FOREWORD
In fulfillment of a promise contained in the foreword of the former volume of "Our Heroes," and encouraged by the cordial reception which was given it, this second volume is issued. The task has been one of increasing pleasure.
It is said that the writer of fiction falls in love with his hero. This can also be said of the writer of facts. Such deeds as are recorded in the pages that follow, such aspirations and holy achievements at a critical period in the history of a militant church as we see in the life story of early United Brethren itinerants, win and hold the admiration of men who have entered into their labors. Those who are engaged in missionary education, find that of all literature on the subject, biography is the most effective.
It has not been an easy task to gather the material for these biographies. The standard histories of the church have but little to say about these remarkable men, and in the whole range of periodical literature, we find a strange dearth of reference to them. So that the larger part of the material composing these chapters is new, having been gathered from other and various sources.
Moreover, it has not been an easy task to compress the main features of the biography of a great man "of whom the world is not worthy," into a single chapter, when one longs for two or three hundred pages to tell the thrilling story of toil and sacrifice and triumph. "We hope, however, that the chapters may be found to give the leading facts in the career of each of these missionary heroes, and that not a few of those who read the book may be inspired "to follow in their train."
These chapters record no deeds of men whom the world calls great; they record the great deeds of men whom God counts as heroes. The reader will search in vain in the early records of United Brethrenism for any names that are well-known in the annals of the Church at large. The denomination was founded by humble pioneer preachers, men who were willing to serve in obscurity, it through their efforts the souls of men might be saved, and the kingdom of God advanced even in the wilderness. And to these brave men, who cut their way through the forests, who forded dangerous streams, who endured much hardship and privation, not only our denomination, but the Nation as well, owes a great debt.
The conviction grows upon us as the field enlarges and it is deepened by requests coming from all parts of the Church, that the work should be continued. We have, therefore, consented to give ourselves to the preparation of other volumes. The debt we owe our heroes and the promotion of our denominational life and loyalty demand that the work should be continued indefinitely. Much of the material for a third volume is already in our hands.
We wish to acknowledge our gratitude to the publisher, who has extended many courtesies, and who in the mechanical part of the work has left nothing to be desired.
We also owe a debt of acknowledgment and gratitude to friends in various sections of the country who have so kindly and generously assisted in the preparation of this volume by gathering and furnishing material.
We indulge the hope that the heroes of faith to whom the following pages are devoted, may find as warm a place in the regard of those who read them as they hold in the hearts of those who have written them.
AUTHORS