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STARTLING INCIDENTS AND EXPERIENCES In The Christian Life
Narratives of the wonderful dealings of the Lord with those who put their trust in him and of their deliverance in time of adversity, trial, and temptation.
By E. E. Byrum
“Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them” Acts 15:12.
“They rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith” Acts14:27
ANDERSON, INDIANA, U. S. A. GOSPEL TRUMPET COMPANY 1915 _______________________ Audio download at bottom of each article
PREFACE
Not long ago a lawyer in one of our large cities was in serious trouble, and realizing that disaster awaited him unless he should be marvelously favored by providence. In his extreme perplexity, he wrote a letter asking whether or not God ever answers prayer for anything other than the healing of the body.
Sometime previously a banker who realized that his business would shortly go to the wall unless he could borrow a large sum of money, desired to know if God would hear prayer for a person in such a matter of finance.
There are thousands of others who meet with perplexing problems in life, and whose troubles and anxieties are increased and prolonged because they do not know their privilege of taking such things to the Lord in prayer and thereby being enabled to learn the will of God concerning the difficulties in which they are involved.
No apology is to be made for writing this book and recording the incidents and experiences found therein, as Elijah’s God is still the God of the universe. The same God to whom the apostles and those in the early days of Christianity prayed, hears and answers prayer now, and nothing can stand before the prayer of faith.
With few exceptions, the author is acquainted with the persons mentioned herein, and has a personal knowledge of the things related. No doubt some will question the truthfulness of some of the statements given in this volume, but the truth must not be withheld because of a few skeptics and unbelievers. Some doubted the words of our Savior and tried to disbelieve the miracles wrought by the apostles.
A few selections have been made from other publications. Several persons whose names are given have kindly contributed a narration of their experiences, and several incidents have been selected from former books written by the author, namely, “The Secret of Salvation: How to Get It and How to Keep it,” “Travels and Experiences in Other Lands,” etc. Also, poems have been selected from The Gospel Trumpet. But most of the incidents are from the writer’s own life.
It is the sincere desire and earnest prayer of the author that the narrations given in this volume will inspire every reader to a more profound belief in the God of heaven, and that each may become awakened to his privileges in Jesus Christ, and, through faith in him, may be enabled to reach deeper depths and greater heights in the love of God than ever before.
Anderson, Indiana, Jan. 14, 1915.
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CATCHING THE FISHERMAN
In many places along the Ohio River are to be seen small boats or shacks of fishermen who spend year after year fishing and hunting.
One afternoon in springtime a party of five per sons, of whom I happened to be one, decided to take two or three days’ vacation and spend the time in fishing along the Ohio River. Our equipment con sisted of a row-boat, a tent, and a necessary camping-and fishing-outfit.
After rowing down the stream a few miles, we stopped at what we considered a suitable place, and pitched our tent. As we were not very successful in fishing, later in the afternoon some of our party went further upstream to fish. During their absence I became ill, and, going a short distance from the riverside, I lay down upon a brush-heap.
After lying there for some time I heard groanings in the distance. My first thought was that some of our number had been hurt, and although I was quite ill, I concluded I was not so ill but that I could pray the prayer of faith for some one who might be in a worse condition. Therefore I arose and started in the direction from whence came the groanings. I had gone but a short distance when I saw a man drag ging a double-barreled shotgun with the locks set, so that the gun could be easily discharged..
He did not, however, happen to be one of our party, but was a fisherman about forty-five years of age, who was cursing, moaning, and groaning in such a manner as I had not heard in many days. He did not know that any one was near, and upon my approach he stopped. I inquired the cause of his trouble. With an oath he replied that he was suffering more than death and that he had decided to put an end to his miserable existence. Between his oaths he told me that he was suffering excruciating pain and that he had endured such from time to time for many years. Occasionally for days at a time he would have attacks of suffering that seemed almost beyond endurance. During these times he would become very irritable and would make life miserable not only for himself but for his wife and family. He had a good wife and two or three lovely children, but he said, “I intend to put an end to this life of torture.”
Then he showed me his gun, which he had so arranged that it could be easily discharged by a stick or brush while he was dragging it after him, and which he had placed against his body in such a position that, when discharged, it would’ put an end to his life. He said he hesitated to blow his brains out by pulling the trigger himself, as he did not wish to disgrace his family by killing himself in such a way that people would know that he had committed suicide; he wished it to appear that his death was accidental.
After talking to him for a few minutes, I told him that the Lord was able to deliver him out of all his troubles, and could not only take away his pain but give him peace in his soul. As I told him of others whom God had delivered out of serious trouble, he became interested and finally consented to have prayer in his behalf, although he still occasionally gave vent to his feelings with an oath.
I called the other brethren of our party, and when they learned of the situation, we knelt down and prayed that the Lord might have mercy upon him and also touch his body and remove the pains. Almost instantly he was relieved of his sufferings, and as we instructed him in the ways of salvation, conviction seized hold of him, and he himself began to call on God for pardon. Before we left him, he was rejoicing on account of the blessings of God upon his soul.
He made inquiry concerning our success in fishing, and said: “Come and go with me. I have a house boat a short distance up the river and have my lines set. You can have all the fish you can eat. My wife is a good cook, and you will not be in want so far as cooking your fish is concerned.” Furthermore, he was anxious to bear the good news of his salvation to his wife. He also told us that near his house-boat was an excellent place to pitch our tent.
We decided to move our outfit to the place he suggested, and he went home praising the Lord. Upon our arrival his wife, who realized the great change in her husband, was rejoiced to meet us. She hurriedly prepared supper for us while we pitched our tent near by.
After supper the fisherman, being desirous of learn ing all he could about the Bible and the Christian life, came and spent some time with us, and after a time his wife also came. As we were about ready to have our evening worship, she was invited to remain with us until after worship. As we read from the Bible, sang, prayed, and testified of the goodness of God, she also became convicted of her sins and began to call upon God for mercy. She soon received the witness of the pardon of her sins, and began shouting the praises of God at the top of her voice. It was almost like a little campmeeting.
The next morning we arose early to prepare to re turn home. Just about the break of day the fisher man and his wife came to us asking to be baptized, and straightway they went down into the water and were baptized. We went our way feeling that, while we had not been very successful in catching fish, we were well repaid by catching the fisherman.
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WIRELESS MESSAGES
The Marconi instrument sends its wireless message SOS over the sea. This message, which is popularly interpreted, “save, oh, save,” brings the intelligence to some one that the lives of others are in peril on some burning or sinking ship. The Lord also frequently sends his children a wireless message bear ing the news of the imminent calamity of impending danger of some one who is in need of a helping hand.
One evening a number of years ago, as I sat at my desk writing, a peculiar feeling came over me, which almost startled me. This feeling was followed by such a burden that immediately I had to cease writ ing. I did not know the cause of such feelings and such a burden. On account of my inexperience in such matters, it did not at first occur to me that the Lord was trying to bring to my understanding something of the peril of others. For a few minutes the burden increased, and at first I began to wonder if I had done anything to displease the Lord, and so I began to make inquiry of him to that end; but as nothing was revealed to me of any such displeasure, I then asked the Lord to make known to me the cause of my peculiar feelings and burden.
Immediately the impression came, as plain as if the words had been spoken audibly, that Brother D. S. Warner and his company of coworkers, who were then traveling in the gospel work in kansas and the adjoining States, were soon to be in peril. The impression upon my mind was so vivid that I went at once to the prayer-room and called upon the Lord very earnestly for their protection and deliverance from any impending danger. Immediately the bur den left me. Upon returning to my desk I wrote to Brother Warner, telling him of my peculiar experience.
A few days later a letter came from him stating that on that night, a few hours after l was so bur dened for them, they were traveling on a train in Kansas in a terrible wind-storm The coaches of the train swayed from side to side, and it seemed they would be blown from the track almost any moment. In the midst of the storm and the darkness, their train collided with a freight-train; and though their engine was seriously injured, yet their lives were spared.
He said that while I was a thousand miles away and forewarned of their danger, they were at that time unconcerned about their safety and had no knowledge of what was about to befall them a few hours later.
Such an instance reminds one of the message which Paul received at one time through a vision in the night. It was truly equal to the wireless message “save, oh, save,” as there stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” The message was so impressive and so unquestionably given by the Spirit of the Lord that Paul immediately arranged to go to Macedonia.
Upon his arrival he found that he was not mistaken in regard to the message.
The people there were very much in need of spiritual help. When he went out to the place “where prayer was wont to be made,” he found there people ready to yield themselves to the Lord as soon as they had heard him preach the gospel. It was while he was in Macedonia in answer to this call that he cast the spirit of divination out of the damsel - a demonstration of divine power which resulted in a great uproar among the people, and caused Paul and Silas to be beaten with many stripes, thrust into an inner prison, and made fast in the stocks.
Paul and Silas were so confident that the message they had received came from the throne of God that even all this ill treatment did not discourage them. As they remained in that uncomfortable position, with their feet fastened in such a manner that they were unable to move about, and their backs lacerated and bleeding, the glory of God rested upon them and they made the best of the situation. At the midnight hour they were praying and singing praises to God, so that the prisoners in the other wards heard them. Not only so, but the Lord also heard them and sent an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison, and all the doors of the prison were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. The things that happened at that midnight hour were the means of revealing to the jailor his condition and causing him to cry out, “What must I do to be saved?” Thus, a great work was wrought in Macedonia by Paul’s giving heed to that message.
Peter at one time received a similar message while he was on the housetop praying. This was also a SOS message to take a journey to the home of Cornelius, where there were people in great need of spiritual help. And obedience to that call was the beginning of Peter’s work among the Gentiles.
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THE POWER OF PRAYER
“Prayer is the simplest form of speech That infant lips can try, Prayer the sublimest strains that reach The majesty on high.
“Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, Returning from his ways, While angels in their songs rejoice, And cry, ‘Behold, he prays!’
“Nor prayer is made by man alone; The Holy Spirit pleads, And Jesus, on the eternal throne, For sinners intercedes,
“O Thou by whom we come to God, The life, the truth, the way! The path of prayer thyself hath trod; Lord, teach us how to pray.”
A LITTLE BOY’S A B C PRAYER
The following story is told of a little boy in one of the Eastern States who had been taught from his early childhood to make his requests known to the Lord.
One day while he was walking along the roadside, the wind blew his hat over the fence into an adjoining field. The fence was so high and difficult to climb that the little lad did not feel competent for the undertaking. After some hesitation he remembered his former religIous instruction and concluded that the best way to recover his hat was to take the matter to the Lord in prayer.
The fence being one of the old fashioned rail fences, he went into a corner of it and, kneeling down in a humble manner, began his petition to the Lord as follows, “A,b,c,d, e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,” etc. After completing the alphabet once, he began repeating it over again. A gentleman passing by heard him and, quietly coming up behind him, stood and listened. He was much interested to know why the boy should be in that posture so earnestly saying his A B C’s.
At length he said,’ “BOY, what are you doing?”
“Praying,” the boy replied.
“What are you praying about?”
“The wind blew my hat over this high fence into that field, and I can not climb the fence to get it.
My mother taught me always to pray and ask the Lord for whatever I needed and told me that he would answer prayer.”
“But you were not praying; you were only saying your AB C’s.
“The Lord knows how to put them together to make a prayer,” the boy replied.
The gentleman was so touched at the boy’s sincerity that he climbed the fence and got the hat for the little lad, who said, “There, didn’t I tell you the Lord would answer prayer?”
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A TUMULTUOUS RABBLE AMONG THE AFGHANS
A few years ago a company of gospel workers in northwestern India desired to hold an afternoon street service on Sunday. We made an application to the city officials for permission to hold the service. The officials refused to grant us this favor, stating that it was so near the border of Afghanistan that the Afghans were liable to give serious trouble and then flee across the border, and that the English Government had no way of punishing such intruders. They told us that we could hold meetings in some building and that they would see that we were not disturbed; but we insisted on having a meeting on the outside, if possible, telling the officials that it was impossible to get the people to come inside a building to attend our services. The officers finally told us that if we held a meeting on the outside we should do so at our own risk and at the risk of our lives; that no matter what happened they would not interfere; and that only under those conditions would they give their consent, thinking that we would not assume such a risk. We thanked them for the privilege and selected a location under a tree near the street. A brother told us that two years before this time, while the editor of The Vanguard was conversing with an English colonel not far from the place,, “one of the Afghans came up and shot the Englishman, killing him instantly, and then waved his gun in the air saying, “I am sure of heaven now.”
In religion these Afghans are Mohammedans, of the schism called Sunnites. One peculiar feature of their belief is that if they have killed a Christian they have performed an act which gives them an as surance of heaven. They consider even one to be a Christian who wears American or European clothes. A man may be a home thief, yet should he fall into the hands of these Afghans, he would suffer as a Christian because of his style of dress or nationality.
As we were making preparations to begin a song-service, the people from the streets began to gather around us. A few rods away were a few Afghans, who were evidently preparing for a raid upon us. One of them, whom we suspected to be their leader, was a rough, burly-looking fellow.’’ No sooner had our services commenced than these men began beating on something with sticks and crying out at the top of their voices to make a disturbance.
After the song service and prayer, our interpreter made a few remarks, but the sound of his voice was almost drowned by the noise of these enemies. At the close of his introductory remarks, I began speak ing to the audience and he interpreting. By this time a large crowd had assembled. As they were standing in a semicircle, I turned my face in the opposite direction from the Afghans, facing the people to my left, and thus apparently ignored the attempted disturbance. All the Afghans began talking very loud in the language of Afghanistan, but I pitched my voice higher, and as they continued to in crease their noise, I increased my volume of voice, for the interpreter would speak only in the same manner in which I spoke.
Our thus ignoring them seemed to anger them, and they moved around to the left of the crowd and began their noise, whereupon I instantly turned to those on my right as if I had not noticed the disturbers. Then they disappeared, but in a few minutes they returned accompanied by another gang of Afghans. By this time Brother Khan was speaking, and as they commenced their noise again with increased power, Brother Khan, with a motion of his hand, requested them to keep quiet. What they desired to accomplish was to attract our attention and hinder us from preaching the gospel. Brother Khan then turned to those who were standing on the other side, and the disturbers became very angry and withdrew to a tree a short distance away for consultation. After some time had elapsed, during which they were earnestly engaged in counsel with considerable demonstration, they sprang to their feet as if they had reached a decision for action. Immediately they started towards us. I was standing half way between the minister and the front row of the assembled audience, which was only a distance of five or six feet. They came forward almost like warriors making a bayonet charge, and as they reached the outer edge of the Crowd they roughly pushed them aside, making their way toward us in a ferocious manner.
What would happen next we had not the least idea. The minister was facing the crowd on the other side and did not notice their approach. We felt that the Lord had led us there to deliver the gospel message to a people who would not enter a buildIng to hear it, and many of whom perhaps had never heard a gospel message before. Believing that we had acted by divine guidance, we were confident that the Lord would overrule everything to his glory; that if he permitted them to injure us or even take our lives, our service that afternoon would not be in vain, but in some way would result in the furtherance of the Gospel.
As I stood with my arms folded calmly waiting for what seemed the inevitable, I breathed a prayer for protection and asked the Lord to give us wisdom to know what to do under the circumstances. We had nothing with which to defend ourselves.
By this time they had almost made their way through the crowd; the leader was just back of the front ranks of the crowd and was still coming for ward. He had in his hand a small open book, which he grasped tightly as he made violent gesticulations, backed by his passion for the blood of Christians. There was no time for meditation to consider what course was best to pursue; immediate action was necessary. As the leader thus thrust his book over the shoulders of the man standing nearest me and cried out something in Arabic at the top of his voice, I reached out, seized the book, and jerked it from his hand. Immediately he stopped and the entire mob became quiet. As I took the book in my hand I saw at a glance that it was printed in Arabic, and I was unable to read a word from its pages. However, I opened the book and turned a few pages as if familiar with it, not knowing the wisdom that I was manifesting, although I saw that they were much surprised at my action and that it caused them to be quiet.
After going over a page or two as if reading, I looked towards the speaker as if much interested. As soon as I observed a slight motion or tendency of the mob to cause further disturbance, I would turn a few leaves of the book and repeat the same performance as before, and then I would turn my attention to the minister again. In this way I kept them quiet for some time.
Suddenly they all turned face about and walked hurriedly toward the tree again. Some of them went to another street and came back with others who joined their bloodthirsty gang. For some time they continued in consultation, and then they started to wards us with increased ferocity. This time, in his fury, the leader thrust forward his clenched fist as he reached the same spot where I took the book from him. At that instant I thrust the book toward him, and as he seized it they all turned immediately and went back to their consultation tree, where they were still in counsel when our services closed, and we left without further disturbance.
Just why my taking that book from his hand and pretending to read it should have such an effect I did not know, but I had asked the Lord for wisdom and protection. It was several years after that time be fore I fully understood the peculiar effect of my actions on that occasion. About six years later a missionary from that district came to my home and re lated some experiences among the Afghans. When I told him of our experience while there, he asked, “Do you know what kept them from injuring you at that time?” I replied that I knew nothing more than it was the protecting power of God. The mis sioniry replied: “That book which you took from the hand of the leader of that mob was a Koran, or, in other words, their Bible; and according to their custom, if a traveler possesses a copy of the Koran and can read it, they are bound to entertain him as a friend and protect him, although he may be a Christian and one whom they would do almost anything to get to kill; but if he does not have the Koran or can not read it, then he must have a care for his life. You never knew half the wisdom you exhibited. Your taking that book was what saved your lives.”
The Spirit of the Lord had directed us, and we are reminded of the scripture which says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him,” and of the Psalmist’s words, “He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.”
PRAY!
BY MARY J. HELPHINGSTINE
Pray! Men of old have prayed And wept in bitter tears; By prayer were armies routed, To life was added years.
Pray! Prophets prayed. On Carmel God sent the fire and rain; Four hundred of the men of Baal Were by the prophet slain.
Pray! Jesus prayed. At nightfall The throng he sent away, Then went into the mountain And prayed till break of day.
Pray! When these sad disciples Lay sleeping for their grief, Behold him in the Garden— He prays till comes relief.
Pray! Early Christians prayed and wept; Nor was there praying vain; From Peter’s hand in prison, The angel broke the chain.
Pray! Men at whose flaming presence Hell’s darkness fled away, Were men who feared Jehovah, Were men who dared to pray.
Pray, then, O Christian soldier, Nor heed the din of strife. Pray! Fierce the battle wages! On prayer depends thy life!
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RECEIVED HELP IN TIME OF NEED
A minister who had become involved in debt had given his note to cover the indebtedness. This note would soon become due, and he knew of no way by which he would be able to make the payment. It became quite a burden to him and a source of considerable uneasiness.
One day during a series of meetings he decided to take the matter more earnestly to the Lord in prayer between the morning service and the service to be held in the afternoon, as the time had come that something must be done in order to satisfy the demand.
In relating the circumstance to me afterward, he said that he and his son walked silently to a field of corn. As they entered the field, one of them went in one direction and the other in another direction, so that they could be alone in fervent prayer. After the father had spent some time in earnest prayer, tell ing the Lord all about the circumstances and implor ing his help in this time of need, he received an as surance that all would be well, and he arose to his feet feeling that the Lord would make a way for him to adjust matters satisfactorily.
When he came to the other side of the field, he met his son, who said to him, “Father, I believe that you will receive the money in time to make the payment.”
“Why do you think so, my son?” the father re plied.
“Because while in prayer I received such an as surance that all was well and that the Lord would open the way before us.”
Then the father told his own experience in prayer. The two went from their place of prayer confident that the Lord had heard and answered their petitions.
When they came to the place of meeting, where the people were assembled for the next service, a lady came to the minister and said, “I have felt impressed to let you have a certain amount of money, and I can lend it to you if you need it.” It happened to be exactly the amount for which the minister and his son had been praying. She said, “You may give: me a note for this amount, payable in six months.” The minister thanked the lady and took the money and paid his indebtedness in full.
Just before the expiration of the six months for which the last note had been given, the lady called on him and said, “At the time that I was led to let you have that money, the Lord impressed me to give it to you as a donation, but as my friends were very much opposed to my making a donation for that purpose, I lent you the money and took your note. I have canceled it, and now present to you the canceled note.”
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DEBT PAID IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
Not long since a brother that was giving his time to evangelistic work without salary, had an obligation of $91.30. During a camp-meeting in Indiana he was very much burdened over the payment of this debt, winch was about due and had to be paid without fail. He had $1.30, but did not know from what source the $90 could be obtained in so short a time. He wrote to his wife to sell their cow. He had been praying without any special evidence that the money would be raised otherwise.
One night after he had preached an earnest dis course, a well dressed lady accosted him as he was about to leave the auditorium, and after making a few remarks concerning the sermon, handed him some thing wrapped in a handkerchief. He thanked her for the gift, knowing nothing of what the handkerchief contained.
After retiring to his room for the night he took the handkerchief from his pocket and opened it, and there was a beautiful brooch. He knew nothing of its value and perhaps would have taken fifty cents for it had any one offered him that amount. The next day he gave it to a young brother and asked him to take it to a jeweler and sell it if possible, and, if he got anything for it, to forward the money to him, as he was leaving for another place.
In a few, days this young brother wrote him: “I have sold the brooch. Encloled find $5, and the other $85 will be sent to you by draft, as I received $90 for it.”
The evangelist immediately informed his wife not to sell the cow, as he had the full amount with which to pay the debt. God knew the amount of money the brother needed, and in answer to prayer He im pressed this woman to give the brooch.
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DELIVERED FROM A SINKING SHIP
BY S. O. SUSAG
For the glory of God I desire to relate some incidents connected with my trip to Scandinavia in the years 1904 to 1905. While I was engaged in evangelistic work in the State of North Dakota in the fall of 1904, the brethren in New York wrote to me about making them a visit. After praying earnestly for the Lord to make known his will in the matter, I decided to go, and felt that if I went to New York I also ought to make a trip across the Atlantic to Norway to see my parents and relatives, whom I had not seen for twenty-four years.
In the latter part of November it was made very clear to me by the Holy Spirit that I should go, and about the middle of December, I left my home for New York City. On the 24th of December my wife took so seriously ill that she was not expected to live. She had faith that the Lord would raise her up, but the children were much distressed, fearing that their mother was going to die, and knowing their father was on his way to a foreign land, not intending to return for several months. They begged to have a telegram sent to me asking me to return. Finally, about two o’clock in the night, when she was getting very low and the children would not be comforted in any other way, she consented to have a telegram sent to New York in care of one of the brethren who was living there at that time. But knowing as she did that it was God’s will for me to go to Norway, and knowing also that if I returned so soon, I could not go if she should recover, she prayed earnestly that the Lord would in some way hinder me from getting the telegram, which he did. God heard her prayer and also healed her.
After stopping with the church in New York for some time, I went to Boston and thence on the 20th of January, 1905, sailed on the steamship Saxonia of the Cunard line for Liverpool, England. Every thing went well, and I wondered how it could be otherwise, inasmuch as my family and many other people of God were sending up earnest prayers for my safe journey. My wife had asked the Lord to keep the ship on which I was sailing, on top of the waves because one of his children had embarked.
My journey from Liverpool to Hull was by rail-road, but at the latter place I embarked on the steam-ship Tasso of the Wilson Line, bound for Trondhjem Norway. Everything went well until we were nearing the Western coast of Norway. We were to make our first stop at Stavanger, but the weather was so stormy as we neared the coast that evening that we did not dare to sail in the dark, and consequently we anchored out in the North Sea for the night.
While the ship tossed up and down and back and forth through the night, I dreamed that our ship had stranded. I could hear the screeching when it struck the rocks and could see a large stone on the right-hand side of the ship scraping against the side and preventing it from tipping, and a small stone steadying it on the left side. Finally the ship was turned to the left into deep water again, and in a little while we landed at our destination. In the morning I told my dream at the breakfast table, and said, “We may have ad accident before we get through.” The people laughed at me and said, “You seem to be quite a dreamer,” and asked if’ I believed in dreams. “They thought there was no danger, for the reason that the ship was so large. “Well,” said I, “it is very stormy weather, and the sea is full of rocks along the coast, so we do not know what may happen.”
That day we landed safely in Stavanger and thence went to our next stop, Bergen. Everything went smooth from Bergen to Aalesund, which was our next stop. Then we encountered some of the roughest sailing I have ever experienced. We were unable to land that night at the dock, but had to spend the night in the open sea. The next morning we were able to land at the dock. Thence we went to Christiansund, which was our last stop before our final destination. It was a good harbor, between the high mountains, and we were ready to leave there at eight o’clock P. M, but as the storm was still raging out in the sea, the captain decided to remain in the harbor until twelve o‘clock; then we should land at our next place at eighty o’clock in the morning.
At twelve o’clock we left the harbor. The storm was still raging, and a heavy snow was falling. At 1:15 I felt a shock and heard the same screeching noise that I had heard in my dream, and I knew at once what had happened. Immediately the steward came running through the ship and calling out: “Everybody up. Take nothing along. We are sink ing.” Quicker than I can tell you, the passengers were all on deck, some throwing away their tobacco, some leaving behind empty whiskey bottles. I got up, dressed, and took my Bible and read a little, then knelt down and had prayer. The steward came back and said, “Aren’t you in a hurry?” I said, “No, the Bible says, ‘He that believeth shall not make haste.’” He looked at me and went on.
On deck the snow-storm was whistling wildly through the tackling of the ship, and the seamen were working with all their might to lower the life boats. Others were running to and fro; some women were crying aloud; while the water was pouring into the sides of the ship. The pumps were working to their full capacity throwing out the water. It was indeed, a sad sight.
As a seaman was running by, I asked him to direct me to the pilot. He looked at me and answered in a harsh voice, “What do you want with the pilot?” and went his way. A little farther on I met another seaman and asked him the same question. He said, “the pilots are both over there with the captain,” pointing to three men who were standing a short distance away. I walked over to where they were standing and conversing with each other, and told them that I was looking for the pilot. One gray-haired, long-bearded man said, “We two,” and pointed to another of the same type as himself.
Then I said, “We are off the rock now, are we not?”
“Yea,” he replied.
“Did you turn to the left when you turned off the rock?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered.
“If that is the case, we need not go into the life boats,” I replied.
The captain looked at me and said, “Do you know anything about navigation, man?” pointing to the water that was being pumped out of the ship.
An English lady striding by crying, said, “Oh! now I shall never see my son in England any more.”
I said, “Yes, mother, be quiet; you will see your son yet” I believe this ship will land us safely in Trondhjem.”
Then I told my dream to the captain and those standing by, and when I finished speaking, I saw the tears running down the weather beaten cheeks of the pilots, and one of them said to the captain. This man may be more right than we, because as long as this ship can hold up, we are safe; but if we go into the boats in this fearful weather and dark night, we shall soon be dashed to pieces against the rocks.”
Then the pilot said to me: “Our ship struck twenty eight feet in the water, and the rock we struck was only twelve feet under the water; so; you see, it is a miracle that our ship is not in two and one end on each side of the rock. Had that happened, no one would ever have known what became of us, because we are now in fifty-three fathoms of water.” He went on to say that we were going only at half speed, and that he thought that helped some. Orders were then given not to lower the life-boats, but they hung ready a few feet from the sea.
