It was my privilege to have a personal acquaintance with D. S. Warner and to be more or less closely associated with him during the last five years of his life. To one who never knew him personally no printed account can afford an adequate conception of what it was to come in contact with this wonderful ambassador of God, whose presence wrought conviction in the unregenerate, and inspired confidence and courage in the hearts of believers. The divine manifestations in his preaching, his prayers, and his ministrations can not be told. Many very striking instances of physical healing which we have not space to speak of attended his ministry; but that these pages may reveal, if in no other light than the historical, that here is an example of true consecration, devotion, courage, diligence, humility, faith, patience, kindness, self-denial, and the Christian graces generally, that is worthy of being followed, is the earnest hope of THE AUTHOR. Year 1921 --ANDREW L. BYERS CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION 15 A glance over Christian era--Early church divinely governed--Spiritual decline--A false church--Reformations--Sixteenth century reformation--Human rule--Characteristics of true church--A final reformation--Evil of sects--Protestantism in Revelation--Wondrous times upon us--God's call to his people--D. S. Warner a reformer--The correct attitude--Counterfeit movements. II. ANCESTRY AND EARLY LIFE 34 Emigration westward--Settlement in Ohio--David Warner family--Born a weakling--Paternal and maternal influences--Tributes to mother--Location in Crawford County--A chosen vessel--His boyhood character--Removal to Williams County--A school teacher. III. CONVERSION, COLLEGE, AND CALLING 44 The question of religion--A Catholic and Lutheran community--Tries to be an infidel--Conviction by the Spirit--Attends dances--Conversion--Attends Oberlin College--Preparation for ministry. IV. CHURCH OF GOD (WINEBRENNERIAN) 51 The Scriptural name--Winebrenner's view of the church--Organization of Elderships--Growth and extent westward--Winebrenner's failure. V. FIRST YEARS IN MINISTRY 59 Gifted as an evangelist--Marriage--Death of wife and children--His physical description--New Washington revival--Diary accounts--Prejudice against sanctification--Meeting at Basswood--A presentiment of death--Standing committee--Rebukes youthful tobacco-user--Converses with infidel--Reflections at end of year--Appointed to Nebraska mission--Lessons on the church--A farewell meeting. VI. A NEBRASKA MISSION 78