14. Ministerial Association began. Went early to town. Glad to meet ..., but was very much disappointed to learn that ... could not be with us.
15. I discoursed on the polity of the Church of God in lieu of Brother Howard.
16. Sabbath. This is Pentecost day. Thank God for the beautiful weather. All nature seems to be waking from its long winter slumber to praise God. The beautiful prairie is green with grain and pastures. The valleys are dotted with herds of cattle, which, as well as they on a thousand hills, are the Lord's. The beautiful streams are lined with plum-bushes all in bloom. The groves are preparing to cheer the heart of the prairie inhabitants with their pleasant shady foliage.
At eleven Brother Aller preached in the Methodist Episcopal house and I preached the Pentecostal sermon in the Presbyterian house. Acts 2:1-4. At 3 P. M. Brother Aller preached a glorious and lovely sermon on the brotherhood of the saints. Deep and lasting impressions were made. How powerfully this dear brother preached for the unity of the saints of God, with the eloquence of tears and overflowing love!
We parted with brotherly greetings at a quite late hour to meet at Crete second Tuesday in September.
17. Went to Brother Green's. While there Brother S—— came in. We were just ready to engage in prayer. The Lord wonderfully blessed me in prayer. I prayed fervently for him, though he has been acting the part of an open enemy to me and the cause I represent. Went to Seward. Received fifty dollars from the Board. Called on Bro. J. W. Figard, who is applying himself vigorously to the pursuit of an education. Hope the Lord will raise him up for an effectual minister of the gospel.
21. Made out report to the General Eldership.
23. Sabbath. This was a glorious and happy day's work in the vineyard of the Lord. The Master was very near me all day. Oh what liberty in speaking! what peace in my soul!
26. Up at daylight. Brothers Figard and Anderson moved our things to homestead. We arrived about 1 P. M., they in the eve. Unloaded, took supper, and staid all night in our house.
Here the record of Brother Warner's labors in the Western field must end abruptly, as the succeeding portion was in a separate book that has not been found. We leave him with his little family just moved into their own house in Polk County, having spent the winter near Seward. Our next of the diary accounts begins in the following December and finds him back in Ohio fields, whither, probably by decision of the Board of Missions or Eldership he was called to labor again. The daily accounts which have been omitted for want of space show him always active—traveling, preaching, visiting, praying, etc. The selections that are given from his diary are chosen in order to display the various sides and aspects of his life and character. We have noticed his great zeal for the work of preaching the gospel and caring for those under his charge. The widely separated flocks meant much traveling and exposure in that new country.[4]