Get audio book from MP3 Book Downloads Pioneer Evangelism or Experiences and Observations at Home and Abroad By H. M. RIGGLE Author of:  "Man, His Present and Future" "Christian Baptism"  "The Sabbath and the Lords Day" "The Christian Church, Its Rise and Progress" Etc. INTRODUCTION The antecedent step in accomplishing anything worth while is, first, to make a forcible impression upon the mind and, second, to persuade the conscience that the thing is right. The mind and conscience of man are like water, which sparkles when it runs, but stagnates in still pools. The following pages, carefully read, will arouse your mind and conscience and cause you to think soberly; for they teach that happiness which is substantial and lasting is not the product of riches or indulgence, but of correct living before God and humanity. History is replete with instances where a slave has been happier than his master, because license or indulgence does not yield the pleasant fruitage as does honest toil. This book is a lesson of intelligent activity. Its author (whose preaching marked a new mile-stone in my life), being a man of unquestionable Christian character, gives immediate weight to either his spoken or his written words; and his long years of constant labor as a teacher of moral ethics in America, Europe, Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, as well as an author of many standard books on Bible fundamentals, will, in my opinion, make this work, not only a valuable addition to religious literature, but a setter in motion of influences and ideas the moral uplift of which will be felt long after the author lies in his bed of dust. The accounts of Brother Riggles extensive travels through the land of sacred story, his careful observations, and the new, up-to-date facts and figures he gives, are a most valuable part of this book. There is a freshness in the descriptions given. Really, this book is different from others, and from the first page to the last an intense interest grasps the reader. Among the broken arches, crumbled pillars, and desecrated altars, the author has discovered that hope still exists in the human heart, and that true religion is not dependent upon sacred rites, forms, and ceremonies, but upon the reception of the living Christ into the soul of man. The author by a pure life and hard work has earned for himself a place in the church, a place in the affections of the people; and I am confident that all who read these pages will become better men and women, better home-builders, and better citizens of the kingdom of God. J. Grant Anderson. Franklin, Pennsylvania   EARLY LIFE EARLY RECOLLECTIONS In a log house nestled among the hills of western Pennsylvania, U. S. A., on Feb. 18, 1872, I was born. I was the only child of George W. and Mary Riggle. Until the age of seventeen my life was spent on the farm. I often heard my father relate that at the time he and Mother were married, he was fifty dollars in debt. Soon after their marriage they purchased our farm home, 108 acres, for which they went in debt about three thousand dollars. When I grew to boyhood, it fell to my lot to help, by hard work, to pay off the debt on the home. At the age of twelve I was cradling wheat on the hillsides and mowing grass with the old-fashioned scythe. While other boys in the neighborhood had driving-horses and buggies, I never enjoyed these privileges. About all I knew was constant toil, and was sometimes in the fields by moonlight as well as by sunlight. But I thank God today that such was my portion in life. It ground into me the principle of climbing to usefulness over the rough road of difficulty and labor, and also taught me the value of things. I learned by experience how to economize and make a little go a long way. Usually what people get without corresponding toil and sacrifice is very little appreciated. In after life, when I had a family of my own, I continued constantly in the ministry, and by careful management we were able to accumulate a little along the way. My father was very strict in discipline and severe in punishment. I was naturally full of mischief, and many were the switchings I received. Sometimes when I was inclined to be naughty, one stern look from my father was sufficient. To this day I look back to him and respect him for his severity. My mother was very tender and sympathetic. These two characteristics in my parents, properly blended together, made an ideal home government. I believe I can remember the first real volitional sin that I committed. My father used tobacco. He kept it in a stand drawer. More than once when he was going to the field to work he said to me: “Dont you dare touch my tobacco.” But my nature was wild, and, after he was gone, I would slip in to the drawer and take some. Once I became sick from chewing the filthy weed. Father said, “Herbert, were you at my tobacco today?” I put on an innocent look and replied, “No, sir.” But he was not so easily put off. He looked me straight in the eyes and kept plying the question. Finally my countenance betrayed me, and I confessed. A whipping followed; but that did not end the matter. My heart condemned me. I felt a sense of guilt upon my soul. I had disobeyed, and had then denied it. My conscience reproved me, and for the first time in my life I felt I had sinned against God. This was, I think, at the age of ten. Oh, I have often since that time wished I had yielded to the voice of conscience, and surrendered my heart and life, to God. What troubles and sorrows of after life I should have avoided! I here wish to say to every boy and girl, if I had my life to live over I would give it to Christ in my young days, while my heart was tender. But, alas! like many others I stifled the voice of conscience and plunged deeper into sin. It may sound strange to some, but I had a natural longing to be a minister of the gospel. When but a child I began “playing preacher.” Often my parents went visiting and left me at home alone. I would then take my mothers family Bible, lay it upon the table, and preach to an imaginary congregation. I did this scores of times in the same way I would play in the woods, and in the fields. This natural longing followed me all the years of my sinful career. When a grown young man and deep in sin. I would quote texts of Scripture and exhort others to do right. Somehow I always felt that some day I would preach the gospel. I started to school when five years of age. Until I was twelve, I learned very rapidly. Then a careless streak crossed my life, and for three years I cared little for study. I used to write on my boot-legs the answers in my geography and history lessons, and then read them to the teacher. I would advise young folk not to do similarly; for it is valuable time wasted. At sixteen I began to realize what I had lost by such actions, and began to study with all my might. At seventeen I had passed all the branches of common-school and one branch of high-school study. How often I have regretted the fact that I spent three years carelessly! Youth is the most important period of life. The foundation of future years is here laid. Influences are in youth set in motion that will follow us all through our earthly pilgrimage. Habits are formed which in after years are not easily shaken off. The seed we here sow will produce a bountiful harvest in later years. It is certain we shall reap what we sow. The greatest regret I have is that I did not begin to serve God earlier in life. Had I the chance to turn back the wheels of time to childhoods happy days, I would never spend one day in sin. Had I ten thousand lives to live, I would give them all to Christ. To this hour I am fighting battles and struggling with difficulties I should never have known had I begun the true Christian life in childhood. Boys and girls, “remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.” “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” During my ministry, a man who had always lived in sin was converted at the age of seventy-eight. In his case a soul was saved. At another time a boy of eight years publicly consecrated his life to the Lord. In this latter case, a life as well as a soul was saved. How much better! INFLUENCES OF A CHRISTIAN MOTHER Our mothers fill one of the most responsible places in the world. They stand higher than the presidents of republics, than the kings of nations. Many of the worlds greatest men have declared that they owed their success in life to the influence of their mothers. A true mothers love is stronger than death. I quote the following touching tribute to MOTHER from the pen of J. Grant Anderson: “A mothers love surpasses every other earthly element. It was she who felt the first quickening pulse of the new life that was to be. It was she to whom our infant eyes were first uplifted, and the name Mamma was the first word that fell from our lips. It was she who waited at midnight when the candle of life flickered, and when the issue like a pendulum swung between life and death. Her love is the connecting link which binds humanity together. Humanity never comes so near the Divine, as when maternity is wrapped in holy human love. The sister turns away the wayward brother; the fathers pity has its limitations and soon he says, Go, you are a disgrace to my name and to my family; but, My mothers prayers have followed me the whole world through. The wicked world turns from the haggard, disgraced man. He is put in prison, and despised by society and former companions. But Mother visits him still. She kneels outside when the gallows trap drops that day, and prays as only a mother can pray that God, some way, somehow, will forgive her wayward boy. She combs his hair, places a rose upon his breast, kisses his darkened brow, and then at last puts a wreath upon his grave. Verily she is the first to greet him in this life, and the last one to leave him in death.” The following beautiful poem by T. H. Nelson expresses a mothers love to her wayward daughter: “My cares were made light by her prattle, Her presence turned winter to June; But alas, for my fond expectation,. My visions are vanished too soon. “Oh, who could have thought that my darling Could have fallen so soon and so low From the heights of her lofty ambition To the depths of dishonor and woe! “O God, if there is power in thy mercy, Restore my lost child to my arms. Though her sins be as crimson or scarlet, She still to her mother has charms. “Though far oer the mountains of folly Thou hast roamed with companions so wild, I love thee as dearly as ever, My own precious prodigal child. “My home and my heart s true affection Are waiting to welcome thee still. Come back to thy Savior and Mother, And peace will thy troubled heart fill. I can not but love thee, my darling, Though sinful and fallen thou art. The memory of days now departed Is breaking thy poor mothers heart. “Thy Savior still waits to be gracious; Thy mother still waits to forgive. Come back from thy wanderings my daughter, And a life of full usefulness live. “Oh, turn from the wanderings my darling, No more in sins wilderness roam; Come back to thy Savior and Mother, And the joys that await thee at home.”   