DEAR BRO. FORNEY: On the first of September companion and self bade adieu to our humble prairie home, in Polk Co., Neb., to make a visit east, having made arrangements for preaching on the work by other brethren during our absence.

      There was some wheat out in shock yet, and badly grown. It had been very wet and stacking had been put back by threshing, which began as soon as harvest was over, in order to meet pressing wants.

      We came directly through to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in 42 hours.

      After nearly two weeks' visit with wife's parents, came on to Williams Co. circuit, where they keep on hand a large stock of "the old kind of religion." Bro. McNutt, their pastor is very much esteemed.

      Sept. 28, in company with Bros. Rowlison and Delcamp, companion and self started for the West Ohio Eldership, these kind brethren having provided a conveyance for us. Our route lay across Defiance, Paulding and Van Wert counties. What a contrast between those timbered lands and the great open prairie of the west, especially in Paulding county, where it might be said there is nothing but heaven and woods.

      I enjoyed greatly the Eldership meeting. Nearly all the dear brethren in the ministry were present.

      Met my dear brothers and sisters of that circuit with whom I labored five years ago; also a number of converts of my labors. May they all be saved.

      At the Eldership I met with brethren of my acquaintance from Ashland circuit, East Ohio, who urged me very much to take their circuit.

      Temporal comforts and advantages were offered, but for such considerations I could never turn from the path of duty.

      For several special reasons I was assured that I could do more good on that work than in the west.

      It occurred to me that I could do but little missionary labor there, as about all the ground has been taken up that could be sustained by one man, and I could not expect large additions to the churches already formed, as the country is yet comparatively thinly settled. There is, in most places, but little material to operate upon.

      I am also of the opinion that the churches there can be supplied with preaching until a successor can be appointed. Bro. Hope is conveniently situated to most of the work; and has withdrawn from the Christian Church for the purpose of working for the Church of God. Bro. J. W. Kager acknowledges the loud call of God upon him to preach the gospel. I pray that he will not be disobedient to the heavenly calling. He possesses many elements of usefulness and can do much to keep up the cause. Bro. Griggs located near the Fillmore county church, and I hope continues to preach for them.

      Bro. Porter, a Baptist minister, is greatly in sympathy with the church and will preach some, I hope, for the churches near Seward.

      Thus, I think, the cause need not suffer there, while I can be the means of saving more souls here and at the same time make my family much more comfortable, as I had no house there that would do for winter use, and saw no prospect of building one. I hope, therefore, that the brotherhood on Seward mission and the General Board will excuse me for not returning. To the brethren there I would say, Be not discouraged, but stand firm. I still love Nebraska, and expect to return in a few years. May the Lord bless his people and his cause in all the great west. I suggest hat the Seward Mission be constituted a circuit, and supplied by the Nebraska Standing Committee.

      Your brother in the great work of saving souls.

[The Church Advocate 40 (November 24, 1875): 2.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "From Elder D. S. Warner" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 40, No. 30 (November 24, 1875), 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; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

                  Printed Text [ Electronic Text
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 p. 2:      that circui [ that circuit
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 18 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.