Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=.

For consistency, all bible references have been made to have no spaces in the numbers, for example 'Thess. 2:3,4' or 'Rev. 17:4-6'.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

Birth of a Reformation

or

The Life and Labors of Daniel S. Warner

By A. L. Byers

"It shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light."

FAITH PUBLISHING HOUSE P. O. Box 713 Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044

To the Generations Following

Publisher's Preface

Year 1966

This volume, a reprint of the book originally published in 1921 and out of print for many years, is in response to a long felt need that this biography of D. S. Warner, along with a brief mention of a few of his associate ministers and gospel workers, should be available to the readers of the present generation and those to follow, should the Lord extend time.

The original book is herewith reproduced without alteration or change, except a very few minor omissions, and accounts of events and conditions existing after the period of Bro. Warner's life.

The reader should bear in mind that Bro. Warner's coming out of sectism was a gradual process over a period of time leading to the climactic step, and any improper or questionable action on his part while involved in sects was merely a result of his lack of clear light and understanding of God's Word. After the light broke through, he himself renounced these practices.

In 1878 D. S. Warner wrote: "The Lord ... gave me a new commission to join holiness and all truth together and build up the apostolic church of the living God."

Bro. Warner and his associates, discerning the impossibility of the true church existing within the framework of denominationalism, declared their freedom from the "sin of sectism and division" and instituted the "evening light" restoration movement in the latter part of the nineteenth century in direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy. See Zech. 14:7. These vital Bible truths, especially on the line of holiness and the nature of the church, which those reformers proclaimed, are imperative today in preserving the church after the apostolic pattern.

Many reformations have come to the religious world since the decline of the apostolic church from its pristine glory of the first century. Yet the nineteenth century reform is more complete, radical and fundamental than any previous movement. A historian has penned this significant observation: "No sooner had D. S. Warner and others begun to preach as men had not preached for time out of mind than men saw in their message the grandest truths the mind of man is capable of receiving. They saw the church built up by Christ, led and organized by the Holy Spirit, the names of whose members are in the Lamb's book of life, which takes the Scriptures as its only discipline, and fellowships every blood-bought soul. Here is real Christian unity.

"Despised and rejected in 'religious' circles, these men preached more real Bible truth in one sermon than one would expect in months of the ordinary kind. They preached profound truths; and it created a furor wherever they went. Thousands received Scriptural light. Many joyfully embraced the great truths they heard and spared neither pains nor money to spread the message everywhere."

In his book, "The Cleansing of the Sanctuary," Bro. Warner wrote thus on the subject of exclusiveness: "Christ is an exclusive Christ; there is none beside him. The faith that he gave us is an exclusive faith; no other saves the soul. The truth of God is exclusive in its nature; everything contrary to it is false. The kingdom of Christ is exclusive. It is a stone that breaks everything else to pieces. The one church that Jesus founded and named, and which is his own body, is also exclusive, for there is only 'one body in Christ.' During the reign of pagan persecution the rulers offered to stop the bloody martyrdom and allow the Christians to worship God in freedom, if they would confess that the pagan idols were also real Gods. This they could not do, but chose rather to die. And on this very point of exclusiveness is the present offense of the cross. People would not seriously object to God's ministers setting forth the church as contained in the Scriptures, if we would recognize their earth-born institutions as being also God's churches. But this we cannot do and be honest before God and faithful to his Word. "There is but one household of faith. Christ does not have a plurality of wives. He has but one bride, and she has no sisters. Thus saith her husband, 'My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother.' S. of Sol. 6:9."

"Three score and ten" years ago Bro. Warner's earthly career in the service of the Master was ended, yet God in His infinite plan has preserved a holy remnant through the intervening years which has retained and maintained those precious original reformation truths. The two witnesses (Rev. 11:11)--the Word and the Spirit--have resumed their rightful positions as Governors of the church in this "evening time" of the gospel day. Jesus Christ will find His Church "without spot or wrinkle" when He comes again for His Bride.

