DEAR BRETHREN.--My labors with you are ended for the present, and as I could not bid you all a personal farewell, I will do so through THE ADVOCATE. With you is my spiritual birth-place. That sacred spot where I began to live forever, is Bridgewater, Williams county, in February, 1865. It was under the labors of Elders Ewing, James and Joseph Neil. Soon afterward I was immersed by Bro. Ewing, and something over two years later, through the encouragement of Bro. Joseph Neil, I commenced to preach the Gospel. The harrassing fears and deep troubles of those two years of disobedience are yet a profitable lesson to me. Having preached 25 sermons through the summer, in October, 1867, the dear brethren convened in Eldership at Findlay recognized my call and gave me a license to preach the word of God.

      Unexpectedly to me I was appointed to a field of labor. I entered the work with fear and trembling. Bro. J. W. Aukerman, with whom I traveled on the Findlay and McComb Circuit, was a father to me, and we worked harmoniously in the Master's yoke. During the year I traveled 2,230 miles, and preached 223 sermons. The result of our joint labors was 88 converted, 60 immersed, of which I immersed 29, 105 fellowshiped, 1 new organization. At the Eldership of 1868 I was assigned to the St. Mary's Circuit. Found a home on the premises of Bro. J. G. Baker. The kindness to me by that family can never be forgotten. The Lord will reward them. Preached during the year 233 sermons, and had fifty converts, immersed 25, and fellowshiped 50.

      I was returned the second year, and Bro. J. M. Cassel was appointed with me. This year I lived near Bro. I. N. Fryer's. Brother and Sister Fryer were never weary in their labor of love toward me. The Lord bless them for all their kindness. Bro. Cassel and I could not always agree on some small points of theology; and sometimes we raised the wind pretty high in our private controversies; but it was always followed by a calm of good brotherly feeling. Our labors together were pleasant and profitable, as the friction of our minds tended to sharpen them and develope our controversial abilities. Each preached two hundred sermons during the year. Our labors were blessed with the professed conversion of 114 souls: 55 were immersed, and 103 fellowshiped, including two new organizations.

      In the fall of 1870, I was appointed to the Seneca Circuit. The circuit had evidently been on the decline. There were but four small churches, together not exceeding sixty members. Preached 188 sermons and held a three days' discussion: converts 80, immersed 48, fellowshiped 66, including an organization of 51 members in the village of New Washington. Bro. S. M. Gaskill labored with me during the summer.

      At the Eldership of 1871, I was re-appointed, and Bro. Thomas James, a member of the Church at New Washington, who has recently responded to the call to preach the gospel, was appointed with me. Bro. James was a true and zealous work-mate, and our joint labors were blessed with the happy conversion of 103 souls, fellowshiped 107, including three new organizations, I baptized 75, preached 169 sermons, and held another discussion of three days. Last fall I was appointed to the missionary work. Preached before leaving Ohio 150 sermons, converts 66, immersed 43, fellowshiped 69, and effected two new organizations.

      The six years' labor sums up the following: Sermons preached, 1,118; converts, 501; immersed myself, 280; fellowshiped in all, 500; Churches organized, 9.

      Now, dear brethren, my labors with you have ceased for the present, and it may be forever closed. It is cheering to my soul to know that I have put in six years of hard labor for God. I have reviewed the time carefully, and I believe I can say on the whole I have done the best I could to save souls from ruin, and to build up the Church of God. I have tried to preach to saint and sinner the whole counsel of God, and many who read this article can say, "Before Bro. Warner came here, I was a poor sinner." But I am thankful that it was not myself, but God, who converted you. To him belongs all the glory and honor. Dear brethren and sisters among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, I must say you have all been very kind and liberal to me and mine. While with you I have passed through the sorest trials of my life, and your tears of sorrow were always mingled with mine. In all my conflicts for God and truth you have strengthened my hands, and we can thank God for victory on every occasion. Your love and friendship is the more sacred and dear to me because it was for the sake of the truth, which I have tried to defend at all times and at any sacrifice. I am especially thankful to God that I have always repudiated the salary system, of human invention and antagonistic to the word of God. To the Bible I appealed last fall at the Eldership. And now I appeal to my fruits, to God, and finally to the judgment day, to decide who is right. No person ever heard me beg money for myself, or abuse the church, or even express dissatisfaction for not receiving support enough. I have had no financial meetings, imposed no taxes, specified no particular amount of support. Withal, I thank God and the brotherhood, my wants have always been supplied. I always received all that was coming to me. With love and good wishes to all, I bid you farewell. I leave you, praying that God may continue to bless and prosper you even more abundantly than in the past. My heart is so knit to the cause in West Ohio that it has been hard to leave you, but duty seems to call me here. I told you the brethren here last Sabbath that many dear brethren in Ohio were praying God's blessings upon me and my labors in the west. This was cheering to them, and is always bracing to me. O, brethren, pray on; God will answer your prayers.

      Fathers and mothers, dear brethren in the ministry and beloved converts, I bid you farewell. If on earth I see you no more, be sure to meet me in heaven, where

[The Church Advocate 38 (July 30, 1873): 2.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "Elder D. S. Warner to the West Ohio Eldership" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 38, No. 14 (July 30, 1873), p. 2. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article provided by Jean Leathers, Archivist of the Churches of God Historical Society.

      I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 6 February 1998.
Updated 15 July 2003.