I was blessed with a true Christian mother. When but a child I sat at her knee while she read to me stories from her large Bible. She read about the creation, about the flood, about how the children of Israel passed through the sea dry-shod, the story of Daniel in the lions den, and of Jonah. She knew nothing about the evolution theory, nor the higher critics objections. She believed her Bible, the virgin birth and all. Oh, the simple, pure faith of Mother in her Bible!. She instilled that faith into my young mind and heart. Thank God it is there today. The Bible has been the book of my most careful and diligent study for more than thirty years. The more I read it and compare its teachings with the new modern theories, the more I am confirmed in the faith that Mother taught me. On her dying bed she said, “Give my boy my old family Bible as a last token of my love.” Among the hundreds of valuable books that compose my library, there is one that I prize above all the rest, it is my mothers dying gift—her Bible. My mother taught me the little prayer “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray thee Lord my soul to take. This I ask for Jesus sake. Amen.” Today I am past fifty-one years of age, and every night when I retire I repeat this simple prayer. Mother prayed it over a thousand times, and I have repeated it probably more than seventeen thousand times. If I live to be an old man, with tottering step, leaning on my staff as I come bending to the tomb, I will still be uttering this little prayer that mother gave me when I was but a child. Once when a young man, steeped in sin, I was brought low under the heavy hand of affliction. I was near death. I shall never forget how mother knelt by my couch and, with her eyes filled with tears, said, “Herbert, you may have to die. Oh, how is it with your soul! You cant die like this. Give Christ your heart and be saved.” I melted. My heart began to break. I then and there promised God that if he would spare my life, I would some day serve him. Mother was a praying woman. Many times while going about her daily toils, she would be either singing a hymn or uttering a prayer. These influences I never shook off. They followed me all through my sinful career, and today they exert a directing power in my life. As I pen these lines, memory goes back over the lapse of thirty years to the death-bed of my sainted mother. Just before she expired she looked up and said, “I see heaven opened and the glory of God descending.” She testified she was “going to dwell with Christ.” Among her last words she said, “Tell my boy (I was then in the far West) to be true to God at the point of the bayonet.” This charge I expect, by Gods grace, to keep. AN UNSATISFACTORY RELIGION From infancy I was brought up in religion. We were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. All my people on my fathers side of the house were of this persuasion. My mother had been converted in a Wesleyan meeting, and was a Lutheran only by marriage, a Lutheran in form but not at heart. When but three months old I was carried to the altar, where Reverend Sarver sprinkled me, for baptism, and I was christened Herbert McClellan Riggle. I had no choice of my own in the matter. In later years my father explained to me that I had been baptized when a baby. This was all I ever knew about it. I never was satisfied with this rite that had been imposed upon me, in which I had no will or choice of my own. As I grew to years I became settled in the conviction that in the important matters which, pertain to our eternal salvation, our parents can not act for us. When Moses came to years, “he chose” for himself. That doctrine which teaches that in the sacrament of baptism the parents give their child to God, at which time it is born again, its name written in heaven, and it then made a member of the church, and needs no change of heart when arriving at the years of the knowledge of good and evil, is contrary to every principle laid down in the gospel of Christ. But I was catechized in this very faith. At somewhere near the age of twelve I was sent to our minister, and given a regular course of catechetical lectures. Then I was confirmed, and ever after considered a church member in good standing. After confirmation, I was supposed to receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper. This I refused to do. I attended “preparatory services,” at which time we were taught that we “received absolution or forgiveness through the pastor as of God himself, in no wise doubting that our sins were thus forgiven before God in heaven.” But I knew in my heart that I was not right with God, and during the twenty years I was a member of the Lutheran Society I never went to the communion table once. In the community where I lived there was a congregation of Wesleyan Methodists and Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Both these bodies worshiped together in the same church-house. They taught real experimental religion, and had powerful revival meetings. Some of these people lived what they professed, and this convinced me that my religion was only a form. I longed to be converted; but our pastor informed me that my conversion took place at my baptism when three months old. Our church motto read: “A well-organized church needs no revival.” “Bring up the child in the way he should go.” Once I ventured to go forward; to the “mourners bench” in a Wesleyan revival. I sought the Lord earnestly; but no one could tell me how to accept pardon by faith. Some seekers went to the “bench” as many as forty nights, and then all did not obtain the blessing. I did not have the courage to go so long and so often; so gave up in despair. From infancy I was a diligent church-goer. And our people were taught to reverence the place of worship. Outside the church-building the members would joke, jest, and frequently use profane language; but the moment we stepped over the threshold of the church door, a sacred awe came over us, and scarcely a move or whisper could be observed. I still like this reverential feeling for the place of worship, and really wish there were more of it. It is a good thing. But our trouble was, we had merely the form, and were without the life and power of real, vital salvation. After we stepped outside of the church, all the sacredness was gone, and it was no uncommon thing for members to indulge in profanity and other bad language on the way home from church. Some of the members of our congregation, even some of the officers, were among the most profane and wicked men of the whole community. Out of an assembly of about three hundred, there were only four who prayed in public; and when none of these four nor the pastor was present, we both opened and closed, services without prayer. Our pastor was a tobacco-user, and we always looked forward to the Fourth of July Sunday-school celebration as a time to hear him tell some good funny stories and “crack some big jokes.” Ours was a “sin you must” religion. When holiness was first taught in the neighborhood, our minister felt it was his duty to defend “the faith of our fathers” against the new heresy, and he preached a strong sermon in favor of sin, selecting for the text 1st John 1:8. Among other things, he said, “None of us can ever expect to be better than the sinner David.” I shall never forget his prayer. It ran something like this: “O God, we have grievously sinned against thee. We have left undone those things which we should have done. We have done what thou hast forbidden. We have made many crooked paths. Enter thou not into judgment with us because of our manifold transgressions. If thou shouldst remember our many sins, who could stand in thy sight?” Of course we were sinners, and the preachers sermon did not help us out, but virtually justified us in continuing in such a life. Oh, the blindness of such teaching! Though wicked and ungodly myself I always admired the lives of others who triumphed over sin. In my heart I longed for a more satisfactory religion. MEETING THE PRESENT TRUTH In the winter of 1888 89, Brother George T. Clayton and Charles Koonce came into our community, near Cochrans Mills, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, preaching what was generally termed “a new doctrine,” that was “turning the world upside down.” Reports flew thick and fast about these “holiness folks” that were coming. Some said, “They claim to be better than Christ,” and “Wings are growing on their shoulders, so that ere long they will fly away.” I was a boy sixteen years old, and the first night of the service walked four miles to the meeting. I went mostly out of curiosity. Brother Clayton preached. I think he read about fifty texts of Scripture. The reference method of preaching was generally used among the brethren then. He presented a point, then proved it by a text out of the Bible; and it seemed that each text explained the previous one. I never before heard such preaching. That first sermon made a deep impression on my mind. I said to the boys on the way home from the meeting, “That man preaches the Bible. He proves everything by the Word of God.” I went the second night Brother Koonce preached on the subject of the church. My wife (or the girl who later became my wife, then a girl of fourteen) and her father rode horseback several miles to this meeting. They were holiness people who belonged to the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. At the close of the sermon an invitation was given, and my wifes father went forward to the altar. I watched and listened. Brother Clayton asked him, “Have you come to be saved?” “No,” he replied, “I am saved.” “Do you desire to consecrate for entire sanctification?” “No, I am sanctified.” “Then what are you here for?” I shall never forget the reply: “I am here to consecrate out of sect-Babylon.” That night settled it with him. My father-in-law was the first one in the neighborhood to take a firm stand outside of human organizations, and soon, his entire family and many others followed. During that meeting a considerable congregation was raised up for the present truth. A few weeks later Brother D. S. Warner and company came. They arrived in spring-wagons from Blanco, Pennsylvania, a distance of about thirty miles. I was working with my father in the field when they passed down the road singing “The River of Peace” and shouting “halleluiah.” We never before witnessed such a scene. I attended all the services. The spiritual singing from “Songs of Victory” and “Anthems from the Throne” simply captured us. We had never heard such beautiful singing. Brother Warners preaching was all doctrinal. In the midst of his sermons sometimes nearly all those who believed as he did were on their feet with uplifted hands and shining faces shouting and praising God. It was not unusual for Brother Warner to leap and shout in the pulpit. All this was new and strange to us; but I was never able to shake off the convictions which fastened on my heart that these people had a genuine heart-felt religion, and preached the clean, Bible truth. In my heart I said, “I want their kind of religion.” Later, other companies of evangelists came, among them A. J. Kilpatrick, S. L. Speck, J. A. Dillon, and Wm. O. Schell. I attended all their meetings, and became more and more convinced of the truth they preached. But all this time I was a Lutheran in form. To keep in with the popular crowd, I even made light of these new preachers and people, and professed to be against them, while deep, in my heart I admired them and their teachings, and longed to cast my lot with the true Church of God. I am certain there are thousands just like I was. In their hearts they are convinced of the teaching, but are ashamed and afraid to acknowledge it publicly. EXAMPLE OF OTHERS The great apostle Paul said, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Again, he speaks thus, “Ye have us for an example.” Jesus laid down this principle and set forth the responsibility of the church, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” It was not the preaching alone that convinced me of the true Bible way. A number of people accepted the truth, and a good-sized congregation was established in our neighborhood. All eyes were turned upon them; for much more was expected of those who made such a high profession than of the other people. Thus these were a “gazing-stock” for the public. How carefully we observed their every word and act! This shows the responsibility and relation of the church, as a whole. The assembly is judged by the individual life of each member. If the life is above reproach, clean and pure, then the local work as a whole commands confidence and respect. But if the deportment of the one with whom the observer comes in contact is not commendable, then he is inclined to lose confidence in the assembly with whom that one worships. This is always the result. And the same is true of the congregation as a whole. The general or universal church is judged by the local assembly. If the assembly is made up of all saved, spiritual members, in love and unity with each other, then the observers of that community will judge the whole cause by the spiritual state of the local part. You see, each member, and each assembly, is a part of the whole. So the whole is judged by that part which falls under the peoples observation. Now this was the exact truth in my case. I looked carefully into the lives of those with whom I came in contact, and I reckoned that they were a sample of all the rest. We stand on the bank of a river and judge the entire stream by what flows before us. A preacher from western Texas was holding meetings on the eastern coast of Florida. How he enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean! He thought, “If wife and the children could only see this!” Then an idea came into his mind. He saw the neck of a bottle sticking out of the sand. He pulled the bottle out, carefully washed it clean, filled it from the briny deep, placed it in his satchel, and carried it home. With delight he said to his family, “This is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and the rest is just like this.” The brethren who embraced the whole truth in the community where I lived carried out every principle in their lives. They lived before my eyes the very things that they publicly professed. I liked to mingle with them. I saw the beauties and glories of a true Christian religion, it was demonstrated in a practical way. Many times I said, “This is the religion that appeals to me.” In our neighborhood lived a man who bitterly opposed the brethren. He especially persecuted my father-in-law. From the mans actions you would conclude that he had no confidence in my father-in-law. But