--THE PUBLISHERS

May, 1966

Author's Preface

Year 1921

A quarter century has elapsed since the passing of D. S. Warner from the scenes of his earthly activity, and full forty years have gone since the beginning of the great reform of which his labors constituted so large a part. While there are many still living whose personal knowledge of him and his ministry will suffice to them for an encouraging testimony of Christian attainment and of God's marvelous use of human instrumentality when permitted to have his way, the time has come when the absence of any published account of this remarkable man begins to be felt. The rising generation and the generations that follow should have access to a study of such an example of Christian devotion and usefulness, as well as of God's faithfulness to one who will fully trust him. When it was announced that a biography was contemplated, the proposition at once met with hearty approval and encouragement.

That due to the lapse of years there should be some difficulty in securing the necessary data with reference to his early life is of course consequential. His brothers and sisters are all deceased. A nephew and a niece and some of his earlier acquaintances were interviewed, and correspondence was had with other relatives and acquaintances. The most valuable acquisition, however, was the use of his diaries, kindly granted by his son, D. Sidney Warner, now living in Canton, Ohio. These diaries do not cover all of his early ministerial career, but the quotations from them will reveal the Christian character of the man as well as show considerable of his itinerancy and of the facts of his life.

As to the source of information respecting the latter period of his ministry, when his work took the character of a reform, recourse has been had to the files of the periodicals he edited and also to the personal recollections of some who were pioneers with him in the movement. Of these may be mentioned as giving particular information Mrs. Allie R. (Fisher) Allen, Lansing, Mich.; William N. Smith, North Star, Mich.; David Leininger, Akron, Ind; Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Howard, Nappanee, Ind.; Mrs. Anna J. Slagle, Bucyrus, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. B. E. Warren, Springfield, Ohio; and Mrs. Frankie Warner, Anderson, Ind.

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

The Nebraska field--The journey--Nebraska scenes--Reflections on his bride-to-be--Builds house--Returns to Ohio--Marriage--Resumes Nebraska work--All night in dugout--Outlook temporarily reversed--Long trips over prairie--Wife lonely--Visit to Indian camp--Fast in snow-drift--Birth of a daughter--Break in diary account.

VII. BACK IN OHIO FIELDS 110

On Ashland circuit--News of mother's death--Visits penitentiary--A course of studies at Vermillion College--Embraces the cause of holiness--Seeks and obtains the experience.

VIII. THE HOLINESS AWAKENING 125

Doctrine of sanctification--Widespread interest in the subject--Prominent leaders--Holiness bands--Doctrine opposed--Its advocates recede on the church question--A remnant who walk in the light--Holiness editors--Jacksonville convention.

IX. A PREACHER OF HOLINESS 137

A rather new field of activity--Writes for publication--Meets with opposition--Tirade and charges by fellow minister--Canton camp-meeting--Eldership meeting at Smithville, faces charges--Assigned to Stark circuit--Visits father and place of conversion--Locates at Canton--Writes covenant with God--Return to Upper Sandusky--Revival at Findlay--Reflections on New Year's Day--Expulsion from West Ohio Eldership--Meetings at Dunkirk--Increasing vision of apostolic church--A peculiar test--Work opens in Indiana--Death of father and daughter--Attends Ohio Holiness Camp-Meeting--Brought low with affliction.

X. NORTHERN INDIANA ELDERSHIP 191

Opposition to Freemasonry--New Eldership formed--Becomes an associate editor--Herald of Gospel Freedom.

XI. EDITOR AND AUTHOR 196

Locates at Rome City, Ind.--Writes book--Attends various camp-meetings--Mob at Upper Sandusky--Remarkable healings--Eldership seeks union with Mennonites--Close of diary account--Becomes editor of Herald.

XII. A SPIRITUAL SHAKING 210

Prophetic description of reformation movement--Old Testament figures--Shakings incident to divine visitations--New covenant complete in entire sanctification--Prophecies that apply to these times--Separation of wheat and chaff--Arguments against sects--Entire sanctification a remedy--Unity the hope of God's people.

