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Bushnell Church (1865-79)
Gospel Visitor August 1865 page 254 Vol. XV No. 8 A Macedonian Call. The brethren in the vicinity of Virgil, Fulton Co., Ills. Have organized a new congregation, and much desire some ministerial help. Bro. A. G. Black preaches for them, but as he is some twenty miles form them, it is desirable they should have some more help. They say they have a fine, rich, and productive country, and there are farms for sale. They also think that good can be done if proper means are used. As the people attend meeting and seem interested in the preaching of the brethren. Address either of the following brethren at Virgil, Fulton Co., Ills. John Pool, I. N. Crosswait.
Christian Family Companion Dec. 19, 1871 page 797 & 798 Vol. VII No. 50 Dear Brother Holsinger: - I fear I have been living in neglect of duty with regard to church new in our isolated condition her. We were organized her near seven years ago, by Elders John Fitz, David Wolf, Jacob Negley, and David Henricks, under the name of Bushnell arm of the church. As I had moved here, a young speaker and brethren John Pool and Henry Zook were already here, and authorized deacons in the church, Agreeable to the trust place on us we have been trying to labor in our weakness ever since. Our situation is rather embarrassing, there being no other organization near than 35 miles making our field of labor very large; and the distance to other organizations being so great that we are left principally alone in our extensive labor. Though we had crosses and trails in connection with our own weakness, yet we have had many evidences of God’s protecting arm being around us and his blessing bestowed upon us. Our additions shave not been numerous, only about two per year, but considering our field of labor, being nearly entirely where the brethren had never before preached, it might have been worse. Our labor being on the increase, we thought it expedient some two years past to call more laborers into the vineyard. The result of our choice was two speakers and two deacons, all of which have stood well to their post and have discharged their respective duties well. The young speakers, Jacob Bergard and John L. Myers, are both judicious, careful, promising young brethren. Their labors already afford me great relief; as my health is sometimes too feeble to attend appointments. With those that were here, those that have moved in and joined since our organization, we numbered some forty members; but some eight or ten have moved out, leaving our number some upwards of thirty. As
to our fraternal intercourse we have had some embarrassments, yet I think they
principally grew out of misunderstandings, what has not, God knows the guilty
hearts and will judge them righteously. But upon the whole our fraternal
associations have been on the increase; and for the last year or more they have
been all that could be desired; and oh, may God in his providence so enable us
to live; for how beautiful and pleasant it is for brethren to agree - But think
for a moment of the awful consequences of discord in the Brotherhood. One
difficulty in the church will do more harm to our spiritual growth than a
half-dozen revivals can mend. I have watch their course and felt their fangs
for the space of twenty five years in the church, and am constrained to say,
come from where they will, or through whom they will, they are of their father
devil, who through them strikes with his mighty, broad sword at the very vital
link that connects us with our God, and upon which the vital thread of our
eternal life is suspended, namely, love of which Paul says, though a man have
faith to remove mountains, power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and gives all
his goods to feed the poor, he is nothing- We have had three communions, all of the most fraternal character and a general interest seemed to be manifested, at near all of our places of meeting, in the plain common sense simplicity of the gospel as taught and practiced by the brethren. I feel confident that, if we could have brethren to come to our help occasionally, much good would be the result; and I hereby solicit brethren ministers who are passing thought here, or otherwise can call and labor with us for the good of Zion. Our center is near Macomb, McDonough County, Ill. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy R. R., runs through said town, we also have a farming country here both for beauty and fertility that cannot be excelled anywhere; brethren would do well to call and see before buying elsewhere. Brethren wishing to stop off at Bushnell can call with Henry Zook, two & one-half miles south-east of Bushnell; and those wishing to stop off a Macomb, at brother E. Big or Wm. Gelison in the south-east ward of the town, or two miles direct west of the courthouse, will bring them to my house at all of which places whey will be made welcome. Also at Bro. Benjamin Boyd’s one & one half miles south of Tennessee, any brethren wishing to call off at that station. I write in live to the cause of Christ. Fare well, A. G. Black. Macomb, Illinois. |