Hear this, dear brethren and sisters: One year ago, Bros. J. Durstine, J. S. McKee and self were appointed a committee to sell the Mansfield mission house. We have tried to do so; were kept in hopes of success by one society for a long time; and, to encourage them to purchase, have left them have the use of the house. But still we have no decisive answer, and, I think, we have looked long enough from that source, and I can hear of no other opportunity. It is also a fact that property is extremely low, so much so that, judging by certain sales in the place, we could not expect to realize more than twelve or thirteen hundred dollars for the house on a forced sale, which would sacrifice all the missionary money invested, and leave those brethren who have loaned or endorsed for loaned money to sustain a loss of $1400 or $1500.

      Now, I ask, shall we let those brethren thus suffer, who have nobly come to the rescue of God's house? For shame's sake, let the entire brotherhood say, No! According to the entire membership reported at the Eldership, it is found that an average of $1.75 for each member would more than pay the whole debt, mission money included.

      Now, there are $2000 in immediate demand, and must come, brethren; [2] therefore, to meet it the following action was taken:

      WHEREAS, Two thousand dollars are wanted immediately on the Mansfield meeting house debt; therefore,
      Resolved, That every church in the Eldership proceed at once to raise an average of one dollar for each member to meet said indebtedness.

      As this would make some over the required amount, and as there is an embarrassing debt on the New Washington bethel to the amount of $600, therefore the following action:

      Resolved, That all over $2000 raised by the above plan be applied to the New Washington house.

      Fearing that the journal might not appear for some time, I write to call immediate attention to this matter. For the satisfaction of all, I would say that I have preached in the bethel in Mansfield a good part of the summer, and was favored with good congregations. There is also a great desire in that part of the city that the church should keep the house and supply it with a preacher. There are a few excellent brethren and sisters there whose hearts are greatly burdened for the welfare of the church; some who are so much attached to the church that they told me with tears that if the house was sold they would have to move to some place where they could attend worship with the Church of God. The Eldership has appointed W. H. Oliver to serve the point. It is probable the missionary money will support him.

      Nothing now remains but to carry out the plan for the payment of the debt, and the coast is clear for the Church of God in Mansfield. I ask in the name of our blessed Savior, in the name of his holy church and cause, year, in the name of all reason and justice, shall it not be done?

      May God deliver us from the reproach that must follow if we let that valuable property be lost and those brethren suffer a great financial wrong when but one dollar per member will meet the present wants and make the balance but an easy matter to raise. It is certain that a failure in this matter will result very disastrously to the cause. Brethren who are blessed with means will lack confidence to respond in future emergencies.

      The brotherhood generally will think the Eldership too slothful in business to entrust it with their means for missionary purposes. Forbid, O Lord, that they cause should be paralyzed by continued failures. In some localities where crops failed last year the church may possibly not be able to raise the amount, but this is but the smallest portion of the Eldership, which deficiency can easily be made up by parties giving donations of $50 to $200 independent of the above plan. There are some of this class of whom I know, and I hope there will be many.

      Now, remember that the call is directly to the churches, not ministers or circuits. Therefore let the elders and deacons proceed at once to procure the money, get the entire number of members, see if the amount can be procured by volunteer donations, and what lacks make a dividend of among the members. This call may be a little hard to meet in some localities, but remember it is for a glorious cause. Besides, we are now getting our finances on a much better basis.

      The Eastern Missionary Society having made an assignment of all their notes and obligations to the West Ohio Eldership, which when united to the several thousand dollars of notes in the west with bequests, etc., that are coming into our hands, will make a fund that will annually yield a large amount of interest for mission purposes. So let us meet the present call in the name of Christ, even though it be felt a little. Remember that $1900 mission fund of East Ohio has been put into the house, and will probably remain there; and if we pay for the house it is all saved, if not it is all lost.

      The debt besides is $2700 or $2800, so you see after the present demand is met the remainder will be but a trifle to raise a year hence. Now, brethren, I presume there are few ministers more cramped than myself, but in God's name I am going directly to my work and will not rest or take a cent of the present year's support until at least one dollar for each member is raised for the Mansfield mission house, Oh that there may be a move made all along the line.

      Send the money to the treasurer, Brother E. Messenger, sr., Marion, Marion county, Ohio.

[The Church Advocate 41 (October 18, 1876): 2, 3.]

      Daniel S. Warner's "To Every Member of the Church of God in Ohio" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 41, No. 25 (October 18, 1876), pp. 2, 3. 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.

      Pagination has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 4 May 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.