Author's Preface
Year 1921
A quarter century has elapsed since the passing of D. S. Warner from the scenes of his earthly activity, and full forty years have gone since the beginning of the great reform of which his labors constituted so large a part. While there are many still living whose personal knowledge of him and his ministry will suffice to them for an encouraging testimony of Christian attainment and of God's marvelous use of human instrumentality when permitted to have his way, the time has come when the absence of any published account of this remarkable man begins to be felt. The rising generation and the generations that follow should have access to a study of such an example of Christian devotion and usefulness, as well as of God's faithfulness to one who will fully trust him. When it was announced that a biography was contemplated, the proposition at once met with hearty approval and encouragement.
That due to the lapse of years there should be some difficulty in securing the necessary data with reference to his early life is of course consequential. His brothers and sisters are all deceased. A nephew and a niece and some of his earlier acquaintances were interviewed, and correspondence was had with other relatives and acquaintances. The most valuable acquisition, however, was the use of his diaries, kindly granted by his son, D. Sidney Warner, now living in Canton, Ohio. These diaries do not cover all of his early ministerial career, but the quotations from them will reveal the Christian character of the man as well as show considerable of his itinerancy and of the facts of his life.
As to the source of information respecting the latter period of his ministry, when his work took the character of a reform, recourse has been had to the files of the periodicals he edited and also to the personal recollections of some who were pioneers with him in the movement. Of these may be mentioned as giving particular information Mrs. Allie R. (Fisher) Allen, Lansing, Mich.; William N. Smith, North Star, Mich.; David Leininger, Akron, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Howard, Nappanee, Ind.; Mrs. Anna J. Slagle, Bucyrus, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. B. E. Warren, Springfield, Ohio; and Mrs. Frankie Warner, Anderson, Ind.
It was my privilege to have a personal acquaintance with D. S. Warner and to be more or less closely associated with him during the last five years of his life. To one who never knew him personally no printed account can afford an adequate conception of what it was to come in contact with this wonderful ambassador of God, whose presence wrought conviction in the unregenerate, and inspired confidence and courage in the hearts of believers. The divine manifestations in his preaching, his prayers, and his ministrations can not be told. Many very striking instances of physical healing which we have not space to speak of attended his ministry; but that these pages may reveal, if in no other light than the historical, that here is an example of true consecration, devotion, courage, diligence, humility, faith, patience, kindness, self-denial, and the Christian graces generally, that is worthy of being followed, is the earnest hope of
The Author.
Year 1921 —ANDREW L. BYERS
[CONTENTS]
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION [15]
A glance over Christian era—Early church divinely governed—Spiritual decline—A false church—Reformations—Sixteenth century reformation—Human rule—Characteristics of true church—A final reformation—Evil of sects—Protestantism in Revelation—Wondrous times upon us—God's call to his people—D. S. Warner a reformer—The correct attitude—Counterfeit movements.
II. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE [34]
Emigration westward—Settlement in Ohio—David Warner family—Born a weakling—Paternal and maternal influences—Tributes to mother—Location in Crawford County—A chosen vessel—His boyhood character—Removal to Williams County—A school teacher.
III. CONVERSION, COLLEGE, AND CALLING [44]
The question of religion—A Catholic and Lutheran community—Tries to be an infidel—Conviction by the Spirit—Attends dances—Conversion—Attends Oberlin College—Preparation for ministry.
IV. CHURCH OF GOD (WINEBRENNERIAN) [51]
The Scriptural name—Winebrenner's view of the church—Organization of Elderships—Growth and extent westward—Winebrenner's failure.
V. FIRST YEARS IN MINISTRY [59]
Gifted as an evangelist—Marriage—Death of wife and children—His physical description—New Washington revival—Diary accounts—Prejudice against sanctification—Meeting at Basswood—A presentiment of death—Standing committee—Rebukes youthful tobacco-user—Converses with infidel—Reflections at end of year—Appointed to Nebraska mission—Lessons on the church—A farewell meeting.