During the conversation the first mate, a fine, tall Englishman, came and listened. When we ceased talking, he said to me, “Will you kindly go with me to the front of the ship and see if you can discern any lights?”
I said, “Sir, I do not understand anything about navigation.”
He still insisted that I should go with him. As we came to the front of the vessel, I saw three lights, but he could not see them. So he said to me, “You watch for them, and I will go after the captain.” They both came running and the captain could not see the lights.
Turning to me, he said, “You must be mistaken.”
“No sir,” I replied, “I can see them now.”
He then asked me the color of the lights. After I had given him a description of the lights, he saw them himself and exclaimed, “They are steamers! Where are we?” Later I saw some other colored lights.
We remained there in the storm until about 6:15 A. M. and then moved out into the bay at full speed. The pumps were in full operation, but our ship was tilting backward more and more, as if it were going to stand on one end. We landed in Trondhjem at 12:30, noon, and all reached the shore with our hand satchels. In a little while the pump stopped, as the ship was filled with water, and it sank in the harbor.
I saw an account of the wreck in a Norwegian paper after the ship had been raised and placed on a dry dock. The paper stated that the cargo was almost a total loss and that the damage to the ship was about $10,000; that nearly every plate from midship and to stern was torn loose, just as I had seen in my dream, and that it was a wonder or a miracle that the ship did not sink sooner.
The Lord verified his promise by hearing the prayers of his people to protect me and bring me safely to my destination. The blessings of salvation never seemed more real to me than at that time, as I was enabled to be calm and quiet through all the peril, having a sweet assurance that the mighty arm of God was upholding me and protecting not only me but those who were traveling with me. He hears and answers prayer. Those who trust and believe in him, he often saves from death and destruction. I
Homeward Bound
My return home was just as eventful as my journey to Norway. For some time I had been praying earnestly for the Lord to direct me in getting the right ship across the ocean, as I was to sail during the stormy season of the spring.
On the 20th of March, 1905, I left the home of my father in Norway with the intention of sailing the next morning on an English boat bound for Hull, England, in order to reach the fastest boat on the Cunard Line bound from Liverpool to New York, as I thought that would be the best vessel to take.
Soon after leaving my father’s home, I stopped at a little seaport called Levanger to visit a relative of mine for a few hours, expecting to leave on the evening train, but my relative persuaded me to stay and take the early morning train. He said I had ample time to reach my boat in Trondhjem; but when our train entered the station the next morning, the ship upon which I intended to sail was just leaving the harbor. I did not understand what this meant, but remembered the scripture which says that everything works together for good to them that love God. Had my plans of reaching the fast steamer from Liverpool to New York carried, and had the ship sailed on schedule time, I should have been in New York in ten days.
Now I had to make the best of the situation. I decided to embark on the steamship United State, of the Scandinavian-American line from Christiana, which was due in New York just one week later than the other ship, and which, if run on schedule time, generally arrived at New York in nine days after leaving Christians. We sailed from Christians on time; but after being out in the sea for a day we found to our surprise and to the dissatisfaction of many of the passengers that instead of going direct to New York we had to go to the Azores to pick up some passengers from another ship of the same line, as a shaft of that ship had been broken in a storm in the Atlantic Ocean and the ship had drifted to those islands. This made a very long, round-about voyage.
With the exception of about two days of storm, the weather was good, but the waves rolled exceedingly high everyday. By this we knew that farther north in the ocean a terrible storm was raging. Finally, after fifteen days’ rough sailing, we found ourselves just outside New York in the midst of a heavy fog, such as I, had never before witnessed. The whistles and the fog-horns of the ship kept blowing and the bells ringing as we slowly proceeded in the afternoon, but finally we had to anchor, as a pilot from the shore entered our ship and forbade us to go any farther. He said the sea was full of anchored ships on account of the fog, which had been there for abut three days. He said we could not move until the wind changed and drove the fog away. I felt quite satisfied, although, like many others, I had been very seasick while on the voyage.
Early the next morning I went on deck. There was so much unrest and grumbling among the passengers that it was quite unpleasant for me to stay on the ship any longer. The fog, however, seemed to be thicker than ever. It was so dense that a person could not See beyond his outstretched arm.
I went to my room and there, while lying across the bed, prayed earnestly to God to take away the fog. Then I went up on deck and looked, but the fog seemed to be still worse. I went down and prayed the second time, but upon my return the fog appeared to be thicker than ever. The third time I went and prayed. While I was praying, a voice said to me, “Change your clothes.” I knew what it meant; the Lord had heard my prayer. I arose and put on my best suit of clothes, for I expected soon to be in New York, and went to the breakfast-table.
The people were complaining on account of their having to stay so long on the ship. I said, “Before we have finished breakfast, we shall be on our way into the harbor.” Some asked who had said so. I answered, “I have been praying to God, and he has assured me that such will be the case.” They laughed in a loud voice at me and made light of my remarks; but while we were yet eating, we heard something rattle, and some one asked, “What is that?” I said, “I suppose they are raising the anchor.” A number sprang from their seats and looked through the port holes, and, behold, the fog was gone and we were on our way to the port. Then one man, I do not know who he was, arose and said, “In a case like this it pays to pray to the Lord.”
After that there was no more laughing and scorn ing. Thank God! he stood by me and showed himself mighty in answering my prayer and in lifting the fog to the astonishment of my fellow travelers. Our ship was the first one to pass into the port, although some had been waiting there for three days for a chance to reach New York.
After landing I learned that the Cunard liner upon which I had intended to sail from Liverpool had not yet arrived. It did not arrive until the next day. According to reports, it had the worst voyage that any ship of that company had experienced for forty six years, and a number of passengers were hurt by being thrown about by the rolling and tossing of the ship. A young man who came across the ocean on that ship informed me that some who were sick had to be tied to their beds.
After learning these things I perceived that the Lord had answered prayer in a wonderful way. He had hindered me from embarking on that ship and had thus spared me much unnecessary suffering. Thanks be to his precious and matchless name! It is safe to put our whole trust in God, because he knows how to protect and shield us from harm and danger. It is my prayer that the relating of these incidents of the Lord’s dealings with me may prove a blessing and inspiration to others, and enable them to more fully put their whole trust in the Lord in time of difficulty and distress. He will surely hear and answer prayer when we call upon him in a simple childlike manner.
THE PRAYER OF FAITH
“Prayers of faith, that reach the portals, Come from hearts that yearn, desire; Hearts that will not be unanswered; Hearts aglow with heavenly fire;
“Hearts that pray, not mere words utter; Hearts not fainting, doubting, weak; Hearts that know that God hath promised, And his face expectant seek.
“Such are prayers that reach the heavens; To these, God is always near: ‘Ere they call’ he sends the answer, ‘While they’re speaking’ he doth hear.
“Many prayers seem left unanswered, For the Father knoweth best. Fear not, soul, but calmly trusting, On his bosom sweetly rest.
“Some day thou shalt know the answer; And the pain delay hath given Shall be recompensed with glory In this life or up in heaven.”
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“GO TO BAY VIEW, MICHIGAN”
One of the most striking messages from the Lord that it has ever been my privilege to receive was one that I received a number of years ago while I was on my way from Grand Junction to East Jordan, Michigan, to help conduct a grove meeting for three days. After reaching Grand Rapids, the train was delayed for several hours on account of a strike in Chicago, which implicated the Chicago and West Michigan Railroad, over which I was traveling and the name of which is now Pere Marquette.
While thus delayed, I was walking along the street about mid-day, and as clear as any voice could have spoken it, this message came to me: “Go to Bay View, Michigan.” While it was not an audible voice, yet it was so plain there could be no mistake concern ing the message. I felt at once that it was a message from the Lord, but knew of no reason why I should go to Bay View, as it was perhaps two or three hundred miles from the place where I was at that time, and quite a distance from the place of the meeting. As I hesitated and pondered over the matter, the same words were repeated” Go to Bay View, Michigan.” And the same message came the third time. So positive was I that it was from the Lord that I told the Lord I would do so if he directed and opened the way for me to go.
I had never been at Bay View, and why I should go at that time was a query in my mind. The only per son I knew who was living there was Sister Josephine Courtney, and she frequently traveled in gospel work, and I had no means of knowing whether she was at home at that time. I tried to call to mind some other reason for my going and remembered that there was a large Methodist conference in session at that place, and that Bishop Foster was to be present.
Some time previously we had published in a tract a quotation from Bishop Foster’s writings, and some people questioned the veracity of the quotation. We had written to the Bishop concerning the matter, but had received no reply. I had almost decided that it was for the purpose of meeting the bishop that I was being directed to that place; but after earnest prayer, that reason for my trip seemed to have but little weight.
Upon my arrival at the place where the grove-meet ing was to be held, I told the brethren about my peculiar leadings to go to Bay View. One of the ministers said: “I wish you could go, as that is the home of Sister Courtney, and she is at home at the present time, I think, and your visit would be a great encouragement to her.”
After the meeting closed, I went to Bay View, arriving at the depot about 10 A. M. I made inquiry for the Courtney residence, and learned that their home was at the opposite side of the town. The object of my visit was still a mystery to me. I well remember that, as I was walking along the street knowing nothing about the situation of affairs at their home, I communed with the Lord with much earnest ness. While I was thus communing with him, a vivid impression came to my mind that perhaps some one was sick or in deep trial and needed help and encour agement. I seemed almost to forget my surround ings along the quiet street, and almost inadvertently stretched forth my arm and said in an audible voice, “O Lord! stretch forth thy hand to heal.” There was no one near to hear me, but it did truly seem that I was in the presence of the Lord, and I went on feeling that His Spirit was directing, and that I should soon know the meaning of the message.
A few minutes later I neared the house and saw Sister Courtney standing in the doorway. As I approached her I said, “Sister Courtney, I am here, but I do not know for what purpose I have come.” “The Lord has sent you here,” she replied. After hearing of my peculiar leadings, she began praising God aloud and said: “Surely the Lord has sent you. My sister Emma has been very sick for some time and nigh unto death. Her sickness has been so serious that we have despaired of her life, and, knowing that unless she received help soon, death would overtake her, we have talked the matter over concerning her funeral and burial.”
For some time after entering the house we continued our conversation, until I had the details of her sickness and the situation of affairs in general. Sister Emma had been very devoted, and she was consecrated to God. It seems that they had been un able to exercise faith for her recovery, for they were in doubt as to whether it was the will of God to raise her up. One of them made a request that I should definitely find out the will of God concerning her re covery. Whereupon I retired alone to another room to pray, and at the same time Sister Courtney went alone to another part of the house. After a few minutes’ fervent prayer, we came into the room where Sister Emma was lying, both feeling confident that the Lord would honor our faith in her behalf. Just as I entered the room, the following words seemed very impressive upon my mind: “These signs shall follow them that believe,” and I repeated them aloud. There was no longer any question in our mind in regard to her healing.
The instruction given in James 5:14, 15 was obeyed, which says: “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church: and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him,” After anointing her with oil in accordance with this scripture, we laid our hands upon her (Mark 16:18) and asked God to send his healing power. Immediately healing virtue went through her body, and she arose from her bed, threw up her hands, and with much joy walked back and forth across the room praising God for his healing power. Health and strength were immediately given her; her sickness had departed. The room seemed to be filled with the power of God, and his glory not only pervaded the room, but filled our souls to over flowing.
Sister Courtney had been afflicted with chronic stomach-trouble for eighteen years, and she requested that prayer be offered in her behalf; and as we complied with her request, God sent his healing power and delivered her from her affliction. Truly it was a time of great rejoicing in that home.
After I had taken supper with the family, it seemed my mission to Bay View had been fulfilled, and I returned on the evening train to my home, a distance of over three hundred miles.
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FINANCIAL EXPERIENCES IN TRAVEL
In the year 1909 Brother A. D. Khan and I had planned to take a missionary trip through Central America and the West Indies, as the publishing work de manded that we have a better knowledge of the commercial laws and customs of these places. It was also our desire and intention to find new openings for mission work and the distribution of religious literature. One day my son Arlo, then a lad of fourteen years, came to me and said:
“I hear that you are intending to take a trip to Central America; I should like to go with you.”
“I should be very much pleased to take you,” I replied, “but I have no money to pay your expenses, and you have none.”
It was evident that we should have to endure many hardships, and that we should encounter many un pleasant things in the tropics, where fevers and the bubonic plague abound. There would be ten voyages by sea, and considerable travel in the interior by land, where we might have to go at the risk of our lives, and we should not want with us any one who could not pray the prayer of faith. Our object was the furtherance of the gospel, and not a pleasure trip for the purpose of seeing the country. These things were pointed out to Arlo, but he felt that he was conse crated to meet whatever might befall us along the way.
He was urged to take the matter earnestly to the Lord in prayer and thus find out definitely whether or not the Lord would have him accompany us, if so, then to pray for the necessary money. I pledged him my earnest agreement in the matter according to Matthew 18:19, and then we separated. Each of us went to the Lord in fervent prayer, not knowing how the money for his expenses would be provided.
Two or three days later an old friend came to me and said: “I understand that you are going to take a missionary trip and that Arlo desires to go with you. If acceptable, I should like to pay his expenses for the trip. About what amount will be required?”
“As near as we can estimate,” I replied, “the ten voyages, and his board and other expenses for three months, if he exercises close economy, will require about four hundred dollars.” My friend seemed to be very much pleased, feeling that the Lord was di recting him in the matter. In a few days he came again and handed me a check for two hundred dollars, saying that a bank draft for the remainder would be sent by mail in the near future.
The full amount was received in due time and transferred into travelers’ cheques, which could be cashed whenever needed. Soon after leaving the United States, we decided to give one-tenth of the amount we had received, for charitable purposes along the way. There was no lack of opportunities for a distribution of means in liberalities of that nature. Many places were found where the promised bless ings accompanied the giving.
Upon leaving Guatemala we were to go by ship on the Pacific Ocean to Panama. In planning the trip we had estimated the fare for this voyage to be $25. The agent at the city ticket office informed us that the fare was $75 gold for each person. This would add to our total expenses $50 each more than we had estimated. We applied for missionary rates, but the agent told us to apply to the purser on the ship.
The ship set sail about dark. The fare was not collected until we were well out at sea; then every one was summoned to the purser’s office to make settlement for the voyage. When it came our turn to make payment, the purser said, “Seventy-five dollars gold each, sir.” Then we presented our applications for missionary rates. We hastily glanced at them and replied, “You should have attended to this on shore, sir.” He spoke in an independent, business like manner. After we had told him that the city ticket agent had told us to make application on the ship, he said he did not think he had any authority to grant rates under the circumstances, and began looking in a book for instructions.
We had previously prayed that the Lord would move upon his heart and grant us favor in his sight, and we were believing and trusting that he would favor us. As many others were waiting to make settlement, we smilingly requested him to wait on them first, adding that we would pay whatever was required, and that he could take all the time necessary to find his instructions later. This seemed to please him, and he kindly thanked us, and, calling a steward, told him to take us to our cabin.
Soon after reaching our cabin we had our evening worship and offered a special petition that the purser might be moved to grant rates for all three of us, although our application to him was only for rates for two. About nine o’clock he came and knocked at our door and said, “It is all right about the rates, call at the office in the morning at your leisure for settlement.”
At his office the next morning the purser very courteously gave us three tickets with a discount of 25 per cent marked on each of them. Altogether, the discounts amounted to $56.25. It seemed that the Lord had already begun to repay us for the decision previously made to give one-tenth of our money for charitable purposes, although up to this time only a small portion of it had been spent.
It may seem strange to some that such a small affair should receive so much attention; but to us it was quite a weighty matter, as we were only beginning our long tour, and were in a foreign land among a strange people, and our expenses were running considerable above our original estimation, so that it would require the strictest economy to meet the demands. So it may not seem so strange that upon leaving the ticket office we retired to our cabin and had a prase servce.
We had many interesting experiences along the way aside from those on financial lines. Not long after we embarked, the doctor told us that he in tended to vaccinate everybody on the ship. Most of the ports were quarantined against the bubonic plague, and for this reason a sharp surveillance was observed. This gave us another occasion for prayer and trusting the Lord for deliverance, as we did not care to undergo the effects of vaccination while travel ing in that tropical country. So we petitioned the Lord to enable us to escape that ordeal. The steerage passengers had to take their turn in the operation.
When our ship anchored at Panama, some more doctors came aboard, and all the first-class passengers were called into the dining room for examination. A roll was called, and those who had not been recently vaccinated, or who could not show a satisfactory scar on their arm, were sent to another room to undergo the operation. One after another the passengers had to answer certain questions and bare their arms until there was only one person left besides us. As the man just before us responded to his name, he was told to remove his coat, and after examination was told to retire to the other room for vaccination the same as those before him had done. The time had now come for a final test of our faith, as we had gone into our room for an agreement of prayer regarding the matter just a few minutes before roll call. As this man was ordered into the other room, Arlo looked across the table at me and smiled, as he had never been vaccinated. Brother Khan had been vaccinated before, and I had been vaccinated when but a child. Next my name was called, and I was asked the same questions that the others had been asked, and was told to pass on through. Arlo and Brother Khan followed in like manner and were told to pass on. Not a word was said to us about vaccination, and we were not required to remove our coats or bare our arms. We were there made to realize a fulfilment of the promise, Matthew 18:19, where Jesus says, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” The next man, who was the last one on the roll call, did not fare so well, but met with the same fate as the others. After being questioned, he was told to remove his coat, was examined, and ordered into the other room for vaccination.
While in Trinidad, British West Indies, which was our farthest point from home, we had another occasion for prayer concerning finances. While there we could calculate very nearly the amount of money re quired to take us home, and by so doing we found that we should have scarcely enough to land us in the United States in case we paid out the remainder of the tenth we had promised. The suggestion came to our minds that, as we were now so far from home and likely to have insufficient money for our expenses, it would perhaps be better for us to retain the amount mentioned; but like a flash came the words from the good old Book, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17); and also these: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). It was no longer an unsettled question. We had a number of opportunities to help poor brethren and others who were in need, and we also sent some to help rebuild a missionary home that had burned, and gave the remainder to be used for the furtherance of the gospel on the island.
Matters began to change to our favor almost im mediately. As the second class accommodations on the ships leaving there homeward bound were almost as good as the first class, we very much desired to pro cure second class passage, but we had been informed that no second class tickets had been sold for several weeks on account of the strict quarantine regulations. Now, however, we felt like making another effort, as we were to leave in a few days, and in the mean time we were going to another part of the Wand. We were to return Monday morning, and the ship was to sail Monday evening. First class fare to Jamaica was $45; second class, $27. When we called at the ticket office on Saturday morning, the agent told us to call on Monday and said he would then sell us second class tickets, as the quarantine would be lifted. But on Monday the agent told us that he could sell no more second class tickets, as the baggage for second class passengers had all been sent to the fumigation hospital, which was located about three quarters of a mile from the shore, and that we were too late, and that the only thing he could do was to sell us first class tickets. He said he had tried to get into communication with us, but could not do so.
For a time it seemed that our arrangements would be thwarted, after all, as the agent repeatedly and positively refused to change his mind in regard to the matter. After thinking the matter over among ourselves and again silently agreeing in prayer, we asked the agent if he could sell us the tickets if we delivered our baggage and had it fumigated. At first he was not inclined to do so, but finally told us that, if we delivered our baggage and within an hour brought him a certificate stating that it had been fumigated, he would sell us second class tickets. Our baggage was at our rooms more than a mile distant, and it was a very hot day. We lost no time, however, in getting a cab and in getting the baggage to the water’s edge, where there were a number of boatmen eager to row us to the hospital. Our oarsman was engaged to take Brother Khan and me with the baggage to the hospital and return with us to the shore for a shilling.
After arriving at the hospital it was some time before we could procure a certificate of fumigation. When we stepped into the boat to return to the shore, we found that we had barely time to reach the ticket office within the limit of the hour. Now we encount ered another difficulty - a very common experience when dealing with that class. Our oarsman, knowing that our time was limited, thought to take advantage of the occasion to get some more money. When half way to the shore, he loosened his oars and was on the point of stopping when he said, “Mister, do you know how much you owe me?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, “I know how much I owe you. Please lose no time in getting to the shore.”
“It is two shillings, sir,” he replied.
“I engaged you, and intend to pay you accordingly when I reach the shore.”
He still hesitated, but I told him that unless he went forward immediately I would not pay him. We soon reached the shore, and Brother Khan started immediately for the ticket office, while I remained to settle with the boatman. When I handed him a shilling, he began to cry out, “Two shillings! Two shillings!” I had already decided I would give him an extra sixpence for his faithfulness, and as I did so I told him that was all we would pay him, as it was already a sixpence more than he had asked when we engaged him. He then got two or three others and started after Brother Khan, who was then half a block away and was hastening toward the ticket office. They ran after him crying out, “Police! Police!” while a crowd followed after them to see some thief arrested. I should not have hesitated to give the boatman an extra sixpence had I not known it was a very common trick among them to make a double demand from travelers under such circumstances. I did not feel inclined to yield to the demand, as it would only encourage him to treat the next man in a similar manner.
Brother Khan reached the ticket office about two minutes before the hour had expired, and the agent sold him the second class tickets, which meant a saving to us of $18 each, or a total of $54. When I arrived, the boatman was in the office trying to get the agent to compel Brother Khan to pay him another shilling. The agent turned to me and said, “Mr. Byrum, how is this?” After I had explained the matter, the agent said to me, “You have paid him too much already; do not pay him any more,” and ordered him out of the office. Thinking that he could frighten me, the boatman said:
“You go with me to the first police.”
“All right,” I replied; “wait until we get our tickets, and I will go with you to the first police.”
I had no sooner made the statement than he was out of sight and gone, as he did not care to see a policeman. The reason that I have mentioned this matter in detail is because travelers are so often pestered in a similar manner and sometimes required to pay exorbitant sums of money or get into difficulties similar to that which we encountered.
Just before we left Kingston, one of the brethren handed us a package of money and said: “Here is a small bounty from the church in Jamaica. They have been greatly benefited by your visit and in the services you brethren have held, and ask you to re ceive this as a token of their appreciation.” It was an unexpected donation, and all the more appreciated because of the brethren’s sacrifice in thus expressing their gratitude for our labors among them.
In traveling through Cuba by train we were allowed a reduction of $12.05 each. At the ticket office in Havana, Cuba, we learned that the fare on the ship to Port Tampa, Florida, was $25.65. The agent informed us, however, that he could sell tickets for deck passage for $5 each. As the ship was to leave Havana at 3:30 in the afternoon and land at Port Tampa the next evening, and as we had thus far had no experience in traveling by deck passage, and as we could thereby save a total of $61.95 in so short a time, we purchased the tickets for deck passage.
The reduction of fare in the four places mentioned amounted to more than $200, which was much more than the tenth which we had paid out for charitable purposes. Thus the Scripture (Proverbs 19: 17) was fulfilled: the money which we had lent the Lord had been returned to us with good interest.
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UNDER THE WATER TANK
Jonah once tried to run away from the Lord by taking a ship for Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh to deliver a message from the Lord to the people of that city; but he found it a very difficult matter to flee from the presence of the Lord, as the Lord was upon the sea the same as upon the land. The Lord caused the sea to become boisterous, and Jonah was cast overboard and in a miraculous way was brought to the shore, where he was again reminded of his duty to go and deliver the message to the people of Nineveh. Since that time there have been many Jonahs, or many people who have received messages from the Lord to go and deliver or leadings to give of their means to the work of the Lord, and who instead of being obedient, have tried to turn a deaf ear or to flee from the presence of the Lord, only to meet with reverses and difficulties.
The following incident in the experience of a brother who was called to preach the gospel has often been related by him in detail to public audiences. Only a brief account is given here. He says:
In my childhood days my home was in the back woods, where there was but little chance to obtain an education. When the Lord called me to the ministry, I could scarcely read and my hearing was defective. When I heard the word of God preached, it sent con viction to my soul, and I yielded to the wooings of the Spirit, and he saved my soul and helped me to learn to read. As I learned to read the promises in his Word, I was made to know that they were for me as well as for others. For twenty-three years it had been very difficult for me to hear on account of the affliction of my ears, but the Lord healed me, for which I give him all the praise.
After I began my work as a minister, I had many interesting experiences, one of which I desire to relate for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
On the 4th of July, 1901, I landed at Keystone, South Dakota, with the blessings of God upon my soul. On account of the drought in Missouri where I had been living, I contracted debts that I was unable to pay when due. The next day after my arrival, I began to work in the timber and remained there in the Black Hills until April, 1902. The Lord blessed my labor and helped me to meet all my obligations. We then went to the plains and began working on a ranch for a cattleman. On going to South Dakota I left my family in Missouri, but sent for them about a month later. My work on the ranch was irrigating hay land, branding cattle, etc., and my wife did the cooking for the workmen.
One day a Baptist minister came and asked me if I was a Christian. I told him that I was. Then he asked:
“What church do you represent?”
“The church of God,” I replied.
I told him that we believed in preaching and practicing all the Word of God. He invited me to attend his Sunday school and be free to teach what the Bible says, as he said the Sunday school was for that purpose. He further said, “If you have more of the Bible than we have, you are the man we want.”
On the following Sunday we went to that place, and after Sunday school the superintendent asked me if I ever preached. I told him that I had preached a few times, and he invited me to preach the follow ing afternoon. I accepted the invitation, and God blessed the effort put forth in preaching the Word to the good of the people, and from that time we had services every two weeks the remainder of the summer. The people seemed to be very much inter ested and came for twenty-five miles to hear the Word of God. The cowboys would hang their spurs and re volvers on their saddle horns and come in and listen with amazement to the preaching, while tears coursed down their cheeks. One Sunday afternoon after listening to a gospel message under the anointing of Holy Spirit, some of them came and requested me to preach this gospel in their neighborhood. I told them that I did not have time to do so, as I had hired to a Mr. Cox and I believed in being a good servant.
On our way home my wife told me how bad she felt when I told those men that I could not go and preach for them. She said she believed the time had come that God wanted us to get out of that place and preach the gospel. I replied: “Oh, wife, you are homesick. You may go home on a visit, and I will Stay here and hold my good job down, and when you get your visit out, you can come back.” We went on with our work as usual until the next Sunday, when my wife said to me: “I want to read you some of the Word of God,” and she read from Ephesians 6:5, 6, 7, which reads thus:
“Servants be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”
“Now, which are you going to do from the heart, obey God, or man?” she said.
“Oh, wife, you are homesick. If you want to go home, you can go, and I will not object.”
“It is not me but you that God is after,” she said.
But I kept repeating, “You are homesick. I have the best job I have ever had in my life and making money the easiest”
I did not wish to give up my good job. I had ten good horses, a new $45 saddle, two new spurs, and a lariat rope, and everything necessary to eat.
My wife said to me: “You are not as spiritual as you once were. God wants us to flee out of here as Lot did out of Sodom.” Again my reply to her was, “You are homesick.”
She rejoined, “If you do not get out of here, some thing will happen to you or to the children or to me.”