after a time he became very sick and was expected to die. The first one he sent for was my father-in-law. When the latter entered his room, the dying man said, “Jacob, I have sent for you to help me and to pray for me. I have always believed that if there is a genuine Christian in this country, you are that man.” It pays to live right under every circumstance. THE MEETING THAT WON MY HEART Solomon said, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” I have learned through thirty years of active ministerial labor that very often when we think we have accomplished the least is the very, time when we have performed exploits for God. Those times when I considered I had made my greatest failures in the pulpit, is when people came to me and expressed how wonderfully they were benefited by the sermon. Many times I have gone home from meeting and said, “O Wife, I made a terrible failure out of it today! My God, why is this?” And to my surprize she would reply, “That was the best sermon you have preached in a long time.” I think this was true of the meeting that won more hearts to the truth than any other ever held in our home neighborhood. For two years the work had been established, and many companies of evangelists had held meetings there. But still the minds of the rest of the people were not settled as to which was really the right way. During these two years two young ministers of the Pentecost Band movement came from Illinois and held a big meeting. They bitterly denounced the brethren and the Gospel Trumpet, and declared that it was “comeoutism,” “no-sectism,” “stand-aloneism,” a “serpent-deceiving, soul-destroying, hell-glazed doctrine.” Their seeming power and bold public denunciations unsettled a number of our minds for the time being. One of these preachers afterwards was delivered from evil spirits in one of our meetings at Grand Junction, Michigan. He later confessed to me that the time he became possessed was in this very meeting where he so radically opposed the brethren and the Gospel Trumpet. A few months later Brothers Schell and Dillon held a five-weeks grove-meeting on my father-in-laws farm, which was attended by multitudes from far and near. There were no apparent results, and, so far as I know, there was not a single public profession made during the entire meeting. I am of the opinion that the ministers went away feeling that they had made almost a complete failure. But, instead, it was one of the most successful meetings ever held there. A great number were fully convinced that this was the true Bible way, and the gospel seed was sown in many hearts. Among those convinced were my father, mother, and I. From this meeting our family ceased to worship with the Lutheran sect. While we did not publicly take our stand with the Church of God, we had no doubt from this time on but what the movement was of God, and that these people represented the true church of the Bible. REMINISCENCES COVERING TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS MY CONVERSION In the fall of 1891 we moved from Pennsylvania to Washington State. In the following July my father met with an accident and was instantly killed. This greatly impressed me with the thought of being ready to meet God. It had much to do with bringing me to myself, and awakening me to a realization of my lost condition. We returned East the same year, and I was married. In January, 1892, during a revival held by Brothers Clayton and Jacobson, I went forward to the public altar and yielded myself to Christ. More than thirty others were converted in the same meeting. I was steeped in sin, my heart was like adamant, and at first I could not pray. One thing I settled that night upon my knees before God—to give up sin forever. I made a decision that has stood by me to this hour. I attribute at least one half of the success of my Christian life to the decision made in that service. A fixed decision, coupled with the grace of God, will take us through. But I did not obtain entire satisfaction to my soul. The workers did not know how wicked was my life and how seared was my conscience. They encouraged me to believe the work was done, and, after some effort, I helped to sing, “I can, I will, I do believe that Jesus saves me now.” I felt better, and arose and testified to my determination to serve God. But my heart was not fully broken. “A broken and contrite spirit” is necessary to a thorough repentance. It is a sad mistake to hurry souls through at the altar. I have always since been an advocate of thorough altar-work. The mistake of that night cost me years of intense suffering. However, I made a public start, and this coupled with my determination, helped me to keep striving “to enter in at the strait gate,” and keep seeking the Lord until “he rained righteousness” upon me. A few weeks after this meeting my wife and I “moved to Bellingham, Washington. I kept on searching and feeling after God “if haply I might find him.” The climax came one dark night in a logging-camp at Goshen, Washington. I was in the midst of as wicked a crowd of men as I had ever met. On this particular night they were seated around card-tables gambling and cursing each other. All of a sudden, without any apparent provocation, the head man of the camp arose from his seat and began pacing back and forth uttering the most horrid oaths I ever heard fall from the lips of man. He cursed God, and called him all kinds of bad names, and then, looking up, dared the Almighty to touch him. I became affrighted, and expected that the Lord would instantly destroy the place as he did Sodom, and we should all perish together. Just at this moment a circumstance happened that struck the arrows of conviction deep into my soul. I hastily withdrew from the crowd and went behind a curtain. Falling upon my knees by my bedside, I began calling mightily upon the Lord for mercy. I there promised God that if he would save me, my entire life should be his forevermore. My heart began to break, and the tears flowed freely. What a load of guilt pressed down upon me! It seemed all the sins of my past life came before me like a panorama. In that dark hour I cried: “Where shall I go? What shall I do?” It seemed as though my life was suspended by a brittle thread, and I was swinging over the vortex of hell. I trembled like a leaf in the wind. I could see the sword of justice hanging over me. There seemed to be no way of escape. But above the elements, that would seal my doom in certain perdition, I saw a faint ray of light, and a tender voice said, “Come unto ME. I will give you rest.” Oh, thank God for that invitation! I am glad I ever heard it. But again I cried, “I am lost. I am lost.” The same gentle voice once more rang out, “I came to seek and to save that which was lost.” At that instant hope sprang up in my bosom, and I began to see the goodness of God to me. I saw how he had prolonged my days, extended to me his mercy, and HOW SO: lovingly offered to save me. Oh, how sorry I felt that I had ever sinned against such a loving Christ. I wept like a child. Then and there I bade farewell to sin forever. I died out to the world and the opinions of men. I promised God to follow and obey him at all times and under every circumstance. It was only a few moments till faith sprang up in my heart and I said, “Jesus saves me. I am his, and he is mine.” Oh, the joy that filled my soul! The burden of my heart rolled away. It seemed all heaven was near. I knew my sins were gone, and I was Gods child. “Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!” FEELING THE NEED OF A “SECOND GRACE” Paul says in Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Notice the language of this text: “Justified by faith . . . through our Lord Jesus Christ”; “Also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.” Here are two graces: first, “justified”; second, “this grace wherein we stand, “in which “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearth by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.” The reception of the Holy Spirit, the standing grace, is a second experience. It is subsequent to “being justified.” Both graces are entered “by faith,” and both are “through Christ.” There is a twofold entrance, just as the Jewish tabernacle had its first and second veil. The holy place represented justification. The holy of holies, entire sanctification, or the state of being baptized by the Holy Ghost. Holiness is a golden thread that runs through the whole fabric of gospel truth. It is the climax of full salvation from sin, and is attainable in this life. By departing from this truth the early church opened the doors to every conceivable error that swept to and fro in the first centuries of her history, and the way was paved for the great apostasy that has cursed Christianity for more than fifteen hundred years. True holiness is destined to restore to the church her pristine glory. It is on the “highway of holiness” that the ransomed of the Lord are now returning from the low plains of a sin-you-must religion and false Christianity to the heights of Zion, to the beautiful church of God, gathered back into primitive unity, power, and victory. This was the grand theme of all the early preachers in the present reformation movement. They made holiness the great center of the work, and urged the experience upon all. I was imbued with this idea. Even before I heard the clear teaching of the church of God movement, the Wesleyans and Mennonite Brethren in Christ in our community had taught sanctification as a second work of grace. A number of people sought and obtained the experience, and demonstrated the deeper life before my eyes. The teaching of the Bible on this subject and my comprehension of it convicted me for the experience. After I entered the holy place of regeneration I saw no chair, couch, or stool to sit on. There was here no place to linger. The only furniture was a lamp to light my way, a table of shew-bread—the bread of life to nourish my soul— and before me the golden altar, Christ, where I was instructed to present my body a living sacrifice so that I might “enter into the holiest [perfected holiness] by the blood of Jesus.” A voice said: “Go on unto perfection,” this is not your abiding place.” There was something else besides the Bible teaching that prompted me to seek a deeper experience of grace. It was a foe within. I knew that my sins were all forgiven. I was happy in the joy of pardon, deliverance, and adoption. A new life had come into my soul. But very soon after my conversion the old nature began to assert itself. It was manifest in various ways, but especially in carnal anger. Before I was saved I had a terrible, almost uncontrollable temper. This was my weakest point. There were times, under strong provocation, when this carnal propensity almost overcame me it was only by calling mightily upon the Lord that I kept control of myself. I really feared at times that I would lose my experience because of the warfare within. I well remember how I longed for deliverance. My soul hungered and thirsted for more grace, for the mighty infilling of Gods perfect righteousness. I wanted to move out of this “wilderness” experience into the “Canaan rest.” My soul yearned for the pentecostal baptism. I felt the need of an enduement of divine power. The experience of a pioneer settler on the Western plains of Nebraska illustrates my experience very well. He built a sod house with a small loft in which was a single window. In those days great hordes of wolves swept across the prairies. He captured one and kept it in his house as a pet. One dark night a cohort of wolves attacked his home. He fired his gun; but they only scampered away to return again. The thing that emboldened them was the wolf within. When the wild wolves howled without, the pet wolf responded from with in. It soon became apparent to the man that to save his life he must get rid of the wolf on the inside. He climbed into the loft, opened the small window, and threw the animal out. Then when the howling began there was no response from within. The next time he fired his gun, the whole pack ran away and returned no more that night. SEEKING ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION Jesus instructed the disciples to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until they were “endued with power from on high.” They returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God” (Luke 24:49, 52, 53). “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14). Scarcely two persons can be found who relate exactly the same detailed experience in their coming to a knowledge of the indwelling Comforter. Two things are necessary on the part of every believer to enter this state of Christian perfection, namely, consecration and faith. When the Holy Spirit comes in, he witnesses to the work done. “He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us” (Hebrews 10:14, 15). But in reaching a perfect consecration and