USA > Ohio > Twenty-five years in the West > Part 17
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" the body without the spirit is dead." We read of "the spirits in prison." Jesus, on the cross, gave up his spirit to God, committed his spirit to God. When he ap- peared to his disciples they thought they saw a spirit ; but he told them a spirit had neither flesh nor bones. We are informed the Sadducees believed in neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believed in both ; and when the latter heard the apostle Paul say, the risen Christ had appeared to him, they said, if a spirit had appeared to him they ought not to fight against God.
From all this testimony we learn that God is the Father of mankind, hence we partake of his nature - are created in his image; and as God is a spirit man is a spirit ; as God is immortal man is immortal. Man's moral character may or may not be godlike, in the divine image. The Christian only is in God's moral image, partakes of the divine character; but it is of the nature of man I now speak, not his moral character. Children always are of the nature of their parents, but their moral character may be very different. So man, being the child of God, partakes of his divine nature, but his moral character may be ungodly. And it is heaven's purpose that man's nature shall unfold till his moral character be in harmony with the divine as his nature now is. Corrupt as may be man's moral character, he still retains the image and glory of God his Father in his soul, but in various degrees of distinctness. Some, by the great apostle, are compared to the sun, others to the moon and stars; and it is said the glory will grow " bright- er and brighter to the perfect day."
From Dayton we proceeded to Joliet, Ill., about one hundred and forty miles distant. Recent heavy rains had swept away or damaged most of the bridges, and I had
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to swim the horses across the streams, and repair the rick- ety bridges, to get my precious charge over the turbulent waters. We had some dangerous passes through the streams, and over the frail bridges I had repaired. In pulling the carriage over one bridge I came within a hair's breadth of being pushed into the creek, and the buggy falling on me. The flood of this year was not quite equal to the flood of 1844, spoken of in a previous chapter, but it probably did more damage as the country was more improved. When I reached Alton, some of its streets were navigable for skiffs, and the levee at St. Louis was all submerged. But after much hard trav- eling and toiling we made Joliet ; and from thence I went to St. Louis alone, leaving Mrs. Manford to spend the summer with her sisters in Joliet and Lockport.
St. Louis at that time contained eighty thousand in- habitants, and was rapidly increasing in population, business and wealth. At the present time it contains . three hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants, - an im- mense increase in twenty-two years. It is built on the west bank of the Mississippi river, eighteen miles below its junction with the Missouri. The ground on which this noble city stands, is high and rolling; its streets are well paved, and the buildings generally are of a substantial character, being mostly of brick. Its beautiful site, its central location, its sixteen thousand miles of river navi- gation, its railroads, extended or being extended, in all directions, the vast agricultural region of which it is the center, the immense mineral and coal fields at its door ---- these advantages all combined must ultimately make St. Louis one of the great cities of the world. What changes have been made in St. Louis and all this region since 1803, when Lewis, Clark and others, made their famous
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expedition to the Rocky Mountains. St. Louis was then so insignificant that the government ordered the expedi- tion to start from the mouth of a small creek twenty miles up the river from St. Louis.
Several spasmodic efforts had been made to establish a Universalist church in St. Louis. J. Libbey, G. T. Flanders and N. M. Gaylord had preached there ; but for two or three years previous to my removal to St. Louis, all effort in that direction had been abandoned. I lectured in the city occasionally ; a church was organ- ized, and the next year G. S. Weaver, from Ohio, became its pastor.
An immense field was before me, a vast amount of labor to be performed, and I went to work with a resolute heart. In all Southern Illinois we had not a minister, a meeting-house, nor a church; and, of course, our friends were few and unknown. It was the same in the whole of Missouri, with one or two exceptions. In Troy we had a meeting-house, but the church was dead. In the southwest part of the state L. C. Marvin had labored some, but he was not then residing in Missouri.
Leaving Mrs. Manford in charge of the paper, in September I commenced a long and laborious journey through Missouri, among entire strangers, expecting to be absent three months. Crossed the Mississippi river at Alton, four miles above where the Missouri flows into it, to go to Cottleville, thirty miles distant, where was my first appointment. The rain poured down in torrents nearly the whole day, and to add to my troubles, I got lost in the woods and swamps at the junction of the two rivers. Regaining the road, I traveled till dark, and find- ing I could not reach Cottleville that night, made appli- cation at a dozen houses for lodging, but all said, " No;
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we are full." The night being very dark, the rain falling fast, and the roads in a horrible condition and unknown to me, I resolved to go no farther. Stopped at a house and solicited a resting place till morning. "We have no room ; they will keep you at the next house," some one hallooed.
"What are you in this country ? - heathen ? At ten or fifteen places I have been refused admittance, each telling your story-' They will keep you at the next house.' Whether you take me in or not, I shall go no farther till morning. I am wet, and cold, and tired. It is so dark I cannot see my horse, the road is nearly impassable, and I am a stranger in the country ; I know no one, and no one knows me. If you will not shelter me in your house, I will sit in this carriage till morning, for I am determined to go no farther to-night."
" Oh, well," said he, " come in, come in; we will do the best we can for you."
Arrived at Cottleville the next morning, and spoke to the people in the evening. The day after, proceeded to Troy, and on the succeeding day delivered three dis- courses. Found a respectable number of friends, and obtained forty subscribers for the Golden Era. As else- where stated, N. Wadsworth resided and preached in Troy a year or two previous to his death, and I found many who blessed his memory for the beautiful truths he had taught. Have frequently spoken in this place since that first visit, and have there some highly esteemed friends. Mrs. Manford often retreated to Troy from the scorching sun of St. Louis.
Lectured in Prairieville, Louisville, and then proceed- ed to Ashley, where I spoke several times. There were four brothers, by the name of Hendricks, residing near
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this village - all elderly men, of considerable wealth, and early settlers of the state. If all men were of the sterling worth of those brothers, there would be no need of "camp or court." It has been my sad duty to officiate at the funeral of two of those brothers, and the wife of one of the survivors. " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord," and blessed are the living who make virtue their choice. Lectured in Bowling Green, then in Louisiana, a beautiful town on the Mississippi river. W. K. Kennedy, a noble man, and my steadfast friend, resided in this place. He served his country through the Great Rebellion, and soon after was mur- dered, as is supposed.
Preached in Frankfort; then in London. Soon as it became known I was to lecture in London, a man went post haste to Hannibal, nine miles distant, and brought out a preacher to reply. The moment I was through he opened on me pell mell, without regard to sense or syntax. He evidently believed thunder killed, not lightning. He knew nothing of the liberal faith, but thought he had perfect knowledge of it. In notic- ing his noisy harangue, I cut him right and left, and he very considerably " subsided." Drove to Hannibal and lectured four times. Have often preached in that place, and have some dear friends there. The Browns, the Westfalls, and others, I shall esteem as long as this heart beats. The latter have a charming home on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi river, embowered in trees, vines and shrubbery. All the fruits of this latitude grow to perfection and in wonderful profusion on their grounds. There are the apple, pear, cherry - the best varieties- plum, peach, grape, and berries of all kinds. (t is, especially, a delightful summer home, and Mrs.
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Manford frequently fled to it from the melting sun of St. Louis.
Lectured at Palmyra in the Court-house full of men - one woman only being present. A preacher had one or two questions to ask.
M. "State your questions and I will try to answer them."
P. " Are you from the East ? "
M. "I have the honor of being a son of old Massa- chusetts."
P. " Are you an abolitionist ? '
M. " Yes, sir ; I believe in the abolition of the devil and all his works."
P. " That is not what I mean. Are you a political abolitionist ? "
M. " I think every wrong in politics should be abol- ished, and finally will be."
P. "But are you for abolishing slavery in Missouri, and the Southern States ? "
M. " I believe negro slavery to be wrong in morals and in politics, and a curse to the white man and the black man ; but it being the law of the land, I do not propose doing anything unlawful against it. What is your ob- ject in questioning me in this public manner?"
P. " I wanted to know your sentiments."
M. " You have them on slavery; and now I will give them concerning yourself. My opinion of you is, that you are a meddlesome and officious fellow."
