In the midst of this arduous labor, I wrote and published the “One Hundred and Fifty Reasons for Believing in the Salvation of Mankind,” about twenty thousand copies of which has been distributed, and I think it has done a good work.
Alexander Hall, of Ohio, published a book, denominated “Universalism Against Itself,” which was extensively circulated in the West. He has since turned infidel, and says he wrote the book to please the Orthodox; he was probably an infidel when he wrote it. But his hypocrisy not then being known, and as the book might deceive some of its readers, I employed Dr. Jordan to answer it in the Teacher. His review occupied a portion of the Teacher for one year, and when it was finished, it was published in book form, making a volume of nearly four hundred pages. An edition of two thousand copies has been sold. It is a strong and vigorous work, and completely answers most of the objections urged in all quarters against the Universalist construction of the Bible.
I also published a little book of two hundred pages, called “Truth vs. Error,” composed of selections from some of our best writers. One thousand copies of it were distributed.
In 1848, I commenced issuing the paper weekly, calling it the Western Olive Branch. Soon after, I unwisely moved it to Cincinnati, hoping it would have a more general circulation if it was published in the “Queen City” of the West. But unfortunately, I had a partner, H. Torry, who proved to be a dead weight on my hands, and to throw him off I had to dispose of the paper, which I did, to J. A. Gurley, and he connected it with the Star in the West. After this brief partnership of a few months, resulting thus disastrously, I returned to Indianapolis, and devoted all my time and attention to preaching. When this transfer was made, the circulation of the Olive Branch was thirty-three hundred, and it had been published nearly nine years. I was sorry to give it up, but deemed it best to do so under the circumstances.
The succeeding eighteen months, I was from home most of the time, traveling in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio, preaching wherever I could have a hearing. On horseback I went from Cincinnati to Lake Erie, and from Lake Erie to Cincinnati; lectured in Springfield, Dayton, Columbus, Upper Sandusky, and in many other places. I also journeyed west as far as St. Louis, and northwest to Iowa City.
CHAPTER XIV.
Concluded to go to St. Louis—Commenced the Golden Era—Association in Crawfordsville—Debate in Dayton—Man in God’s Image—God the Father of All—Man Immortal—Man a Spirit—High Waters—In St. Louis—Why Moved to St. Louis—But few Friends—First Journey in Missouri—Wet, Hungry, Out in the Cold—In Troy—In Ashly—Four Brothers—In Louisiana—Opposition in London—In Hannibal—Good Friends—Questioned in Palmyra about Slavery—Conversation on Judgment—In Memphis—Questioned—A Presbyterian Preacher Replied—Was to Debate in Newark—Covered with Ice—Missouri River—Discussion in Georgetown—In Southern Missouri—Questioned in Warsaw—In Jefferson City—Hard Work in Danville—Returned to St. Louis.
Having disposed of the paper I had published for several years, I resolved to move to St. Louis, and establish one in that city. Accordingly, in the fall of 1850, I went to St. Louis and issued the first number of a magazine of twenty-four pages, called the Golden Era. I proposed publishing it monthly, at one dollar per year. Returning to Indianapolis, I remained there till the succeeding spring, and then left that place for the new home on the banks of the “Father of Waters.” We, that is, Mrs. Manford, baby Mae, and self, with horse and carriage, proceeded to Crawfordsville, Ind., where we attended the annual meeting of the Upper Wabash Association. Dr. I. D. Williamson was present, and all were much edified with two or three excellent discourses by that gifted clergyman. Josiah Davis was then residing and preaching in Crawfordsville. For many years he was a prominent minister of the United Brethren Church; but his faith had gradually enlarged, and for three years previous to this date, he had been an ardent defender of the doctrines of the Restitution.
Proceeded to Dayton, and there spent four days in discussion with Mr. Russell—the same man I had previously debated with in Park county. One of his propositions affirmed that the “wicked will be destroyed,” and by that he meant, annihilated, soul and body. “Man,” he said, “by nature is all mortal; and immortality is only conferred in the resurrection on those who are regenerated in this world.” I combatted this materialistic position thus:
As I read the Bible, man is a child of God, created in his image, and is therefore a spirit, endowed with an immortal nature. The account we have of the creation of our race runs thus: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” Gen. i. 26, 27. “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.” Gen. v. 1. It is also said, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man.” Gen. ix. 6. In the first book of the Bible, then, it is repeated four times, that man was created in the image of God. Some tell us, that image was lost in Adam, and that all his posterity have been created in the image of the infernal, but this is not the theology of the New Testament. The apostle Paul says, “Forasmuch as man IS the image and glory of God.” 1 Cor. ii. 7. And another apostle testifies to the same, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which ARE made in the similitude (or image) of God.” James iii. 9. We may then safely affirm, that mankind from the morning of creation to the present time, have been created in the image and glory of God. The fish of the sea, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the forest, were all created—but not in the image of God. Man only is thus distinguished.