Brother Warner became a strong exponent of the prophecies. Note his reference to some reform near at hand. This meeting was held at West Auburn, Crawford County, after his return from Pleasant Hill.
June 8, 1873. Sabbath. Thank God for life and health and this beautiful day! Behold the throngs pressing toward the house of God! Speaking-meeting was to begin at half past nine. Ere the time the house was filled. Others kept coming in continually, much to the detriment of the interest of the meeting. After all were seated that could be and the aisles were filled, there were numbers yet without. The house had been purchased by the Church of God from the Methodist Episcopal Church and repaired in good style. At eleven, preaching began. Text, Haggai 2:9, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of hosts."...
I then took up the text used in the forenoon and showed that the destruction of the Temple and the Babylon captivity typified the dark age. The different attempts to rebuild typified the different reformations. Its final completion, i. e., all the so-called churches arising in and growing out of the Dark Age, including the sects, in which are many of God's people, who are, however, commanded of God to "come out of her." Further showed that according to the type and other Scriptures the church of God must arise to a glory excelling that of the first age, and that, owing to the fact that the world is near its end (of which we gave some Scripture evidence), some great revolution must be near at hand to bring about this prophesied glory of the church.
Some remarks were made on the ordinances, after which we engaged in the ordinances. Had a glorious time. A great many brethren and sisters were present to engage in following the Lord. Oh how I love those dear people! What a host of true hearts! God bless them.
14. Traveled by buggy to the grove-meeting at Windfall, four miles south of Larue. Brother Burchard preached an excellent sermon.
17. Received letters from Brother Bolton requesting me to come soon to my mission [in Nebraska] and one from Brother Shoemaker requesting me to stop and preach over Sabbath in Chicago.
19. Wrote out the record of the Church of God at New Washington. Eve, preached at Union. Here the church have a peculiar attachment to me. All wept much at my departure. A more true and faithful band is hard to find. God bless them. They are very dear to me. About half of the church are my converts.
20. Visited Brother E—— and Sister P——. They embraced religion under my labors, and I joined them in marriage. Came home and packed for my journey.
21. Finished matters up to start. Received a letter from a kind friend. Went to New Haven in the evening. Farewell meeting at New Haven.