“O, dear!  O, dear!” And had it come to this that their preacher had to sleep on the prairie!  This was a family of hospitable Kentuckians, who were born to a love of music, and the old gentleman was a fiddler, and next to his Bible he loved his fiddle.  Of course, we had a grand, good time, and were all filled with joy; and this was the beginning of the churches on the upper waters of the Kansas River.  Twelve miles above St. George was Ashland, where we found Bro.  N. B. White, father to A. J. White, who has hitherto been pastor of the church at Leavenworth City; but since has been acting as district evangelist.  Bro.  N. B. White came from Carthage, Ky., and long remained a faithful and indefatigable preacher.  In my experience as an evangelist, I have known many men of superior Christian excellence; but never one man of more singleness and integrity of heart; never one man that had a clearer conception of the ultimate purposes and results of Christianity; never a man whose life was more unselfish and self-sacrificing.  Being of an intensely nervous and high-strung organization, and doing his work in a mixed population that would have taxed the patience of Job in its management, it is no wonder that Bro.  White was sometimes misunderstood, and, like all reformers, was made to feel that he was living before his time.

Thus passed in abundant labors the year 1860, and the time drew on for our yearly meeting, which had been appointed to be held at Prairie City in September, 1861.  The brethren came together with real enthusiasm.  During the past year the number of Disciples had been multiplied, and the cause had been greatly strengthened.  It had been a year of constant ingathering.  New churches reported themselves at this meeting, and brethren whom we had never known before.  As evidence of what was being accomplished I will copy a note which I find appended to the minutes of the Prairie City meeting: 

The following letter was received from a church meeting in Monroe township, Anderson County, said church being of the “Old Christian Order”: 

To the Elders of the State Meeting at Prairie City: 

We, the Church of God meeting at North Pottawatomie, do recommend to your honorable body, Bro.  Samuel Anderson, as our pastor.  We also represent our church as in good standing and in full fellowship, numbering twenty-eight members.

Bro.  Anderson, the bearer of the above letter, came before the Convention and said:  “It does yet appear to me that a man’s sins are forgiven as soon as he believes; but I do not think that for this cause there ought to be a schism between us.  I am willing to unite with you in exhorting men to obey all the commands of the gospel, and in seeking to unite all Christians on the one foundation.”