Although, probably, nearly all present were intensely pro-slavery, for Palmyra was always strong in that direc- tion, they unanimously condemned the preacher for his impertinence, and treated me kindly. Journeyed to
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Tully and lectured several times. Had the following conversation with a church member :
C. M. " You told us last evening, that the common theory of a judgment day, at the end of time, was a de- lusion. The Scriptures certainly teach what you were pleased to term a delusion."
M. "Do you think God judges in the earth ?"
C. M. "I do. We are in his presence every moment of our earth-life, and he judges between the good and the bad - the righteous are exalted, the wicked debased. The Bible expressly says, 'There is a God who judgeth in the earth.'"
M. "Very good. You also suppose that at death we are sent to heaven or hell. Of course that is not done till we are judged. Civil tribunals do not hang a man and then judge him. He is judged first. The Divine Judge surely does not consign any to hell without a previous judgment. I have heard ministers of your faith at funerals tell the mourners, that the departed have gone to the bar of God to give an account of the deeds done in the body, and that justice will be meted to them. Do you believe we go at death to the bar of God ? "
C. M. " That is a solemn truth, and we should have that judgment in all our thoughts from the cradle to the grave."
M. "You think, I suppose, there is to be a judgment day at the end of the world."
C. M. "I certainly do; and that is what I under- stood you to deny."
M. " According to your theology, God judges or will judge the world three times 1. All are judged in this world, you assert. 2. All are judged at death. 3. All will be judged at the end of the world. Here are three judg-
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ments. The truth is, God judges us but once, and that is an everlasting judgment. His law is engrained in our immortal nature, and by that law we are judged every moment of our life. The good man is in harmony with himself, with the universe, and the heavens and the earth crown him with glory and honor. The wicked man is in disharmony with himself, with the universe, and suf- fers the sad result. And what is true now ever will be true -obedience ever will be heaven, disobe- dience hell. Instead, then, of three judgments there is one, and that is eternal. I believe, then, in an ever- lasting and universal judgment."
C. M. " I should like to hear a discourse on that kind of a judgment, for it is a new idea to me."
M. "Will give one this evening."
Traveled to Memphis, where I spoke six times. De- livered a discourse on the occasion of the death of C. S. Webber, who had departed this life about one year previous. He was from Ohio, and had labored in Mis- souri two years. The good cause lost an active and effi- cient laborer in his death. He was untiring in his ef- forts, and it was his delight to proclaim the unsearcha- ble riches of heaven. At a subsequent visit to this place, a clergyman arose in the congregation, and pro- pounded some thirty or forty questions, which he had written for the occasion, and desired me to answer them, which I did as I best could.
C. " You teach that punishment is designed to reform the sinner. What evidence have you that you are correct ? "
M. " Every sorrow, every pain, resulting from transgres- . sion, is the voice of God telling the offender he has done wrong, that he has violated a law of the Creator, and is
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on the open road to ruin, and urging him to retrace his steps. It is a thunderclap from the Almighty, reverber- ating through the soul and body of the transgressor, telling him of his prodigality, warning him to flee from the wrath to come, and begging him to return to truth and duty. Pain is as clearly and as certainly the voice of God condemning vice, and urging the offender to abandon the forbidden path, and walk in virtue's ways, as any word ever spoken by a living prophet. It is God speaking directly to man."
" Happiness also being the natural and sure result of virtue is the divine approbation of the Christian life It is the voice of God sanctioning virtue and encouraging the good man in righteousness. And this approbation of virtue, and condemnation of vice, is a revelation to man in all climes and ages. It is older than the written Bible, and is proclaimed to all the sons and daughters of earth. 'Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor lan- guage, where their voice is not heard.'" Ps. xix. 2, 3.
"True, it is often silenced by the clamor of passion, dis- regarded by the ignorant, and unheeded by the thought- less ; but its testimony against all wrong, and for all right, has ever, more or less, curbed the passions of the vicious, and promoted righteousness. It has everywhere lessened vice and increased virtue, notwithstanding pas- sion, ignorance, false philosophy, and false religion - flesh and the devil - have blasphemously called it delu- sion, irreligion, infidelity."
