Letter to Christians

L. E. Ketcherside

[Page 9]

     Recently I attended a Lord's Day afternoon service, in celebration of the 136th anniversary of Libertyville Christian Church, oldest such congregation west of the Mississippi. The speaker delivered an interesting and appropriate address. I want to learn more about the men responsible for planting the church there. While listening to the discourse I recalled reading about the great work of reconciliation of thought, the cementing of hearts and affections, and the tireless search for a "Thus saith the Lord" on the part of many honest men, beginning about 1763 and continuing for a century. With few exceptions preachers of that era labored and prayed for unity in the Lord's community. It was not unusual for preachers to immerse a thousand persons in a few years of service. They spent their lives in a search for souls.

     By 1863 schismatics began gnawing at the vitals of the community of saints and now we have only a remnant of knowledge of what God would have us be, and that knowledge almost utterly void of brotherly love and humility. The zeal for souls is gone. Many of those pioneers immersed more people in one meeting than we do in ten years. In the close of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th, preachers reasoned that if there were differences on matters of scripture both views could not be right, so they examined the sacred oracles together with a view to reconciling their divergent views. Now every man is right in his own sight, and preachers do not want to have their thinking disturbed. They will discuss any subject except religion. A preacher recently remarked, "I positively will not talk about my religious views with any one."

     Libertyville congregation has enjoyed the teaching of some great men in the past 136 years. It was here the late Gilbert O. Nations obeyed the Lord. Some of his near relatives still live in the area. The congregation meets in a one room brick structure, without basement, class rooms, and with no blackboard on the wall. Their experiences have not always been pleasant, but the strength of some is always perfected in the weakness of others.

     I am working six days per week, eight hours a day, and driving fifty miles daily, to complete the basement project at Bismarck, and am enjoying it greatly.