The next day I went to haul water in a water tank with a four horse team. The tank held six thousand pounds of water. After hauling one load and put ting it in the cistern, I went back after the second load. While I was coming down the breaks of the Cheyenne River, the front wheel of the wagon dropped into a ditch, and the tank turned bottom side up and caught me under it. I tried to jump, but my brake rope, which was across my lap and was fastened at both ends, caught me and doubled me up. The tank fell across my back, leaving my head and feet outside.
When this happened, the first thing I thought of was what my wife had told me the day before. “If we do not get out of here, something will happen to you or to the children or to me.” I saw that God had me fast so that he could talk to me, and I began to call upon him for mercy. I had told those men I did not have time to preach the gospel to them; but God said, “It is preach the gospel now or lose your soul,” and I saw that to rebel meant destruction. I was now ready to listen to God. The relish for my good job had fled away as fog before the morning sun.
My little children who were with me came rushing to me, crying, “O Papa! Papa! what shall we do?” I told Minnie to go and tell her mama. The house was a mile away from where the accident happened. The child ran all the way and told her mother, who said, “I knew something would happen.” She came to my rescue, and upon her arrival I saw the very same look on her face that I saw the day before when she told me that she knew something would happen.
“You will obey God now, won’t you?” she said.
“Yes, wife, and I ask your forgiveness for not taking your admonition yesterday.”
I was helpless. Could move only my tongue and my right hand. I had been asking God to spare my life until I could ask my wife’s forgiveness, having already asked God to forgive me; and when I did that and promised God to obey him, it seemed that Jesus and a host of angels hovered around the tank to deliver me.
It is not difficult to imagine my condition while there with a 6,000 pound tank on my back, and my head between my feet. I was then ready to say yes to God. I wish to say by way of warning to others, that if God is calling you to his Service, or to help his cause with your means, you had better say yes to his will.
My wife took a new inch rope, doubled it, and pulled the wagon off the top of the tank; then she hitched the team of horses to the tank to remove it from me. It was a square tank made of two inch plank and full of water. I had a steady team of 1,400 pounds weight. The tank had to be rolled up hill. My wife spoke to the horses, and they took a steady pull, lifting the tank perhaps ten inches, when the rope broke, letting the tank drop on me again. She then discovered a heavy log chain, which we had not noticed before, and fastened it to the tank and rolled it off me, telling me to get up, but I could not move. She then came around the wagon and pulled me away from the tank, and I fainted, and for a time it seemed that my life had fled away. My wife got some water, washed my face, and offered up a prayer to God, and he came to my rescue again. About this time one of the cowboys came and saw what had taken place, and at my wife’s request he went to procure a wagon and a feather bed and laid me in the wagon and took me home. On the way we met another cowboy, who went back with us and helped carry me into the house. My wife wrote a request to The Trumpet Office, which was then at Moundsville, West Virginia, asking for prayer in my behalf.
Mr. Cox, the man for whom we were working, came in and looked at me and suggested that we send for a doctor, as he said blood poisoning would set in and kill me. I told him that we had no need for doctors or medicine, as we trusted in God. He then went out and told my wife that I was out of my head and did not know what I was talking about, and that mortification would set in and kill me; but she told him that I knew what I was talking about, and said, “We will trust God.”
That night the cowboys did not want to go to bed.
They said, “He will die before morning,” but my wife told them to go to bed and said that she would take care of me and that if she needed help she would call them. They were very good to us and will ing to do anything that they could for my comfort. The next morning Mr. Cox came to our room and asked how I was getting along. I told him I was feel ing as well as could be expected under the circum stances.
The next day the news began to spread among those to whom I had preached divine healing; and when they came to see me, they would ask me what I was going to do, and would tell me that my back was broken and that I could never walk again. I told them that whether I lived or died, I would trust God to the last. It took two men to turn me on a Sheet, and, like Job’s comforters, they gave me no help or encouragement in my trusting God.
This continued for about a week. I did not know which way the tide would go with me, but it was all submitted to God. I promised God while upon my bed that if he would raise me up I would spend the rest of my days preaching the gospel, even if I had to live on bread and water. After about a week, while I was lying on my bed talking with God, we re ceived The Gospel Trumpet; and in looking over its pages, I saw the testimony, with eight names signed to it, of a sister who had been raised from the dead by the mighty power of God.
I said to my wife: “I am not dead yet, and if God can raise that sister from the dead he can heal me, and I am now ready to be healed. Your request for prayer has just about had time to reach the office at Moundsville.”
We then called the children and prayed, and our faith took hold upon the promises of God, and he healed me. I turned myself, got out of bed, stood upon my feet, and in the name of Jesus I began to walk. My limbs began to tingle as if pierced by a thousand needles, and from that day until this I have been walking. Whether or not my back was broken, I do not know, but I can say as did the blind man (John 9:25) that, whereas I could not turn myself in bed, I now walk. All glory to His precious name! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8).
But the tempter was not through with me yet. Mr. Cox offered me every inducement to get me to stay and work for him, but my wife said, “We will not stay here for all his possessions.” So we left that place, and from that time until the present we have been going forth preaching the everlasting gospel, earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. --A. C. Bennett.
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HELP IN SELLING BOOKS
One cold winter night a brother was traveling by train in Idaho. He had a large satchel filled with religious books and tracts. Late at night he arrived at a station where he had to change cars. The depot was well crowded with people. There was nothing special about their appearance that would indicate that they were interested in religious literature.
This brother had spent much time in canvassing and selling religious literature, and he was generally successful wherever he went, but the secret of his success lay in the fact that he sought help from the Lord in all his undertakings. When entering a community, he always prayed that he might have divine help in disposing of his literature.
Upon this particular night he was much in need of money with which to pay his current expenses, which had to be met, and, moreover, he had a great desire to furnish the people with reading that would help those in need of spiritual help and instruct them in the Word of God. In fact, his situation was such that something had to be done. He felt that he must sell the books in order to complete his journey.
After silently communing with the Lord for wisdom and divine guidance, he opened his satchel and, taking out a bundle of small tracts and advertisements of his books, he circulated them among the people in the room. Then he closed his satchel and went outside. Standing against the end of the building where the cold winter wind could not strike him, he prayed earnestly for the Lord to get those people interested in the tracts, and after waiting about fifteen minutes he returned, believing that the Lord would grant him wisdom to present the books in the proper manner.
Glancing about the room, he saw that some gathered in groups and were already discussing the contents of the tracts. He selected one who was apparently a leader among them, and approaching him very courteously, called attention to one of his books on the same subject they were discussing among themselves. He was soon able to induce this leader to purchase a copy. Then others came flocking around for copies of the books, and they bought every copy. Thus, not only did the brother procure the amount of money he needed, but also he interested every person in that crowded room in such a manner that they had a desire not only to read his books but to further interest themselves in the Word of God and the welfare of their souls.
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A STREET MOB IN PALESTINE
In the year 1904 I went with some missionaries to India. We had some interesting experiences along the way. Upon our arrival at Port Said, Egypt, we embarked on a ship for Jaffa (Joppa), Palestine. It was late at night before we sailed, and we were to arrive at Jaffa early the next morning. The vessel, however, did not stop there, as that port was closed against plague in Upper Egypt, and there were a number of Egyptians aboard. We were told that all on board would be taken to Beirut, Syria, for medical examination, and that then we could return with a certificate, which would permit us to land at Jaffa. On this ship accommodations were worse than upon any other ship we had been on since leaving America.
Late in the afternoon the anchor was dropped more than a mile from the city of Beirut. The Egyptians were sent ashore with all their possessions for inspection and fumigation of their luggage. All we had to do was to wait about two hours for our turn for medical examination, which consisted of answering a few questions, signing our names, and paying a pound apiece extra fare. Then they told us we could return on the same ship by paying another extra pound. We declined, feeling that the Lord had permitted us to take this extra trip and that it must be for some purpose. So we decided to land.
Two of us went ashore to arrange for a lodging-place. The sun was just setting in the western sky as we landed, and soon the signal guns were fired, which indicated a closing of the entrance to the city for the night. After the firing of the signal guns no one was supposed to enter the city without special permission, but the landlord at the hotel at which we stopped had already sent a messenger to the ship, who had the privilege of returning after the firing of the signal guns with any one who would stop at that hotel.
After remaining over night, we learned that we could leave Beirut the next day at noon on a Syrian boat on our way to the Holy Land. In the meantime we were anxious to procure a guide to con duct us through the Holy Land. A gentleman at the hotel directed us to some one whom he thought would be a suitable person. As we were passing along the street, we saw him sitting in front of a store smoking a peculiar looking pipe, the stem of which was a long rubber tube. When we were introduced to him as missionaries desiring a guide through the Holy Land, he straightened himself up with considerable dignity and said:
“Are you going there for the Lord?”
“We are missionaries,” we replied, “engaged in the work of the Lord, and desire to travel through the Holy Land on our way to India.”
“Very well,” he replied, I will act as your guide.”
“What will you charge for your services?”
“If you are going for the Lord, there will be no charges. It will be left for you to pay any amount you desire, but there will be no charges.”
Upon the recommendation of the other gentleman, we engaged this man as our guide. Many interest ing things took place along the way, but the special incident which I desire to relate now occurred at the end of our second day’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem.
Late in the evening we arrived at the city of Nablous, which has been built on the site of the old city of Shechem. While going through the city, we passed a Turkish school building just as the young students were leaving the building. They showed us no little disrespect, knowing that we were Americana and what they call Christians.
We arrived at a monastery, however, without being harmed or further molested, and made arrangements to remain there for the night, as the monastery was situated on the outer edge of the city. It was grow ing late in the evening, and it was necessary for us to procure provisions for the next day’s travel. The guide went with me into the city to make the neces sary purchases. After passing along the narrow streets for some distance, we came to a little shop or store where things could be purchased while the customer stood outside the building. But no sooner had we begun the selection of a few barley loaves and other provisions than a crowd of Turks began to gather about us, and it seemed that each one desired to have a part in the matter. When they began to make their suggestions and threats, the guide was unable to control his temper, and the Turks seemed to be itching for trouble. They laid hold upon him, and he struck at them, and they kicked one another for a time. There was much talking and loud exclamations and threats in the Arabic tongue. I could not understand a word, but the guide could readily con verse in that language. The loud threats could be heard down the street, and it seemed that the men from every shop and store in hearing distance came running and soon filled up the street.
As they gathered around the guide, I leisurely stepped back, keeping on the edge of the crowd. The scene of the difficulty being centered at the shop win dow, where the guide was standing, those who came later were not aware that I was connected with the affair, and those who saw me come with him were in the center of the conflict and could not see me now on account of the large crowd that had gathered. In less than five minutes a crowd of perhaps seventy five or one hundred persons had assembled, and all of them had a desire to enter the conflict.
Only once did they undertake to grapple with me, and I treated the matter with such unconcern that they turned their attentions to the guide. He finally grabbed his pile of provisions, which the proprietor had by this time laid aside for him, and jerked away from the crowd, and ran down the street at full speed. Some followed him a short distance, but re turned to the crowd for consultation. This left me in a precarious situation. I was on the opposite side of this mob from the guide, and to go the other way led me into the city away from our lodging place. There was only one thing to do, and that was to go through that howling mob. Up to this time I had re ceived but little attention from them. I asked the Lord for protection and for wisdom, remembering the scripture which says, “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of the Lord, who giveth liberally.” The street was narrow, and I noticed that on the opposite side of the street was not so much crowded, although the mob reached from one side of the street to the other. Taking advantage of this, I took my umbrella, which I was using as a cane, and began twirling it in my hand, looking up at the buildings, and whistling. As I came near the crowd, I twirled the umbrella before me, and the people began to step aside to keep from being struck by it.
I continued whistling and looking up at the build ings as if paying no attention to the mob. My apparent unconcern seemed to frustrate them for a time and prevented them from molesting me until I had passed beyond the bounds of the mob. For a moment they were amazed to find an American alone in their midst at such a time. Thus far, however, they had not associated me with the guide who had caused such a commotion among them; but after I had gone a few steps beyond them, some who were near the shop window recognized me as having been with the guide, and two or three made loud Arabic exclamations, I kept going forward without heeding them. Again they cried out, and two of their number started after me. I simply threw my head back, turned partly toward them, and laughed aloud, with out stopping. This seemed to be a sufficient rebuff, and brought them to a sudden standstill for further consideration. By that time I was so far down the street that they considered it useless to follow.
When I reached the place where the guide was waiting for me, I said, “Why did you run?”
He replied, “You would have run too had you understood what they were saying.”
I told him that this was one time when ignorance was bliss. But I surely realized that it was by the protecting power of God that I was delivered from those murderous Turks, as the guide had told me that they had threatened to kill us. We reached the monastery without further molestation.
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THE DYING DRUMMER-BOY
BY DR. M. L. ROSSVALLY
Two or three times in my life God in his mercy touched my heart, and twice before my conversion I was under deep conviction.
During the American War I was a surgeon in the United States army; and after the battle of Gettysburg there were many hundreds of wounded soldiers in my hospital, amongst whom were twenty eight who had been so severely wounded that they required my services at once some whose legs had to be amputated, some, their arms, and others both the arm and leg. One of the latter was a boy who had been but three months in the service, and, being too young for a soldier, he enlisted as a drummer. When my as sistant Surgeon and one of my stewards wished to administer chloroform previous to the amputation, he turned his head aside, and positively refused to receive it. When the steward told him it was the doctor a orders, he said:
“Send the doctor to me.”
“When I came to his bedside, I said:
“Young man, why do you refuse chloroform? When I found you on the battle field, you were so far gone that I thought it hardly worth while to pick you up; but when you opened those large blue eyes I thought you had a mother somewhere who might at that moment be thinking of her boy. I did not want you to die on the field, so ordered you to be brought here; but you have lost so much blood that you are too weak to endure an operation without chloroform. Therefore you had better let me give you some.”
He laid his hand on mine, and looking me in the face, said:
“Doctor, one Sunday afternoon in the Sabbath school when I was nine and a half years old, I gave my heart to Christ. I learned to trust him then; I have been trusting him ever since, and I can trust him now. He is my strength and my stimulant He will support me while you amputate my arm and leg.”
I then asked him if he would allow me to give him some brandy, but this he also refused.
Again he looked me in the face, saying:
“Doctor, when I was about five years old, my mother knelt by my side, with her arm around my neck, and said, ‘Charlie, I am now praying to Jesus that you may never know the taste of strong drink. Your papa died a drunkard, and went to a drunk ard’s grave, and I promised God if it was his will that you should warn young men against the bitter cup.’ I am now seventeen years old, but have never tasted anything stronger than tea or coffee; and as I am in all probability about to go into the presence of my God, would you send me there with brandy in my stomach?”
The look that boy gave me I shall never forget. At that time I hated Jesus, but respected that boy’s loyalty to his Savior, and when I saw how he loved and trusted Him to the last, something touched my heart, and I did for that boy what I had never done for any other soldier - I asked him if he wished to see his chaplain.
“Oh, yes, sir!” was the answer.
When chaplain R— came, he at once knew the boy from having met him at the tent prayer meeting, and, taking his hand, said: “Well Charlie, I am sorry to see you in this sad condition.”
“Oh, I am all right, sir,” he answered, “the doctor offered to give me chloroform, but I declined; then he wished to give me brandy, which I also declined; and now if my Savior calls me, I can go to him in my right mind.”
“You may not die, Charlie,” said the chaplain;
“but if the Lord should call you away, is there any thing I can do for you after you are gone?”
“Chaplain, please put your hand under my pillow and take my little Bible. In it you will find my mother’s address; please send it to her and write and tell her that since the day I left home I have never let a day pass without reading a portion of God’s Word, and daily praying that God would bless my dear mother - no matter whether I was on the march, on the battle field, or in the hospital.”
“Is there anything else that I can do for you?” asked the chaplain.
“Yes; please write a letter to the superintendent of the Sands Street Sunday school, Brooklyn, New York, and tell him that the kind words, many prayers, and good advice he gave me I have never forgotten; they followed me through all the dangers of battle, and now in my dying hour, I ask my Savior to bless my dear old superintendent; that is all”
Turning toward me, he said, “Now, doctor, I am ready; and I promise that I will not even groan while you take off my arm and leg if you will not offer me chloroform.”
I promised, but I had not the courage to take the knife in my hand to perform the operation without first going into the next room and taking a little stimulant to nerve myself to perform my duty.
While I was cutting through the flesh Charlie Coulson never groaned; but when I took the saw to separate the bone, the lad took the corner of the pillow in his mouth, and I could hear him utter, “O Jesus, blessed Jesus, stand by me now!” He kept his promise and never groaned.
That night I could not sleep; for whichever way I turned I saw those soft blue eyes, and when I closed mine, the words, “Blessed Jesus, stand by me now!” kept ringing in my ears. Between twelve and one o’clock I left my bed and visited the hospital, a thing I had never done before unless specially called, but such was my desire to see that boy.
Upon my arrival there I was informed by the night steward that sixteen of the hopeless cases had died and had been carried to the dead house
“How is Charlie Coulson? Is he among the dead?” I asked.
“No, sir,” answered the steward; “he is sleeping as sweetly as a babe.”
When l came up to the bed on which he lay, one of the nurses informed me that about nine o’clock two members of the Y. M. C. A. came through the hospital to read and sing a hymn. They were accompanied by chaplain R—, who knelt by Charlie Coul son’s bed and offered up a fervent, soul stirring prayer, after which they sang while still upon their knees, the sweetest of all hymns, “Jesus lover of my soul,” in which Charlie joined. I could not under stand how that boy, who had undergone such excruciating pain, could sing.
Five days after I had amputated that dear boy’s arm and leg he sent for me, and it was from him on that day I heard the first gospel sermon.
“Doctor,” he said, “my time has come; I do not expect to see another sunrise; but I desire to thank you with all my heart for your kindness to me. Doctor, you are a Jew, you do not believe in Jesus; will you please stand here and see me die trusting my Savior to the last moment of my life?”
I tried to stay, but I could not, for I had not the courage to stand by and see a Christian boy die re joicing in the love of that Jesus whom I had been taught to hate, so I hurriedly left the room. About twenty minutes later a steward, who found me in my private office covering my face with my hand, said:
“Doctor, Charlie Coulson wishes to see you.”
“I have just seen him,” I answered, “and can not see him again.”
“But, Doctor, he says he must see you before he dies.”
I now made up my mind to see him, say an endear ing word and let him die; but I was determined that no word of his should influence me in the least as far as his Jesus was concerned.
When I entered the hospital, I saw he was sinking fast, so I sat down by his bed. Asking me to take his hand, he said:
“Doctor, I love you, because you are a Jew; the best friend I have found in this world was a Jew.”
I asked him who that was.
He answered: “Jesus Christ, to whom I want to introduce you before I die. Will you promise me, Doctor, that what I am about to say you will never forget?”
I promised, and he said, “Five days ago when you amputated my arm and leg, I prayed for the Lord Jesus Christ to convert your soul”
These words went deep into my heart. I could not understand how, when I was causing him the most intense pain, he could forget all about himself and think of nothing but his Savior and my unconverted soul. All I could say to him was, “Well, my dear boy, you will soon be all right.” With these words I left him, and twelve minutes later he fell asleep.
Hundreds of soldiers died in my hospital during the war, but I followed only one to the grave, and that was Charlie Coulson, the drummer-boy, and I rode three miles to see him buried. I had him dressed in a new uniform and placed in an officer’s coffin, with a United States flag over it.
The dear boy’s dying words made a deep impression upon me. I was rich at that time, so far as money was concerned, but I would have given every penny I possessed to feel toward Christ as Charlie did; but that feeling can not be bought with money. Alas! I soon forgot all about my Christian soldier’s little sermon, but could not forget the boy himself. I now know that at that time I was under deep conviction, but fought against Christ with all the hatred of an orthodox Jew for nearly ten years, until finally the dear boy’s prayer was answered and God con verted my soul.
At the close of the American War I was detailed to be inspecting surgeon, and to take charge of the military hospital at Galveston, Texas. Returning one day from an inspection tour, and on my way to Wash ington, I stopped to rest a few hours at New York. After dinner I stepped down stairs to the barber’s shop (which, it may be remarked, is attached to every hotel of note in the United States). On entering the room I was surprised to see hung around it sixteen beautifully framed Scripture texts in different colors. Sitting down in one of the barber’s chairs, I saw directly opposite me, hanging up in a frame on the wall, the notice: “Please do not swear in this room.” No sooner did the barber put the brush to my face than he began talking to me about Jesus. He spoke in such an attractive, loving manner that my prejudices were disarmed, and I listened with growing attention to what he said. All the time he was talking, “Charlie Coulson, the drummer-boy,” came swelling up in my mind, although he had been dead ten years.
I was so well pleased with the words and deportment of the barber that as soon as he had done shaving me I told him to cut my hair, although when I entered the room I had no such intention. All the while he was cutting my hair he kept steadily on with his sermon, preaching Christ to me and telling me that he was a Jew himself and was once as far away from Christ as I then was. I listened attentively, my interest increasing with every word to such an extent that, when he finished cutting my hair, I said, “Barber, you may give me a shampoo.” In fact, I allowed him to do all that one in his profession could do for a gentleman in one sitting. There is, however, an end to all things, and, my time being short, I pre pared to leave. I paid my bill, thanked the barber for his remarks, and said, “I must catch the next train.” He, however, was not yet satisfied.
It was a bitter cold February day, and the ice on the ground made it somewhat dangerous to walk. It was only two minutes’ walk to the station from the hotel, and the kind barber at once offered to walk to the station with me. I accepted his offer gladly, and no sooner had we reached the street than he put his arm in mine to keep me from falling. He said but little as we walked along the street, until we arrived at our destination, but when we got to the station he broke the silence by saying:
“Stranger, perhaps you do not understand why I choose to talk to you upon a subject so dear to me; when you entered my shop I saw by your face that you were a Jew.”
He still continued to talk to me about his dear Savior, and said he felt it to be his duty whenever he came in contact with a Jew to try and introduce him to one whom he felt was his best Friend, both for this world and the world to come. On looking a second time into his face, I saw tears trickling down his cheeks, and he was evidently under great emotion. I could not understand how it was that this man, a total stranger to me, could take such an interest in my welfare, and also shed tears while talking to me.
I reached out my hand to bid him good-by. He took it with both of his and gently pressed it, with tears still continuing to flow down his face, and said:
“Stranger, if it is any satisfaction for you to know it, if you will give me your name or card, I promise you, on the honor of a Christian that during the next three mouths I will not retire to rest at night without making mention of you by name in my prayers. And now may my Christ follow you, trouble you, and give you no rest until you find him what I have found him to be - a precious Savior, and the Messiah you are looking for.”
I thanked him for his attention and his consideration, and after handing him my card, I said rather sneeringly, I fear, “There is not much danger of my ever becoming a Christian.”
He then handed me his card, saying as he did so, “Will you please drop me a letter if God should answer my prayer in your behalf?”
I smiled incredulously; and said, “Certainly I will,” but never dreaming that within the next forty eight hours, God in his mercy would answer that barber’s prayer. I shook hands heartily and said good-by; in spite of my outward appearance of un-concern, I felt he had made a deep impression upon my mind, as the sequel will show.
On my arrival at Washington I purchased a morn ing paper, and one of the first things that caught my attention was the announcement of a revival service in the largest church in Washington. No sooner had I seen that announcement than an inward monitor seemed to say to me, “Go to that church!’, I had never been inside a Christian church before during divine services, and at any other time. I should have scouted such a thought as from the devil. It was my father’s intention when I was a boy that I should be come a rabbi, and I promised him that I would never enter a place where “Jesus the Impostor” was worshiped as a God, and that I would never attempt to read a book containing the name, and I had faith fully kept my word up to that moment. During the service, while the preacher was watch ing me, the thought occurred to me that he might be pointing his finger at some person behind me, and I turned around in my seat to discover who the individual was, when, to my astonishment, a congregation of more than two thousand persons of all grades of society seemed to be looking at me. I at once came to the conclusion that I was the only Jew in the place, and heartily wished myself out of the building, for I felt I was in bad company. As I was well known in Washington, both by Jew and Gentile, the thought flashed across my mind, “How will it read in a Wash ington paper that ‘Dr. Rossvally, a Jew, was present at the revival services, not five minutes’ walk from the synagogue he usually attends, and was seen to shed tears during the sermon."
Not wishing to make myself conspicuous (for there were faces that I recognized), I made up my mind not to take out my handkerchief to wipe off the tears; they must dry up for themselves; but, blessed be God, I could not keep them back, for they came flow ing faster and faster.
After a while the preacher finished his sermon, and I was surprised to hear him announce an after-meet ing, and invite all who could do so to remain. I did not accept the invitation, being only too glad for the opportunity to leave the church. With that intention I got up from my seat, and had reached the door, when I felt some one hold me by the skirt of my coat. Turning around, I saw an elderly looking lady, who proved to be Mrs. Young, of Washington, a well known Christian worker. Addressing me, she said:
“Pardon me, stranger; I see you are an officer in the army; I have been watching you all this evening, and I beg of you not to leave this house, for I think you are under conviction of sin. I believe you came here to seek the Savior and you have not found him yet. Do come back; I would like to talk to you, and if you will permit me, will pray for you.”
“Madam,” was my reply, “I am a Jew.”
She replied, “I do not care if you are a Jew; Jesus Christ died for Jew as well as Gentile.”
The persuasive manner in which she said those words was not without its effect. I followed her back to the very spot which I had just left so abruptly, and, when we came to the front she said:
“If you will kneel, I will pray for you.”
“Madam, that is something I have never done, and never will do.”
Mrs. Young looked me calmly in the face and said:
“Dear stranger, I have found such a dear, loving, and forgiving Savior in my Jesus that I firmly believe in my heart he can convert a Jew standing on his feet, and I will go on my knees and pray for that.”
She suited the action to the word, and fell on her knees and began to pray, talking to her Savior in such a simple childlike manner that completely un nerved me. I felt ashamed of myself to see that dear old lady kneeling near me while I was standing, and pray so fervently in my behalf. My whole past life floated so vividly before my mind that I heartily wished the floor would open, and that I might sink out of sight.
When she arose from her knees she extended her hand, and with motherly sympathy said:
“Will you pray to Jesus before you sleep tonight?”
“Madam,” I replied, “I will pray to God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but not Jesus.”
“Bless your soul,” she said, “your God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is my Christ and your Mes siah,”
“Good-night, madam, and thank you for your kind-ness,” I said as I left the church.
When I arrived home, my wife, who was a very strict orthodox Jewess, thought I looked excited and asked me where I had been.
The truth I dared not tell her, and a falsehood I would not, so I said:
“Wife, please do not ask me any questions. I have some very important business to attend to. I wish to go to my private study where I can be alone.”
I went at once to my study, locked the door and began to pray, standing with my face towards the east as I always had done. The more I prayed, the worse I felt. I could not account for the feeling that had come over me. I was in great perplexity of mind as to the meaning of many prophecies in the Old Testament which deeply interested me. My prayer gave me no satisfaction, and then it occurred to me that Christians kneel when they pray. Was there anything in that? Having been brought up a strict orthodox Jew and taught never to kneel in prayer, a fear came over me that if I should kneel I might be deceived in thus bowing to that Jesus whom I had been taught to believe in childhood to be an impostor.
