Between the last date above given and the thirtieth day of July, Brother Kline preached ten funeral discourses, each of which was delivered on the day of burial. Paul uttered a great truth when he said: “It is appointed unto men ONCE to die.” But only once. If they die a second death, it is their fault. The death of the body is the only death ever appointed unto men.
WEDNESDAY, August 6. Attend the funeral of Nimrod Dove. Age, forty-eight years, eleven months and thirteen days. Nimrod Dove was a patient and persevering school-teacher. Some, who are now young, will doubtless remember him gratefully when they are old.
FRIDAY, August 8. Harvest thanksgiving in our meetinghouse. Betty Frey is baptized.
SUNDAY, August 17. Meeting in Andrew Chapel in Harrisonburg. Good attention. Stay all night at Christian Myers’s, near head of Linville’s Creek. I spoke to-day on Luke 14:10, from this clause: “Friend, go up higher.” This is what the Lord says to every one who comes to the gospel feast in that spirit of deep humility and self-abasement that is willing to take the lowest place. God’s people go up higher when they arise to walk in newness of life. When they add to their faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge charity. They go up higher as they increase their knowledge of his Word, in the love of its saving truth. They go up higher as they love God and their neighbor more.
The love of self and the world attracts man downward into the foul pits of vice, immorality, intemperance, gambling, profanity, anger, jealousy, worldly fashions, and all the forms and phases of evil. God would have men come out of these horrible pits, wash themselves in the pure water of his Word, and take a lowly seat at his table. Then with joy he will say to each: “Friend, go up higher.”
These are the outlines of my discourse to-day. The Editor would love to expand the rich thoughts, condensed in these outlines, into an elaborate discourse in exact accord with what he feels sure the beloved brother said, but the limits of this work forbid.
SUNDAY, September 21. Meeting in our meetinghouse. I this day baptize Noah Frey and wife; Isaac Smith and wife; Widow Dove; Mrs. Bulger and Barbara Baker.
MONDAY, September 22. Brother Kline started to Maryland. The Diary shows many meetings, councils and love feasts attended. On
FRIDAY, September 26, he assisted at the ordination of Brother Christian Keafer to the full work of the ministry. Brother McCleningen was elected speaker. This service was in the Welsh Run congregation, near Brother William Engel’s. He speaks of union meetings in which he served, at different places, but does not say a word further about them, as to why they were so called or for what particular object they were held.
TUESDAY, September 30. He attended a union meeting in the Beaver Creek meetinghouse, in which he served; and on