VI. A NEBRASKA MISSION [78]
The Nebraska field—The journey—Nebraska scenes—Reflections on his bride-to-be—Builds house—Returns to Ohio—Marriage—Resumes Nebraska work—All night in dugout—Outlook temporarily reversed—Long trips over prairie—Wife lonely—Visit to Indian camp—Fast in snow-drift—Birth of a daughter—Break in diary account.
VII. BACK IN OHIO FIELDS [110]
On Ashland circuit—News of mother's death—Visits penitentiary—A course of studies at Vermillion College—Embraces the cause of holiness—Seeks and obtains the experience.
VIII. THE HOLINESS AWAKENING [125]
Doctrine of sanctification—Widespread interest in the subject—Prominent leaders—Holiness bands—Doctrine opposed—Its advocates recede on the church question—A remnant who walk in the light—Holiness editors—Jacksonville convention.
IX. A PREACHER OF HOLINESS [137]
A rather new field of activity—Writes for publication—Meets with opposition—Tirade and charges by fellow minister—Canton camp-meeting—Eldership meeting at Smithville, faces charges—Assigned to Stark circuit—Visits father and place of conversion—Locates at Canton—Writes covenant with God—Return to Upper Sandusky—Revival at Findlay—Reflections on New Year's Day—Expulsion from West Ohio Eldership—Meetings at Dunkirk—Increasing vision of apostolic church—A peculiar test—Work opens in Indiana—Death of father and daughter—Attends Ohio Holiness Camp-Meeting—Brought low with affliction.
X. NORTHERN INDIANA ELDERSHIP [191]
Opposition to Freemasonry—New Eldership formed—Becomes an associate editor—Herald of Gospel Freedom.
XI. EDITOR AND AUTHOR [196]
Locates at Rome City, Ind.—Writes book—Attends various camp-meetings—Mob at Upper Sandusky—Remarkable healings—Eldership seeks union with Mennonites—Close of diary account—Becomes editor of Herald.
XII. A SPIRITUAL SHAKING [210]
Prophetic description of reformation movement—Old Testament figures—Shakings incident to divine visitations—New covenant complete in entire sanctification—Prophecies that apply to these times—Separation of wheat and chaff—Arguments against sects—Entire sanctification a remedy—Unity the hope of God's people.
XIII. A PROPHETIC TIME [241]
Many world events foreshadowed in prophecy—God has a design with man—Events of the world grouped in periods—The four world empires—The fourth given particular attention—The little horn of Daniel 7—Time periods of Romanism and Protestantism—Corresponding prophecies in Revelation—What Babylon is—God's people called out of her.
XIV. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET [251]
Consolidation of Herald of Gospel Freedom with the Pilgrim, forming the Gospel Trumpet—Rome City its birthplace—Move to Indianapolis—Difficulties and privations—Paper issued irregularly—Printed on hand-press—Move to Cardington, Ohio, and later to Bucyrus—To Williamston, Mich., in 1884, and to Grand Junction in 1886—Substantial progress.
XV. THE CRISIS [271]
Unity effected only out of and away from sects—No other alternative for God's people—Brother Warner a reformer—His stand meets Satan's opposition, but vindicated by Spirit of God-Extracts from Gospel Trumpet—Declares himself free from Northern Indiana Eldership—Same stand taken by Michigan saints—Counterfeit doctrines—Trying time at Bucyrus, Ohio—His wife's estrangement—Comments by contemporary editors—Trouble over donation by a Mrs. Booth—Letters of sympathy and encouragement—Work spreads into various States—Emma Miller's healing of blindness—Other marvelous healings—Defection of J. C. Fisher—How the reformation is distinguished from all other movements.
XVI. EVANGELISTIC TOURS [335]
Trip into Pennsylvania—Various healings—Attacked by intoxicated man—Woman delivered from devils—Visits Winebrennerian camp—An incident of Beaver Dam assembly—Company of singers formed—Wonderful meeting in Indiana—Storm stayed in answer to prayer—Mob near Rising Sun, Ohio—A Western tour—Strange manifestations at St. James, Mo.—To Denver—Meetings in Canada—In the Southern field—Mob element in Mississippi—Visits Mammoth Cave—Visits the church in California—Scenery of the Rockies.