Although the night was bitterly cold and there was no fire in my study (it was not thought I should use the room that night), yet I never perspired so much in my life as I did then.
With unspeakable joy I arose from my knees, and in my new-found happiness thought that my dear wife would at once share my joy when I told her of the great change which had come over me. With that thought uppermost in my mind, I rushed out of my study into the bedroom, and said: “Wife, I have found the Messiah.”
She looked annoyed, and pushing me from her coldly asked:
“From whom?”
“Jesus Christ, my Messiah and Savior,” was my ready reply.
She spoke not another word, but in less than five minutes was dressed and had left the house, although it was then two in the morning and bitterly cold, and went across the street to the house of her parents, who lived immediately opposite.
On the following morning my poor wife was told by her parents that if she ever called me husband again she would be disinherited, excommunicated from the synagogue, and accursed. At the same time my two children were sent for by their grandparents and told that they must never call me father again; that I, in worshiping Jesus “the Impostor” was fully as bad and as mean as he was.
Five days after my conversion I received orders from the surgeon general at Washington to proceed to the West on Government business. I tried all the means in my power to communicate personally with my wife and to bid her good-by, but she would neither see me nor write to me. She, however, sent me a message by a neighbor to the effect that so long as I called Jesus Christ my Savior I could not see her, for she would not live with me. I did not expect to receive such a message from my wife, for I loved her and my children dearly, and it was with a sad heart, therefore, that I left home that morning to travel thirteen hundred miles to my sphere of duty without being able to see either my wife or children.
For fifty-four days my wife would not answer any of my letters, although I wrote her one daily, and for every letter sent, I prayed that God would incline her to read at least one of them.
My daughter was the younger of our two children and generally considered her father’s pet, and after my conversion to Christ a sense of duty to her mother on one hand and her love to her father on the other kept her mind in continual agitation. On the fifty-third night she dreamed she saw her father die, and a fear came over her, and she made up her mind that, let come what would, she would not destroy the next letter in her father’s handwriting. As the postman handed the letters to her, she took her father’s letter and quickly ran up-stairs into her room, locked the door, and opened the letter. She read it three times before she laid it down. When she went down-stairs, her mother saw that she had been crying, and asked her the cause of her grief.
“Mother, if I tell you, you will be offended; but if you promise me not to be grieved, I will tell you all about it.”
“What is it, my child?” said the mother.
Taking out my letter, she told her mother her dream of the night previous and added:
“I have opened my papa’s letter this morning, and now I can not and will not believe what my grandma or anybody else says about my papa being a bad man, for a bad man could not write such a letter as this to his wife and children. I beg of you to read this, Mother,” she added as she handed to her the letter.
My wife took the letter, and that afternoon she locked herself in her room and read it through five times before she laid it down. After the last reading of the letter, my wife re turned it to the desk and went back into the room she had just left. Her eyes were full of tears, and now it was my daughter’s turn to ask, “Mother, why are you crying?”
“Child, my heart aches,” was the reply.
One morning I received a telegram worded as follows:
“Dear Husband: Come home at once. I thought you were in the wrong and I was in the right, but I have found that you were in the right and I in the wrong. Your Christ is my Messiah, your Jesus my Savior. Last night, at nineteen minutes past eleven, while on my knees for the first time in my life, the Lord Jesus converted my soul”
After reading that telegram I felt for a moment as if I did not care one cent for the Government under which I served. I left my business unfinished, took the first express-train, and started for Washington.
When I got in front of my home I saw my wife standing at the open door expecting me. Her face beamed with joy, and she ran to meet me as I stepped out of my carriage, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me. Her father and mother were standing at their open doors across the street, and when they saw us in each other’s arms, they cursed both me and my wife.
One morning when the postman brought me my letters, I saw among them one bearing the German post mark, and in the old familiar handwriting of my dear mother. Needless to say I opened that letter first. There was no heading; no date; no “My dear son,” as all her former letters to me began; it read as follows:
“Max: You are no longer my son; we have burned you in effigy; we mourn you as dead. And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob strike you blind, deaf, and dumb, and damn your soul forever. You have left your father’s religion and the synagogue for that Jesus “the Impostor,” and now take your mother’s curse. - Clara.”
Although I had by this time counted what it would cost to embrace the religion of Jesus Christ, and knew what I had to expect from my relatives because I had turned my back on the synagogue, I confess I was hardly prepared for such a letter from my mother. My dear wife and I could now, however, more fully sympathize with each other in our new religious life; for, as stated before, her parents had already cursed her to her face for believing in Christ. It was not all sadness, however, for never before did the Psalmist’s words seem so full of meaning and en couragement both to my wife and myself, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”
Let not any one think it is an easy thing for a Jew to become a Christian. He must be prepared to for sake father, mother, and wife for the kingdom of God’s sake; for the considerations which appeal alike to his affections and self-interest are brought to bear upon every Jew who is suspected of looking with favor towards Christianity. About eighteen months after my conversion, I attended a prayer-meeting one evening in the city of Brooklyn. It was one of those meetings where Christians testify to the loving-kindness of their Savior. After several of them had Spoken an elderly lady arose and said, “Dear friends, this may be the last time it is my privilege to testify for Christ. My family physician told me that my right lung is very nearly gone, and my left lung is very much affected, so at the best I have only a short time to be with you, but what is left of me belongs to Jesus. Oh! it is a great joy to me to know that I shall meet my boy with Jesus in heaven. My son was not only a soldier for his country, but a soldier for Jesus. When he was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, he fell into the hands of a Jewish doctor, who amputated his arm and leg, but he died five days after the operation. The chaplain of the regiment wrote me a letter and sent my boy’s Bible. In that letter I was informed that Charlie in his dying hour sent for the Jewish doctor and said to him “Doctor, before I die, I wish to tell you that five days ago, when you amputated my arm and leg, I prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ to con vert your soul”
When I heard this lady’s testimony, I could sit still no longer, but left my seat and crossed the room and, taking her hand, said: “God bless you, my dear sister; your boy’s prayer has been heard and answered. I am the Jewish doctor for whom your Charlie prayed, and his Savior is now my Savior.”
WILL YOU DIE WITHOUT A SAVIOR?
Will you die without a Savior, When the way is straight and plain? Just for sinful, wild behavior Will you fail to heaven gain?
Will you die without a Savior? Will you cross death’s chilly tide Without sign of Heaven’s favor? Oh, that river cold and wide!
Will you die without a Savior? Will you stand rejected there At the great white throne of heaven, Bound those portals shining fair?
Will you die without a Savior? Never see the Savior’s face, He who died for you on Calvary? Never know his fond embrace?
O dear sinner, think of Jesus, Think of all his love for thee; Hear again, “O God, forgive them,” In his dying agony!
M.J.H.
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REWARD OF MY SACRIFICE
BY EVA M. WRAY
A number of years ago we could not afford to buy much furniture; so instead of a dresser in which to keep our clothes, we had a box with shelves and a curtain. The mice frequently climbed into our rude dresser and chewed holes in the clothing, I began to plan to get a dresser by some means myself. I had some hens and sold the eggs at a good price, and sometimes sold a few chickens, which increased my account. This was my only source of getting means for the Lord’s work, and in this way I had been giving all my egg-money.
One week I had a larger amount on hands than usual and felt well satisfied when I gave $2 to the ministry, but still I had $1.50 left, with which I felt free to start a dresser-fund. But the next time I went to pray in secret, I became very much burdened for the missionaries. I prayed the Lord earnestly to supply their needs, when lo! I heard a gentle whisper. I had heard it before, and I knew it was the Lord. He reminded me of that $1.50 I had. I answered, “Yes, Lord, but thou knowest how badly I need a dresser, and I have no other way to get it.” So I prayed on for the Lord to give me some more money for the dear missionaries, but that was as far as I could get. The Lord held that amount before me till I could see nothing else.
He had prospered me with a good price for my eggs, which I had been giving to his cause; but because I got some extra, I was selfish enough to think I was the next one upon whom to spend it. But I could not get my prayer through nor get away from that voice till I said, “Amen, Lord, I’ll give the $1.50 to the missionaries, and do without the dresser.” Then I finished my prayer with joy, and was so happy over my consecration and self-denial that I went about rejoicing, and lost the eager desire for a dresser.
That night I went to prayer-meeting, and I was still so happy over my experience of the day that I told it in meeting, which aroused such a missionary zeal that all began to make their offerings, and more than $30 was raised that night for our dear missionary brethren. In a short time after this we moved into our new home, in which there was a gas range, and my husband told me I could sell the old cook stove and what coal we had left, as we should not need it now. I did so, and they brought me exactly enough to buy the new dresser that I desired.
Oh the wisdom and goodness of our God! After I fully obeyed his voice, and left my care with him, he, knowing what things I had need of, fully supplied them without any carefulness on my part; and with the dresser which I so much wanted, he threw in the new gas range extra. He says that he will withhold “no good thing from them that walk uprightly,” and that he will “do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” This I proved, for because of my small sacrifice to obey his voice, others gave twenty times as much to his needy ones.
“HAVE FAITH IN GOD”
BY R. ROTHMAN
Have faith in God, for he alone Did for thy many sins atone. No other name than Christ’s is giv’n To open wide the door of heav’n.
Have faith in God; for he alone Can break the sinful heart of stone, And soften with his melting grace ‘Til meet for his own dwelling place.
Have faith; no more by Jordan wait, Cross boldly o’er, claim thy estate, Where thou canst know thy heart is pure, From sin’s defilement kept secure.
Have faith in God, and thou shalt find Thy great Redeemer ever kind. He never will forsake his own; He pleads their case before the throne.
Have faith, and let thy doubtings cease; For He who spake away disease Hath yet the power and the skill, And he will heal - it is his will.
Have faith, for He who ruled the sea Can calm the storms that trouble thee. Thou yet shalt learn that all is well For those who ‘bide within his will.
Have faith in God, resist the foe, And onward, ever onward, go. To conquer ever is our right While trusting in Jehovah’s might
Have faith, and in thy parting hour Thy Savior dear will give thee power To cross the valley deep and wide, Forever with the Lord to ‘bide.
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A PLOT TO MURDER
Soon after entering the publishing work, I had an experience which, through a train of circumstances that followed, I had reasons to vividly remember.
At the time mentioned, Brothers Speck and Kil patrick, who were evangelists, were holding meetings in Kansas and Nebraska. A man named J. W. Wyrick attended one of their meetings. At that time he was making a high profession of religion and claimed to be a minister of the gospel. His life was not in accordance with his profession, and as the Word was preached, his evil deeds began to be revealed. The brethren found him to be more like a demon than a man of God. It became known, among many other things, that he frequently beat and misused his wife. She very much desired to be saved from her sins, and for that reason, one night at the meeting she went forward and knelt at the altar for prayer. He came with a large stick, or cane, in his hand and demanded her to leave the altar and go home, and made quite a disturbance in the meeting. His wife begged one of the sisters in the church to accompany her home, as otherwise she was likely to receive a terrible beating. He further made an effort to break up the meeting and also threatened the lives of the ministers.
In writing a report of their meetings for publication, these ministers wrote an exposure of this man so that congregations in other places might not be imposed upon, as he had already made arrangements to go elsewhere to preach.
While publishing the issue of the paper that contained his exposure, I well remember the difficulties we encountered in operating our printing press and other machinery that night. The brother who was with me in the work was young and inexperienced, having had only a few weeks’ experience in the print ing and publishing business. It was an old Country Campbell printing press that we were operating, one that had been in use for over forty years, having, however, been rebuilt a time or two during that period. It was out of alignment, which caused a frequent breaking of the tapes which carried the papers to their proper place. The engine and boiler also gave us considerable trouble. The inspirator would fail to work properly, causing the water in the boiler to fall below the water gauge.
It was a cold night in the winter, and the large office room became so cold that the ink did not dis tribute properly, and for this reason every few minutes a copy of the paper would stick to the ink roller and become wrapped around it. We would then take the roller out and remove the paper from it, and by the time a few more papers were printed, a tape would break, which had to be sewed. A few minutes more of operation, and the engine gave us trouble, and later the water became so low that we feared an explosion. By the time these troubles were adjusted, the tapes and ink rollers took their regular turns with a routine of difficulties which continued until about two-thirty in the morning. On account of our inexperience we had not discovered that one end of the press had slipped out of its proper place, which misplacement was the cause of much of our trouble. We toiled nearly all night amidst such difficulties, frequently asking the Lord to help us; and many times since then we have considered it remarkable that we were enabled to do any printing under the circumstances, except by the special help of the Lord.
We were both inexperienced in regard to many things concerning the workings of the Spirit of God and the manifestations of the power of the enemy. While encountering so many difficulties that night, we wondered if it could possibly be that Satan was hindering the operation of the machinery because of the publication of the report exposing the man mentioned above, as he had threatened vengeance in case such was published. Just as we got a sufficient number of papers published to supply our subscribers, the press suddenly stopped, and we were unable to operate it further or to ascertain the cause of the trouble.
After retiring that night I fell asleep and dreamed. In my dream, I was in the city of Rockford, Illinois, and while walking along the street, without any warning of danger, I suddenly came in contact with this man Wyrick. He seized a large knife or dagger and started at me with a determination to murder me.
As I turned away from him, some one seized me by the arm and took me down the street at a greater speed than this man was able to go. When at a proper distance, or out of danger, the friend who had taken me by the arm, suddenly left me. I continued walking, and soon afterwards, while on another street, I met my adversary again, who rushed at me with more fury than ever. Just then my friend appeared at my side and hastened me to a place of safety and disappeared. My eyes were holden from seeing the one who was helping me, and it was as if the Lord had sent his angel to deliver me in time of danger. I awakened. It was but a dream, but the impression it left was not soon to be forgotten. I had never seen this man who sought to destroy my life; neither had I ever been to Rockford, Illinois.
Making Threats
At this time I had never had any personal controversy with the man just mentioned. As I was only a young publisher at that time, his venom was mostly poured out against the editor and the ministers who exposed him. But about two years later he wrote me a large postal card (the kind we used to have) con taining 535 words. Upon this card he made some threats against the brethren and even mentioned the editor and three ministers, whom, he said, were it not for the law, would be lying moldering in their graves, and he a murderer.
It was about seven years after I had the dream be fore I met the man. He came to a camp meeting held near Grand Junction, Michigan. Soon after his arrival at the depot, he took a position on the railroad plat form, and amidst the throngs of people who were arriving for the camp meeting, and, the strangers who were changing cars, he began to tirade against the publishing company, the editor, and the ministers. He stated that they were guilty of all kinds of misdemeanor and that he intended to go to the camp ground, take the pulpit, and expose them, and invited the people to go to the morning service and hear the exposure.
Our office was near the depot, and some one in formed me of his malicious intentions. I went to my desk and found the card formerly referred to, which he had written something over five years before. He had never seen me before, and as I approached him, whilst he was in the midst of his talk to the people, I held a card in my hand and asked him if here recognized it. He glanced at it and said:
“Yes, sir, I wrote it myself.”
“You wrote this card, you say?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, and reached out his hand to get it.
“No, thank you,” I replied; “the contents of this card, having been sent through the United States mail, is sufficient to send you over the road.’”
“Let me have it,” he insisted.
“No, thank you. You have admitted before these witnesses to having committed a penitentiary act.”
I turned and left him, while the crowd of people roared and laughed and cheered until he was utterly confounded. He tried to make an explanation to the people and then started for the camp ground, asking them to follow him.
Upon his arrival at the camp ground, the song service had just commenced, and the large auditorium was well filled with people. A few persons had followed him through curiosity. The usher escorted him to a seat near the pulpit, thus giving him an opportunity to carry out his desires as he had planned. After the minister had delivered his sermon, an opportunity was given for any one else to speak or testify, but this man sat spellbound. Three or four persons gave short talks, and the services were dis missed. The man went quietly out of the auditorium. Some of those who had followed him to the camp ground asked him why he did not take the pulpit and expose the people as he had said he would do. He replied that he did not have a favorable opportunity, but thought it best to wait until the afternoon. In the afternoon he did the same as he had done in the forenoon. When questioned again, he said he would wait until the night service, as he thought there would be a larger crowd on the grounds then. But during the night service he sat as quiet as before and was unable to cause any disturbance whatever because of the mighty power of God that was manifested in the meetings. He could not even cause a disturbance by talking against those whom he was intending to expose, unless he went some distance away. Finally he became so disgusted at his inability to carry out his plan that he left the grounds and did not return during the remainder of the camp meeting.
A few weeks later he sent me a letter stating that he was about forty miles from our town and was about out of money. He said that he knew of some terrible things of which some of the ministers were guilty, mentioning some things but giving no de tails, and closing by saying that if we would send him fifty dollars he would leave that part of the country and would say or do nothing further about the matter, at least for the present time; otherwise, there would likely be some cases in court. His object was to intimidate or frighten us in such a manner as to furnish him the amount of money desired. I wrote him a postal card and told him that if he knew of any one guilty of such things, the sooner he had them arrested the better, and that if he did not do so, he was laying himself liable to the law.
An Attempt to Put Me in Prison
After my card was sent, nothing more was heard from the man for some time. One day while I was sitting at my office desk busily engaged at my work, a shrewd looking gentleman stepped into the open doorway and greeted me with the following words:
“I am a United States detective and I under stand you are doing a fraudulent business here, and I have come to investigate.”
Like a flash the thought came to my mind that Mr. Wyrick was the instigator of the whole affair; but, knowing that the charge was false and that our business would bear a thorough investigation, I said to the detective:
“Come in. We are always glad to have people make investigations concerning our work.”
When he was invited to take a seat and make him self at home, he gave us to understand that he had no time to spare and that his business was urgent and very important. After repeating his statement con cerning his object in coming, he was told that we were only too glad to have him make the investigation, that the office was open from attic to cellar, and that everything was at his disposal. He could go alone and make his investigation in every nook and corner, or we would send somebody with him, or I would go with him myself, and he could make a thorough examination also of our books and business affairs, and have the liberty of asking any questions he de sired, and if we could not answer them, we would tell him our reasons for not doing so.
This seemed to put him at ease and to quiet any fears he may have had of not being able to make a thorough investigation. After a few minutes’ con versation he was asked who had reported against us. He finally admitted that it was Mr. Wyrick. I took from my desk a letter which Wyrick had written to me some time previous, in which he had made threats that were not allowable to be sent through the mail but when I presented it, the detective replied:
“No, sir, I have all the evidence I desire and do not wish to read the letter.”
“I only wish you to know the character of the man who has manufactured and furnished the evidence which you possess,” I replied.
He still insisted that he did not have any time to waste in examining such letters, as his evidence was completed, and that all that was necessary now was to make the investigation and carry out the plans according to his official duty.
“But,” I insisted, as I held the letter before him, “you will readily recognize the handwriting of this letter to be the same as that of the letters in your possession.”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, “it is the same”; and he listened while I read a few striking and convincing sentences. He then became more pliable.
Stepping into another room, I took a large postal card from my letter-files. It was the same card that Mr. Wyrick had written over five years before, and the one I had presented to him at the depot. This card was written from Geneva, Illinois, and signed “A friend,” and, as before stated, contained 535 words. As it was presented to the detective, he at once recognized the handwriting as being the same as that of the letters which were in his possession from this same man.
“Let me read what he has to say on this card.”
“No, sir, I have no time for such matters,” he re plied.
“But you must hear it. You say you have an abundance of evidence against us, and the contents of this card will undoubtedly help to clear up matters in your mind, and you must hear it read.” And with out waiting for further reply I began reading, first calling his attention again to the fact that it was signed, “A friend,” as though some one else had written it. The card began by telling what a good man Mr. Wyrick was. The writer stated that he was well acquainted with him and that Wyrick was a man who loved his wife and family and treated them with the greatest respect and provided for them. It continued with scurrilous statements against others and such praise of himself that when the card was half read the detective sprang to his feet saying, “Mr. Byrum, I will tell you what to do. You tell that wife of his to go and take a course in athletics and bring her clubs home, and use them on him. That man is crazy. Good-by.” And he started for the door.
“Hold on,” I replied; “you came here with charges against us and for the purpose of making an investigation, and we wish to know what the charges are and also to have you make an investigation to your satis faction.”
“I am satisfied,” he replied; “that man is crazy. I have no charges whatever against you or your company. However, had the charges been true and I had made my investigation and found things as reported, it was my intention to take you along with me to prison.”
The detective then took the time to tell us many things concerning the matter and concerning his mis givings in regard to the truthfulness of the reports against us. He said, “Let me see that card again”; and after examining the date of it, he continued: “Were it not that it has been more than five years since this was written, this man would go to the penitentiary instead of your being prosecuted on account of the charges which he has made, as the penalty for sending such statements through the United States mail on a postal card is from two to five years im prisonment, and two to five thousand dollars fine, one or both, at the discretion of the court.” We further urged him to examine our books and make a thorough investigation of our business, but he refused to do so and went his way satisfied.
A Murderous Plot
The man who was determined to be our adversary, although having been thwarted in his former attempts to do us injury, was not satisfied to discontinue his efforts. A few weeks later he wrote me a letter from Rockford, Illinois, at which place he was living at that time. In his writing he exhibited a very friendly attitude and gave me a special invitation to come to Rockford. He stated that on account of the circumstances he was not at liberty to tell me in detail the nature of the situation, but that he wished to see me on very urgent business and asked that I say nothing to any one concerning my going to Rockford and not to reveal to any one his name and connection with my going.
He gave instructions concerning the time to leave home so that I would arrive at Rockford on a train that reached that city about eleven o’clock at night. He would be there to meet me and would escort me to the proper place, where the business could be attended to in a very short time after my arrival.
To his mind, no doubt, the letter was shrewdly written and the plans well laid to entrap me; but as soon as I read the letter, I was reminded of the dream that I had seven years previous to that time, in which this man had tried to murder me, and I was not so foolish as to take a trip under such circum stances even had I known that there was no malicious intentions back of it. I committed the matter entirely into the hands of the Lord, knowing that he would protect from the snares of the enemy and send deliverance from the hand of the oppressor.
The man made one more attempt to harass me with his threats and pernicious plannings, which were utterly ignored, and in answer to prayer the Lord thwarted him in such undertakings.
Then for several years we did not know of his whereabouts till finally one Sunday at the close of a morning service in Omaha, Nebraska, a woman came for ward and took me by the hand, telling me that she was the wife of J. W. Wyrick. After making some inquiry concerning her husband, I learned the follow ing: For a few years he had been in an insane asylum, and a few weeks previous to this time he was at the point of death, and she requested the officials of the asylum to permit him to be brought home to die; but since his return home he had rapidly grown better in mind and in body, and was able to walk about the house. After I had expressed my desires to see him, she urged me to call at their home that after noon.
During the visit she told me of many things con cerning his past life and of his enmity against ministers and any one who preached the gospel in all its purity. She also referred to the time when he had sent for me to go to Rockford, and said that he surely would have murdered me had I come at that time.
Before permitting me to go to his room, she said that he had been like a cage of demons and that he was possessed with evil spirits, and urged me not to tell my name lest he become unnecessarily enraged. I was anxious to see the man who had so bitterly op posed not only me but so many of the people of God, and felt a great sense of pity for him as I left the others who were present and entered the room alone with him. As he arose, and I took him by the hand, I shall never forget the demoniac look that he gave me, although I felt assured that God would protect me from any danger. And while he could talk in a rational manner, yet he seemed to have no inclination or desire to receive help from God. The man who had so often rebelled against God, cursed his people, and imbibed such a spirit of enmity, was led captive by the devil until the last, and a few weeks later he died as he had lived, and passed into eternity to meet his doom.
MY FATHER KNOWS
“I do not know, but Father knows: I often, often wonder why; “Alas! I do not know,” I sigh, And in distress to Father cry, Because I know he knows.
“I do not know, but Father knows, Why some things wanted were denied, Some things I asked were not supplied, Some longings were not satisfied; I know my Father knows.
“I do not know, but Father knows, Why sickness oft must come my way, Why often cloudy is my day, Why, oh, so oft the answer, Nay; But this - my Father knows.
“I do not know, but Father knows: He loves his wilful, wayward child, So often tempted and beguiled, And so restrains, in accents mild; Thank God! my Father knows.
“I do not know, but Father knows; So in his comfort I’ll repose; Though oft I miss the way I chose, And oft for me no firelight glows, I’ll rest, because my Father knows.
“I do not know, but Father knows; And when I reach the better laud, And clasp my Savior’s pierced band, I’m sure that then I’II understand These things my Father knows.”
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SUCCESS UNDER ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES
Among those whose fame has become world-wide on account of their power with God to prayer, is Doro thea Trudeli, who was born near the beginning of the nineteenth century and lived in Zurich, Switzerland. She was of humble parentage and passed through many privations. Judging from her natural abilities and capabilities, there was apparently nothing about her that would lead a person to think that she was likely ever to rise to prominence or renown before the world. She had a deformed body, was what is generally called a hunchback. And she did not possess what the world would call a beautiful face.
Notwithstanding all these things, there was some thing about her life that was really beautiful and winning. The early days of her childhood spent with her Christian mother helped to prepare her for a life of usefulness in later years. She was a lover of flowers, and her flower-gardens were admired by all passers-by.
In her childhood days she learned to pray and ask divine guidance in all the affairs of life. In later years, not only did she have a secret place of prayer in her home, but she communed with the Lord from time to time in secluded spots in her flower-gardens. She was wont to select some of the most beautiful flowers from her garden and carry them to those who were sick in the neighborhood. These acts of kindness not only brought blessings to her soul, but also brought her more and more in contact with those who were afflicted and suffering, and from time to time she gave words of encouragement, and then retired to her secret place of prayer to ask God to relieve them of their suffering, sometimes having them to agree with her in prayer at a certain time. So remarkable were the answers and so great the benefits received by the sick, that it was not long until the effects of her prayers were known to such an extent that people would send for her to come and pray for them, while others would bring the sick to her home.
As she advanced in years, her faith became so strong in the Lord that she ventured to lay hands on the sick and asked God to heal them, and he honored her faith and raised them up. In a short time her house was thronged with sick folk, and as many were healed, the medical profession were stirred because they were losing customers.
She was arrested for treating the sick without license and was fined and ordered to dismiss her patients. As they were dismissed, her house was at once filled with others. In court she testified that she used no medicine and prevented no one from using medicines; that she knew nothing about diseases, but only knew that her Savior healed every sickness. Her friends urged her to carry the case to a higher court.
For some time she hesitated to do so, but they made all arrangements for the trial, and after earnest prayer she consented to have the case taken before the higher court.
The affair was published and republished in differ ent countries. Many strangers wrote her that she had many staunch friends who were offering prayers in her behalf, and told her to be of good courage and stand for the truth. When the time came for the trial, there were people present from different countries who were anxious to see her win the case, while the medical profession was united in opposing her. When the evidence had all been produced and the time came for the final decision, the court decided that there was no law to prevent any one from pray ing and laying on hands for the sick. Consequently she was acquitted, and her accusers had all the costs to pay.
During the trial many persons testified in favor of divine healing, and instead of the doctors’ putting a stop to the work, it spread a hundredfold more, and people came flocking from every direction to know more about the dealings of the Lord with the people.
