In this sermon by D.S. Warner, he addresses the division caused by conflicting holiness papers in the city, emphasizing the detrimental impact on the sacred cause of holiness and the need for accountability. Warner recounts the dissolution of The Trumpet firm due to differences in vision and values, highlighting the importance of seeking God's will in partnerships. Despite facing opposition and competition, Warner remains steadfast in his commitment to God's work, trusting in divine guidance and maintaining integrity in the face of challenges.

No person that has the real cause of God at heart can fail to deplore the fact that in this city two papers are now being published, both claiming to be holiness papers, having of course conflicting interests. That this state of affairs must weaken and wound this sacred cause, and hedge up its way by destroying the confidence of the people in the great truth of holiness, is very apparent to all thinking minds. This being true, fearful responsibilities rest somewhere, and the people have a right to know where. It is a painful task to refer to the reproach that is brought upon the pure cause of holiness; but it is largely known, and can be remedied only by a statement of the causes and terms of the dissolution of The Trumpet firm. Two papers in the same place with rival interests cannot both be of God—there is no use trying to smuggle the fact. The blame must be located, and though its location exposes personal character, it must be done. Paul wrote even with tears of some whom he pronounced enemies of the cross of Christ. Alas, how often the blessed Son of God is sacrificed at the shrine of selfishness, and sold for a few pieces of money! The office having been donated by the Church of God in northern Indiana, for the use of The Trumpet, we entered into a consolidation and partnership, agreeing that “each should do one half of the labor, pay one half of the expenses, and receive one half of the income.” We went to work in good earnest, published two papers at Rome City, and then shipped the office to this city. But before it arrived we found our self bound to a chilling iceberg, an austere, worldly, complaining, and mere money policy. Though rather uncongenial to our feelings, we thought it probably all for the better and were willing to go ahead; but ere long the Spirit of God clearly indicated to us that we should not work with this man. We gave the matter all into the hands of God, and told the Lord that if He wished a dissolution, He should bring it about in His own time and His own way. We had made no note of labors at Rome City, but thought when we set up here we should be under the necessity of doing so; but wishing to avoid every shadow of blame for the separation that we knew was coming, we continued to waive our right in the agreement, and went on working for the Lord, while partner gave His time to the Cincinnati Times-Star, with the exception of an occasional call of a few minutes at the office. It pleased God to withhold a competent income from the paper. This soon wrought a divine purpose, and partner proposed to dissolve—offered to give or take one hundred dollars, and the party taking the office pay all the debts on the firm. Having the will of God clearly revealed to us, we could not, without disloyalty to God and infidelity to the brethren who donated the office, abandon it. We also had one hundred and seventy dollars in the office that partner did not, having released notes to that amount against those churches when they kindly donated the office. We remarked, however, that as the office had been given for the use of The Trumpet, it was not right that, withdrawing from the paper, he should ask that amount of money. But the answer was that The Pilgrim field which had been merged into The Trumpet was worth that to him. We therefore consented to pay the one hundred dollars to satisfy him for the field. But when we remarked that he of course would feel himself under obligations not to start another paper here, both because of the amount received for the field, and for shame’s sake, as it could only expose the cause to reproach, we were surprised that he would not make a fair promise. We insisted upon it as our right, and he remarked finally that he did not think he would start another. Just then the Spirit said, “Trust it in the hands of the Lord, God will Himself manage the matter.” From that time we said no more about it. We feel that our skirts are clear from the harm that holiness must suffer from this bad example to the world. And if God can bless the little opposition sheet (for such is the spirit of its first issue) we shall be thankful. Bless the Lord! We have nothing to fear, because we have nothing to lose. The Trumpet is indeed all burned up for God: but out of its ashes shall continue to rise honest, holy, God-fearing pilgrims, instead of “happy pilgrims” who rejoice in unrighteous gain. God is now on trial. He is our only resource. On the other hand, a crafty policy slyly gets up a little paper, changes the association meeting from home to Terre Haute, presents it to the congregation, gets four votes in its favor, then himself pronounces it adopted; is elated that he was “sharp” enough to get the one hundred dollars and the field also, and now boasts that he will take away The Trumpet subscribers. O Lord, pity and save such a one for Christ’s sake! Just now we feel a deeper concern for his salvation than for all we may suffer through his competition. Though doubtless we shall lose some readers through this assumed organ of the State association, a thing that lives only in name, and whose head, professing to be called to labor in the vineyard of the Lord as a gospel minister, prefers the vineyard of the worldly paper as more lucrative, we are thankful that the Gospel Trumpet rests only upon God and its own merits. Our Father in heaven still owns the universe. Truth has not lost its power; neither have the four votes cast at Terre Haute dethroned the Almighty. Hallelujah! Jesus reigns.