a definite faith that appropriates the blessing to our hearts, we may not all come just the same way. No one dare say, “This is the way I reached the place. It is the only route, and unless you have come this way you have not obtained the experience.” Such teaching has wrought great confusion, and thrown good, conscientious people under awful accusation. I am convinced that the teaching has much to do with the manner of seeking. For example, Fletcher, in his writings, specialized along the line of “dying out to sin,” “crucifying the old man,” and “seeking a clean heart.” Hence the various branches of Methodist holiness people have emphasized this particular phase. The result is, their seekers follow this route. A notable case in point is that of the Free Methodist Church. That many of them have attained a real experience of holiness no one can question. On the other hand, there are many movements along the line of holiness which in their preaching enlarge on the “baptism of power,” the “mighty infiling,” and the “overwhelming blessing.” In their meetings the seekers think little of dying out to carnality, but simply plead for the “second blessing.” Then there are others who make consecration the prominent thing. The seekers “lay all on the altar,” and “the altar sanctifies the gift.” Oh, the importance of well-balanced teaching! The negative and positive sides of the doctrine should be set forth in all clearness. The ten days of waiting on the part of the first disciples was spent in “prayer and supplication,” and in “praising and blessing God.” They obtained the genuine experience. In their case we read of no groanings, no weird or wild actions, simply praying and praising God. Take the case of Cornelius in Acts 10: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” That Paul taught a death to sin, a crucifixion of our old nature, is very clear. He also taught the need of a deep and thorough consecration. But to say that a person must go through a certain process covering days and weeks in order to reach the condition in which the Holy Spirit is given, is not warranted in the Scriptures. Soon after my conversion I began to pray for entire sanctification. I determined never to stop short of a satisfactory experience. The consecration I made was something like this: “O God, I here and now dedicate my all to thee forevermore, my body to be thy holy temple, and every member to be used to thy glory: my hands to labor for thee, my feet to walk in thy footsteps, my ears to hear thy voice, my mind to think and meditate upon thy goodness, and my mouth to speak thy everlasting praise. Come into this temple and decorate it to suit thyself. My soul I dedicate to be a receptacle of all thy rich graces; my heart to be thy throne. I sign a quitclaim to myself. I am, without reserve, thine for time and eternity.” Along with myself, I fully gave wife, children, and possessions into the Lords hands. At this point a real circumcision of the heart took place. I shall never forget the pangs of death through which I passed. It was as real to me as though I saw each member of my family lowered into the grave. Whether others experience what I did is immaterial to me. This is the route along which the Spirit led me. I am glad I took this “death route.” When in later years I was called to spend about ten months of the year away from home in the evangelistic field, and after but a few days with my family at home had to rush away to the Lords harvest-field again, and my weeping wife and children clung to me and said, “O Papa, stay with us a few days longer,” but duty compelled me to grasp my satchel and wave them good-by, I was comforted because I had already consecrated to this very thing. When the white casket containing my fourteen-year-old daughter, who was burned to death, was lowered into the grave, I stood silent, and with a sweet, calm resignation could say, “The Lord giveth, the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” My consecration made years before covered this. I passed through the heart-rending pangs back there. Oh, hallelujah! How sweet to be entirely consecrated on every line! When the Lord made clear to me to go to Syria, and when on Dec. 7, 1920, the train pulled out of Rochester, Indiana, U. S. A., and my children with tears streaming down their faces stood on the platform waving farewells, my consecration came before me. I calmly said, “The will of the Lord be done.” When in hours of deep discouragement and dark trial the enemy has whispered, “Throw up everything and quit for good,” my consecration has upheld me like a rock. I thank God that I took time to count the cost, and then paid the price. I died to sin. It seemed that all the elements of my fallen nature were dissected and laid bare by the sword of the Spirit, selfishness, pride, anger, stubbornness, and all the rest. Like Agag, each began to plead for life and say, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” Like the Canaanites of old who were born and bred in the land, these principles were a part of me, I inherited them. But as certain as the Canaanites had to be utterly destroyed in order for Israel to possess the land and have rest, so the “body of sin,” my “old man,” with all his members, must be brought to the cross and made to pass through the pangs of death. This was real to me. It was not an empty theory. I shall never forget the inward sufferings. All these experiences have been worth a world to me. They forever anchored me in the experience and doctrine of true holiness. During my ministry many new and false theories have been introduced. And at first they looked plausible; but when I looked back to the way the Holy Spirit taught and led me, I felt like a rock in the billows. Johns mother was an old-fashioned holiness woman. She taught her principles to her boy. When he grew to manhood, she sent him to the theological school to be trained for the ministry. After he finished his course and returned home with his diploma, he began to argue with his mother against sanctification as a second work. He had learned differently during his absence. Being a fluent speaker, he was able to get the best of the argument. Finally his mother said: “John, yo can speak better dan yose mudder. Yose got yer relijun in yer head; but yose mudder has de experence in her heart, and yo can not take it from her.” That is the point. I am inclined to believe that the majority who are led off into new theories have never reached the depths of a living experience. BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39). “The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32). Perfect holiness comprehends not only a purifying of our nature from the effects of the fall, but also the infilling of the blessed Comforter. We get rid of something and, thank God, we receive something. Our hearts are cleansed from sin, and the Holy Spirit takes possession of the temple. Thus we are the “habitation of God through the Spirit.” When I was a boy on the farm my father assigned me a certain job about every spring. Usually there was left over considerable musty straw and hay in the barn, and it was my work to clear this out. But after all this was pitched out of the mows into the barnyard there was nothing left except an empty barn. Nothing attractive about that. It was when the barn was filled with new wheat and hay that it was an attractive place. So with salvation. The Prodigal got rid of his rags and filth; but he also received the “best robe” and “shoes for his feet.” He exchanged the grunts of the swine for “music and dancing,” and his hunger for a feast on the “fatted calf.” In the experience of entire sanctification we rejoice in a clean heart, in a thorough purging from sin; but along with this we thank God for the in-filling power of the Holy Ghost, the abiding Comforter. I did not seek for manifestations, for certain experiences, or fruits of the Spirit, but I sought for the Spirit himself. I received Him. He cleansed my heart, filled me with power, and all my being with the glory of God. I was sensitively conscious of his sweet indwelling presence. Then I could sing: “Yes. tis love, tis burning love divine, Filling all my souls desire; Oh. how sweet its glories ever shine! Now I feel the glowing fire.”         CALLED TO GOSPEL WORK “Paul, . . . called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). “The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” Paul. Every true minister is divinely called. Jesus said, “I have chosen you.” Not every member of the church is called to the special work of the ministry, but “he gave some, apostles; and some evangelists,” etc., “for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”— the church. Thus this sacred office is not entered as a matter of our own selection as we would choose any other vocation in life. It is the result of a heavenly calling, where the divine will enters. The Lord said of Paul, “He is a chosen vessel unto me.” This is true of every God-ordained preacher of the gospel. Since the call and qualification comes from God, our authority does not rest upon diplomas, the votes of synods and conferences, nor the endorsements of bishops, but we are “ambassadors for Christ,” sent forth under a divine commission and clothed with all the authority and power of the kingdom of heaven. Such charismatic government characterized the primitive ministry and church, and the same again adorns her in her restored condition, resplendent in this evening time with the glory of pristine Christianity. The church and world need a ministry of power, men anointed and inspired, who have a living message for a dying people. I am not a preacher by personal choice. My father once talked of sending me to Theil College to study for the Lutheran ministry; but at that time I, was not even converted. It was only a very short time after I was saved that a great burden came upon my heart for this lost world, and I felt I must go everywhere and tell others how Jesus saved a poor sinner like me. I began to lose interest in temporal pursuits and found myself longing to enter active service in the Masters vineyard. “While I was musing the fire burned.” As Jeremiah expressed it, “His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones” and “I could not stay.” After I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit this inward conviction and feeling was intensified. The Lord made clear to me that I must forsake all my plans and purposes of life, and devote the rest of my days to him. He “separated me unto the gospel,” and I must make it my lifes work. Every energy of my being, every faculty of my soul must be laid upon the altar of sacrifice and service to him. I believe my call was as definite as my conversion. Before this I had consecrated to the whole will of God, and now, since he made his will in this particular clearly known, it was a pleasure to say, “The will of the Lord be done.” Oh, that more hearts and lives were dedicated without reserve to God! He would then choose more “vessels of mercy” to bear the living waters of salvation to the thirsty souls of men. HOW I PREACHED MY FIRST SERMON It was in May, 1893, just three months after I was saved. We were living in New Whatcom (now Bellingham), Washington. One Sunday morning I suggested to my wife that we attend Free Methodist services, as they were the only holiness people we knew of in the place. After the sermon, an opportunity was given for testimonies, or, in Methodist terms, a “class-meeting” was held. This was open to all and we availed ourselves of the opportunity to tell what God had done for us. Both of us testified to the saving, sanctifying, and healing power of God. But we did not stop at this. Being “exceedingly zealous” for what we believed to be the truth, we felt that we must tell all we knew. So we told them that through spiritual birth we were members of the one and only Bible church—the Church of God. That religious sects and divisions are wrong and sinful, and that the time has come when the Lord is gathering his people out of all these places where they have been “scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” I confess that we had more zeal than wisdom. But God overruled it to his glory. What we said aroused a great interest. As soon as the meeting was dismissed, the members crowded around us and asked me to preach for them in the evening. The pastor said, “Please preach us a sermon on the church; I want to hear more along this line.” I told them that I had never preached a sermon. Wife was scared for fear I should consent, and earnestly protested, saying, “No, no, he is no preacher. Please dont ask him to preach.” But they were not easily put off. We had created an interest, and they insisted that I preach to them something about this one true Church of God. Finally I consented. My wife turned pale, and I felt as though my heart was in my throat. We had about one mile to walk home, and I question whether a dozen words passed between us all the way. We were both thinking deeply. I shall never forget that afternoon. It was a time of anxiety, fear, and trembling. I spent it in earnest prayer, pleading with the Lord to help me. I am certain that my wife, called mightily upon the Lord; for she was afraid I should make a complete failure. The sermon outline I prepared follows: THE CHURCH Text—Matthew 16:13-18. Text analyzed. 