Panther Creek Church

(Adel)

 (1869-)

Christian Family Companion Jan. 4, 1870 page 12 Vol. VI No. 1

  Brother Editor:  In conformity with the request of many brethren and friends I will give a short sketch of my late visit to the “far West.”

  I left my home on 1st of November last, and on the third day landed at Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Thence, in pursuit of a friend some distance northward, I was led through the district of our brethren at Dry Creek, where I was pressed upon to detain a little in the labor of the word; after attending two meetings, and a wedding, with the brethren, in company with Elder Jacob Waters, I was conducted by the brethren to the vicinity of my cousin, who accompanied me to brother Samuel Long’s in Benton co., who is somewhat isolated in the Benton county branch, but full of hospitality and love.

  From thence by accidental conveyance, I made my way to Norway where I took the train to Bell Plains, Iowa.  Thence by Pacific express, in company with M. C. Fisher, who, unlike some previous pretenders, proved to be a true friend, and accompanied me as far as his home, Gillmore Station, on the Union Pacific R. R.  Nebraska.  In an hour more I set my foot in the town of Freemont, where, by politeness of G. W. Dorsey, Real Estate Agent I was led to find our aged brother, Hiram Hoff, who suffered much privation and affliction in the late ware in Virginia, because of his faith, and in the days of his hoary hairs is a devoted sentinel in the little church of Fontinelle.  He informed me of an appointed Council Meeting two days after, and pressed upon me to stay, informing me that brother Samuel Garver was expected.  At the appointed time the brethren from North Bend, and from Fontinelle arrived, but brother Garver failed for causes not yet learned.  In the absence of an Elder the Church proceeded to transact such business as we could, but the main business of the meeting was postponed.  We held a few meeting in the Courthouse in Fremont.  On the following day, when we were assembled for preaching, brother Washington Wiland, of Shelby Co., Iowa, who had been summoned to assist brother Garver, arrived and participated in the service.  Thence to Adel, Dallas Co., Iowa, where I found several families late of Illinois, who had bought land in the vicinity and were hopefully awaiting the time of possession.  Here I met brother Christian Long, and learned they had organized a church a few days previous, and had established regular preaching in various places.  I was then conducted to Dallas Centre, a new town on the Des Moines Valley R. R., where many of those brethren are expecting to live. Was much please with the locality of their choice.  Thence, as best I could, with much privation, by Rail Road, by stage, and by livery, until I arrived with the brethren in Appanoose County.  the elder is an uncle to my wife.  My visit here has heretofore been noted in your columns.  I then proceeded to Fairfield, Jefferson Co., in quest of some kindred and found they resided a distance toward the North, I then sought conveyance with some farmers who had been at market, and on the way found the most of my company to be the universal salvation belief.  After some conversation I was inquired of for my faith and the reason for the same, which I gave as simply as I could.  They expressed that was just the doctrine they were wanting to hear from, and earnestly solicited that I should stop and preach. “the Church of God” meeting-house, and influenced out a large and respectable audience who waited attentively, whilst we labored to show the great necessity of all men being reduced by humility and babe like simplicity to the feet of Jesus, willing only to learn of him and to act in accordance with his precept and command, and from thence to be elevated by the Holy Spirit, to that exalted degree that the children of men so much desire and hope for. A general satisfaction seemed to pervade the minds of the people, and we were made to hope that some bread was “cast upon the waters.”  This was near Germanville, Jefferson Co., Iowa. I then proceeded to Illinois City, Ill., to see brother Samuel Beaty and sister, and other kindred, who are outside the bounds of any district of the Brethren, and have not the advantage of any preaching or regular intercourse with the Church.  We, of course, labored with them, and although we had a mixed audience composed of Mormons, Universalists, Methodists and others, the best of attention was given, and a general satisfaction was manifest.  I then went to

Burrettsville, White Co., Indiana, and visited my brethren and friends there, and assisted at a few meetings.  Sojourned abut that point for a week, and then in company with my young friend, Wm. Hood, I returned home.

  It is but due here to state that all the Brethren every place I visited manifested that love to the cause and to one another that sufficiently marks the children of Christ.  In the course of my tirp I learned of many churches newly organized and a general progress of the Brotherhood, but many districts are still much in want of ministerial aid; and that the exertions of the Brethren are by no means coping with other denominations in the mission. On this subject I shall try to write my views, suggested mainly from my observations during my trip, and offer through you columns hereafter.   Geo. Hanawalt   McVeytown, Pa.