122 / Evangelism and Bible Conferences

unite with the church and others "laboring under deep conviction." In Holmes County the brethren anxiously awaited his arrival, leaving their "plow handles to be on duty in the church." Other appointments were filled in Stark and Wayne counties, and plans were laid to go to the churches in Franklin and Fairfield counties a few weeks hence.

J. S. Hartzler of Indiana was reported in 1892 to have preached eight sermons at Pleasant Hill and that there were twenty-four souls who "have manifested a desire to become the Lord's chosen Israel and turn their faces heavenward."' During the six weeks that Hartzler spent in Logan, Champaign, Holmes, and Wayne counties he participated in forty-eight meetings.'

In the records that survive from these years of ingathering the churches in Logan and Champaign counties are conspicuous. As early as 1890 John F. Funk of Elkhart, Indiana, visited Logan and Champaign counties and held meetings that, despite unfavorable weather, drew large crowds. He spoke at South Union, Walnut Grove, and North Salem churches. Twenty young people at South Union "became willing to forsake sin and unite with the

church. -6

The Herald of Truth reported that D. J. Johns and J. S. Hartzler "diligently labored in Logan and Champaign counties for two weeks and as a result twenty-five young people signified their resolve to become `soldiers of Jesus.' Yet it seems the work ceased too soon, as others were under conviction. . . . The brethren leave here today for Allen County and other fields of labor. The Lord bless them.

David Hilty of Bluffton, Ohio, came early in 1895 and remained for ten days in the Bellefontaine community of Logan and Champaign counties. He held twelve "interesting" meetings in private homes and the result was that eight young people "were willing to come. to the Lord's side."'

Though the evangelistic meetings reached mostly the youth, C. B. Brenneman reported the next year that, "There was quite an awakening among the older class of people, and there are now three who have given themselves to the Lord. They have put it off until old age began to take hold of them.-9

That new life was kindled in the congregations is clear from the correspondence in the Herald of Truth for these years. In the January 1, 1893, issue the word from Mahoning County is that: