order to end this matter. I do not, however, believe that you will even dare that. I conclude that you would about as soon lose your right arm as to meet me in open debate before this people. I believe you will back out."
The proposition was written, and I gave it to A. J. Johnson, one of the elders of the congregation there. He got the other elders to go with him, and they called on Mr. Fly. Bro. Johnson said, "We have endorsed Bro. Hancock as the man to defend this proposition, and when you produce a similar endorsement we are ready for the debate." Mr. Fly said, "I will not debate that proposition unless he will make one addition to it." "What is that?" asked Bro. Johnson. Fly said, "He must add to that, that everybody without that institution will be finally and eternally damned." Bro. Johnson replied, "He does not propose to judge the world, but to debate the proposition agreed upon. If you back out, of course, the matter is at an end." Mr. Fly said, "I will not," and left them. Early Lord's day morning I went to Bro. Johnson's to learn the result.
Bro. Johnson said, "Fly backed out." I said, "I knew he would do that, but he cannot rest at that. I will go now to see him, and remind him of what I told him." Bro. Johnson went with me. We met Fly and his daughter starting to an appointment in the country. After the usual compliments I said, "What did I tell you, Bro. Fly? Did I not tell you that you would back out?" He said, "Oh yes, you people are always ready to get up propositions, and when you can do that, backing somebody out." I said, "There is all we can do. It is written that one shall chase a thousand. I can take the Bible and chase one thousand such as you are. Bring one thousand of your equals here, and I will take the Bible and chase you every one away from Washburn." He left Washburn that week and never returned while I stayed there.
The brethren of Boliver, Mo., and vicinity wrote for us to visit that part. They did this with the idea that they would get us to move to that, Polk, county. We went and spent one week, but it did not suit us to move to that part. With the exception of that trip our labors were confined, for the first year and a half, to Barry, McDonald and Newton counties. For that time we received, by way of remuneration, about forty dollars. Through Bro. Murray, of Columbus, Kan., we were requested to visit southeastern Kansas and spend some time. On Saturday before the first Lord's day in October, I think it was, we started for Columbus, Kansas. Saturday night we stayed with an old brother by the name of Cole, near Pierce City, Mo. We worshiped with the brethren there Lord's day, and Monday evening we stopped at a farm house on Jenkins creek, Jasper Co., Mo. There was a congregation of disciples there, and the man we stopped with was one of the deacons. His name was Kinny. He had gone to Carthage that morning, and when he returned, some time after we stopped, a Bro. Smith, the other deacon of the congregation was with him. The forepart of the night was spent in
