Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. WarnerByers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Religion
Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. Warner
Byers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) -- History; Warner, D. S. (Daniel Sidney), 1842-1895
Brother Roller, elder from Vermillion, who confessed to me that at
the ordinance-meeting he was ashamed of Elder O's two-hour harangue
of abuse against the work of "perfecting the saints," being
present, was then called to the witness-stand. After he stated in
direct examination that I was insane on sanctification, I asked
him to inform the Committee what the manifestations of my insanity
were. He gave the following three points, which I record to his
shame:
First. "You hesitated to proceed to preach once at Vermillion,
stating that you wished to be led by the Spirit in the selection
of a subject and that if the Spirit wished you not to preach you
would read the Word, talk experience, or be silent, as the Spirit
directed."
Second. "You do not act as you used to. At our ordinance-meeting
you sat back, and I believe Brother Oliver had to invite you
forward." Brother O. concurred in this remark. But I then appealed
to them if it was not a fact that I came down from the pulpit
immediately after closing my remarks and led In the preparation and
observance of feet-washing. Then he remarked that it was at the
Brick, on Brother Lynn's charge, and Brother O. was not there at
all, and that it was after feet-washing Brother Lynn stepped to me
and asked me to assist in the Lord's Supper (which was perfectly
proper for me--to wait for an invitation).
Third. "You do not preach as loud on sanctification as you used to
preach, but you are more low and calm."
These were his only reasons for the assertion of my insanity.
Brother Mitchell only stated that some young people asked him "what
ails Brother Warner, he does not preach as heretofore," hence
concluded that I was partly insane. Brother O. said all he could to
taint the character of the holiness workers. Many of his aspersions
were never answered. It is of no use to give particulars, only
this, that I was grateful to God for these fiery ordeals, and
though the Lord kept me from an evil thought, yet I was conscious
of great weakness and must say to my shame that I did not keep
that perfect calmness and sweetness in the midst of the storm of
unexpected accusation. However, I came out with another perfect
evidence that 'the very God of peace had sanctified me wholly.' I
was entirely free from the least hard feelings against any of my
brethren. Glory to God, I felt good toward them all. Looked upon
their efforts to condemn me and the holiness cause as springing
entirely from ignorance, sin within, and a blind zeal to protect
the church. I went to my room a happy soul. Related a few points
of the many wonderful things developed before the committee and
then we concluded that it did not minister grace to talk about
them, hence we had a sweet season of worship and lay down and slept
sweetly until morn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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