1. The church is divine. Christ built it. “I WILL BUILD.” 2. It is his church. “MY church.” 3. There is but one true church. “MY CHURCH.” 4. It will stand forever, hence there is no need of any other. “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 1. It is the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18, 24. 2. Christ has but one body, the church. Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 12:4, 5. 3. Sects or divisions in this body are wrong. 1st Corinthians 12:24, 25; 1st Corinthians 1:10. 4. Salvation makes us members. John 10:7, 9; Acts 2:47; 1st Corinthians 12:13, 18. 5. Its name is the church of God. Acts 20:28; 1st Corinthians 1:1, 2. 6. The class-book is the book of life. Philippians 4:3; Luke 10:20. 7. The discipline is the New Testament. 2nd Timothy 3:16, 17. 8. Its bond of union is the love of God. Colossians 2:2. 9. We need nothing else. Colossians 2:10. That evening we walked silently together to the church. I was trembling from head to feet. When we reached the place, to our surprize the house was crowded to its capacity. The, minister had spread the announcement that a new preacher from Pennsylvania would address them, and this resulted in a record attendance. When I saw the large congregation, my courage almost failed me. My wife will not be whiter when she lays in her casket than she was at that moment. After song and prayer, with lips quivering and my whole frame shaking I managed to walk to the stand in front of the pulpit. I did not feel worthy to enter the pulpit. I opened my Bible, and with stammering tongue read the text. That instant it seemed the windows of heaven were opened, and the Holy Spirit fell upon me. My mouth was opened, my tongue unloosed, and I was changed into another man. For more than one hour the truth went forth like thunder-peals. Soon Wife was on her feet shouting, the Free Methodists were shouting, and gravitation, could not keep me down either. I was leaping for joy and gladness. My wife afterwards told me that the language used was most eloquent. It was the Holy Ghost using the vocal organs to please himself. Praise God for the experience of that hour. I never after doubted my call to the ministry. The result of that service will be fully known only in eternity. One family took a bold stand with us, and this laid the foundation for future work in that city. A few years later a good-sized congregation was established, and an annual camp-meeting was held in Bellingham.   GIVEN THE GIFT OF PROPHECY “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another prophecy” (1st Corinthians 12:8-11). In July, 1893, we returned from Puget Sound, Washington, to my boyhood home in Pennsylvania. I soon publicly announced my call, and also my intention to enter the ministry. Here all my relatives and former associates lived, and my announcement at once became the topic of the whole community. I then gave out a preaching-service to be held on a Sunday evening in the Shelhamer Church. Some of my near kin said, “What a pity! Had he remained with the Lutherans, he might have amounted to something.” Sunday arrived, and I was aware that a multitude of people were coming, the majority no doubt through curiosity. I spent the day wrestling with God. That whole afternoon I was upon my knees under a large chestnut-tree on the hillside, weeping and humbling my heart before the Lord. I shall never forget the struggles my soul passed through. I shall always remember how utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit I felt. I entered into a number of covenants with the Lord and made solemn promises of what I would do if he would stand by me and give me success. This kind of preparation some brethren have termed “knee-ology” Call it what you may, those early struggles were worth a world to me in after years. At last the hour for meeting came. The church-house was full of people, and as many were outside. When I looked over the congregation, I saw my relatives, my former fellow members of the Lutheran church, many who were once my associates in sin—in fact almost the whole community had turned out I trembled like a leaf in the wind. I whispered to my wife, “How can I rise and face this immense congregation of people? If you ever prayed earnestly, please pray for me now.” I then walked, with faltering step, to the pulpit. My whole body was shaking. It seemed a haze came between me and the Bible, so that I could scarcely read. Somehow I managed to read the text, Luke 12:49, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Just then something happened that I have never been able to explain or describe. It seemed as though I was caught in a whirlwind, and I knew no more. Just one hour and forty minutes later I came to myself like a man awakening out of sleep. When I looked over the congregation, the people were weeping like children. The hardest-hearted sinners were melted to tears. I was conscious that the Holy Ghost had spoken and had delivered the message through my vocal organs. I was afterwards told that the sermon as a whole was far beyond my power and ability to deliver. God had spoken. In praying over this strange experience, my mind was directed to king Saul, upon whom the Spirit came, and he prophesied among the prophets. Then the saying went abroad, “Is Saul also among the prophets. The Holy Spirit impressed me that the Lord in his goodness had given me a gift, at least one phase of the gift of prophecy. Since that time I have had two similar experiences. One a number of years ago at the Anderson Indiana Camp-meeting. It occurred in the Trumpet Home Chapel, during a Ministers Meeting. The last I remember I was sitting near the pulpit writing a letter to my wife. When I came to myself I was standing in the pulpit and had addressed the ministers for about one hour. I was like a person awakening out of sleep. I noticed that everybody was greatly affected, and yet I felt somewhat out of place. I turned to Brother A. B. Palmer, who was sitting behind me in the stand, and said, “Am I in some ones way?” He replied, “No, God bless you; give us more of that.” The Spirit had spoken; I had nothing to say, and sat down. All I knew was what they afterwards told me. This may sound strange to some; but I have had these experiences and they are of God. I firmly believe that if we, were more fully abandoned to the Holy Ghost, he would surprize us all. I am sure there is too much reserve, too much laying-down rules for the Holy Spirits operations. We cut our own grooves, and then say that the Holy Spirit must work inside these; all else is false manifestation. When will we break through and let God have his way? How long, O Lord? I have been greatly burdened over this very thing. We are too fearful of the “diversities of gifts,” the “differences of administrations,” and of the “diversities of operations” (1st Corinthians 12:4-6). It is the same Spirit, the same Lord, and the same God “which worketh all in all.” A very careful reading of the Scriptures reveals the fact that the Holy Ghost has worked in some very strange and mysterious ways at different times. At least in ways that seem strange to us. Oh, that we as a church would without reserve abandon ourselves into his hands, and let him work as he pleases! As long as we dictate and legislate for the Holy Spirit, we limit the field of his operation. I will here relate an experience that fell under my observation. About twenty years ago, Brother I. S. McCoy and my wife and I were conducting a revival-meeting at Olive Bethel, Indiana. The Hunter family lived there at the time. Father Hunter was a very timid man. It was all he could ever do to summon courage to give in a very short testimony. On this particular morning, Brother McCoy preached a powerful sermon under the anointing of the Spirit. The whole place seemed charged with heavens electricity, and the congregation were on the direct line with the powerhouse on high. All of a sudden Father Hunter arose, his face shining like an angels, and he began to exhort and testify to the surprize of everybody. He shouted and praised God aloud, and then went from seat to seat and shook hands with the entire congregation. Wife and I went home with the Hunters for dinner that day. At the table Sigel and Clarence said to their father, “We never saw you act like that before.” He seemed surprized at their remark, and then inquired what they meant. When the boys related what had occurred, it was all news to him. He said that the last he remembered he had stood up to testify, and when he came to himself he was sitting on his seat. He knew nothing of what had taken place. Here the Holy Spirit had his way. I do not say that the Spirit can not have his way unless there is a similar manifestation. That is not the point. The Holy Ghost is unlimited in resources and will operate in a “diversity” of ways, if we will give him the chance. I could relate many similar experiences. It goes to show that the Spirit of God will accomplish his pleasure if we will let him. Brethren, I believe God is nursing a storm in the heaven, and I pray God it may soon break upon us, Oh, that heavens lightning would strike the church and burn up the dry sticks! Let it come, Lord. I can hear the distant thunder-roll. MY FIRST CAMP-MEETING In August, 1893, Wife and I attended the Perryville (Pennsylvania), camp-meeting. This was a new experience to me. Probably three hundred, brethren tented on the grounds. In those days folk were not looking for rocking-chairs nor beds with springs at camp-meeting. We were glad to lay on boards with straw, and were very much crowded together at that. The grove at Perryville was seated to accommodate about fifteen hundred people, and the seats were made of slabs with the flat side up. Personal comforts were hardly thought of in our intense zeal to get the truth to others. I do not remember of hearing a single person complain or grumble. Between general services the time was spent in praying, singing, and shouting. Groups would gather at different places over the grounds and hold prayer-meetings, and in these meetings many people were converted and sanctified. Sometimes these services continued far into the night, and it was not unusual to hear a loud “halleluiah” or “praise the Lord” come from every quarter of the camp-grounds. There were about twenty-five ministers present. There from a distance were Brother D. S. Warner and company, and John A. Dillon and company. I well remember going to the station for some baggage, and of meeting on the way Brother Warner and his company, who had just arrived. At first they did not recognize me; but when I said, “Praise the Lord,” Brother Warner arose in the spring-wagon and, lifting his hand to heaven, shouted at the top of his voice, “Halleluiah! Praise our God for eternal salvation!” and all the company joined in with a loud “amen” and “glory to God.” When a wagon-load of brethren would drive in, a mighty shout would go up, which was usually re-echoed all over the place. This was a wonderful meeting to me. Brother Warner did most of the preaching, and it was about all doctrinal. The great fundamental truths of full salvation and holiness, the church of God, Bible unity, the downfall of sect-Babylon and the command to come out of her, the great apostasy, the last reformation, divine healing, etc., were set forth with boldness and authority. On the last Sunday of the meeting, in the morning service, when the hour of preaching arrived Brother Warner leaped into the pulpit and cried, “Fire, fire, FIRE.” He then read 2nd Thessalonians 2: 3-8, and emphasized the words “whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” His subject was The Consuming and Destroying of Apostate Christianity, the consuming fulfilled in the present reform work, and accomplished “with the spirit of his mouth” (the flaming truth accompanied by the fire of holiness); the destruction soon to follow in the near coming of Christ. I never before heard such a sermon. For three and one half hours the message came forth like mighty thunder-peals. People sat spell-bound during all that time. I trembled under the mighty power of God. Under such preaching, it was not difficult to find the highway that leads to Zion. And the ransomed of the Lord came home with everlasting joy. The altars were well filled with seekers for salvation and entire sanctification. There were many sound conversions, and the babes in Christ were not born dead. They came through making “a joyful noise unto the Lord.” The whole camp seemed aflame with glory. Every saint