The secret of the success of her life was in her simple faith in God. In her places of prayer she learned to obtain the necessary help and strength from the Almighty. As she delighted in helping others, relieving them of suffering, and doing what she could to encourage them, the Lord rewarded her.
Many people are discouraged because they are not so well situated in life nor as wealthy as other people, and for this reason consider themselves unable to become useful; therefore their lives are a failure. Whereas, were they to take advantage of their pres ent opportunities, their labors would be crowned with success.
Among my many correspondents was a young lady about twenty-three years of age, who had already reached quite a place of prominence in the world and had bright future prospects, although she had neither hands nor arms. When she was a very small child, her father, while in a drunken condition, became en raged and in order to punish her held her arms and hands on a hot cook-stove until so badly burned that both arms had to be amputated at the shoulder.
One would almost conclude that her usefulness in life was forever thwarted, but not, so. She began us ing her toes instead of her fingers, and on account of her poverty she was forced to work and make the best of life. In a few years she was able to do almost any kind of housework or office-work. She could comb her hair, dress herself, sew, do embroidery work, and handle carpenter tools with such skill and efficiency that at an early age she had quite an assortment of furniture which she had made, having sawed the boards and driven the nails herself. From these accomplishments she had obtained a fair education, and her penmanship was to be commended.
While reading her letters I often thought: “If under such adverse circumstances she has been able to make so great a success in life as to be able not only to earn her own living, obtain an education, and to secure and hold important positions, surely others who have the use of all the members of their bodies should take courage, and especially should those who have learned to trust God lay hold on his promises with a determination to be faithful servants in his vineyard and bright and shining lights to the world.”
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THE BEAUTIFUL SNOW
During the early part of the war, one dark Saturday night In midwinter, there died in the Commercial Hospital of Cincinnati a young woman over whose head only two and twenty. summers had passed, She had once been possessed of enviable beauty and, as she herself said, had been “flattered and sought for the charms of her face.” But alas! upon her fair brow was written that terrible word - prostitute. A highly educated and accomplished woman, she might have shone In the best of society. The evIl hour that marked her downfall was the door from childhood, and having spent a life of disgrace end shame, the poor friendless one died the melancholy death of a broken-hearted outcast.
Among her personal effects was found the manuscript, “Beautiful Snow,” which was at once carried to Enos B. Reed, at that time editor of “The National Union.” In the columns of that paper on the morning following the girl’s death, the poem appeared in print for the first time. When the paper containing the poem came out on Sunday morning, the body of the victim had not received burial.
Mr. T. B, Reed, one of the first American poets was so taken with its strange pathos that he Immediately followed the corpse to its final resting-place.
Such, according to the “Boston Standard,” are the plain facts concerning her whose “Beautiful Snow” shall long be remembered as one of the brightest poems in American literature.
Oh the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and the earth below! Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet; Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along.
Beautiful snow! it can do no wrong. Flying to kiss a fair lady’s cheek, Clinging to lips in a frolicsome freak; Beautiful snow from the heaven above, Pure as an angel, gentle as love!
Oh the snow, the beautiful snow? How the flakes gather and laugh as they go Whirling about in their maddening fun! It plays in its glee with every one, Chasing, Laughing, Hurrying by;
It lights on the face and it sparkles the eye, And even the dogs, with a bark and a bound. Snap at the Crystals that eddy around. The town is alive and its heart in a glow To welcome the coming of beautiful snow.
How the wild crowd goes swaying along, Hailing each other with humor and song! How the gay sledges, like meteors, flash by, Bright for a moment, then lost to the eye; Ringing, Singing, Dancing they go
Over the crust of the beautiful snow— Snow so pure when it falls from the sky, To be trampled in mud by the crowd rushing by, To be trampled and tracked by the thousands of feet, Till it blends with the horrible filth in the street.
Once I was pure as the snow - but I fell! Fell, like the snowflakes, from heaven - to hell; Fell to be scoffed, to be spit on and beat; Pleading, Cursing, Dreading to die,
Selling my soul to whoever would buy, Dealing in shame for a morsel of bread, Hating the living and fearing the dead. Merciful God! have I fallen so low? And yet I was once like the beautiful snow!
Once I was fair as the beautiful snow, With an eye like its crystal, a heart like its glow; Once I was loved for my innocent grace, Flattered and sought for the charms of my face! Father, Mother, Sisters, all,
God and myself, I have lost by my fall. The veriest wretch that goes shivering by Will make a wide sweep lest I wander too nigh; For all that is on or about me, I know, There is nothing that’s pure but the beautiful snow.
How strange it should be that the beautiful snow Should fall on a sinner with nowhere to go! How strange it would be, when the night comes again, If the snow and the ice struck my desperate brain! Fainting, Freezing, Dying alone;
Too wicked for prayer, too weak for my moan To be heard in the streets of the crazy town, Gone mad in the joy of the snow coming down; To lye and to die in my terrible woe, With a bed and a shroud of the beautiful snow.
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FALLEN AND RESCUED
BY C. M.
Because I did not understand the meaning of the atonement and did not know what God’s love meant, the enemy caused me to believe for eight years there was no reason for me to hope. Discouragements beset me continually.
When twenty years of age I met with a misfortune that brought into my life almost the entire catalog of sins forbidden by the Ten Commandments. I considered myself doomed to destruction. With such a doom hovering over me, I was at times very reck less, but always suffering with remorse. I often con templated suicide, but felt that after I had destroyed the body, I shouId yet have the soul to contend with. I fought many battles; tried, but always failed, to live right in my own strength. I thus suffered and sinned until I realized fully that no earthly power could bring relief. Then Jesus brought a great calm to my soul one day and whispered that he was very near, nearer than I could think. This was the sweetest experience I had ever had in all my life, and I told him that if he could only take me and make me pure I would consider no sacrifice too great to obtain this coveted blessing. He made the way so plain.
You laugh at God’s power to heal diseases; but when God takes such a sinner as I was and cleanses him from all these sins, gives him power to live above these things, takes away even the diseases caused by the sins and establishes him in the way of life, then you have no more room to doubt or scoff.
God did all this for me and much more. I know what Jesus meant when he said, “To whom much has been forgiven the same loveth much.” To the world I am dead, my affections are on things above. What I eat, what I wear, what I do - all is done with an eye single to the glory of God. I have only one aim in life, and that is to rescue souls for Jesus’ sake and to do his bidding, for his way is best.
For the sake of others that are fallen and full of sin and disgrace and discouragement, I want to briefly tell my story. It may cause some one to see the way out.
The first nineteen years of my life were indeed “nineteen beautiful years.” I remember them as I would the life of a pure and ambitious girl. No one could have convinced me at that time that I should become a ruined girl. I loathed all things vile and had no sympathy for the weakness in a girl’s character that would cause her to fall. I conceitedly considered it a lack of self-respect or purity. I have learned this is not always the case.
I consider the fundamental cause of my fall was disobedience to my mother, and this is how it was accomplished. A very popular sporting man came into our town. His manners, dress, and general appearance were very winning, especially to the young ladies. He was, of course, also popular with his class of men. I remember now that he was not popular with the mothers. I did not understand this at the time. My mother especially opposed, but she was always very busy and had little time for me. I was highly flattered by his attentions since they were so coveted by my companions. At first there was no love, but his methods of conquest soon began to have their effect. He saw that whatever I did, I did all to the glory of himself. He demanded all. I seemed to be entangled and yet had no thought of dishonor until when too late. I saw his design, nor was I the only victim. For at the same time in other towns he was practicing this same power and these same methods on other girls.
Well do I remember the moment, the hour, the place, the surroundings, and every feature of the awful circumstances when I realized his demon heart was yet unsatisfied, and I was alone and powerless to defend myself. I pleaded and offered everything in my power for my release, but in that hour I saw a life of honor, purity, and all my ambitions departing from me. God only knows, after I had been left and had lain unconscious for hours, how I finally re covered my senses to suffer agony, remorse, and anguish of soul. Then I realized that my life had been wrecked; that I was an outcast, a despised, indecent wretch. My only thought now was to spare my family and escape the powerful demon that now considered he had safely landed me. I escaped him personally, but found he was not alone. Many traps were laid for me. After a year of wanderings and intense sufferings, I could not help but see how the hand of God still often reached down in compassion and provided for me in wonderful ways; yet recompense for sin must follow, so concealed behind walls like a prison and in the upper chamber of an open door for outcasts, I became a mother.
If I had not been alone in the fight, my way might have been easier, but my greatest concern was that my own people should never suffer for my sake or for my misdeeds. They must never know. I must spare them if it meant death for me. I longed for life to end, but I was afraid the future would be worse.
But now the innocent girl baby looked into my wretched face. Although I loathed myself, I loved this little child. The unpleasant past, the present hard circumstances, nothing mattered now. She was mine. No mother ever loved her babe better than I did mine. Alas! The only good thing I could do for her was never to let her know her mother. I felt that under no circumstances must she ever discover the truth. Some one came and loved her and took her away. She went to a minister’s home, to a name and place unknown to me. They brought pretty clothes to dress her in and laid her - in the coffin? Ah, no, if they only had! They laid her in another mother’s arms. Just three days before, this mother’s babe had been placed in the coffin, and she wanted mine to fill the vacant place. What did it matter about the vacancy in my heart? As I sat and watched over her bedside that last night to catch the sound of every breath, to miss no mark of every feature, to live with her every minute that I could, my heart pained unceasingly. Every nerve in my body ached like the exposed nerve of a tooth. My bones and my flesh were sore. Yet they say such mothers do not care!
When she was gone, my heart and my life were gone. What mattered now whither I went? To be sure, I preferred purity, beauty, light, respectability. I kept up appearances because I had a chance to, and I yet desired to spare my relatives. However, evil was ever present with me, and while I was crushed and in despair when alone, yet in company I must always laugh and jest. I was alone in the world so far as the secret of my heart was concerned. In the company of pure men and women I felt my condition most, and therefore avoided them so far as I could consistently or without comment. Impure men and women I loathed, but felt that this was my caste.
Life was such a burden that I finally gave up all the battle and hastened after that phantom, “the pleasures of sin,” until I sunk to degradation and depravity, and still did not know of any power on earth to hold me up, and no one came to tell me. I often wished that time would turn backward so that I might be born again. I saw now the beautiful Christ but no way to reach even the hem of his garment. How beautiful, to me were those people who said they had an experience of full salvation! How I wished I was worthy of even a prayer! Why could I not at this time have known that I was one of the kind that Christ left heaven to come and redeem? Why could I not have known that this defiled flesh would soon be returned to dust, but that the eternal soul might be born again? the flesh and heart cleansed and washed, but the spirit renewed?
“I do not know why He should His all resign And suffer death to hide my wretched past; But this I know: his priceless love is mine, And his dear voice will tell me all at last.”
At last I knew the meaning of the words, “Our God is able to deliver thee.” His everlasting arms were able to support my blasted faith and make it strong. Neither was his arm shortened that it could not save even me.
Now I wish to say a few words to those who have been overtaken along the way as was my lot, and have unfortunately fallen into sin and degradation. He can do the same for you. Do you not hear the faint whisper of Hope? Now, it doesn’t matter how far you have gone in sin, how scarlet the stains, how your feet are entangled, nor how strong the shackles of habit are, if you will believe you may receive the power to rise above every blinding influence. For is it not written, “He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives [sin’s captives], and the opening of the prison to them that are bound [in sin]”?
“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with a vengeance, even with a recompense; he will come and save you.” God’s Word is full of promises. It was inspired and written for you. For you God’s Son came seeking into a lost world. He places you on earth to fill a place - a mission; you have miserably failed, but he is still counting on you. Because you have failed others are failing. Will you turn their steps and take your place and lead them back? Resist discouragements. Resist sin. Accept the humble way and live the life of peace and satisfaction. Will you have the evil cast out of your heart? Will you have the room swept and cleansed that Christ may enter? Will you let Christ reign and abide in the temple?
“The Spirit and the bride say, Come.”
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PRAYING FOR RAIN
A woman in eastern Indiana who was very worldly during her early life, through illness and reverses of various kinds, turned to the Lord for help and in after years became a very devout Christian. Al though she continued to have severe trials, she learned to take everything to the Lord in prayer. Even the more minute things such as most people neglect to mention while in prayer, she would talk to the Lord about as one would to his best friend.
In her humble manner she would make known her needs and wishes with praise and thanksgiving, and her simple faith was honored from day to day by the manifestation of the power of God in answer to her petitions. The granting of one petition would en courage her to more boldly present her needs at the throne of grace. The enemy often sought to defeat her or to bring discouragements when the answer was delayed. Sometimes she was not able to understand the reason for the delay, but she learned to trust it all to him to whom she had made known the desire of her heart.
Though she made no display of her faith and though her prayers were very simple, nevertheless God heard and answered her humble petitions, insomuch that for many miles from her country home she was known as one for whom the Lord heard and answered prayer.
So definite were her answers when praying for those who were sick that she received many calls to visit the sick at their homes and offer prayer in their be half!.
It was my privilege once to visit the home of this woman during the time that a severe drouth was de stroying the crops throughout that section of the country. While riding along on the train we saw fields of withered crops, for but little rain had fallen for many weeks, and the heat was intense; but when we came within a few miles of her home, we noticed a marked change in the atmosphere. There were signs of recent rains, and in the vicinity of their home we were amazed at the freshness of the air, the tall green grass, and the prolific corn fields.
When mention was made concerning the drouth only a few miles distant, she told us that they had been having plenty of rain during the summer. “When we need rain,” she said, “I pray for it, and the Lord always sends it. In times past when I would pray for rain, I always believed it would come, but often there would be only a sprinkle, or a very light shower. This was difficult for me to understand, as the Lord has promised to supply all our needs, and the Word of God says, ‘What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Sometimes I desired rain, and we needed it, but the supply would not be enough to meet the demand, and I thought it was because it was not the will of God to send it just at that time.”
But there was the promise to supply the need and to grant the desire of the one who would pray and be lieve. Then, there was the example of Elijah, who prayed for rain at a time when it was needed, and he continued praying until he felt an assurance that the Lord heard and granted his petition; and not merely a few drops fell upon the parched ground, but that very day the rain fell in copious showers.
In consideration of these promises and evidences of answered prayer, this woman took courage and made her petitions with boldness. “I concluded,” she said, “that when I prayed for rain and only a very light shower came, it was the enemy trying to defeat me in my efforts, and thereafter at such times I always rebuked the enemy and prayed earnestly, and the rain would come in abundance.”
So definite and frequent were the answers to her prayers that some of the neighbors said to her, “The rain sometimes falls only on your own farm.”
During our visit at her home, the crops began to show signs of the need of rain. In the morning of the day we were to leave, she and her daughter went into a room to pray for rain. In the afternoon the clouds began to gather, and their increased darkening aspect indicated an approaching storm, which was likely to hinder our driving to town to take the evening train. When her attention was called to it, she said they had asked the Lord to send rain, but to pre vent its coming until after we were gone. Her prayer was answered. As our train left the station, the dark, lowering clouds were still hanging above the western horizon ready to bring the refreshing shower in accordance with the petition offered and the promises of the Word.
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PROTECTION FROM PLAGUE AND CHOLERA
A few years ago while I was crossing the Indian Ocean on my way to India, I picked up a newspaper and read a statement that during the previous week over thirty-four thousand people had died of bubonic plague in the Punjab district, in the northwestern part of India. As cholera and smallpox also were raging in that country, at first it seemed that my go ing to the Punjab would be a precarious undertaking; but, confident that my mission was one directed by the Lord, I had no feeling of anxiety concerning my safety. Like a flash came the words of Psalms 91:10 “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”
Several weeks later as we journeyed to that plague stricken district, we realized the assurance and the fulfilment of that promise. Along the way as we came to small villages where the plague had made its appearance, the natives, fleeing from its ravages crowded into our train with their luggage. Having been exposed to the disease, they were liable to be at tacked by it while on the train, even in our crowded coach. A brother told me that on another train the people were thrown out along the way as fast as they died. No one on our train was attacked nor in any dwelling where we stopped while in that district.
At one place in Calcutta where we spent a few weeks, soon after we left two or three persons con tracted the disease, and one of them died. Under such circumstances we can truly say with the Psalmist, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me.”
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EATEN BY CANNIBALS
A minister of the Church of England in Guatemala related to me an experience he had a number of years ago with a tribe of Africans near the central part of Africa. He and a friend of his were traveling as missionaries. One night while they were stopping with this tribe, he was occasionally awakened by voices and noises, but did not know what the people were doing. Upon awakening early in the morning he discovered that his friend was missing. He began quietly to make an investigation as to his friend’s wherea bouts and the general situation of affairs. To his astonishment, he soon learned that they were in the midst of genuine cannibals, a man eating people. On the ground nearby lay the entrails of his friend, and in the backyard near by was a crowd of people around a fire getting ready for a feast while the body was being prepared and roasted. They were arranging to have a jubilee, and the minister took advantage of the occasion to make his escape in another direction.
At another time the people of this same tribe planned to kill and eat the minister. When they laid hold upon him, he was enabled to break loose from them and fled with utmost speed with them following hard after him. For three-quarters of a mile he ran, straining every nerve and calling on God for deliverance, and was finally able to outrun them and reach a place of safety.
Missionaries had many trying experiences among them; but as they were little by little taught the ways of the Lord and told the story of the gospel, and as civilization made its inroads among them, the Spirit of God worked upon their hearts, and a great trans formation took place in their midst. Later, through contact with travelers and other people from civilized countries, they learned many things about the people of other countries. But it was difficult for some of them to see the evil of cannibalism, and they remon strated thus: “We kill people and eat them for food, but the people of your countries fight and kill one another in war and throw their bodies away and receive no benefit. You say it is wrong for us to kill people and eat them; yet your people kill one an other and throw the bodies away. Why should the one be wrong and the other not be wrong?”
So it was difficult to show them their error and sin. They had to be taught also that wars and fightings are cruel and sinful no matter where these take place, and that sin exists among people in every land, but that God has provided a way of deliverance whereby people of every nation can be saved and receive his blessings in this world and in the world to come.
WHERE CHRIST IS NOT NAMED
BY CLARA M. BROOKS
Where Christ is not named, lies a region of night, And its souls have not beard of the day; They eagerly wait for the breaking of light, For the burst of the tiniest ray.
Can it be? Are there regions where He is not named— His name of all names, the Adored?
Can they speak of all others on earth who are famed, Nor mention the name of our Lord?
His name is more precious than all of earth’s gold; It bringeth salvation to men;
Though oft we have heard it, it never grows old—
It sootheth again and again.
None other in heaven or earth hath such power: It maketh the soul white as snow; Of it for the righteous is built a strong tower, Where all for a refuge may go.
His name is a conqueror over all sin, A healer of wounded and sore; By faith In his name are the sick whole again, And blest are the wretched and poor.
Oh, what must it be where this Christ is not named! To whom in distress can they go? Who healeth their sin-sick, their blind, and their maimed? Who comforteth them in their woe?
Alas, all is darkness! They wait for the light, Which some who might have it, despise. Soul, how can you tarry till falleth the night While one in such darkness still lies?
He purchased salvation’s sweet riches for them; Yea, he was for all sacrificed. Haste, haste to the regions where he is not named, And tell them of Jesus the Christ.
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TRAIN WRECKED
For many years I have been accustomed when boarding a train to breathe a prayer for protection, asking the Lord to give me a safe journey. During twenty-five years of travel in many countries, I have never been injured on the railways nor witnessed a serious train-wreck, although whole trains have been completely wrecked before me and behind me.
Once while traveling in Ohio, I arrived at Brad ford Junction at 9 P. M., at which place I was to change cars. A train on the other road was due to leave in fifteen minutes, but the agent advised me to wait an hour and take the fast train. Upon entering the train at ten o’clock I asked the Lord to give us a safe journey. As soon as the conductor took my ticket, I lay down in the seat and soon fell asleep.
A little later, when we were about seven miles be yond Piqua, a rail broke, throwing the engine and all the cars in front of the one I occupied into a ditch. Our coach came within about two or three feet of the broken rail and stopped. The engineer blew the signal whistle, and the wrecking-train came and took our car back to Piqua, and then returned to the scene of the wreck. During all this time I was sleep ing and knew nothing about what had happened.
About one o’clock in the morning I was awakened by the loud talking and laughing of the passengers. After listening for a while to their many expressions about the wreck, I crossed the aisle and sat down near a gentleman and asked, “Where was the wreck?” He burst into laughter and said, “It never waked you up!” I told him that I had asked the good Lord to give me a safe journey, to which he replied, “He surely did give you a safe journey.”
Many times have I thought of an expression made by an old brother when I was but a small child. While talking about a devout minister of his acquaintance, he said: “I always like to ride on the same train with that minister, for he always prays for safety on enter ing the car. I always feel secure, knowing that the Lord will not permit any evil to befall the train while that man of God is aboard; his presence is an assurance of safety.”
The expression became so stamped upon my mind that when I began to travel I thought of this man and concluded that as God is no respecter of persons he will help all who put their trust in him. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalms 91:11).
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RAISED FROM THE DEAD
BY NANCY (King) TAYLOR
In January, 1899, I went to visit my niece, Sister Fannie (Hooley) Martin, at Moundsville, West Virginia. This was near the Trumpet Home, which was then located in that city. While there I was taken very sick with typhoid fever and rapidly grew worse. Many prayers were offered in my behalf.
One evening while my niece and Sister Josie Hurbert were in the room, I realized that the end of my life had come and requested them to sing. Soon after wards I suddenly heard heavenly music, and the sweetest strains of angelic singing came down from glory. Such singing I had never heard. My soul was enraptured, and the scenes of earth began to fade away.
At this point two bright angels appeared and carried me gently upward. Many other angels soon appeared, and the way to heaven was one bright stream of golden glory, amidst the beautiful singing of myriads of angels. What I saw there no mortal tongue can express. Oh the beautiful grandeur and glory of that heavenly land! Such singing and music no mortal ear has ever heard.
After a time two angels carried me in their arms and brought me back to earth. There lay my body, cold, and stiff. After my spirit entered the body again, I was enabled to open my eyes and speak. I said, “Oh, must I come back to this cold, sinful world againt I did not wish to live here after seeing the glory of that heavenly land.”
When my spirit reentered my body, which the Lord touched by his mighty power, enabling me to sit up, it was a late hour at night, and the room was full of people. I had been dead for sometime. Judging from the lateness of the hour, I think it must have been several hours. Among those in the room whom I recognized when I was restored to life, were Brother E. E. Byrum, Gideon Detweiler and wife, now of Bellefontaine, Ohio, my niece, and a number of others with whom I was acquainted. There were also a number of strangers present.
I was informed that during the time my cold form lay there constant prayers were offered that I might be brought back to life. My restoration to life was in answer to their earnest prayers. Then they anointed me and prayed, and I was instantly healed; but I was weak until the next morning, when I arose and dressed and went down-stairs. This ended my sickness.
After a short time I came home to Ohio, a distance of about two hundred miles, praising God all the way. I praise God for what he has done for me and for the hope I have in my soul of that home in heaven, which is prepared not only for me but for all God’s people. Since this experience, I have witnessed some won derful manifestations of healing power, one of which I will here mention. A man named Ellis Ziegler was taken to the hospital at Columbus, Ohio, for an operation. When the surgeons made an incision, they discovered that he was full of cancers and that there was no hope of his recovery. Without doing anything further, they sewed up the opening and sent him home.
He heard of my having been raised from the dead and sent for my husband and me. We went and at his request anointed him. God instantly healed the man. The cut which the surgeons made was about eight inches in length. This occurred several years ago, and he is a strong man today. The doctors afterwards said to him, “We were not particular in sewing you up, as we only intended to make a respectable corpse.”
To God be all the praise, and he shall have the glory of my life.
R. D. 1, West Liberty, Ohio.
Corroborating Testimony
Soon after returning home from my office one evening in January, 1899, I received a message to come at once and pray for Sister Nancy King, who was then staying on Walnut Avenue in Moundsville, West Virginia, I went immediately. She had been sick for some time, but had now become much worse.
As I entered the house, a strange feeling came over me, which I could express in no other way than that it seemed as if I had been ushered into the presence of death. Sister Fannie Hooley, who afterwards married Brother J. B. Martin, met me at the stairway and said, “I believe Sister King is dying.”
After entering the room where she was lying, I examined her and replied, “Yes, this is death.” I saw she had but a few minutes to live. Her tongue was stiff, but she seemed to be trying to tell us something. Turning to Sister Hooley, I said, “She desires to tell us something. Let us ask the Lord to loose her tongue that she may be able to do so.” As we prayed, her tongue was instantly loosed so that she could speak.
“How is it with your soul, Sister King? are you ready to go?” I asked.
“My soul is all right,” she replied. “I am ready to go, but there is one thing that bothers me; I have not arranged my property in the way the Lord desires me to arrange it.”
Instantly her tongue became stiff as before, and she could say no more. I learned that some time before this the Lord had impressed her very clearly and definitely how to arrange her property so that it might be properly used after her death, but she had neglected to thus arrange it.
After writing a note to my wife, I also sent one to Brother W. G. Schell, who lived a few blocks away, and told him that Sister King was dying, and requested him to come.
By this time Brother G. J. Detweiler and wife had arrived, and we gathered around her bedside. In a few minutes she breathed her last, and her spirit de parted for that heavenly realm. The death-messenger had come and gone. Other friends came until the room was well filled.
While in meditation over the matter I could not understand why the Lord would answer prayer as he did in loosing her tongue and permitting her to tell what she did tell, and then let her die without having an opportunity of performing his will in regard to the arrangement of her property. The longer I considered the matter; the more I became convinced that the Lord had a design in permitting her to die thus - that he willed to glorify his name in raising her from the dead. She was not merely in a trance or swoon, but was dead and as lifeless as any one ever can be when laid away in the grave.
We continued in prayer for some time. There were others who felt she would be raised up in answer to prayer. Finally, while on my knees half way across the room from where she was lying, I asked the Lord for a sign. I was not in the habit of asking for a sign in order to be convinced that he would do what soever we asked, but as this was something more than the ordinary, I implored him to cause some part of her body to move as a witness that he would raise her up. Though my prayer was silent communion with God, yet he heard and answered. I was looking directly at her lifeless form, my eyes resting especially upon her left hand, which I was expecting to see move. Soon I saw it slip off her other hand. It was in such a position that it would not have seemed strange for it to slip thus, as to do so required no strength nor action of muscle more than occasioned by the mere sliding off. As it happened, however, the movement was in answer to prayer; the hand was moved by the power of God. When my eyes beheld this, I was filled with faith for her to be raised from the dead. I began praying aloud, and every one in the room was earnestly praying with one accord.
After continuing in prayer for some time, some of us went forward and laid our hands upon her in the name of Jesus, rebuked the power of death, and asked the Lord to restore her to life again. While we yet had our hands upon her head, God sent his mighty power, and she raised her hands and brushed her hair back, immediately raised herself to a sitting posture, and said: “Must I come back to this cold, sinful world again? Oh! why did you call me back? I would have been in glory.”
There was much praising God in our midst as she told us of the wondrous beauties she had been per mitted to behold. At that time she was a widow about sixty years of age, and about two years later she was married to Brother Isaac Taylor, with whom she lived a saved and happy life until August, 1910, when she died, eleven years after her former experience as re lated. Her husband lives near West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.
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STORY OF MY CONVERSION - A JEWESS
By Mrs. Rachel Warszawiak
I was born in 1867, in the city of Lodz, Poland, of an orthodox Jewish family. My dear father, at this time, was a man in the prime of life, and in ordinary circumstances. He gave his children the usual education that the average Jewish girl in Poland receives; but I was not eight years old when my father started in the real estate business, and in a very short time became quite wealthy. In the course of a few years he amassed so much wealth and property that he was soon counted among the richest men in the city. His chief aim was now, as is the case with every Jew when he acquires riches, to gain honor and fame. He then decided to engage me to a son of one of the noblest families in the country, cost what it might; and after considering various propositions from some of the best families of the country, Herman Warszawiak, grandson of the well-known rabbinical families of Gurah, from the city of Warsaw, was proposed, and after our parents had met together for several times and I was visited by his parents and he by mine, an engagement was formally made.
My father agreed to give a large amount of money as ‘Nadan’ (dowry), and promised on a written agreement to provide us with a home and every other necessity for twenty years after our marriage, the wedding to take place at my father’s house one year from the day of the engagement. At that time I was only a little over fourteen years, and Mr. Wars zawiak somewhat over fifteen years of age.
During the year my father presented many gifts to his future son-in-law, while his parents also sent me presents of costly jewelry, etc., but we ourselves did not write to each other, and had not as yet even seen one another. My beloved father told me a great deal about my future husband, but when I asked him if I could not see Mr. Warszawiak just once, he said that owing to his being of such a high rabbinical family he would not be allowed to see his fiancee until the day of the wedding.
On the day before the wedding my dear father and mother gave a great feast for the poor in the city and vicinity, and at the close gave money to every one of them. The many blessings I received from this multitude of poor people so touched my heart that I shall never forget the scene.
To describe all, that took place on the wedding-day is not necessary. Hundreds of friends of both families were present at the wedding, which was con ducted by all the three rabbis of the city. A few minutes before the ceremony took place we spoke to each other for the first time, and as long as it may please my dear heavenly Father to spare my life, I shall never forget the few solemn words that my dearly beloved husband spoke to me at this time. After our marriage my husband’s time was taken up mostly with his studies, and I saw very little of him. I, however, soon discovered that his life was not al together a happy one, owing to religious and spiritual perplexity, as he used to spend many days in fasting and much prayer, and seemed quite troubled in his mind, heart, and conscience, being shut up most of the time in his study, and leading a peculiarly consecrated life. On one occasion when we asked him why he was fasting so much, he replied that God could not forgive our sins unless we fast a good deal and pray very much so that with the loss of our blood and fat God might be pleased, as with the sacrifice our ancestors used to bring to the Holy Temple for the forgiveness of their sins. He pointed to the Scripture where it says: “If any man commit a sin, let him bring a sin-sacrifice unto the Lord, a young bullock without a blemish, and his sins shall be for given,” and he said that, while there is no sin-sacrifice today, he was sure that God would not forgive any of our sins unless we bring ourselves as sacrifices to God and punish our bodies, so that God may accept the loss of our own blood as that of the bullock for the forgiveness of our sins. My father, I could see very well, did not at all agree with my husband’s ideas, and, in fact, induced a number of his learned friends to urge him to give up his peculiar views and methods of life. We, however, soon realized that he had his ideas and views most firmly fixed, and there fore paid very little attention to the advice of others.
My dear husband was greatly beloved by all classes of people in the city, especially by the “Chassidim” (the followers of his uncle, the Babbi of Gurah), and our family was now greatly honored, much through my husband’s popularity and the consecrated life he led, which fact spread in the city and soon became the topic of conversation in many homes.
My father had erected a beautiful synagogue in his own house, and my beloved husband delivered lectures there from time to time, and often preached on the Sabbath-day. Much might be said about his teaching and preaching, which some liked very much, while others not only disliked it, but openly accused him of speaking unsound Jewish doctrine, and circulated bad reports about him, saying that he was imbued with what was more the belief of the Christians than of the Jews, and some went so far as to point their finger of scorn at him, and called him “apostate” and other such names. There were, how ever, for quite a time two factions among my husband’s friends and acquaintances. Some still be lieved in his earnestness as a Jew, while others denounced him bitterly.
At one Passover gathering in our synagogue, my beloved husband again spoke to the people with much fervency of spirit about the necessity of the shedding of blood for the remission of sins (as is also clearly taught by the commemoration of the Passover sacrament), and pointed to certain prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, saying, among other things, that as for him his hope and belief was in the Messiah of Israel, of whom the prophets spake as suffering for our transgressions and bearing all our sins, The congregation all became tumultuously wild and indignant, and used such language in expressing their feelings that, with tears in his eyes, my husband had at once to leave the synagogue. When I afterward went to his study to talk with him about the occurrence, he said: “My dear, please do not question me at all as to what I have said, for what I did say is nothing but the truth, and since God has revealed it to me, I must obey the voice of God.” I, knowing my husband to be thoroughly sincere in all his ways, had, of course, nothing more to say. But, as a matter of fact, from that time on he was no more looked upon as previously, but bitterly denounced and disliked.
Soon afterward my husband was seen in company with a Christian minister of the neighborhood, and when this fact became known in the city he was persecuted on all sides, and my father and mother be came also very much embittered toward him, telling him to leave the house and go back to his father’s home. Their power and influence over me was so strong that I was not allowed to go with him. Yea! I was not even permitted to see him and wish him good-by. At this stage we had been married for nearly five years, and with two dear little children (daughters) I was left in father’s house so broken hearted, miserable, and cast down that God alone knows what I suffered, but it is certainly not in the power of my pen to describe.
What became of my husband after he went to his father’s home I know not; for although he wrote to me letter after letter, I afterward learned that my parents saw to it that no letter should fall into my hands, and I was kept in ignorance as to him and his whereabouts. I heard after a time that my husband had been called to enter the military service of the Czar, and as he was found serviceable, his parents advised him under the circumstances to fly to a foreign country rather than to serve in the Russian army.
One day we received the shocking news that my husband had been publicly baptized in the city of Breslan, renouncing the Jewish religion and embracing Christianity. My father fainted away when he first heard of it, and the news spread like a flash throughout the entire city. Our home became a scene of deep mourning, more than if the half of our house hold had been taken away by death, and I was put to so much shame and trouble that I could not lift up my head and dared not go into the street.
Although up to this time I had never doubted the truthfulness and sincerity of my husband, this act of his, embracing the Christian religion and forsaking me and the dear children, caused me, I must confess, to believe all that my father said about him, and now readily agreed to my father’s proposal urging me to become divorced from him.
In a few days afterward a printed pamphlet in German, entitled “The Testimony of Hermann Wars zawiak at His Baptism,” was handed me, and after I had read it over carefully my heart again began beating with love toward him. This pamphlet con tained the address delivered by my husband on the eve of his baptism, explaining in detail to the Jews and Christians present his reason for forsaking Judaism for Christianity,’ and after reading it over and over again dozens of times, and looking up all the Scripture passages mentioned, I became almost con vinced that my poor husband was more right than wrong, and I constantly heard his words ringing in my ears: ‘Since God has revealed the truth to me, I must obey His voice.’ These words, together with what I had read in the pamphlet, gave me no rest, and I began to pour out my heart to God in prayer, asking him to reveal to me what is indeed ‘the truth’ which caused my husband to suffer so much and for sake us all because of it.
I now set myself to find out where he was living, and having secured his address, I wrote to him and gave him for my future address a private letter-box. A week later I received an answer, and should I at tempt to translate every word he wrote, it could never possibly convey to the reader the half of what it meant to me. The simple story of how Jesus, his precious Savior, had won his entire heart by sacrificing himself for our sins and transgressions, thrilled the depths of my heart through and through. One sentence in the letter read: “My darling wife, believe me, loving you as I do with my heart and soul, and the dear little children God has been pleased to bless us with, and bleeding as my heart does for having been obliged to forsake you all, yet having become through the Holy Spirit of God thoroughly convinced of the deep and wonderful love of my precious Redeemer, Jeshuah Hammushiach (Jesus Christ), I am counting it a privilege to suffer all this for his sake, and am, therefore, determined to leave you all in his loving hands until he in his great mercy shall reveal the truth to you as he has to me, and then reunite us again, body and soul in him.”
A long and steady correspondence now commenced between us and the chief aim and object in most of our letters was concerning the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. And I need only to say that in the course of a short time I became quite convinced that the Lord Jesus, whom my husband loved so dearly, was also my own personal Savior. Still I had many questions to ask, and did not as yet understand many things. I, therefore, had now a double desire to see my husband, and finally concluded to open my heart to my father and tell him of our long secret corres pondence, as I could not longer bear to hear them use such insulting language toward my husband, and it caused me great anguish to hear of their plans for persecuting him, and also how they should secure a divorce for me.
“But oh, how my father and mother upbraided me when they heard of our secret correspondence and of what was really in my heart! How excited they became, and altogether unreasonable; for although I had always been the dearest to them and the pet of our home, I heard such harsh and bitter words that night that it seemed to me as if in the five or ten minutes past my loving father and mother had turned to be my enemies.
I will not go on to write here, beloved Christian friends, all that I have had to suffer since that time, as I have been freely confessing to all since that day that I believed with my dear husband and would never be divorced from him. My people, fearing that I might run away to join my husband, kept a constant watch on all my movements, and resorted to all sorts of tricks to embitter me against him, and when nothing seemed to succeed they went so far as to cause a letter to be sent to me telling the news of my husband being drowned at sea, in consequence of which I was in deep mourning for a few weeks, shed ding bitter tears day and night; but when a little later I received a letter from my husband himself, and realized the cruel trick they had played on me, I told them in a decided way that I was determined, even at the cost of my life, if necessary, to go and see my husband, and that if I found him as I imagined him to be, I should certainly share my life with him either in joy or sorrows. Every obstacle imaginable was again thrown in my way to divert me from my purpose, and though I were to write a large book I could not write all that I went through.
I, therefore, have to make quite a break in my story, as I must come to the concluding part of my experience. Eighteen months ago I heard from my mother-in-law that my husband had sailed from New York to meet her in London, and I determined, ‘now or never,’ to go and see him. None of my people knew anything of this until I had already left for the station, but just as I was purchasing tickets, whom should I see, to my great consternation, but my father and mother, and almost every one from the house. My parents took me aside and argued as best they could that I should not go. The other people of the house took away in the meantime all luggage I had with me. I told them that their arguing this time was absolutely to no purpose, as I must go to see my husband, cost what it may.
They realized their inability to prevent me from boarding the train, and thought that if I could not take my children with me I would not go away. (Many, many times before would I have gone to join my husband had it not been for my dear little daughters, whom they would never let me take with me, and from whom, with that love I have to them, I could not bear the thought of parting.) At the last moment they snatched my children from me, and said, ‘Now, if you wish to go by yourself, you may do so,’ thinking that I would certainly not go away with out them. I wept and cried bitterly, begging them to have mercy on me and give me back what was my own flesh and blood, but they only turned a deaf ear to my entreaties.
I now stood alone and did not know which way to turn, but just at this moment God visited me, and the words of my dear husband quoted so often in his letters, saying that Jesus said, ‘Whosoever will not forsake father or mother, wife or child, house or land, for His sake is not worthy of me,’ flashed them selves upon my mind, and I realized for the first time that, if ever l was to get nearer to the truth as it is in the Lord Jesus, and ever to unite with my husband, I had to make a great sacrifice, and though my heart was torn and bleeding, I stepped into the train, and at once fainted away. Upon recovering, I found myself in the moving train, already a number of miles from Lodz. In three days later I reached London, and saw my beloved husband for the first time after a separation of six years, which to me seemed to have been as much as a life time. I should mention that, as my father was taken sick, my mother, with a friend, followed me to London; but after I had met my husband, and had been in his company for several days, during which time he also clearly explained all the past, and I saw for myself what a man he was, I decided to remain with him for a few months longer, so as to thoroughly test both his life and his Christian religion. After traveling with him for a fortnight, he spending most of the time teaching me from the Holy Scriptures the truth of his belief, and praying with me several times daily, he so won my heart, and the manner of his present life convinced me anew so much, that I there and then, on a Thursday after noon, gave my entire heart to the precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When my dear husband came into the room, and I told him of my decision, he fell on his knees, and so praised God as I had never heard him before nor have heard since. He then took me to his friends in Scotland, where we remained for over a month, during which time I was greatly moved by the remarkable love and kindness shown to me by those dear Christian friends. I sailed with my husband to his work in New York, and now wish to bear witness to my gracious and loving Redeemer, Christ Jesus, that, although at times my heart cries out for my dear ones at home, and if I could procure my loving children even at the sacrifice of my own blood for them I would do so; nevertheless, the dear Lord so comforts me when I think of what he himself suffered for me, that often it even seems a privilege to have been permitted to sacrifice all this because of him.
On Easter Sunday, April, 1894, I was baptized. All the fear and heart-struggles of past days were removed, and I felt the baptism of the Holy Spirit coming upon me, while I surrendered my entire self to my Lord and Savior forever. Amen.
Later
The above experience was written and published in The Jewish Christian some eleven years ago, since which time a dear son and daughter have been born to us here in New York, and after many efforts we also succeeded two or three years ago, by the help of God and the kind assistance of some friends, in rescuing the two daughters that I left behind in Russia at the time I fled from my father’s home, and have brought them over to our home in New York. They are now grown-up young ladies, and, thank God, them selves true and sincere believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been privileged to work with my dear husband in mission work among the 800,000 Jews of this city during these past many years. Great and varied indeed have been my lot and experience, and I have certainly suffered my full share of very bitter persecutions, and trials and troubles of all kinds; but, thanks be to God, I have also been allowed to witness, through our humble ministry for God, the conversion of large numbers of Jews and Jewesses, as well as to see with my eyes, year in and year out, all the time, hundreds of Jews gathered, listening most respect fully and sincerely to the preaching of the “glorious gospel” by my beloved husband five or six times every week, summer and winter, and, as has often been the case (especially on Fridays and Saturdays), crowds of Jews turned away from the doors of our mission for want of room.
Now, after seventeen years of hard work in this particular field, my beloved husband is almost help less to have the work continue. Being weary and tired out from so much overwork, and crushed from the dreadful persecutions and troubles he has en dured in the past few years, he is sick.
It pleased God, a few weeks ago, to take home our beloved youngest daughter, who died of brain-fever, and left a severe wound on my broken mother-heart, . . but as I lye before him on my knees, like a bird with broken wings, I must admit, I feel the heart of the Eternal is nevertheless very tender toward his children, especially so when they lye crushed and bleeding from many wounds. He pities as a father pitieth his children, and so, God helping me, I will trust in him, as do the sparrows of the air, and “though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,” and nestle trustfully in the hollow of his hand, until it pleases the Lord to grant us more strength and faith to submit entirely to his blessed will, saying from a full heart, “Not my will, O Lord, but thine be done,” knowing that it is written, “Be content with such things as ye have; for I will never leave thee nor for sake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus says, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he that doth not take his cross, and follow me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37, 38). By the help of God, I have tried my utmost to follow his teaching. May he help me now to be “faithful to the end,” even in the midst of our present bitter trials and troubles.
Amen and amen.
New York, Dec. 28, 1905. E. E. Byrum, Moundsville, West Virginia
Dear Friend and Brother in Christ:
“Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee; Jehovah make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Amen.
I have received with much pleasure and delight your very kind Christian letter, and also the package of very valuable books, for which please accept my sincerest thanks. I have not been able as yet to read them all, but have read the major portion of “The Secret of Salvation,” and by the grace of God, was much refreshed and stimulated in the blessed faith. Praise His dear name.
My dear husband does believe in divine healing, and although sick with locomotor ataxia and nervous prostration, never used any doctor or medicine; he relies on God and prays for healing, and even when in the greatest of pain, never murmurs, but says, “Thy will, O Lord, be done.” It sometimes breaks my heart to see this good man suffer dreadful pain, and pray for death to deliver him.
Many people say that if he would go to Hot Springs and take the baths there, he would surely get well again, and they say that even the Lord Jesus himself sent the lame man into the waters, and the blind too; but Mr. Warszawiak insists that God can heal him where he is, and has great faith. He is only “over worked” and says if he could but go away for a couple of months’ perfect rest he is sure he would become well again and able to continue the work for the Master. We have sacrificed everything we possessed for the cause of the Lord. Please pray for us, and pray for me, too, that I may be given strength from on high to be able to endure all that we are now passing through.
How right you are about the modern churches! I am more than disgusted, and our heart longs to be among God’s true and faithful children. Thanking you again and again, believe me, dear Christian brother, yours faithfully in the blessed service of the Lord Jesus, Mrs. Rachel Warszawiak.
A HEART CRY
BY CLINTON A. HERWICK
Dear Lord, I love thee best of all I count thee as my own; I’ll live for thee what e’er befall, I’ll live for thee alone,
My heart is fixed on thee, my Lord, To do thy will replete, And I am resting on thy Word, That strong and safe retreat.
Of self I can not higher rise Than feeble house of clay; I need thy counsel just and wise, To lead me all the way.
The arm of flesh is far too weak; I’ve found it can not save; But thine, O Lord, doth e’er prevail, Through life unto the grave.
And now since thou hast paid the debt Of love I owe to thee, Help me, (dear Lord, to ne’er forget Thy servant true to be,
And like thyself be blameless found In all thou dost adore; Help me in love to more abound And greater depths explore.
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ENSLAVED BY ABNORMAL APPETITES
A lady once wrote an earnest appeal for me to pray for her husband. He was a prominent business man in a large city, holding a high position in several corporations and business institutions. In fact, he was classed as one of the foremost men in the city. After mentioning a number of important facts concerning their situation, she related, in substance the following: He was quite successful in some of his business undertakings and rose to considerable prom inence; but after a few years of overtaxation and strenuous activities in business life, he discovered that he was weakening under the strain and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Harassed with weighty problems of business and too ambitious to lay aside the responsibilities, he sought help from the best medical advisors to be procured. The treatment, how ever, could not counteract his difficulties, and his physician prescribed old rye whiskey as a stimulant. It was soon evident that he had another foe to en counter. The whiskey buoyed him up for a while; but he soon awakened to the fact that he had acquired an appetite for liquor, the coils of which were like those of a mighty serpent, and that he was facing the fate of an inveterate drunkard. Too proud-hearted to be found on the streets in a state of intoxication, he was closely guarded and allowed to become sober at home while he was reported to be ill or “indisposed.”
Attacked with insomnia, he spent many nights in sleeplessness. In order to break loose from the habit of drinking whiskey, he began the use of bromid, which had an effect upon the system similar to that of opium. He neglected his daily duties, and in consequence suffered reverses in business and lost positions and influence. The last remedy only bound him more firmly as a slave to appetite.
It was while he was in this condition that his wife, a good Christian woman, made her appeal for prayer. They were advised to come to a camp-meeting which was to convene a few weeks later. At that meeting he yielded himself to God, turned from his sinful ways, and was converted, and delivered from his abnormal appetite. After returning to the city he kept the experience of the peace of God in his soul and victory over his evil habits for four months. Then he became entangled with some questionable business affairs, lost the victory, and became a prey to his old habits. Sometime afterward he was again restored and made an effort to live a Christian life. For some time he became closely associated with me, and did fair to become a useful man; but from lack of spiritual devotion he again became enslaved as before, and his condition was desperate because of the control exercised over him by the evil one. At this juncture of his career we were requested to render aid in deal ing with him.
His son, a noble young man, had often come to me for advice and counsel in spiritual affairs. Knowing that he did not fully undertsand his father’s condition, I informed him that he might expect his father to become desperate under almost any provocation and that he should take the matter earnestly to the Lord in prayer, that he might be able to be a help to his father. The young man was very thankful for the information and was better prepared to render aid.
The following day another brother and I were in vited to the father’s home. He had previously asked me what I thought of his condition and how he could get deliverance. I kindly instructed him and told him that the devil had undoubtedly taken possession, and we advised him how to proceed in order to gain his freedom and deliverance. At the time he seemed pleased and anxious to have the necessary aid.
Among the evil spirits that seemed to have control of him, we discerned some that were of a desperate character and were liable to become manifest at any time. For a time he talked pleasantly; then he referred to our former conversation concerning his condition. It seemed that the evil one immediately had control over him. Looking across at me from his seat on the opposite side of the room, he said, “You tried to turn my son against me yesterday.” I reminded him of his former appeal for spiritual help, and told him that my words to his son were only for the purpose of enabling his son also to be a benefit to him. He arose from his seat, repeated the charge, and said, “Don’t you dare deny it.” I replied, “I dare to tell the truth.” He immediately started across the room towards me with a large knife drawn. His countenance showed desperation and murder. I silently breathed a prayer for protection, and in like manner rebuked the murderous spirit, and calmly awaited his approach without rising from my chair. When about half way to me, he suddenly stopped, quietly returned to his chair, apologizing for his rashness, and changed the manner of his conversation. Later he came forward for prayer in a small public meeting, but was unable to receive any spiritual help because of his unwillingness to give up some of his evil ways.
After several years had passed by he wrote me from another State, earnestly begging my forgiveness for the way he had treated me, and stating that every word I had told him concerning his condition was true; that for years he had suffered untold agony because he was unwilling to acknowledge his condition and meet the requirements in order to get saved, but that he had finally found deliverance and was out from under the devil’s control and free from the things that had formerly enslaved him.
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SECURING RATES FOR CAMP-MEETING
Application had been made to a railway association for reduced rates for those attending a camp-meeting near Grand Junction, Michigan. In granting the favor a mistake was made; instead of making the rates good for three days after the close of the meeting, so as to give the attendants time to return to their homes, the order stated that rates were granted for only three days after the beginning of the meeting. As no one wished to leave the camp at that early date, the rates were of no avail.
A letter was sent to the railway authorities inform ing them of the mistake and asking them for an ex tension of time, but they replied that they had made no mistake and would make no change. A second letter was sent explaining to them the situation, but they replied very positively and emphatically that they could not and would not make the change. It was a very heavy burden for me, as in advertising the meeting we had informed the people that reduced rates would be granted, so that they could return home for only one-third the regular fare. Some who were present did not have sufficient money to pay full fare for a return ticket. The amount that would be saved through the gaining of reduced rates was about five hundred dollars.
Another appeal was made to the railway authorities telling them that the time must be extended. After the letter was written, a few of us laid it before the Lord and asked that his Spirit accompany it on its mission and that, if they were inclined to be stubborn, or if Satan was in any wise controlling them in the matter, the Lord would put his rebuke on the enemy and so break his power as to defeat his plans and cause them to grant our request.
The meetings were glorious, and many lessons had been given from the pulpit on the subject of faith, and how to exercise it. At the morning service a statement was made to the audience concerning the situation in regard to rates and concerning the last letter that had been sent, and it was pointed out that those concerned would now have an excellent opportunity to put into practise some of the lessons on faith which they had learned. The audience knelt in earnest prayer. In the afternoon, while on my way to the camp-ground, I was still very much burdened over the matter, and it seemed I had not become fully reconciled to the idea of so many being deprived of what had been promised to them; but while walking along the railway alone praying, I fully submitted the matter to God and left the responsibility with Him, telling Him that I had become perfectly willing for them to lose the amount that they would otherwise have saved, if he could get more glory thereby, and that I was willing for him to have his way about it, no matter which way it would terminate. Instantly came the impression by the Spirit of the Lord, as vividly as spoken words, “You can have it your own way, so it does not conflict with the will of God.” I said, “Amen, Lord, we will have rates.” My burden was gone, and I went on my way rejoicing.
During the afternoon service a messenger handed me a telegram from the railway authorities stating that they had granted rates and an extension of time according to our request. At the close of the service the telegram was read publicly, and the congregation offered praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness.
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AMONG THE LEPERS
In ancient times in the land of Canaan among the Israelites it was required of lepers when being approached by any one to cry out, “Unclean, unclean,” as leprosy was considered a very loathsome disease. A leprous person was shunned and looked upon re proachfully. The disease generally thrives best in haunts of filth among the lower classes of people; but it is not confined to such people alone, as it has been known to make its ravages among those in the higher walks of life, as was the case with Miriam, the sister of Moses, and with Naaman, the captain of the king’s army.
My first contact with lepers was at Jerusalem while on my way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Along the way, by the roadside, were many lepers. It was a pitiable sight to behold them in their deplorable con dition. Here was leprosy in its worst form. The dis ease affected the entire system. Different members of the body had become rough and scaly; in some cases the joints had been severed, so that many of these unfortunate people had lost their fingers and toes; the hands or the ears of some had dropped off, or their noses had been eaten away; many were blind, their eyes having decayed. Yet they were all beggars by the wayside, pleading earnestly for “bakshish” (money) from the passers-by. These lepers were not required to cry out “Unclean,” nor was any effort put forth to keep them from approaching strangers.
In India we not only saw persons diseased in like manner, but also saw some with large smooth white spots on their person, spots as white as snow, and having a resemblance of porcelain. The victims seemed to suffer little, if any, and they were permitted to mingle with the people, even in public gatherings.
Just outside the city of Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies, we visited a lepers’ home and hospital, kept by Roman Catholics. Along the road was a high enclosure with a guard on the inside of the closed gate. At first no one answered our call; but after we gave a certain number of knocks and stated that we wished to see the Mother Superior, we were ad mitted and instructed how to gain admittance at the next entrance. Passing through it, we were in the main enclosure, where there were 256 lepers. After a few words with the Mother Superior, she detailed two nuns to accompany us through the various wards of the hospital, kitchen, dining-room, laundry, and other places of interest.
At this place the people did not have the white leprosy nor the kind that affects the joints, but had rough irritable eruptions on the face, hands, and other parts of their bodies. The nuns nursed them and dressed the afflicted parts without fear of con tracting the disease.
To contract that dread disease means not only to be more or less isolated from society but to suffer the dread of deformity and of having a loathsome affliction the remainder of one’s life. Physicians have failed to find a remedy to cure it, and the only hope for deliverance for such people is through faith in Jesus Christ, who has power to heal all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases.
JESUS ONLY
BY MINNIE G. MEYER
Nobody knows but Jesus The burdens, the care, the pain, The earnest prayers and longings, The strivings to victory gain.
Nobody sees like Jesus, None else could understand And know me altogether; He holds my trembling hand.
Nobody cares like Jesus, Nobody loves as he None could so soothe and comfort, None could so tender be.
Nobody helps like Jesus; He gives me the grace I need; He helps me through every struggle, If I but his counsel heed.
I could not live without Jesus; This world would be empty and vain; But with him, what pleasure and comfort! The purest of joys I gain.
I would not part with Jesus For all that this earth could give, For to me he’s the fairest of thousands, And for him alone I shall live.
I soon shall dwell with Jesus In a world far fairer than this; Then, oh, what joy to be near him, And reign In supernal bliss!
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A SALOON-KEEPER’S DAUGHTER SAVED
BY MISS BERTHA MACKEY
“And a certain woman,... . when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:25-28).
My parents were Roman Catholics, Mother being French and Father Irish. I was kept away from Protestants entirely, not even being allowed to play with our neighbor children unless of the same faith. This made me very bitter against the Protestants. I loved the world and its pleasures. My being a Catholic made it possible for me to attend theaters, play cards, dance, drink wine and other liquors, without its be ing counted a sin. I traveled much about the world and saw much of life. My father was a saloon-keeper and one of the richest men in Detroit, Michigan. He never withheld money or pleasure from me in any respect. When I was about the age of sixteen my oldest sister died of consumption. A year later my only sister left, was taken to meet her God. I was the only child left. They loved me very dearly. The custom of the Catholic church is to give one daughter to the church, usually the oldest. My mother had withheld her daughters. The priest told her that the death of my sister was a punishment sent from God because she had done so, and that our only salvation depended on their giving me to the nunnery as a nun, which would mean separation from home, friends, and the world for life; in reality, it meant death. Even my parents could not see me any more, dead or alive, after I took the black veil. It meant a sacrifice to me, but in order to save my parents I was willing to go. So I entered the convent walls.
Shameful Discoveries
While there I saw many things I would not dare to print. I found twenty sisters in a dungeon, lying on huddles of straw, without covering, and getting only bread and water to live on. I was fortunate enough to plan the escape of one from the dungeon and saw her gain her freedom one year before I myself made my escape. I was severely punished one time for looking around in forbidden places. I chanced to run upon a priest in the convent, and I found that he had a secret passage from his home to the convent, under ground. I was amazed. He was angry at my dis covery. He showed me another part of the convent, taking me down-stairs, hanging me up by my wrists till my toes just touched the floor. My arms were pulled out of their sockets and the lining of my lungs was torn, and every cord in my limbs was strained, making them crooked to this day. They left me in this position for more than an hour marching all of the inmates in to see me. I was then taken down, and not being able to walk, was carried to my room, where I lay for over a month, suffering intensely. They also showed me a lime pit where they threw the bodies of innocent babes and told me that if I ever told what I had discovered they would throw me there, also. I was then shown the rack-room, where if we did not obey we should be stretched. How I longed to be free from the awful life that was staring me in the face!
One sister in the chapel impressed me very much. I wondered why she was always praying there from six in the morning till six in the evening. She told me that because she was disobedient to the priest he had put her eyes out and that her life’s work was to pray in the chapel those hours. She was fed on bread and water. Oh, how my heart went out for her, but I could do nothing! I made up my mind to make my escape. I was soon to go home to see my parents, having a few more times to go before I took the black veil. I had the white veil, which made a full-fledged sister. I had also taken the blue veil and could teach school as a sister. Remember that my parents were to be saved at any cost, so I was to be a black-veiled nun, or a cloister nun, meaning about the same thing; both having the same duties. The visiting sister made preparations for me to go.
I tried not to seem overanxious, but could hardly contain myself. I arrived home about two o’clock and visited with my parents about an hour and then asked permission of Sister Francis to go to my room. It was granted. My mother always left my room just as I had it arranged. I entered my room, locked the door, and pulled the dresser and everything that was of any weight against it. By this time I was exhausted and excited and, breaking down, began to scream, “Don’t make me go back! Don’t make me go back!” The sister ran up-stairs calling out what it would mean for her to go back without me. My father heard the noise and came running to see what was the matter. He asked me to let him in, but I would not. He then went for our family physician, and the sister telephoned for the priest to come at once. When he came in he asked if I had told anything. I answered, “No, Father.” Mother plead for me to be left at home for six months. The doctor said if I went back death would follow, so I was granted six months. I was sick and sad and wished to die before the six months were up.
Providence Interfering
I used to sit at the window during the evening and watch the crowds pass to and fro. One night my at tention was arrested by singing under the window and, looking down, I saw a little group of people called the Volunteers of America. They stood singing about Jesus and his power to save. It touched my heart. The shine on the face, the ring in the voice, seemed genuine. I continued to listen and, growing more interested, ventured out on the street-corner to be nearer them. I then followed them to their hall, listening to their testimonies and their songs. I was then twenty years old and had never read the Bible. One night they said there was only “one mediator between God and man, the Man Jesus Christ.” I began to wonder about my old teaching, about Virgin Mary, the Holy Apostles, Peter, Paul, and the other saints who were mediators between Jesus and me. God was talking to my heart, but I did not realize it then. He still kept knocking. Glory to His precious name! I want you to notice that it was a sin to go to a Protestant church or false place of worship, as the catalogues of sins said. I began to wonder what punishment would be placed upon me for listening to the Bible, the Word of God. I grew anxious, fearing the priest as every true Catholic does. I made confession to the priest, telling him I had been to the Volunteers of America. He asked me if I believed anything that they said. I answered, “Some I do, and some I do not.” He threatened to send me to the convent at once, but I plead, and he told me my penance would be to fast one week, drinking only water. I was sad in one way, but was still free to listen to the singing on the street-corner. I had almost ten hours of prayer to repeat each day, during the week. I arose early in the morning, did my penance of prayer, and then waited for the evening to come so as to hear about Jesus and his power to save from sin - that we could have peace and joy in our hearts continually and that if we died any time, day or night, all would be well with our souls. My heart longed for peace, but did not know the way to the blessed feet of Jesus. I groped in the dark day after day. My week ended. I returned to my Father Confessor, told him I had done my penance, but would never come again until I was satisfied in my own heart about these things.
God had talked to me during my week of fasting. Praise his precious name! I see it now, but did not understand it at that time. The Holy Spirit was convicting me of sin, of righteousness, and of a judgment to come. I continued on some weeks unable to yield to the Spirit of God, afraid to drop my old profession for fear that I should not obtain the peace of God and I should be doomed for eternity. Oh the agony of soul! But God came to me on the night of March 18, 1905. I want to say right here that where there are honest souls, God will dig them out and bring them the light. I was under such deep conviction it seemed impossible to wait until the evening service. It was the longest day of my life. Hell seemed to stare me in the face. I waited for them to come upon the street as usual. I wondered how long they would be taking the offering. I took a good handful of money out of the cash-register and threw it upon the drum and followed them to the hall.
Gloriously Saved
They started the service with that beautiful song, “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” I broke down immediately and, lifting my hands, cried out that I could not wait until the close of the meeting to be saved. I ran to the front of the hall and fell on my knees at the altar. The people gathered around me. Oh, how I struggled to be free! But I did not know how to come to Jesus. I began to pray to the Virgin Mary and other saints to intercede for me. They tried to explain to me that Jesus alone was all I needed to confess to, but all grew darker and darker to me, but I was in earnest. When God sees an earnest soul groping in the dark, He will come to his relief. The light began to dawn upon my soul, and I saw Jesus crucified for me individually. My sins loomed up before me, and I confessed and repented to Jesus alone, and joy and peace flooded my soul, and his Spirit witnessed with my spirit that I was “born again.” All seemed clear to me.
I was anxious for my parents at once. Like every new convert, I wanted to witness for my Savior, who had done so much for me. It was twelve o’clock when I got home, and, running into the house, I aroused my parents, telling them that Jesus had forgiven all my sins and filled my heart with love. I had always been very self-willed, had a high temper, and was never controlled except in the convent, then only through fear or punishment. But now all was broken, and I felt only love and compassion for my people, who were in such gross darkness. I tried to explain it, but this was impossible. They said I was crazy and called a doctor, who examined my eye-balls, as doctors always do when making an examination for insanity. He said I was not insane, but only excited and nervous, owing to my life in the convent. He told them to humor me, and I would get over it soon.
The Detroit Free Press came out in the morning with a cartoon of me marching with the Salvation Army, and telling that the daughter of a prominent saloon-keeper and a Roman Catholic had joined the Salvation Army. This was a terrible blow to my father, who was a very proud man. He, feeling that it was excitement, allowed me to continue in my new found faith.
Persecution’s Flame
I purchased three new Bibles, giving my mother and grandmother each one, keeping one for myself. I went upon the street-corner with the Volunteers, standing in front of my father’s Saloon, and there witnessed for Jesus. I began reading my Bible at once, so eager was I to learn of God, and continued to go on the street.
My father would stand it as long as possible and then would roll up his sleeves and take me off the street, kicking me every step of the way to my room. I tell you God had put such a love in my heart I felt no resentment, only love, and every kick made me love my parents that much more. This continued a number of weeks. The priest came every day, trying to persuade me to give up my foolish notions. But God had done a work in my heart that would stand the test. As a last resort they shut me up in my room, feeding me upon one loaf of bread and a pitcher of water a day, my father bringing it to me in the morning, but my mother never coming near. Every morning he would ask me if I would recant I would give my answer, “No.” I kept reading my Bible. On the eleventh morning he came as usual. I had read a blessed passage of Scripture in Isaiah: “Your bread shall not fail and your water shall be sure.” I asked Father to listen a minute until I read one verse. He listened; then he turned to me, telling me to come out, that he would never raise his finger towards me again. As we were coming down-stairs, Mother grew angry and excited and phoned for the priest to come at once. He came and commanded my parents to turn me out at once, telling them their only salvation depended upon immediate obedience. Remember he previously told them that their only salvation was that I should give my life to the con vent (“Consistency, thou are a jewel.”) My parents loved me, and loved me still. Separation was hard for us all. But the priest must be obeyed, and heaven must be gained at any cost.
I went up-stairs to pack my trunk, not knowing where to go or what to do. Never having worked a day in my life, I made preparation to leave my home and my loved ones. While packing my trunk the phone rang. The Captain’s wife called me, telling me God showed her at family prayer that I was in trouble and needed a friend. I answered her I was packing to leave home, but did not know where to go. I was told to come over, because they had fixed a room that morning for me. “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” God had made a way for me. So I left home, Mother not even saying good-by to me, her only child living.
Father gave me fifty dollars, telling me to let him know if I was ever in need. I went and worked under the Volunteers of America, selling papers, collecting money in saloons in my own home city. God always lets us prove ourselves at home first. There was not one saloon-keeper who censured me, but all told me to go ahead, that I was on the right track.
I suffered much at the hands of the Catholics while in that city. One night a man held a revolver against my temple, threatening to blow my brains out. God had taken all fear out of my heart. I told the man to go ahead, that I would soon be with Jesus. My girl associates would come and point their fingers at me. God gave me grace to bear it all for him. Another time the Catholics pounded me until I could not see, and it was over two weeks before I was pre sentable to any one. Leaving Detroit, I wrote my mother my address in Chicago, telling her any time she needed me I would come to her. I was followed, and my every move was watched by Catholics. They tried hard to catch me alone. God always protected me. I wrote home every week to my precious parents, telling how God was taking care of me and keeping me from the sins of the world, never once mention ing their treatment towards me. They never answered me, but God kept me sweet and tender to wards them, my love growing deeper for them every day.
Afflicted in Body
Moving to Omaha, I was stricken down with illness caused by the kicks received at home and the cruel treatment received at the convent.
I was operated on in Omaha, three times, this leaving me weak, especially my lungs which were terribly affected. One lung was entirely gone, and the other had a spot the size of a dollar. I thought my life about to go out, but God spared me. One Sunday morning, I went to a holiness mission and heard of a higher life and the deeper things of God. My heart being open to all the truth, I realized the need of more of God. I went to the altar, there consecrated my all, giving up worldly dress, gold, diamonds, lodges, and everything that drew my mind from my blessed Jesus. The woman who went with me rejected the light and went down, and today lives in sin. We never stand still - it is forward or backward. God helped me. Praise his name! I was more than a conqueror “through him that loved me and gave himself for me.”
Of course, this changed my life entirely. I did not feel led to go into saloons for money to carry on God’s work, so I was not wanted any more by the Volunteers. I was again turned out of a home for standing for the truth, this time with only a dollar to move my trunk, get a room, and live until a position was found. The mission workers wanted to care for me, but I, like Jonah, tried to run away from God, by paying my fare to Tarshish, going to work as bookkeeper in a box-factory. The girls kept hold ing on to God for me, and God swept away my position from me. My will was brought into subjection again to God, and
oh, how I worked for my Savior who had done so much for me!
After being away from home over two years, I re ceived a telegram calling me home, my mother being in very poor health. On arriving home, I found that my precious mother had read the Bible through twice. She told me it was not so much what she had read that convinced her of the truth, but my life while home the first few months after my conversion, showing it is not the Bible the world is reading but the lives of the professed Christians. I endeavored to point her to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” and I had the joy of seeing her enter into rest with Jesus.
She left behind her this testimony in the presence of the priest, that for fifty years she had prayed on her prayer-beads, going to confession, but never find ing any relief until now, and that only through the blood of Jesus she was made clean. Turning to me, she told me not to let the Catholics touch her after death. As soon as life was gone, the priest tried to shove me out of the room and take possession, but I stood firm. He then called for a basin of water, wash ing his hands of her blood, as Pilate did Jesus. He then walked out, forbidding my father to follow my mother to her last resting-place, and would not permit her to be buried beside her two precious girls who had gone on before. She was a heretic now, because she had accepted Jesus as her Savior. After being in the city eighteen years, I had to ask strangers to carry my mother to her grave. This almost broke my heart; only one person going with me to see her laid away. But there was joy in heaven because one sinner had repented and accepted Jesus.
Mother had left me a large sum of money, but the will was broken by my father and the priest, who testified that I had influenced her. I could have won the suit, but I let them take the money, knowing God would care for me. “If they take away thy coat, give them thy cloak also.” Only one thing. I asked for, and that was the Bible my mother had read, but my father clung to it because it was the last thing she had handled. He loved her dearly in spite of the priest. Priests can rule by fear, but they can not take love out of the heart. I again came west, but I had to bide for eight weeks before I dared to leave the city. The Catholics watched me and were bound to have me. I fled from one town to another until I reached Oklahoma. They traced me there. It be ing a new country, there were no laws yet, and they were warned to leave on the next train or the re sults would be disastrous. God always raised up friends for me and supplied my every need. I re turned to Lincoln, my health being very bad by this time. I doctored with the very best physicians and specialists, but to no avail. I seemed to grow worse. Finding no relief, I would change doctors. At last, one specialist told me that I could not live over a month unless I could be operated upon, and that he would hold out no hope of my ever coming through, being so weak.
Wonderfully Healed
I began to look around for some one who knew the worth of prayer and had faith for healing. I could find no one who trusted absolutely in God. A woman told me of some people who were having such won derful healings in a humble mission on Twelfth Street, always following the preaching of the Word. I went at once, and they laid their hands upon me, praying the prayer of faith, and God’s marvelous healing power went all through me. And one of the worst cases in Lincoln that the doctors had given up was healed by God. I had consumption, fibrous tu mors, heart trouble, nervousness, and stomach trouble. God healed me, and I give Him all the glory. The devil contested my healing, but I held to the promises of God. I was taken with hemorrhages of the lungs, bringing me very low. I still held on to the promise and shouted victory, and I wanted them to know that I had it, telling them if I could not speak and they saw me move my fingers I had the victory. God honored my faith at once, healing me instantly. And I arose, went into the mission and led the singing.
Again, I was stricken with paralysis, my entire right side being perfectly helpless. I was not able to move or speak. The saints prayed for me. God in deed touched me, and healed me instantly.
I was hungry for more of God, and listened to His word. I began to tarry at the feet of Jesus. Oh, how sweet it was! Oh the joy there is in knowing all is well with our souls! I find there is much land ahead to be possessed, and I am going on to take new heights I have never attained. And I mean to let my light shine, warning men and women to get ready to meet their God. I am writing this, not that men may read about my persecutions, hardships or trials, but to show the power of God to save one who, looked at from the natural, could see no way of escape for either body or soul. But the all-wise God looked down into the dark convent and saw an honest soul, who, if light dawned upon her, would walk in it. He made a way of escape for me. Praise his precious name! 4400 Twenty-ninth Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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BEWARE OF THE FIRST DRINK
BY J. R. TALLEN
In the autumn of the year in which I was seventeen years of age, I planned a Western trip and was soon on a C. P. R. train speeding rapidly toward wheat-fields of Manitoba. Usually there are not men enough in western Canada to harvest the immense crops, so the railroads give especially cheap excursion rates to get men to go there as harvest-hands. Thousands of men avail themselves of this opportunity to see the country and to make some money. Extra good wages are paid as an inducement to the men of the East.
On the train with me were three men from my home country. One was my old school-teacher, with whom I began the journey. The other two were young fellows, whom I knew to be lively and even rough. Being of a lively disposition myself, I did not enjoy the school-teacher’s company very well; so before reaching Winnipeg I had taken up with the two livelier young men.
We arrived in Winnipeg one evening after seven o’clock. These young men had been drinking some along the way, but up to this time in my life I had never taken a drink of any intoxicating liquor. Im mediately upon our leaving the train they proposed to go to a saloon. I went with them. On arriving at the door I told them I would wait outside, but they insisted that I should go in with them. At last I yielded to their persuasions to go inside. But this did not satisfy them; they urged me to take some thing “soft.” Just as we stepped inside the saloon the bartender shouted, “All out; it is eight o’clock.” (In Manitoba all barrooms must close at eight o’clock on Saturday night.) Of course, there was no further time then for discussing the matter; so I told them I would take something “soft.” I stepped up to the bar with them and asked for a glass of lemon sour, while they ordered beer.
In the rush of clearing the saloon in time to comply with the law, the bartender either misunderstood my order or wilfully changed it. I was not paying par ticular attention to what he was doing, so the other boys called my attention to the fact that he was draw ing off beer for me. Of course, the struggle between my past teaching and past resolutions and my pride was fierce though brief. On the spur of the moment I said, “Oh, well, let it go.” The beer was placed on the bar, and I took my first strong drink.
The mere drinking of this glass of beer did me no particular physical harm, but somehow, someway, it seemed to “break the ice” and to bring over me a feeling of “don’t care” and “what’s the use,” so that it became easy for me to yield to the inducements of the future. It was the first step toward drunken ness and ruin, which I most certainly would have reached had it not been for the providential interference of the Spirit of God.
For some time I indulged in occasional seasons of drinking and revelry accompanied with kindred evils, and one night just before Christmas I attended a raffle. By the way, I had returned from the West. In company with another young man I went to a neighboring town to get liquor for the occasion, our home town being dry. On the way back we had what seemed to us then a good time. I had drunk so much that when we began to play cards for turkeys and other things my brain was so badly befogged that I was unable to play with any great degree of intelligence. However, during the course of the evening I won a turkey.
We started for town about one o’clock in the morning and I reached my home somewhere near two o’clock. Upon my arrival I found my mother sitting up waiting for me. I shall never forget that picture as long as I live. She was sitting by the table knitting nervously and waiting anxiously for her boy. She asked me where I had been. I would not lye, so told her frankly. Of course, I did not tell her that I had been drinking; but as she knew the kind of people that frequented the place of these raffles, she guessed the rest, I presume.
There was something about her disappointed tone of voice and wounded look that made me feel most miserable. I wished that my turkey were most any where but there. I was absolutely ashamed of it, but I carried it through the house, hung it up, and hastened off to bed. Next morning I did not get up with the other members of the family; and when I rose, the picture of the night before and the Spirit of God and the shame of it all were so working upon me that I slipped out of the house and did not return again until toward evening, by which time I had resolved to end it all by giving my heart to God. This I did as soon as opportunity presented itself. Thus you see how I took my first and last drink.
I am absolutely unable to tell how glad I am that God in his mercy delivered me from the drink-habit for surely it would have meant the ruin of my life in this world and in the world to come. It is very dangerous to tamper with drink. In fact, sin of any kind is dangerous, for there goes with it a carelessness and neglect that is intended by the enemy of souls to keep a person dead to his own welfare until it is too late to retrace his steps.
A very forcible illustration of this is told by a min ister in the State of Washington. While he was hold ing a series of meetings at a certain place, the Spirit of the Lord one night seemed to be especially work ing. As the altar-call was being given, some one re marked that he felt there were some present who should yield that night, as it might be their last opportunity.
There was a young man in that meeting who was very much under conviction. His parents were saved, and they had been praying for his conversion, but with the rest he put the matter off. Sometime later he went away from home to work with his father.
While away he began one day to complain of not feeling well. There did not seem to be anything seriously wrong with him, but finally he decided to go home. Leaving his father, he returned.
That evening he went to bed, and although he did not feel well, he was not feeling seriously ill; but the next morning he failed to get up with the rest of the family and failed also to answer when called. Some body went to his room and tried to awake him, but did not succeed. He was unconscious, and he never again regained consciousness. This minister was sent for and stayed beside him until evening. About five o’clock he apparently died. His pulse was still, and he had every appearance of being dead. But suddenly his eyes came open and a most horrible look of terror filled his face. At the same time he gave vent to screams of most unearthly terror. This lasted but for a moment, after which he was gone. Those who witnessed this scene firmly believe that he got a glimpse of the fate that awaited him and that awaits all others who neglect to avail themselves of the salvation of the Lord Jesus.
THE BEVERAGE OF HELL
“Go, feel what I have felt; Go bear what I have borne; Sink ‘neath a blow a father dealt, And the cold, proud world’s scorn; Thus struggle on from year to year, Thy sole relief the scalding tear.
“Go, weep as I have wept O’er a loved father’s fall; See every cherished promise swept, Youths sweetness turned to gall, Hope’s faded flowers strewed all the way That led me up to woman’s day.
“Go, kneel as I have knelt; Implore, beseech, and pray; Strive the besotted heart to melt, The downward course to stay; Be cast with bitter curse aside— Thy prayers burlesqued, thy tears defied!
“Go, stand where I have stood, And see the strong man bow, With gnashing teeth, lips bathed in blood, And cold and livid brow; Go, catch his wandering glance, and see There mirrored his soul’s misery.
“Go, hear what I have heard— The sobs of sad despair, As memory’s feelings fount hath stirred, And its revealings there Have told him what he might have been, Had he the drunkard’s fate forseen.
“Go to my mother’s side, And her crushed spirit cheer; Thine own deep anguish hide, Wipe from her cheek the tear; Mark her dimmed eye, her furrowed brow, The gray that streaks her dark hair now,
The toil-worn frame, the trembling limb; And trace the ruin back to him Whose plighted faith in early youth Promised eternal love and truth, But who, foresworn, hath yielded up This promise to the deadly cup,
And led her down from love and light, From all that made her pathway bright, And chained her there, mid want and strife, That lowly thing—a drunkard’s wife! And stamped on childhood’s brow so mild, That withering blight—a drunkard’s child!
“Go, hear and see and feel and know All that my soul hath felt and known; Then look within the wine-cup a glow; See if its brightness can atone; Think if its flavor you would try If all proclaimed,’ ‘Tis drink and die!’
“Tell me I hate the bowl— Hat is a feeble word; I loathe, abhor, my very soul By strong disgust is stirred Whene’er I see, or hear, or tell Of the DARK BEVERAGE OF HELL!”
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A MINISTER’S EXPERIENCE WITH ACCUSATIONS
It is evident that ministers must by actual experience learn the wiles of the devil and be able to stand against his oppressions and oppositions with a real determination and stedfastness. It often happens that the enemy of souls will undertake to imitate the Spirit of the Lord and try to convince a minister that he is not being led by the Spirit of the Lord and must pursue another course - a course directly opposite to that in which he has been led or so nearly in line with his former leadings as to make him believe it is the Spirit of the Lord directing. If the enemy can thus turn a minister aside by his whisperings, he is then apt to bring in a flood of accusations followed by discouragements; but the one who is on the alert and goes forth with all hnmility of heart, need have no fears, for the Lord will come to the rescue of his own and will fulfil the promise spoken through the prophet which says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” The min ister may at times have some severe testings and trials but by faithfulness and stedfastness in the truth, coupled with much prayer and a perfect submission to the will of God soon learn to detect the enemy and to know the difference between the whisperings of the evil one and the direction of the Holy Spirit
A few years ago an evangelist who had come through many testing times and had won many victories for the Lord, was holding a tabernacle-meeting in Illinois. The Word was being preached in all its power, souls were getting saved, the sick were being healed, and even devils were being cast out. This so stirred the evil one that he brought his power against the work that was being done at the tabernacle, the same as he did in the days of the apostles when such things were accomplished through the preaching of the word of God. Persecutions arose, the power of darkness gathered around to such an extent that it seemed the progress of the meeting was dogged, and for a few days there was apparently but little manifestation of any progress.
Satan whispered to the evangelist that all had been done that could be accomplished at that place. The previous night a mob threw clubs and rocks on the tent and made great threats of breaking up the meet ing. The outlook for accomplishing anything looked discouraging, and after one or two more services the thought presented itself that as there was an urgent call at another place it would be better for the evange list to take his company and go there immediately. This course looked so plausible that he decided to follow it, although in some way he felt that he ought to stay at this place until the victory had been won; but as he was sick in body, the oppression of the enemy great, and the outlook very unfavorable, he decided to close the meeting and go to the next place.
Soon after the meeting was begun at the next place, the evangelist became dangerously sick, and the meet ing had to be conducted by the younger workers of his company. The outlook for a revival at this second place seemed to be worse than at the other, although the opposition was not so great. The devil was there also to make his suggestions. He whispered that as the way was closed at this second place it was evident that it would be better for the evangelist to go on to the next place; that he was undoubtedly out of the order of the Lord in closing the meeting at the place he had just left; that had he stayed there a little longer he could have had victory and souls would have been saved; that his sickness was an evidence that he had disobeyed the Lord, as were also the apparently blocked condition of the meeting and the small attendance. So the brother and his helpers closed this meeting and went to the third place.
There they found conditions about the same. Then the suggestion came that it would have been better for them to stay at the second place until something was accomplished, or for them to go back to the first place. Then came a flood of accusations and dis couragements. Satan suggested that as the brother was out of God’s order in all these places and did not know the leadings of the Lord, it would be better for him to give up the evangelistic work and go home and settle down to some other line of work; that otherwise he was likely to lose his life through sickness and be ing out of God’s order.
The evangelist then remembered the clear lead ings of the Lord he had experienced in planning his trip, and the blessings of the Lord upon his soul and upon the work in the beginning of the first meeting, and realized that the enemy of souls was trying to hinder the full gospel from being preached in the many places where he had planned to hold meetings. When he realized how the enemy had been working, he called his workers together, had prayer for the healing of his body, and rebuked the powers of Satan.
The Lord healed him of his sickness and put strength in his body. He went to the place where services were to be held that night and with power and authority declared the gospel of Jesus Christ. The enemy was defeated, and there was a great awakening. From that time forth, he said, he had victory and success everywhere he went, as he gave no place to the devil. He learned the lesson to know first that he was in the order of the Lord in going to a place, and then, no matter what happened, to assert his liberty in the name and power of Jesus Christ. Victory and success are sure to follow.
Another Experience
A young minister who had been successful in hold ing a number of meetings was engaged in another series of meetings. For a week there were no out ward manifestations further than that several persons seemed to be under conviction. The minister be came much discouraged, and the enemy suggested that his preaching did not amount to anything, and that he might just as well quit the business. Then came a flood of discouragements, and things did not look very brilliant for his future success in the ministry.