XIII. A PROPHETIC TIME 241

Many world events foreshadowed in prophecy--God has a design with man--Events of the world grouped in periods--The four world empires--The fourth given particular attention--The little horn of Daniel 7--Time periods of Romanism and Protestantism--Corresponding prophecies in Revelation--What Babylon is--God's people called out of her.

XIV. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET 251

Consolidation of Herald of Gospel Freedom with the Pilgrim, forming the Gospel Trumpet--Rome City its birthplace--Move to Indianapolis--Difficulties and privations--Paper issued irregularly--Printed on hand-press--Move to Cardington, Ohio, and later to Bucyrus--To Williamston, Mich., in 1884, and to Grand Junction in 1886--Substantial progress.

XV. THE CRISIS 271

Unity effected only out of and away from sects--No other alternative for God's people--Brother Warner a reformer--His stand meets Satan's opposition, but vindicated by Spirit of God-Extracts from Gospel Trumpet--Declares himself free from Northern Indiana Eldership--Same stand taken by Michigan saints--Counterfeit doctrines--Trying time at Bucyrus, Ohio--His wife's estrangement--Comments by contemporary editors--Trouble over donation by a Mrs. Booth--Letters of sympathy and encouragement--Work spreads into various States--Emma Miller's healing of blindness--Other marvelous healings--Defection of J. C. Fisher--How the reformation is distinguished from all other movements.

XVI. EVANGELISTIC TOURS 335

Trip into Pennsylvania--Various healings--Attacked by intoxicated man--Woman delivered from devils--Visits Winebrennerian camp--An incident of Beaver Dam assembly--Company of singers formed--Wonderful meeting in Indiana--Storm stayed in answer to prayer--Mob near Rising Sun, Ohio--A Western tour--Strange manifestations at St. James, Mo.--To Denver--Meetings in Canada--In the Southern field--Mob element in Mississippi--Visits Mammoth Cave--Visits the church in California--Scenery of the Rockies.

XVII. THE MINISTRY OF SONG 407

Adaptation of existing hymns--Occasions that suggested various hymns--Instances of the effect of song.

XVIII. POETIC INSPIRATIONS 422

Gifted as a poet--A book of poems--Various examples of poems.

XIX. LAST YEARS 443

Hoped for long life--Difficulty in combining writing with evangelical work--Could not remain long out of the field--Begins to write a book on prophecy--Third marriage--Ohio River campaign--Last New Year's greeting--A school on the camp-ground--Last sermon--End of the journey.

XX. AS OTHERS KNEW HIM 456

Statements of various individuals--Author's statement--Reflections at his grave.

SUPPLEMENT for this reprint edition 478

[Music: The Evening Light.

D. S. WARNER. (ZECH. 14:7.) H. R. JEFFREY.

1. Bright-er days are sweet-ly dawn-ing, Oh, the glo-ry looms in sight! 2. Mist-y fogs, so long con-ceal-ing All the hills of min-gled night, 3. Lo! the ran-somed are re-turn-ing, Robed in shin-ing crys-tal white, 4. Free from Ba-bel, in the Spir-it, Free to wor-ship God a-right, 5. Hal-le-lu-jah! saints are singing, Vic-t'ry in Je-ho-vah's might;

For the cloud-y day is wan-ing, And the eve-ning shall be light. Van-ish, all their sin re-veal-ing, For the eve-ning shall be light. Leap-ing shout-ing home to Zi-on, Hap-py in the eve-ning light. Joy and glad-ness we're re-ceiv-ing, Oh, how sweet this eve-ning light! Glo-ry! glo-ry! keep it ring-ing, We are saved in eve-ning light!

CHORUS.

Oh, what gold-en glo-ry streaming! Pur-er light is com-ing fast;

Now in Christ we've found a free-dom Which e-ter-nal-ly shall last. ]

I

INTRODUCTION

The life and labors of D. S. Warner are so closely associated with a religious movement that any attempt at his biography becomes in part necessarily a history of that movement. I have therefore chosen the term, Birth of a Reformation, as a part of the title of this book. Brother Warner (to use an appellation in keeping with the idea of universal Christian brotherhood) was doubtless chosen of God as an instrument for accomplishing a particular work. What that work was, why it may be called a reformation, and why, in particular, it may be considered the last reformation, a few words of explanation by way of introduction are offered the inquiring reader.