of God was inspired with the great message of the reformation, and all had confidence in the work. There was a sweet spirit of love and unity. It was truly wonderful. It seemed to be the gate of heaven to me. My soul had a continual “feast of tabernacles.” This meeting was a great inspiration to me to go forth with zeal and earnestness and herald far and wide the “present truth.” OPENING NEW FIELDS OF WORK In the latter part of October, 1893, Wife and I launched out into the active work of the ministry, and from then until the present we have given our full time to the gospel work. A friend told us of a United Brethren church at North Point, Pennsylvania, in which we could hold meetings. He offered to take us in his buckboard buggy, the distance being thirty-eight miles. We packed our satchel and started over the hills on our first evangelistic tour. Our company consisted of Wife, our baby, and me. The people with whom we lodged made no profession of religion. We continued this meeting for seventeen nights. The country was stirred for miles, and the attendance was very large. I had no older minister on whom to depend, therefore had to dig out my sermons upon my knees. I spent most of the time between meetings in prayer and the study of the Word. I have always thanked God for these experiences. Had I started out with older brethren, I would have depended much upon them to do the preaching and to bear the responsibility. As it was, we were thrown upon our own resources, and had to lean heavily upon God for wisdom and guidance. A congregation of about thirty believers took their stand for the truth we preached. At one time seventeen members of the United Brethren denomination handed in their names to be taken from their churchs class-book. Among these were three persons who afterwards became active ministers, Ann F. Eakman, Annie Cheatham, and Ora Howard (Mrs. D. O. Teasley). A goodly number of sinners were saved, and some believers sanctified. There was marked opposition from the sectarian element. They threatened to close the church-house against us; but only two of the trustees favored this, while three stood in our favor. At the close of the meeting the new congregation withdrew to a hall offered freely by a merchant who was a non-professor of religion. This hall became the permanent place of worship for the brethren, until in later years a new church-building was erected. This was my first revival-meeting. But all was not sunshine. We had some unpleasant experiences, and these helped to ripen us for future usefulness. After the first week of the meeting our baby contracted pneumonia. The people with whom we lodged refused us a light at night, and we were placed in the coldest room in the house. As Wife and I had most of the singing for the meeting to do, we were compelled to leave the child with the folk during services. We were fully trusting the Lord for healing, and told the people so. But, despite our protests, while we were absent to meeting they poulticed the child. We set a day of fasting and prayer; but they informed us that we must eat while under their roof. Wife then took the baby home to her people, and came back to assist in the meetings. After three months we returned home, but our child did not recognize us, and would not own us. Wife cried all night over this. It takes all kinds of weather to ripen fruit to perfection, and these checkered experiences simply developed quality for service. From North Point we drove across the country a distance of six miles to Georgeville, Pennsylvania. Many of the readers of this book have seen the cartoons “Bringing Up Father,” by George McMannus. It was the father of George McMannus who offered us a small hall to hold meetings in. With some assistance we scrubbed out the place, seated it, and announced meeting. The first night the place was crowded to its capacity, and many were on the outside. After two nights the Baptists opened their church, and we continued the meetings there for four weeks. It was during this meeting that our first evangelistic company was formed. Singing was a prominent part in all our services, and we arranged it so that we had all parts of music. Wife sang soprano, Belle Sheldon (of Blanco, Pennsylvania) sang alto, Ora Howard (of North Point, Pennsylvania) sang the tenor part, while I sang bass. From this time Ora Howard traveled with us for more than seven years. A church of about eighty members was established as a result of this meeting. During the first two weeks there were no conversions. The preaching was all new to the people, and they were weighing matters and counting the cost. The final real break took place on a Sunday night, when six young ladies came to the altar and were gloriously saved. Each of these began to work among her relatives and friends, and led a number of them to Christ. During the last two weeks of the meeting more than sixty bowed at the altar for salvation. People sometimes fell upon their knees at their seats during the sermon and began to call upon the, Lord for mercy. Usually seekers came forward weeping and trembling, and sometimes we could scarcely find room for them. The Lord wrought gloriously in our midst. To his name be all praise forever. Sectarians opposed, while the brethren shouted aloud for the joy and gladness which filled their hearts. Many false reports were circulated, but they only increased the attendance. The following is a sample. It was reported that several persons had gone insane, and that we had a number of our converts chained near the church. At the time of the meeting the snow was very deep, and it was claimed that we baptized our converts in the snow. A young school-teacher, A. T. Rowe, heard these reports and through curiosity came to the meeting. He was afterwards saved, and today is a well-known minister. From here we went to Richmond, Pennsylvania, a distance of about ten miles. The citizens had seated a large skating-rink with capacity for about one thousand people. When we arrived in the town in a spring-wagon, the people gathered on the streets as though Barnums circus had come. The reports from the last meeting had created a great curiosity. Folk were eager to see what sort of people we were. The yard and street in front of the hotel where we stopped soon filled with the curious. I thought of Pauls saying that we are a “gazing-stock,” “a spectacle unto men.” It is needless to say that the place of meeting was crowded. All the ministers turned out to hear the “new and strange doctrine,” as they termed it. The first sermon was the Biblical Trace of the Church, and second the Scattering and Gathering of the People of God. These subjects were followed by False Prophets, The Holy Remnant, The Evening Light, Gog and Magog, and The Signs of the Times, and kindred themes. Reports flew, thick and fast, and calls came from every direction. Our next, meeting was at Hortons, Pennsylvania. Here the Disciples opened their church, and we held forth two weeks. At the close I baptized nine converts, among whom was Mahalo Uber (later Mrs. W. W. Titley). She preached the gospel a number of years. A strong congregation was planted here, and the following summer we held a camp-meeting in a grove near by. At the close of this meeting we returned home for a rest. We had been absent three months, during which time more than one hundred were saved, and three good-sized churches raised up. The report of these meetings had reached Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where Brother Warner and company were holding meetings. Brother Warner dispatched Brother George T. Clayton to investigate our work. He came to our home, and together we returned to the new field of labor. We spent several weeks with the new churches, during which time almost all the converts were baptized, and received the Holy Ghost. The weather was extremely cold, and as the baptizing was done in streams, we often cut the ice in order to administer the rite. At one time I baptized a large number of people in an ice-covered stream. I became so cold I was unable to administer the rite to all the candidates, and Brother Clayton walked into the water and baptized the remaining ones. Among them was a woman very weak from consumption of the lungs. The people told her she would die as a result. As she was gently buried in the icy waters, the Spirit of God fell upon her, and she was instantly healed, to the great amazement of the enemies of the gospel and to the comfort of the saints and the friends of the truth. She became a strong woman and lived more than twenty-five years after this. It was Mrs. George W. Hazlett. Many came out of the water shouting the high praises of God. The first ten years of my ministry were spent in doing pioneer work, laboring in new fields. I traveled extensively through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Brothers G. T. Clayton and A. J. Kilpatrick were my main companions in labor. Both of these men were very devout and God-fearing, and their holy lives were an inspiration to me. Brother Clayton was the most patient man in the furnace of persecution, trial, and discouragement that I ever associated with. Brother Kilpatrick was a giant in the pulpit in defense of the doctrine of sanctification as a second work of grace. There were times when he preached on no other subject during a whole series of meetings. Hundreds today can date their experience of holiness from the time they attended his meetings. EXPERIENCES IN PIONEER WORK By pioneer work we mean the opening of fields where the truths of the present reformation had never penetrated, and thus blazing the way for other laborers. In the early years of the reformation about all the preachers were pioneer men. The dangers faced, the persecutions suffered, the hardships endured, and the sacrifices made by these early soldiers of the cross should be an everlasting inspiration to the newer and younger men and women who are called to perpetuate the great work so well begun. Those precious brethren who were called from the common walks of life to consecrate themselves to the task of establishing a movement in the earth that is destined in the providence of God to girdle the globe with salvation and holiness unto the Lord, will soon all have passed to their eternal reward. Their places will be filled by younger, more talented, better qualified, and better educated men and women. It is the earnest wish and prayer of these pioneer worthies that the host of new workers going forth will accomplish a thousand times more than they themselves ever could. I trust the time will never come when the younger generation will forget and fail to appreciate the brethren who by their hard toil and sacrifices brought this movement into existence. It was my happy privilege to come into this movement during its pioneer days. I was well acquainted and intimately associated with a majority of the early ministers. In those days I was known as the “boy preacher” of the reformation. While I was about the same age as many of the brethren, I had a young face, and people generally took me to be much younger than I really was. This often became a great trial to me. People would read our reports and articles in the Trumpet, then send for us to hold meetings in their communities. They usually expected to see a man about fifty years of age, six feet tall, and with a heavy beard. Many times, when we arrived by train or wagon, the people had gathered to greet us, and lo, when they saw a sprightly, young, smoothfaced boy alight, their intense disappointment was clearly manifest. I frequently received such greetings as the following, “Is this Brother Riggle! Well, we thought we were sending for a MAN, a preacher.” Of course this was anything but pleasant for me, and it drove me to my knees in tears alone with God to seek power and wisdom to meet the peoples requirements. Praise God, he never disappointed me, and the people usually changed their minds after the first service. At the first general camp-meeting we attended, at Grand Junction, Michigan, the Lord gave me a message to deliver. When I looked at the older brethren, my courage failed and I shrank from duty. The result was a three-months chastening from the Lord. I suffered under the rod until I learned my lesson. I decided it should never be repeated. At the next annual meeting the Lord put me to the test. It was on Sunday morning, when thousands of people from far and near had gathered. I was aware of the great disappointment that would sweep over the assembly the moment I should take the pulpit. I hesitated and tried to excuse myself, but the Spirit reminded me of my experience the previous year. I shall never forget how I climbed that old pulpit and stood trembling and embarrassed. It was plainly visible that the congregation was disappointed. Just then Brother Warner shouted, “God bless Brother Riggle.” That one sentence lifted my soul above the dark clouds, and as I read my text, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand, the windows of heaven opened, and suddenly the whole camp was a blaze of glory, and the brethren were shouting. All disappointment on the part of the people disappeared. They learned that it is not by might and power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Something occurred at this service worthy of note. I had accompanied another minister and his family by carriage from Pennsylvania to this meeting. We had held meetings at a number of places along the way. At all these places this preacher had represented himself to be the leading minister in our company, and left the impression that I was merely along as a young helper. He did practically all the preaching, and what money was given he received. This was somewhat of a trial to me; but I humbled my heart before the Lord and submitted it all to him. At the close of this Sunday-morning service I was surprized to see this very preacher come forward weeping to the altar, and that in the presence of the assembled thousands. I was reminded of the words of Jesus, “He that exalteth himself shall be abased,” and, “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” My experience has taught me that it always pays to take the humble side and be submitted under all circumstances. In those days there were few well-established churches to support the work, and no system of support for the ministers. There was no Truth Extension Board nor funds available. We had to depend entirely upon the Lord for our support, and preached wherever an opportunity presented itself, sometimes in church-houses, and again in school-buildings, in the open air, and in groves. We usually had a strong force of good singers, and would sing along the country roads and as we passed through towns and villages. This attracted large crowds wherever we went. There was an enthusiasm that seemed to carry everything before it. Speaking for myself, I had implicit confidence in our message and the reformation movement as a whole. I never entertained a doubt but what our work was of God. This gave boldness and authority. With this confidence we threw all our strength into the work, and with heart and soul faced the combined powers of opposition. No sacrifice was too great or task too hard. Our lives were consecrated to carry the saving truth to the people. HARDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY Paul said, “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” The history of Gods saints in all ages is one of suffering and endurance. In the language of Isaac Watts, we may all say, Must I be carried to the skies On flowery beds of ease, While others fought to win the prize, And sailed through bloody seas? “No, I must fight if I would reign; Increase my courage, Lord. Ill bear the cross, endure the pain, Supported by thy word.” It is the lot of all to taste a little of “that which remains of the sufferings of Christ.” Our Master said, “I have a cup to drink.” This was the cup of suffering. But before this cup was entirely exhausted the Father was pleased to remove it from Christs lips, and the few drops that remain are distributed among his followers. In this way we “partake of the sufferings of Christ,” share in them; and if we can comprehend the true meaning of this, it will be a pleasure to “glory in tribulation,” like Paul, and “rejoice in that day, and be exceeding glad.” Some of my brethren suffered far more than we did. Notable among these were Brothers Warner and Clayton. While in bed, wounded from mob violence, Brother Warner asked for pencil and paper, and wrote the following beautiful words: “Who will suffer with the Savior, Take the little that remains Of the cup of tribulation Jesus drank in dying pains? “Oh for consecrated service and the din of Babel strife I Who will dare the truth to herald At the peril of his life? “Lord, we fellowship Thy passion, Gladly suffer shame and loss. With thy blessing pain is pleasure; We will glory in thy cross.” During the early years of our ministry we received but a very meager support financially. The total received the first year would not, I am sure, exceed fifty dollars. With a wife and child to support, and most of this amount needed for travel, it meant self-denial along many lines. For many years I wore only second-hand clothing. The same was true of Brother Clayton, with whom I traveled. We usually purchased our suits from pawn-shops along Penn Avenue, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in large cities like Chicago, because of no money with which to pay transfer, I have carried our heavy baggage from one depot to the other, sometimes as far as ten or fifteen city blocks. In this manner I have moved as many as four large suitcases. I would carry two a short distance, set them down, and go back and bring the rest. Sometimes when clearly exhausted, I would sit down on the pile to rest. As I wore a clerical vest and ministers long coat, of course everybody knew I was a preacher. As a family we knew how to abound with plenty, and again how to be in want. Our older children can well remember when they used to pray for their food and clothing. They also remember how God often definitely answered our prayers. Oh, praise his dear name forever! Those early experiences are worth a world to me today. At Hookstown, Pennsylvania (a new - field), Harry Rogers, Ora Howard, my wife, our baby, and I lived one week on eighty-two cents. We were holding meeting in a large Methodist church, and as no one invited us home, we were obliged to sleep on the church seats. The weather was cool, and to keep warm some of us walked the floor about all the night. But I declare that some of the richest things I ever received from heaven came in this way. A whole night spent in prayer enriches the soul. Jesus, our Master, had “no place to lay his head.” At the close of this meeting we had no money to pay our way out. Every cent was gone. We had met with persecution and indifference on the part of the people. It was about twelve miles to Brother Rogers home, on the Ohio River. We started on foot. My wife carried the baby, while the rest of us carried the baggage. As we started down the dusty road, many of the townspeople gathered and jeered at us and made insulting remarks. Suddenly the words of Jesus came ringing in my soul. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” I also remembered that Paul and Barnabas carried out literally these very words of Christ (Acts 13:51). So at my suggestion our whole company turned toward the jeering crowd and the town, and, raising our hands to heaven as a witness against them, shook the dust from our feet. That was nearly thirty years ago, and as far as I know no one has since been led to go there with the true message. The apostle says “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Jesus said, If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” This opposition has usually come from the leaders of religion. It was the rulers and elders who condemned Christ to death. The same was true in the case of Stephen, the first Christian martyr; blind and zealous religionists stoned him to death. Paul was once a bitter opposer of the church of God, all because he was exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. More than fifty millions of saints have been slaughtered in the name of religion. It is a fact all through the history of Christianity that when any one received additional light from God, and then had the courage to break away from some old, dead religious body and boldly declare his convictions, severe persecution followed. The lives of such men as Huss, Luther, Zwingli, Wesley, Alexander Campbell, and D. S. Warner attest this fact. In the early years of the reformation movement in which we are engaged, there was intense opposition from every quarter.” The definite message of true holiness, the one divine church distinct from sectarian institutions, and that all sectarian religious bodies are unscriptural and are a part of Babylon out of which God is now calling his people back to Zion, stirred the ecclesiastical world in bitter hostility. In those days it was very common for mobs, headed by sectarian preachers, to attack our meetings. At one place, during a camp-meeting, a great rabble gathered and gave the brethren just five minutes to leave the grounds. Most of them did not have time to gather up their belongings. A few minutes after their departure the tents and tabernacle were blown to pieces with dynamite. One minister, to escape, walked a considerable distance through a stream of water. While one of our brethren was conducting a meeting at Dawson, Pennsylvania, a crowd of the “baser sort” assembled with intent to kill the preacher. The building in which the services were being conducted was enclosed with half-inch siding. The pulpit was near one end of the building, and the preacher was standing near the wall while delivering the message. The mob secured a long, heavy pole. This they planned to thrust through the building at the brother. Providentially, no doubt, the preachers pencil fell on the floor. The instant he stooped down to pick up his pencil, the pole, with. terrific force, crashed through the wall and passed just over his head. Had he remained standing straight he probably would have been killed; at least he would have been severely injured. It was no uncommon thing to be egged, stoned, and whipped. On one occasion while Brother Clayton was returning home from meeting, carrying a child in one arm and his book-case in the other hand, a crowd of ruffians, urged on by professors of religion, attacked him with buggy whips and whipped him for some distance along the road. Under such ordeals the brethren usually praised God. In Illinois a wicked man kicked a brother who was praying in a corn-patch, and compelled him to leave the field. A short time after this man was killed by a lightning-bolt on the same spot. In Pennsylvania a man struck one of the brethren a terrible blow in the face with his fist. The brother praised God and, turning the other side of his face, said, “You may strike that too, if you wish.” Instantly the offender fell down at the brothers feet, and said, “O God, I have struck a holy man! Please forgive me, and pray God to forgive me.” Personally we have had a taste of these things. I have been in mobs, have been struck over the head with canes and umbrellas, and have been cursed in the most abusive language. In every instance it has been by professed Christians. But when we read of the sufferings of Paul and others, we must conclude that the things we have been called to pass through are but “light afflictions.” The sufferings of the present time do not compare with the glory that shall follow. MY ORDINATION It is God who calls and qualifies for the work of the ministry. Ordination by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery is but a public recognition of this divine call, and a dedication thereto. In the Acts it is recorded that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands upon certain brethren and commended them to the grace of God. At the General Assembly of ministers held at Grand Junction, Michigan, in June 1894, Brother D. S. Warner recommended me for ordination. As the consecrated hands of my older and superior brethren were laid upon me, I felt a new inspiration and authority given from the Lord, and rededicated myself to make the work of the ministry my lifes work. I have never been ambitious to reach a place of prominence and note, but it has been my constant desire to be “a good minister of Jesus Christ.” METHODS OF WORK IN PIONEER DAYS When this reformation-work was in its infancy, we were constantly pushing out into new fields. All the ministers were inspired with the conviction that we are now engaged in the last great reformation that shall sweep over the earth before Christs appearing. This work is the “great preparation” day, the bride being made ready for the coming of the Bridegroom. As we believe that this reformation restores to the church the whole gospel in all its purity, then the responsibility to carry the saving message of truth to all nations becomes the greater. Imbued with this thought, the first preachers were a “flying ministry,” disseminating the truth in every direction. Little attention was paid to the pastoral care of churches. Local elders and deacons were ordained in different congregations; but these were generally called and selected from each assembly, and were self-supporting. There was no system for pastoral support. We felt that our message was urgent, and that it was not wise to tarry too long in one place. Had the preachers classified as evangelists and pastors, I am sure nine tenths would have registered evangelists. Sometimes I wish that the present ministry had more of this spirit of evangelism. Since the work has enlarged to its present proportions, and congregations have been planted all over the land, the pastoral phase has received more attention than has the evangelistic. Of course this follows in the natural evolution of things. But I am certain that the church today needs more of that spirit to evangelize, which was so characteristic of the early preachers of the reform. Every congregation should labor to carry the light of saving truth to its entire surrounding community. Every member of each assembly should be a soul-winner for Christ. This is the true spirit of primitive Christianity. Of the church at Thessalonica it was said, “From you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.” The early preaching of some of the first ministers was in some respects idealistic and theoretical to the exclusion of the practical. This is an honest confession of facts. It was easy to point out the sins and short-comings of the professed Christian world, and condemn these by the Word of God. It was not difficult for those who clearly discerned the body of Christ to hold before the people the ideal church of the New Testament from a purely doctrinal standpoint. They could boldly say, “This is the church.” But this preaching called out a visible body of believers numbering tens of thousands the world over. Now, it is quite another thing to demonstrate in a practical way the ideal presented. We have found it many times more difficult. It is for this visible body of believers to present to the world a “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” This is the point. This is what the people expect of us. They have a right to. In this very thing lies the success of our work. The world expects to see in us the very standard and ideal we have preached. We must meet its expectation. A careful reading of the Epistles will show that the apostles not only cried out against the sins of the outside world, but were busy correcting the evils that were creeping into the visible assemblies among whom they labored and who were actually planted by them. I am thoroughly convinced that if the apostles themselves had these difficulties to contend with in their congregations, we may also expect like troubles and like problems within the church. The New Testament is full of instructions on how to proceed in all these things. When we cry out against the worldliness manifest among the millions of professed Christians around us, we need to be sure that we as a visible body of people are clear from this thing. When we boldly condemn sectarian divisions, let us be certain that we exhibit a visible church in Bible unity. “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” EARLY PREACHING As to the method of our early preaching, the reference system was generally followed. It was precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little. The sermons were mostly doctrinal, and this style was certainly effectual. Everything was proved by the Bible. This appealed to the people, and the remark was often heard, “These folks prove every point of their doctrine from the Scriptures. They preach the Word.” I here insert a sermon outline I then used, and it is a fair sample of all the rest. SANCTIFICATION Text, 1st Thessalonians 4:3. First. It Is a Bible Doctrine. 1. Jesus prayed for the sanctification of believers (John 17:9, 17, 20). 2. It is our present inheritance (Acts 20:32; 26:18). 3. It is willed to us under the new covenant (Hebrews 10:9, 10). Second. It Is Attainable in This Life. 1. There were sanctified brethren at Corinth (1st Corinthians 1:1, 2). 2. Jude addressed those who were sanctified (Jude 1). Third. The Provisions for it Are Complete. 1. God sanctifies (1st Thessalonians 5:23; Jude 1). 2. The means he uses: a) The Word (John 17:17). b) The Holy Ghost (Romans 15:16). 3. The cleansing element—blood of Christ (Hebrews 13:12). 4. The condition. a) Full consecration (Romans 12:1, 2). b) Faith (Acts 26:18). Fourth. It Is Received Subsequent to Regeneration. 1. Direct proof (Ephesians 5:25-27). 2. Examples: a) The first disciples. b) The Samaritans (Acts 8:5-17). c) The Thessalonians. (1) Were children of God (1st Thessalonians 1:1-9; 3:1-7). (2) Were not sanctified wholly (1st Thessalonians 5:23; 4:3). Fifth. What It Does for Us. 1. Purifies the heart (Acts 15:8, 9). 2. Perfects in unity (John 17:17, 20-23; Hebrews 2:10). Sixth. Necessity of This Grace. 1. Fits for service here (2nd Timothy 2:21). 2. Fits for heaven hereafter (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:8). In large camp-meetings it was customary to give out texts for others to read. This proved convenient, as the minister did not need to leaf through his Bible to find his Scripture proof-text; when he desired it, he simply called out the chapter and verse and someone stood up and read it. The sermons were usually long, sometimes lasting two hours. It was remarkable, however, to see the people sit for hours apparently spellbound by their intense interest in the expounding of the Word of God. There was much preaching from the propheciesand Revelation. It was largely from these portions of Holy Writ that this great “evening-light reformation” was clearly pointed out. Prophecy will always hold a prominent place in our preaching. Charts and blackboard illustrations were used by most of the ministers. This proved to be a very effectual method of presenting truth. It made their message appeal through the eye as well as the ear. The prophet said, “Write it before them.” The preaching was definite and radical. All manner of sin, false religion, and worldliness was exposed in the strongest terms. It was, “Walk in the light, or go into darkness.” This definite preaching separated the wheat from the chaff, and brought out a plain, spiritual people. Very often the minister, while presenting the strongest truth against apostate religions, would weep in the pulpit. This anointing of the Spirit, this melting power, this sowing in tears is what took hold of hearts with a mighty grip. The majority of the first preachers were very demonstrative in the pulpit. Sometimes in the midst of a sermon the minister (and most of the congregation) leaped and shouted for joy. The “daily sacrifice” of praise and thanksgiving which was “taken away” during the apostasy, has been restored to the church in the evening of time. It is common for people to become enthusiastic and demonstrational at political gatherings, and over their business; why should they not so become in religious affairs also, since salvation is the greatest and most valuable thing in all the world! At Wilmot, Maryland, is a very spiritual congregation of believers. Many years ago a dry preacher went there to conduct a meeting. Just as he arose to read his text the windows of heaven were opened and the saints began to shout under the divine blessing. Soon the whole place was a blaze of glory, and even sinners were weeping. The poor preacher was not in this element, and felt greatly embarrassed. Finally he sat down, while the congregation continued praising God. He was soon under conviction for a living experience of salvation, and went to the public altar and requested the happy saints to pray for him that he might also be a partaker of this good thing. In this case a live congregation burned a dead preacher out of the pulpit, and brought him to his knees for salvation. I wish there were more such congregations. SOME OF MY MISTAKES Mistakes, we all make them. But instead of our letting them be a hindrance to our spiritual progress, we can profit by them, improve the future, and turn each one into a blessing. It is not very pleasant to dwell upon our past blunders. I have often thought that possibly had Peter been present when brethren recorded his greatest mistakes in life he might have pleaded with them and said, “Please, brethren, omit those parts.” I am glad they are on record, and that Paul wrote down one of Peters blunders (see Galatians 2:11-16) and then at the same time called him a “pillar.” It shows that, after all, these men were but human and subject to making mistakes. At heart they were loyal to God and his cause. One of the greatest mistakes of my early ministry was to open up new fields of work and then rush off and leave them. For example, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in the winter of 1893 94, we raised up several strong churches. They were our children in the Lord. The whole community was stirred for miles, and calls for meetings came in from every direction. Had I remained there for a few years and taken care of the tender flocks until capable pastors were raised up, and at the same time evangelized the surrounding communities, there would today be a mighty work to show the fruits of our labors. Instead of doing this, being one of the “flying ministry,” I felt it my duty to hurry off to other new fields. Oh, how those dear saints pleaded for us to stay with them, feed them, and protect them! Our answer was, “The Lord will take care of you.” But, alas! after our departure grievous wolves entered in, not sparing the flock; and today some empty church-houses mark the place of a once flourishing work. Oh, how sad I have felt over this more than a thousand times since! In the early years of my ministry I made this same mistake in a number of places. I am sure that if we had properly cared for the work, as Paul did at Corinth, the present reformation movement would today embrace several times the number of people that it does. Another blunder was my method of instruction, or lack of it. Jesus labored more than three years with his disciples teaching them in the things concerning the kingdom of God, and yet they did not fully understand what he would have them know. He said to them, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye can not bear them now.” Even after Pentecost it was a long time before some of the apostles got rid of their Jewish ideas. Paul was at Corinth a year and six months, and then afterwards addressed these brethren as follows, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” You see, Christ and the apostles revealed the truth gradually to the people, just as they could comprehend it. In the first years of my ministry I failed to observe this principle. In a short meeting of a few weeks we endeavored to present all lines of truth. In the first meeting in a new field we fed milk and strong meat, with the latter far the larger portion. If the people could not at once grasp it all and accept it, they were considered blind, and in many cases deceived. Oh, what a serious mistake! It makes me think of a schoolmaster calling up a class of six-year-old boys and girls and giving them a long lesson in geometry. They would be able to see the characters on the blackboard, but not one would comprehend them. I have gone into new communities and, the first week of the meeting, preached on such themes as the “church,” the “ scattering and gathering of Gods people,” the “Biblical trace of the church,” and “false teachers.” Working on the principle that “His sheep hear His voice, and follow Him,” we considered all who did not at once accept the teaching as outside the fold. This was a great mistake. What the people needed was “repentance,” “conversion,” regeneration,” and “full salvation from sin.” They should have been led gradually into the deeper and stronger truths. Here is seen one great need of ministerial training-schools to teach young ministers right methods of work. How much more successful should we have been had we had such training! Some people comprehend truth sooner than others. I have known some to sit under straight preaching for years and yet not see every point clear enough to take a definite stand. A few years ago, while I was attending camp-meeting in Michigan, Brother A. B. Palmer and F. G. Smith pointed out to me a Mennonite minister who was tenting on the grounds. They said, “Treat this brother with all Christian courtesy. He has been attending our meetings occasionally for years, and even attended the International Meeting, at Anderson, Indiana. He is a good man and God is using him, but he does not see the church question clearly.” I made it a point to become acquainted with this brother. I found him to be a very devoted Christian. One night during the meeting the Spirit impressed me to preach on the church question, and at the same time I clearly felt that the message was for this minister. At the close of the sermon he asked permission to speak, and then took the pulpit. Among other things he said, “Brethren, have I not always told you that if I ever saw this point clearly I would accept it? I have heard it preached time and again, but tonight the Lord opened my mind and heart to see it clearly for the first time. Praise God, I see the truth. I discern the body of Christ. I am with the church of God from this time on.” It pays to take time and be patient with all men. ON THE FLOATING BETHEL The prophet Zechariah predicted that the domain of Christ would extend “from the river even to the ends of the earth.” Brother George T. Clayt