For want of room, we now pass over all the entries in the Diary from July 19 to September 11.  This time was actively taken up by our beloved brother in attending love feasts, council meetings and regular appointments.  In body he was robust, vigorous and active:  in spirit he had long reaches of faith and hope and love.  This incited him to great activity; and I often heard him say:  “An hour misspent or trifled away is just so much time given to Satan.”

JOURNEY TO OHIO AND RETURN THROUGH KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.

This journey occupied two months to the day.  Friday, September 11, he passed up through Brock’s Gap, and down the Lost River Valley.

LOST RIVER.

This is a small but very clear and beautiful stream in Hardy County, West Virginia.  It flows through a rich and delightful valley between Church mountain on its eastern side next to Shenandoah County, Virginia, and the South Branch mountain on its western side.  After a course of about twenty miles in a northeasterly direction it suddenly disappears at the base of a mountain extending like a huge dam across the valley.  After a subterranean passage of a few miles it reappears on the opposite side “clear as crystal.”  From this point to its mouth in the Potomac it bears the name of Ca-capon or Capon.  Tradition says this is an Indian name, and means FOUND.  This stream, from its head to its mouth, may aptly represent the life, death and resurrection of the Christian.

STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

For the information of the young especially, many of whom it is hoped will read this book, I will give a brief description of the state of the country through which our beloved brother expected to travel, partly alone and on horseback.  No doubt you have read the story of George Washington, not quite twenty-one years of age, starting on horseback with only a single companion, to carry a letter from Dinwiddie, Governor of Virginia, to the commander of the French military forces at Venango, in the extreme northwestern part of Pennsylvania.  Washington delivered the letter and returned the answer.  Many books of American history give an account of this wonderful achievement, and praise the man who performed it.

Brother Kline, in part, passed over very nearly the same ground on this journey that Washington had passed over on his.  Washington went with a motive altogether worldly.  He was complying with the wish of the governor of his State.  Brother Kline went with a motive as far transcending in sublimity and importance anything appearing in that of Washington as heaven is high above the earth, and the thoughts and ways of God are above those of men.  He went to raise men from the depths of sin into which they had so deeply fallen, and exalt them to companionship with angels in the skies.  His mission was to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.  He laid no claim to any power within himself to do this; but he went in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and in the power of him who is able and mighty to save.