It will be necessary to take a brief glance over the Christian era and review some of the important events and conditions. We note the characteristics of the church in the days of the apostles, which, by reason of its recent founding and organization by the Holy Spirit, is naturally regarded as exemplary and ideal. It had no creed but the Scriptures and no government but that administered by the Holy Spirit, who 'set the members in the body as it pleased him'--apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, etc. Thus subject to the Spirit, the early church was flexible, capable of expansion and of walking in all the truth and of adjusting itself to all conditions. It was in very essence _the_ church, the whole, and not a section or part. The apostles and early believers did not restrict themselves and become a Jewish Christian sect or any other kind of sect. Peter's way of thinking would have thus limited him, for as a Jew he declined any particular interest in Gentile converts; but the Lord through a vision changed his mind and advanced his understanding to include the universality of the Christian kingdom. The Holy Spirit in the heart was necessary, of course, to the successful government of the church by the Spirit, otherwise he could not have been understood. There were no dividing lines, for it was the will of the Lord particularly that there be "one fold and one shepherd." Jesus had prayed in behalf of the disciples "that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21). These conditions of being subject to the word and Spirit, of leaving an open door through which greater light and truth might enter as was necessary, and of possessing the love and unity of spirit that cemented the believers together and carried them through all their persecution, constituted the ideal and normal status of God's church on earth as he gave it beginning, of which it was ordained that there should be but one, only one, as long as the world should endure. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4).

SPIRITUAL DECLINE

It was possible, of course, for the church to decline from her state of purity and thereby to forfeit her standing as the church. So long as her conflict with paganism lasted and the various forms of persecution tended to bring into exercise those principles and qualities which distinguished her from the world, she practically kept her first estate. When, however, the tide turned, persecutions ceased and Christianity came into favor and to be made the state religion of the Roman Empire, there were presented conditions favorable to every form of spiritual decline. Christians, instead of being longer persecuted, were protected, and to profess Christianity became popular and easy. The divine features of the church, by which she had been known for more than two hundred years, were lost. Every form of corruption came in. Human rule supplanted the divine, Holy Spirit, rule almost universally, both in the East and the West. The bishop of Rome, in particular, rose in prominence until he was made supreme head--pope--of the Holy Roman church. The reader of church history knows of the long eclipse of Christianity that followed, of the darkness and ignorance that reigned and gave to that period the name, Dark Ages. The true church, impossible of representation by such a colossal counterfeit as then appeared in her place and became in turn a persecuting power, could continue only in fragmentary form, in obscure places in the wilderness of the Roman Empire. She could not be manifest in her evangelizing capacity, but was persecuted. Millions of God's people, who refused allegiance to this false system of Christianity, were slain as heretics during this period. Thus, in the historical foreground we see, not the pure woman representing the church of God, but we see an apostate woman seated "upon a scarlet-colored beast," the Roman state.

"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, _Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth_. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev. 17:4-6).

The Word and the Spirit, the two divine authorities, were set aside. In the place of the former were the traditions of the Roman Church, and for the latter was substituted human rule and authority. These two divine witnesses prophesied in sackcloth during those long centuries, until such time as they should again function in their proper sphere in the church--I say _until such time_: for we are not to assume that in the design of God this state of affairs should always continue. True Christianity was not to perish from the earth. The book of Daniel prophesies of the papacy, "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time" (Dan. 7:25). (See the time-periods of the various epochs of the Christian era in our chapter A Prophetic Time.) For this vast agency of unrighteousness the time should come when the cup of iniquity should be full and the judgments of God should be executed and his people delivered. When Christ comes, his bride will have made herself ready, which implies that God's people will have been gathered out of spiritual captivity and brought again to Zion. Light and truth and the Holy Spirit rule will have been restored as at the beginning.

REFORMATIONS