Shortly after returning from the Eldership I began a protracted meeting near Perryville, Ashland county, Ohio. The community several years ago erected a good frame meeting house on a cemetery ground on a very pleasant high ridge, being the divide between Blackfork and Clearfork. There has been occasional preaching in the community by ministers of the Church of God for a number of years, first, I believe, by Brother D. Nidig, then Brothers Lilley, Oliver, J. P. Miller and P. J. Russel. At one time there had been a small organization formed by Bro. Lilley, but nearly all moved away and the point was abandoned by the next preacher that came on the work. There was but one sister left that had been a member.

      The German Baptists have been preaching in the community for twenty-five or thirty years and have gathered mostly from the labors of the Church of God and others a pretty good society. They are the only people occupying the house besides us, and they use it only once in four weeks.

      It is rather singular that in all the community, during over five weeks labor I did not find a single sinner that believed in the baptism of sinners in order to procure the pardon of sin, not even among the non-professors of the those German Baptist families. Reason and revelation seemed to impress every mind that man should have a change of heart before being baptized, notwithstanding the abundance of teaching to the contrary which they had heard. The meeting resulted in the professed conversion of forty-eight souls; fourteen were immersed, and a Church of God formed of thirty-seven members. Brother Joseph McGinly, formerly a Presbyterian, and George Wonders, formerly of the U. B. Church, were elected elders. These brethren, though professors for some years, were both immersed during the meeting and have shaken themselves from the bondage of human creeds, and love the liberty of the free sons of God. Brother Joseph Brubaker, one of the converts, was elected deacon. We expect to add another.

      I preached different times upon the necessity and importance of all God's people uniting upon the Bible as the creed and the Church of God as the only authorized title. Thank God, the truth was acknowledged, and several families have expressed their intention of procuring letters and becoming organically connected with the Church of God. Several converts have expressed their intention to be fellowshiped, and a number immersed, at my next visit. The work seems to possess elements of strength and permanency. To God be the praise for raising up this people to bear his name and walk in his statutes. We were favored with three sermons from Brother P. J. Russel, and one from brother Oliver. Many thanks to these brethren. We are now engaged in a protracted effort at Shenandoah, Richland county. We ask the prayers of the brotherhood, and the assistance of all who can come to us. Yours in "the work of the Lord."

[The Church Advocate 41 (December 13, 1876): 2.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "Revival on Ashland Circuit" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 33 (December 13, 1876), 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.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 13 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.