I preached in the Bethel, 1 Chron. 29:5. God blessed my soul. This afternoon I had a special season of secret prayer and communion with my God. Oh how near he came to his poor servant! This eve I was unusually blessed in presenting the thoughts he had given me on the text, "And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day to the Lord?" A deep interest prevailed. A Mr. B---- living six miles from town went home with an arrow in his heart. I expect to hear of his early conversion. =13.= Made out program for Ministerial Association to be held next spring in Seward. =14.= Came home. Pretty cold. Captured a wild duck which had its wing broken that day by some hunter. Reached home at nearly dusk. =15.= ... This was an earnest day's work. I pray God that it may bring forth fruit to his glory. =Dec. 25, 1874.= This is Christmas. At eleven preached on the incarnation of Christ. Returned to Bro. M. Hoffer's, where the kindred, companion, and I partook of a good feast. Roasted fowls. All passed off pleasantly and in a Christian manner. I was solemn and meditative. We sang some. Eve, spoke on John 14:23. With solemn and feeling hearts and minds performed the ordinances of feet-washing and the Lord's Supper. =27.= Sabbath. I preached about two hours on the immortality of man. Read twenty-three Scriptures speaking of the Spirit and twelve of the soul, all positively declaring the spirituality of man's nature. Also several places proving that the soul came forth from the body at death and is as much more important than the body as the man is than the tent in which he lives. Proved also the conscious existence of a soul in an intermediate state. When through, Mr. K----, a poor silly Adventist, harangued some moments. How confused the wretched Adventist doctrine! =Jan. 1, 1875.= Another year has rolled into eternity. God is still favoring us with his kind care and preservation. Oh, how many souls are in eternity today who with light hearts enjoyed friendly greetings and sumptuous festivities a year ago today! Some, alas, we fear, have been "cut down out of time," who had no Christ in the soul. Oh, what a mockery are all the pleasures of the wicked! True and warm hearts wished them a happy New Year one year ago today; but alas, their sins have made it the year of their doom to eternal misery. O God! give us grace to enable us to spend our years to thy glory. Companion and I spent the day very pleasantly in Seward with.... The two ladies are sisters, and old friends and acquaintances of Ohio. They had a sumptuous feast. We sang a few hymns, read a chapter, and knelt in prayer to our Father in heaven. Then came home.