C. "You remarked in your first discourse, that there is an analogy between the earth and man. Is not that infidelity ? "
M. " I can see no infidelity in it. It is not best to be
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afraid of the truth. There is certainly a striking anal- ogy between man's physical organism, and the earth of which it is a product. I. The rock corresponds to the bones in the human frame. 2. The dust covering the rocky skeleton corresponds to the flesh spread over these bones. 3. The veins of water meandering through the earth answer to the purple currents coursing every part of the body. 4. The earth has internal fires; the body has internal heat. 5. The hair of the head, which is a vegetable, corresponds to the vegetable growth covering the earth. 6. The earth is even sometimes sick, like man, and is only relieved by vomiting forth its feverish contents. 7. The earth is surrounded by an atmos- phere ; philosophers tell us, that every man is enveloped in an atmosphere emanating from his body. 8. The earth was once in a ruder condition than it is now ; man was once coarser, more brutal than at the present time. 9. Man had a beginning. 'In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth.' 10. This mortal body must die, be decomposed, return whence it came; will not this earth die, be decomposed, and return whence it came? The gentleman may call this infidelity if he pleases. He can then finish his chapter of folly by call- ing summer, winter ; heat, cold; light, darkness; truth, error ; virtue, vice ; and God, satan."
A Presbyterian minister replied to one of my dis- courses; after answering his objections, I proceeded southward, and lectured in Sand Hill, Milford, Edina and Newark. Subsequently had an appointment to debate four days with a man in Newark. He was to try to sustain this proposition - " Universalism is no better than Infidelity." But it being impossible for me to reach there at the appointed time, the discussion did not
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take place, and he could not be induced afterward to discuss that proposition. I delivered a series of dis- courses in Newark soon after this disappointment, and thus noticed the gentleman's proposition :
Mr. Matlock, I understand, when he was here to de- bate with me, told in what respect " Universalism is no better than infidelity." Universalism, he made out, . agrees in one or two points with infidelity, therefore, he wisely concluded, the whole system is no better than infidelity. Let us see what Campbellism is according to this rule. Mormonism says, there is a God, and that he will torment millions of mankind eternally ; Camp- bellism says the same, therefore, Campbellism is no bet- ter than Mormonism. Paganism says there is a burning hell for the wicked ; Campbellism says there is a burn- ing hell for the wicked, therefore, Campbellism is no better than Paganism. Catholicism teaches that the unbaptized are all lost ; Campbellism teaches the same, therefore, Campbellism is no better than Catholicism. Atheism says, man is mortal and must die; Campbellism says the same, Campbellism, then, is no better than Atheism.
But no system can be farther from infidelity than Uni- versalism. It is all aglow with wisdom, justice, mercy, goodness, holiness, truth and virtue. It teaches there is a God who rules in heaven and on earth; that man is in his image, and in imitating him we derive our chief good ; and that we are destined to approximate his ador- able perfections forever and ever. A person must have a dark and deformed mind, who brands that spiritual system - infidelity.
At another time, going from Newark to Millport, thirty miles, the rain poured down in torrents till I was
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about half way through, when the wind suddenly veering northward, the thermometer fell in one hour to four degrees below zero. When a haven was reached I was encased in a coat of ice, and could not get out of the saddle without assistance. The next day rode thirty miles over the prairie in the face of a northwest wind, cold as Greenland, and preached at night. Near New- ark resided Col. Glover, an old and highly respected citizen. While he lived I made his house my home when about Newark. The well known Samuel Glover of St. Louis is his son. Col. J. Glover, who distinguished him- self in the late civil war, and now a member of Con- gress, is also his son.
From Newark I proceeded to Shelbyville, and spoke several times. Have often lectured there since. Thence to Paris, Middle Grove, Columbia, in all of which towns I held meetings. Lectured in Fayette, then crossed the Missouri river, one hundred and sixty miles from St. Louis, and preached in Booneville, a beautiful town on the bank of "Big Muddy, " as the Missouri is often called. This is a mighty river. Its waters, from hun- dreds of fountains in the Rocky Mountains, after dash- ing through deep gorges, tumbling over vast precipices, and winding over the immense savannahs of the far west, all combine and make one of the largest rivers in the world. Although here a wide, deep, and rapid stream, it is nearly two thousand miles to where it plunges into the sea. The bluffs on each side, two or three hundred feet high, are about seven miles apart, showing what this river has been doing these many cen- turies. The clay and rock that once filled that vast chan- nel, seven miles wide, three hundred feet deep, and thou- sands of miles long, have all been swept away in its
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ceaseless and resistless tide- carried south to redeem Louisiana and Mississippi from old ocean's dominions.
