How best to help the poor has been a matter of much thought with me.  If we give to such as are able to work and support themselves, but do not, we rather encourage them in their habits of idleness.  If we do not give to them, they complain that we care but little for them, and do not feel toward them as we should.  I think the best way to help such is to encourage them to honest labor by aiding them to procure situations in which they can support themselves.  If they then fail to provide for their families, I think they should be visited by a committee and instructed in regard to what Paul says:  “He that provideth not for his own, especially those of his own house, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.”  Paul never aimed this stroke of condemnation at any who are not able to provide for themselves.  I am glad to think that we have but very few poor members who are not able to help themselves.  These are the ones of whom the Lord said:  “The poor ye have always with you, and whenever ye will ye may do them good.”  In respect to such he also said:  “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

SUNDAY, August 3.  Meeting in our meetinghouse.  First Peter 3 is read.  Daniel Glick, Hildebrandt, Sister Trump, Mary and Susanna Miller were baptized to-day.

SUNDAY, September 7.  Meeting at Motz’s.  John 3 is read.  Nimrod Judy and wife, Susan Randall, Mrs. Shireman, the widow Toppan and Mrs. Ridenour were baptized by me to-day.  We have a love feast this evening.

MONDAY, September 8.  Return home.  In my absence, on the thirtieth day of August, the following named persons were baptized in the Linville’s Creek near my house:  John Wine and wife, Elizabeth Glick, Mrs. Funk, Mrs. Rodecap, Mrs. Miller, and a young Sister Niswander.

FRIDAY, September 12.  Attend our two days’ council meeting above Harrisonburg.  Stop on my way there, and assist in anointing Brother Daniel Garber with oil in the name of the Lord.

FRIDAY, September 26.  Start to Albemarle County, Virginia.  Benjamin Bowman is with me.  Stay all night at John Leedy’s.

SATURDAY, September 27.  Cross the Shenandoah river in a horse boat; dine and feed at Sipe’s; cross the Blue Ridge mountain and on to Nesterville.  Stay all night at Henry Coverston’s.

SUNDAY, September 28.  We have meeting in the Methodist church.  The latter part of Luke 24 is read.  Henry Coverston and wife were baptized by Benjamin Bowman.  I think this is the first administration of the ordinance of baptism ever performed by the Brethren on the east side of the Blue Ridge in Virginia.

MONDAY, September 29.  Get home after a ride on horseback to-day of forty-three miles.  We got dinner and fed our horses at Donovan’s.

SATURDAY, October 11.  Meeting and love feast at the Flat Rock.  Luke 13 is read.  Benjamin Bowman baptized John Rorabaugh and wife.

THURSDAY, October 16.  Daniel Miller and Daniel Yount, in company with myself, start to Hampshire County, Virginia.  We get to Jacob Warnstaff’s, in Pendleton County, Virginia, where we stay all night.