XVII. THE MINISTRY OF SONG [407]
Adaptation of existing hymns—Occasions that suggested various hymns—Instances of the effect of song.
XVIII. POETIC INSPIRATIONS [422]
Gifted as a poet—A book of poems—Various examples of poems.
XIX. LAST YEARS [443]
Hoped for long life—Difficulty in combining writing with evangelical work—Could not remain long out of the field—Begins to write a book on prophecy—Third marriage—Ohio River campaign—Last New Year's greeting—A school on the camp-ground—Last sermon—End of the journey.
XX. AS OTHERS KNEW HIM [456]
Statements of various individuals—Author's statement—Reflections at his grave.
SUPPLEMENT for this reprint edition [478]
ANDREW L. BYERS, Author of this Book
Office Editor Gospel Trumpet.
The Evening Light.
D. S. Warner. (Zech. 14:7.) H. R. Jeffrey.
1. Bright-er days are sweet-ly dawn-ing, Oh, the glo-ry looms in sight!
2. Mist-y fogs, so long con-ceal-ing All the hills of min-gled night,
3. Lo! the ran-somed are re-turn-ing, Robed in shin-ing crys-tal white,
4. Free from Ba-bel, in the Spir-it, Free to wor-ship God a-right,
5. Hal-le-lu-jah! saints are singing, Vic-t'ry in Je-ho-vah's might;
For the cloud-y day is wan-ing, And the eve-ning shall be light.
Van-ish, all their sin re-veal-ing, For the eve-ning shall be light.
Leap-ing shout-ing home to Zi-on, Hap-py in the eve-ning light.
Joy and glad-ness we're re-ceiv-ing, Oh, how sweet this eve-ning light!
Glo-ry! glo-ry! keep it ring-ing, We are saved in eve-ning light!
Chorus.
Oh, what gold-en glo-ry streaming! Pur-er light is com-ing fast;
Now in Christ we've found a free-dom Which e-ter-nal-ly shall last.
[Listen (midi)] [Listen (mscz)]
[I]
INTRODUCTION
The life and labors of D. S. Warner are so closely associated with a religious movement that any attempt at his biography becomes in part necessarily a history of that movement. I have therefore chosen the term, Birth of a Reformation, as a part of the title of this book. Brother Warner (to use an appellation in keeping with the idea of universal Christian brotherhood) was doubtless chosen of God as an instrument for accomplishing a particular work. What that work was, why it may be called a reformation, and why, in particular, it may be considered the last reformation, a few words of explanation by way of introduction are offered the inquiring reader.
It will be necessary to take a brief glance over the Christian era and review some of the important events and conditions. We note the characteristics of the church in the days of the apostles, which, by reason of its recent founding and organization by the Holy Spirit, is naturally regarded as exemplary and ideal. It had no creed but the Scriptures and no government but that administered by the Holy Spirit, who 'set the members in the body as it pleased him'—apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, etc. Thus subject to the Spirit, the early church was flexible, capable of expansion and of walking in all the truth and of adjusting itself to all conditions. It was in very essence the church, the whole, and not a section or part. The apostles and early believers did not restrict themselves and become a Jewish Christian sect or any other kind of sect. Peter's way of thinking would have thus limited him, for as a Jew he declined any particular interest in Gentile converts; but the Lord through a vision changed his mind and advanced his understanding to include the universality of the Christian kingdom. The Holy Spirit in the heart was necessary, of course, to the successful government of the church by the Spirit, otherwise he could not have been understood. There were no dividing lines, for it was the will of the Lord particularly that there be "one fold and one shepherd." Jesus had prayed in behalf of the disciples "that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21). These conditions of being subject to the word and Spirit, of leaving an open door through which greater light and truth might enter as was necessary, and of possessing the love and unity of spirit that cemented the believers together and carried them through all their persecution, constituted the ideal and normal status of God's church on earth as he gave it beginning, of which it was ordained that there should be but one, only one, as long as the world should endure. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4).