About the finest country in the world is bordering on this wonderful river. On the north side from Sioux City, to where it runs into the Mississippi river, and on the south, through Nebraska, Kansas, to Jefferson City, the land is rolling, well timbered, and the soil rich, warm and deep. Tobacco, hemp, the cereals, the grasses, and all the fruits of the temperate climate, grow here in great abundance. Mighty cities will be built on the banks of this great river, a dense population will throng its shores, and civilization will here attain its highest degree of glory.
Journeyed to Georgetown, and lectured several times. A man replied, I rejoined. Proceeded to Calhoun and preached twice ; thence to Clinton where I spoke three times. This was the limit of my journey south. I was in the southwest part of Missouri. The country was thinly settled, and the adherents of the liberal faith scarce. L. C. Marvin had resided near Booneville, and preached some in this region, but there was no organi- zation, and little was known of our faith. He now lives in Clinton, but seldom preaches.
Traveled east to Warsaw, on the Osage river, and de- livered my message. One preacher replied, another asked many questions, so I had about as much as I could attend to. The latter inquired, if we organize churches, build meeting-houses, and ordain ministers; and was much surprised when informed of the number of our churches, meeting-houses and ministers. " Do you pro- fess to be Christians ? " said he. When told we did, he added, "Well, I did not know that."
Proceeded to Jefferson City. Reached there about
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dark, wet and cold, for it had rained all day. Stopped at a hotel, and inquired if there was an appointment for me? The landlord thought there was at the Court-house. Hastened to the place without supper, had no time to attend to that, and found the Court-house lighted, and seven or eight very respectable appearing men, in the large room. No more came, and I delivered a long dis- course to that small crowd. When through, I mentioned the paper I was publishing in St. Louis, and every man present subscribed; and I found they were some of the notables of the state - the lieutenant-governor, secreta- ry of state, treasurer of state, auditor of state, post-mas- ter of the town, and two lawyers.
The next day crossed the Missouri river, and rode to Fulton where I lectured, then to Danville. Here I met with opposition. On taking my seat in the Court-house, a man arose in the congregation, and wished me to take for my text, the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. Spoke one hour on that subject, though I had rode all day on horseback. As soon as I was through, another wanted an explanation of the "lake of fire " and " sec- ond death." I accommodated him, when a third one replied to what I had said on both passages. Spoke an- other hour and was glad to rest. Rode next day to Warrenton, thirty miles, and, by request, told the people all I knew about the devil. One man in the house seemed to think I had not done that noted character justice, and so added what I omitted concerning his being, history, works, character and future prospects. He made him out to be a very powerful being, more than a match for the Almighty, and the author of all the sin and woe of this world. I asked the preacher, whence the devil derived his power to do so much mischief? Also,
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why God did not kill the devil if he was such an enemy to him, and he said those were infidel questions. Told him he was like the negro preacher. "My brethren," said he, "when de fust man, Adam, was made, he was made of wet clay, and set up agin de palin's to dry." "Do you say," said one of his hearers, "dat Adam was made of wet clay, an' set up agin the palin's to dry ?" " Yes, sar, I do." " Who made de palin's?" " Sit down, sar," said the preacher, sternly, " such questions as dat would upset any system of theology."
Told the people I had not a particle of faith in the devil of the Methodist creed, for the gentleman was of that order. It represents him as a god - the god of hell - and the good book does not require faith in such a god. But there are devils many, that have a real exist- ence. Every evil thought, purpose, passion ; every error, and every wicked act, is a devil, for each and all of them are enemies to our peace, happiness and prosperity. Let us aim to exterminate those real devils that beset us, and not expend our strength in fighting imaginary ones. This would be dealing with devils to a good purpose.
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