About that time he received a copy of a paper and read the field report of a minister who had held a meeting in which forty or fifty persons were saved. Instead of allowing this to have a discouraging effect upon him, he took courage and concluded that if somebody else could hold so successful a meeting he could do the same by the help of God. He dismissed all accusations and discouragements, laid hold upon the promises of God, went forth in the name and strength of the Lord, and was successful in his efforts thereafter.
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DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY
BY B. B. MC DANDEL
In the spring of 1908 the Lord convicted me of my sins. Previous to that time I led a sinful life. I had a good Christian mother, but she died when I was a small boy. My father was a good moral man, but not a Christian. He died a few years after the death of mother.
As years passed by, I went deeper in sin until I lost confidence in Christianity and disbelieved the Bible; but God, who is merciful to all, was not for getful of me in my weak and sinful state, and he sent his Holy Spirit with convicting power until I realized my lost condition. I remember that at this time I would go out at night and, looking up at the starry heavens with tears trickling down my cheeks, would there give vent to my feelings. “O God, the creator of all these, and thou who hast created man, I have sinned against thee.” Then I would fall on my knees, pleading for mercy. Thank God! it was not in vain. He took away all my sin, and then I was at peace with God. During the past years I had acquired the habits of drinking whiskey and using tobacco, and had been ensnared into many other evils; but the Lord cleansed me from them all and gave me the blessing of his salvation.
But now, here I was in a world of religious confusion and confronted with the question, “Which church is right?” The more I pondered over the question, the more confused I became. Some were teaching one thing and some another. There were two persons living about twenty miles distant with whom I was acquainted and whose lives had been such as caused me to have confidence in them as be ing Christian people. At this time I was making my home with my brother, and I decided that I would go see those people.
Upon my arrival they gave me some literature published by the Gospel Trumpet Company. It seemed to be just what my soul was craving for, as I saw it was gospel truth. After remaining there a few days I left, taking with me a few tracts and a book entitled “The Kingdom of God and the Thousand Years’ Reign.” On my return home I purchased a Bible.
Those two persons whom I visited told me about the Gospel Trumpet publishing-work, and I desired to meet those people who taught the Bible so plainly. So I decided to start the following morning to pay them a visit. My folks at home thought it very strange to see me reading the Bible. It was strange because of the change that had taken place.
On Monday I bade farewell to my folks and started out like Abraham of old, leaving country and kindred. It was April 6, 1908, when I left Laclede, Missouri, for the Gospel Trumpet Home. Upon my arrival at St. Louis at 6 P. M. that evening, I purchased a ticket for Anderson, West Virginia; for I supposed that was the place where the publishing-house was located, as the tracts which I had were printed at Moundsville, West Virginia, and as the persons I had visited told me that the company had moved from Moundsville to Anderson. I supposed, of course, they had moved to Anderson, West Virginia. Therefore I went to that place. I arrived there at ten o’clock in the forenoon and found it to be but a small town in the mountains and coal-fields. After making some inquiry, I learned that there was no publishing company there, and I was advised to go to a town of nearly the same name some distance further; but I decided that I did not know where to find the Trumpet Office, and that I would take the first train for the West.
Thursday, 6 P. M., found me in Cincinnati some what puzzled as to what course to pursue. There I was in a strange city, far from home and disappointed, but trusting in One whom the Psalmist said orders the steps of the righteous. As I was ponder ing over the matter, the words “Anderson, Indiana,” flashed through my mind, and I went and looked on the map to see whether there was such a place. At the depot I found I could get a train to Anderson, Indiana, and the next morning I left for that place. As I neared the city, I asked a gentleman near me if he was acquainted in Anderson and if he knew whether or not the Gospel Trumpet Company was located there. He said he did not know. He referred me to a man sitting just across the isle, who he said lived at Anderson. I asked this man, and he said he did not know of such a company.
It was 1 P. M. on Friday when I arrived at. the depot, and the people were all strangers to me. I made inquiry of a man standing near, and he directed me to the Trumpet Home and accompanied me for some distance. It was not long until I was at the Trumpet Home, and with the exception of a few weeks I have been there ever since. These years have been the best and happiest years of my life. I deem it a pleasure to be here and consecrate my service in helping to send the gospel to all parts of the world. It just suits me. I am not looking for something better. For a few years my work has been to transfer the mail from the publishing-house to the post-office with a five-ton auto-truck.
The Lord keeps me by his power, and I know he will take me through if I trust him.
ON MY WAY
BY NATHAN O. MC NEIL
I have started for that city Where the streets are paved with gold: There no pain or death can enter, Neither storms so fierce and cold.
There I’ll meet with friends and loved ones, Nevermore to say good-by, For no parting words are spoken In that home beyond the sky.
Jesus has prepared a mansion In that city bright and fair; On this earth there is no dwelling Which with it could half compare.
So with hope and full assurance I have started on my way, And I know that I shall safely Reach that city some sweet day.
Though the path be rough and dreary, Jesus passed this way before, So I’ll follow where he leadeth, Never fearing any more.
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TRAIN STOPPED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
Several years ago my wife was sick in Indiana, and I had made arrangements to meet her there the next day. The eastbound train that I was to take was due to leave Grand Junction, Michigan, at 5 P. M., but it was behind time. It was due at Kalamazoo about 6 P. M., at which place, if the trains on both roads were on time, there would be fifteen minutes in which to change cars. The depots were about half a mile apart.
Some friends urged me to take a train on another road, but that would have necessitated several changes, with but little hope of reaching my destination on time. After praying I was very definitely impressed to take the eastbound train, believing that God, who is “a very present help in time of need,” would help me through. At first I asked the Lord to speed my train onward, but, looking at my watch, and finding that the train on the other road was nearly due at Kalamazoo, I began to ask the Lord for the other train to be delayed or in some way held until my arrival. It was not long until a restful feeling came over me, together with a sweet assurance that my prayer had been heard and my petition granted, notwithstanding the fact that our train kept losing time and was further behind time at every station.
Upon our arrival at Kalamazoo, I hurried through the depot to a taxicab-driver and said:
“Has the train on the other road gone yet?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied. “To what hotel shall I take you?”
Remembering my petition and the heavenly assurance, I said:
“I wish to go on that train; will you take me to the other depot?”
“Why, the train went an hour ago,” he replied.
“Were you at the depot when it left?”
“No, but I know when it was due to leave.”
Once more I remonstrated, “Take me to the other depot as soon as possible, that I may take the south bound train.”
He laughed, and hurriedly took me as requested. As I paid him for his services, he said: “I will just wait here until you find out about your train and then take you to a hotel.”
“No, thank you,” I replied; “I shall not need your services.”
Without further waste of time I went to the ticket window and asked:
“How soon is there a train going south?”
“In forty minutes,” replied the agent.
“Is it the regular passenger-train?”
“Yes, sir. About an hour ago a freight-car was derailed just outside the city. No damage was done otherwise, but they have been delayed in replacing it on the track, which has made the passenger-train late.”
Remembering that the derailment of the freight -car was just about the time of my prayer for the passenger-train to be held back, I rejoiced, not be cause the trainmen met with such a difficulty, but because the Lord took note of my humble petition and deemed me worthy to grant me a favorable answer, so that I might reach the bedside of my wife, who was seriously ill.
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EXAMINING MANUSCRIPTS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM
One of the great libraries of the world is at the British Museum, London. In the year 1904, while traveling with some missionaries to India, I visited this great library. My chief object in so doing was to examine the oldest Greek manuscript of the New Testament kept in that museum, which was Codex Alexandrinus. Upon our arrival, the librarian in formed us that in order to gain admittance to the manuscript department it would be necessary for us to take out a reader’s certificate for three or six months, and that three days after the application was made the certificate would be mailed to us, and that then we could have free access to that department and enjoy the usual privileges extended to readers. We informed him that in three days we were to be in France and that our arrangements were such that we could not follow the regular routine accord ing to their rules.
We had asked the Lord to help us and were be lieving that he would do so. When we informed the librarian that we had a letter of commendation and introduction to Lord Kinniard, and asked that the rules be waived so as to give us immediate admittance, he told us to go and see Lord Rinniard, as he was a man of considerable influence. We went alone in earnest prayer, asking God to move the heart of that man to favor us. Upon our arrival at the bank, we found the honorable gentleman overwhelmed with office duties; however, after some time he approached us with his hands filled with legal documents and hurriedly made inquiry concerning our mission. Brother Khan presented the letter of introduction, and in a few words we made known to him our situation of affairs regarding the library. Turning to his stenographer, he began the dictation of a letter to the librarian, but he had given only the address and the introduction when he turned to me and said, “You dictate this to suit yourself; I am busy,” and he left the room at once. As the letter was already addressed to the librarian, I dictated a few words, as follows: “Please permit Mr. E. E. Byrum and Mr. A. D. Khan to have immediate admittance to the manu script department of the library, and extend to them full privileges in the examination of the oldest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, and grant them any other privileges necessary for their work.”
Upon his return to us he hastily glanced over the letter, signed it, and said, “At any time you are in need of a favor I shall be pleased to help you.” On account of the importance of our mission, it was with no little rejoicing that we returned to the museum, feeling assured that we should yet be able to accom plish our design. The librarian read the letter and issued cards of admission, which extended to us the right to immediate admittance with the full privileges of a reader.
A few minutes later we were in the manuscript de partment filling out an application for the original ancient volume Codex Alexandrinus. The librarian of that department brought us a facsimile copy—a large well-bound volume whose pages had been photo graphed from the original volume-—and remarked that only the facsimile copy was accessible for ex amination. We referred him to our application for the original and to the rules of the library, giving a reader the privilege of examining any book or manuscript in the library, and told him of our letter of commendation, which was then in the librarian’s office, at the same time kindly thanking him for his courtesy in bringing to us the other volume. Still he remonstrated by saying:
“My dear sir, very few people ever get to see that volume; it is considered quite a treasure.”
“We are aware of that fact, sir, but we desire to be among those few,” we replied “We are here under peculiar circumstances, and our responsibilities necessitate an examination of that particular volume.”
He went to the office of the first librarian and examined our letter. Returning, he said with a smile:
“You may examine it; but because of its value it is kept secure, and it will require some time to get it.”
In about half an hour it was brought to us, but we were not permitted to handle it nor turn its pages. He kindly turned to any passage of Scripture we de sired, and allowed us to make a thorough examination to our satisfaction, after which it was carefully returned to its secure resting-place.
Truly we felt constrained to praise God for open ing the way before us, which at first seemed to be blocked on every hand. Doubtless those librarians scarcely knew why they changed their minds, waived the rules, and complied with our request with such kindness and courtesy, as we in no wise bribed them. God moved upon their hearts in answer to prayer, and we realized the fulfilment of the words of Jesus (Mark 11:24), “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
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EXPLANATION OF SCRIPTURES
While I was visiting at the home of a Dunkard minister a number of years ago, he arose from his seat during our conversation, took a copy of the New Testament, and with his finger upon a passage started towards me saying, “I should like for you to explain this scripture for me.”
At that time I was not only young in years but inexperienced in expounding the Scriptures. Knowing that he was quite a Bible student, and had some peculiar religious beliefs, and was also more inclined to argue than to seek help in the interpretation of scriptures, I was for a moment somewhat embarrassed; but as he was approaching me asking an explanation of some particular scripture, without my having a knowledge of what scripture he desired to have ex plained, I silently breathed a prayer to the Lord for help and light on the Word. I remembered the promise of the Lord that he would be mouth and wisdom unto those that put their trust in him, and as I re ceived the book from the hand of the minister, I said, “It is a scripture that I have never heard explained and have never undertaken to explain, but I should think that the meaning is this.”
As I spoke those words, I had not the least idea of what my next words would be, neither did I know how to explain it, but I believed that God would help me to give him the proper interpretation. The passage read as follows: “Agree with thine adversary quickly whiles thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing” (Matthew 5:25, 26).
The minister said he desired to know the spiritual meaning of this scripture. I said: “You will notice by the previous verses that Jesus was speaking of one’s having trouble with one’s brother. This scripture has a literal meaning, which is: A person must make right the things wherein he has wronged some one, lest he be brought before the courts and be cast into prison. The spiritual lesson to be learned is: If a person has wronged his brother, it is necessary to have matters adjusted as soon as possible; otherwise the brother is liable to bring the Word of God to bear upon the offender, as we are to be judged according to the Word and if he will not abide by the instruction or decision of the Word, he will be de livered over to the Spirit of God, who is the officer, and will be cast into the prison of sin, whence he can not come until he has paid the uttermost farth ing by repenting and making all things right.”
Whether or not I had given the exact interpretation Jesus intended to be given, nevertheless I felt confident that such a spiritual lesson could be drawn from it, and asked the minister if that was satisfactory.
“It will do,” he replied.
A few days later a friend told me that this minister had been making a hobby of that scripture to prove the doctrine of hell-redemption. From it as a foundation-scripture he taught that when people die they go to hell and suffer “according to the deeds done in the body”; that finally when they have suffered a sufficient length of time they will come out white and tried and fit for the Master’s use. He meant that a person would go to hell and suffer the torments of that place according to the amount of sin he had committed while on earth, and would through this torture in flames of hell be purified and made a fit subject for heaven throughout eternity. This minister had lost sight of the plain teachings of the Word, that the cleansing from sin is to take place in this life and that the suffering in the future world is for those who neglect to make their peace with God while here on earth, and that there is no cleans ing power in the flames of torment.
I learned afterwards that my explanation of that scripture put the man to seriously thinking and studying, and that from that time he discarded his hell-redemption theory.
Another Interpretation
One Sunday morning a minister was instructing his class from the twelfth chapter of 1st Corinthians concerning spiritual gifts. The lesson was very inter esting and instructive. In the latter part of the ninth verse was a statement which was of unusual interest. It reads, “To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.” The question was asked, “What is meant by the ‘gifts of healing’?” special attention being called to the fact that the plural form was employed. The minister stated that he had never before noticed that the plural word “gifts” was used, but had always thought it read “gift.”
“However,” said he, “I should think it means something like this: God gives different gifts of heal ing to different persons. For instance, one man may have a gift for the healing of such diseases as fever and similar afflictions, while another one may have a gift for healing rheumatism and like complaints, and another a gift for healing cancer, tumors, etc.”
For some time I had been desirous of knowing the real meaning of that scripture, and I said to the min ister: “In James 5:14, 15, we are instructed to send for the elders of the church when we are sick, so that they may pray for our healing. Now, if your interpretation is correct, it is necessary for the sick person to know which one of the elders has a gift that suits his particular case.” Instantly he saw that his interpretation was not correct, and he said, “No, that will not do.” He confessed that he was unable to give a correct interpretation. It was some years after this before I was enabled to understand fully the meaning of that scripture. Many times I asked other ministers, but none of them seemed to have a thorough understanding of it.
Later I was conducting a series of Bible studies and had printed slips of paper containing several questions for each lesson. On one of those printed slips was the question, “What are the ‘gifts of heal ing’?” During the week I prayed and meditated over the matter, but could get nothing definite. When we came to that question in the class, I thought per haps some student could throw some light on the subject. Different answers were given, and finally somebody in the class asked me for a correct explanation. Without taking time for further consideration, I said, “Turn to Matthew 10:1, and you will find the answer.” That moment was the first time that a clear explanation had been presented to my mind.
Matthew 10:1 reads as follows: “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” This gives a complete explanation. The gifts enable one to have power to cast out evil spirits, and to heal every kind of sickness and every kind of disease. The answer was satisfactory to those in the class, and without question it covers the entire scope of the gifts required for healing.
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STOLEN GOODS RECOVERED
For many years when meeting with difficulties of any kind I have been accustomed to making my needs known to the Lord and imploring his help, and thus have frequently found aid in a mysterious and miraculous manner.
Once while on my way from a large city I had to change my baggage from the boat-landing to the railroad-depot. It was very early in the morning, just at the break of day, when I left some of my parcels in the depot for a short time, until I could re turn to the boat to attend to some business. During my absence some one stepped in and carried off about twenty dollars worth of my goods.
On my return I noticed at once that the parcel was gone. There was no one in sight, no trace of the thief. After looking about for a few minutes, I took the matter to the Lord in earnest prayer, telling him that it was his property and that it would take just as much of his money to buy the same amount of goods again, and asking him to help me find the things whether or not I found the thief.
After remaining at the depot a few minutes, I went again to the boat, and about twenty minutes later, while returning, I was praying earnestly, ask ing the Lord to help me find the parcel. Somehow I felt it was my privilege to appeal to the Lord with importunity until he enabled me to find the lost property, and as I was placing the matter very earnestly before the throne, I believed that in some way he would fulfil his promise.
I had not the least clew as to the whereabouts of the goods nor the one who had taken them, but as I walked along with my head down, earnestly praying, I said, “Lord, thou art able to help me find my parcel of goods. I will trust thee.” Immediately after the utterance of these words, I looked up and saw a man coming hurriedly toward me.
As he approached he said, “Did you lose any thing?”
“I did,” I replied.
Then he made inquiry as to what the parcel contained and said, “Follow me and I will show you where it is.”
I followed him past the depot, across the railroad, and beyond two or three buildings. Finally we came to a new house, and as we walked behind it, he pointed underneath and said, “You will find it under there.” He then explained as follows: He was a night-watch man at the factory just beyond, and he had noticed me leaving the depot to go to the boat-house, and soon after I left saw somebody with a package come from the depot towards the factory and after coming to this house that was being built place a package underneath hurriedly and run away in an opposite direction. The watchman then went to the house, drew out the package and examined it, placed it back again, and came in search of me.
While some may not be inclined to give God much credit for the restoration of a parcel in that manner, nevertheless it happened according to my petitions to the Lord and just at the proper time and in such a manner as many other things have happened in answer to prayer; therefore I do not hesitate to give God the praise and glory for hearing and answering my prayer. In many similar cases I have found the Lord a present help in time of need to find things that I was incapable of finding, although sometimes I have searched diligently for the lost article, ask ing his direction until it was found, and giving Him the praise and glory.
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EXPERIENCE IN GETTING AN OUTLINE FOR BOOKS
In making preparation for the writing of a book, authors differ widely in their manner of procedure. The manner also frequently depends much on the nature of the subject. Some writers have the entire book outlined in their minds before they begin to write; others must have the subject-matter outlined on paper; while still others begin a chapter, giving their whole attention to it with but little consideration of future chapters, except as former chapters are finished.
In the writing of books it has been customary with me to have an outline of all the subjects for the various chapters before beginning to write. Sometimes I have had a vivid impression of a subject, feeling that it should be presented in book-form, but perhaps for many months I would be unable to form an idea of the book sufficiently definite to enable me to make an outline. When, however, I was permitted to give the matter proper attention, I would be enabled to arrange the entire list of subjects in a very short time. I had a striking experience of this nature in making the outline for my book entitled “The Secret of Salvation: How to Get It and How to Keep It.” For several years it had been on my mind to write such a book as would be helpful to people in obtaining the experience of salvation, and would tell them how to enjoy the blessings of the Lord and exercise faith in him but being crowded in my work and ofttimes almost overwhelmed with responsibilities, I did not know just how to bring about an execution of the necessary preparations.
Having heard many people praising the book en titled “A Christian’s Secret of a Happy life,” I concluded that my book should be written in a similar manner. I procured a copy of that book for my library and many times I undertook to read it, but was scarcely ever able to read more than two or three pages, being called away to perform some other task. I often spoke of my difficulty in reading that book. I was unabe to read more than a few pages of it until after I had completed the writing of the book in question. Then I could understand why I was prevented from reading it; for if I had, I doubtless would have followed a different line of thought and perhaps have left out many original thoughts that have proved to be helpful to precious souls.
Many times while sitting at my office-desk I would decide to finish the pile of mail before me and then try to outline my book; but perhaps before I could dispose of that pile of mail, a fresh supply would come from the post-office or I would be called away. Thus time went on until years had passed by.
In the year 1895 I took an evangelistic trip to the Pacific Coast and the Western States. Just after a camp-meeting in the eastern part of the State of Washington, some other brethren and I visited a children’s home in order to rest for a few days. While there I said to a brother, “Tomorrow I think I shall go to the grove and find that good place to pray that they tell about, and ask the Lord for an outline for my book.”
The next day I went to the grove, and after spend ing some time in earnest prayer concerning the matter I took my pen and paper and began writing down an outline of the subjects for the various chapters. In a few minutes I had written the subjects for more than one hundred chapters. These were written in proper order, insomuch that when the book was written a few months later only one change was made in the position of the subjects, and that was really un necessary. It seemed that the subjects were apparently given by a real inspiration from heaven. These subjects were written in a blank book which I had taken with me for that purpose, one subject on each page, so there would be space to record the necessary thoughts later under the proper headings.
For some time I carried this book containing the outline in my satchel.. One day I felt strangely led to recopy the outline and send it home, asking that it be preserved. A few weeks later when my satchel and its contents were stolen. I was able to understand better the strange leading I had had to copy the out line, as it would have been very difficult to reproduce it otherwise.
Another Experience
A few years after writing the book mentioned above, for a few days once I had some peculiar impressions concerning the writing of a book, but was unable to decide the exact nature of its contents. One day I left my desk and went into the office of the secretary of the company to get my mail. While there I made some remarks concerning the impressions I had and in the conversation stated that I felt almost as if I had a book in my head.
A few days later when I went for my mail, the assistant clerk at the desk asked, “How about that book in your head?” I replied that it was still there and that sometimes it seemed as though there might be two or three of them. The clerk suggested that I had better go to writing and get one or two of them out, and said that I should then feel relieved.
I took the mail and went to my desk. Among the letters was one from a sister in a Western State, which read as follows:
“Brother Byrum: I have of late been very much impressed to ask you to write a book, ‘What shall I Do to be Saved,’ giving the promises of God to them that obey and the judgments of God to them that disobey. It will undoubtedly be helpful to many precious souls. Now, ask the Lord earnestly in re gard to the matter and see if he would not have you write such a book.”
Immediately I could understand the strange im pressions which I had about the time she was praying and making the request for me to write such a book. I went into the prayer-room and spent about twenty minutes in prayer. Then I sat down at my desk and immediately outlined the book entitled “What shall I Do to be Saved.” Then came a mind-picture of each of the illustrations, sufficiently vivid for me immediately to make note of each one and to write a few words of instruction to the artist, who made the drawings almost exactly in accord with the illustrations which I had in mind.
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PRAYER OFFERED THAT IT MIGHT NOT RAIN
At one time the old prophet Elijah prayed that it might not rain, and a great drouth followed, as it is recorded that “it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5: 17). Some people would think it very strange for any one in these days to presume to ask God, as Elijah did, to withold rain; but there are some things to take into consideration for our encouragement in making similar petitions to the Lord at the present time.
In the first place, the Bible says, “that Elias [Eli jah] was a man subject to like passions as we are”; that is, he was a man similar to those who have lived since that time. “And he prayed.” He did not simply say over a few words in a careless manner, but he prayed “earnestly.” He had a definite object in view, and that was “that it might not rain.” The preceding verse in referring to this same incident says for our encouragement, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Then, in consideration of these facts, it would not seem strange for the Lord to heed the petition of one of his children in a similar manner in these last days,
A few years ago a grove-meeting was being held near New Pittsburg, Indiana, not far from the present location of the house of worship known as Praise Chapel. A large concourse of people assembled on Sunday morning, and, as was the custom at such times, many brought their dinners, so that they could spend the day and attend both forenoon and after noon services. Soon after the beginning of the preaching-service, the sky was filled with dark clouds, from which issued peal after peal of thunder, and flashes of lightning, so that it was evident that a severe storm was approaching. It was coming from the west and reached from the north to the south, covering the entire sky.
Soon the wind began to blow, a few drops of rain to fall, and the people to scatter in every direction. For some distance surrounding the congregation were teams and vehicles of various kinds, and the people were making a rush so as to reach a place of shelter from the storm. Even those who had been seated as a congregation were in much confusion; but the minister, D. S. Warner, called upon them to sit down and be quiet, and said: “I have a message to deliver to this people, and God wants me to deliver it. Let the congregation be quiet while we ask God to keep back the rain.” He fell upon his knees and prayed an earnest, fervent prayer for God to withhold the rain and permit him to deliver that message, and also prayed that the congregation might be quieted from their fears and remain to hear the gospel preached. As he arose, he told them to have no fears and as sured them that if they remained there they would be safe from the storm, as God was not going to let the rain disturb them.
When those words were spoken, there was every indication that a heavy storm would soon be upon the people; indeed, a few drops were already falling. But the request to remain was so positive that a large portion of the congregation sat down, while the others hurried away in every direction. In a few minutes the cloud parted, one portion of it going to the right, the other to the left; and the minister continued his discourse undisturbed. Those who remained did not get wet, but those who left the grounds were thoroughly drenched, as it continued to rain for some time, and the rain reached within a few rods of the place of meeting. There were unbelievers present who afterwards remarked: “That minister did not pray that prayer and ask the audience to remain be cause he saw the clouds parting and signs that the rain would go around in another direction. That was genuine faith.” The outcome of that prayer was effectual in convincing many people that God would hear and answer prayer now the same as in times past, and the people were convinced of the truth fulness of Hebrews 13:8, which says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
After the discourse many came forward for prayer, confessing their sins and calling upon the Lord fervently for deliverance. The result was a wonderful turning to the Lord, whereas, if the prayer of faith had not been offered, the meeting would have been an entire failure.
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COULD NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS
A business man once took me into his library and, pointing to his bookcase, said, “There are a thousand volumes of story-books and choice fiction.”
While engaged in conversation he told me that for many years he was unable to believe in the reality of Jesus Christ or to have confidence in the narrations of the Bible. His wife was a good Christian woman and had often begged him to become a Christian, but unbelief would stand out as an impregnable barrier. Time after time he tried to comply with her wishes, and on account of his deep desire to please her he would frequently go alone and weep because he could not believe in Jesus nor have faith in the things necessary in order to become a Christian.
It was not until the Lord appeared to him in a mysterious manner by a dream or vision of the night that he was able to believe the promises. It seemed that Jesus appeared to him with his pierced side and hands, and with a loving, tender expression upon his face, and pointing to the Bible, said in a gentle, convincing tone, “Everything recorded in that book concerning me is true.” The scene changed and he awakened to find it was a vision or a dream. What ever it may have been, the Spirit of God seemed to have awakened within him something that was real, insomuch that he was afraid thereafter to discredit the Word of God. From that time he never questioned the genuineness of the narrations of the Bible, and never doubted the reality of Jesus Christ and his saving grace. It was many months, however, before he was enabled to yield himself to God and obtain a change of heart which brought to him the joys of salvation.
He told me that he had never been able to fully understand his past hard-heartedness and feelings of infidelity and unbelief, since at times he had really desired to turn from such things. “The secret of the whole matter is here before us,” I replied, pointing to the library.
Immediately he was able to solve the mystery. “Night after night for years I had read those books,” he said. “The stories which they contain are in tensely interesting, and the moral of each one is supposed to be elevating and instructive. They are the highest class of fiction. I read them, knowing that they were not true, although many of them are founded upon facts. I can now readily see that the reading of those books with the knowledge that they were only made-up stories created in me a spirit of unbelief, which caused me to doubt the narratives of the Bible and the incidents recorded concerning Jesus Christ and the apostles.”
It was his continued habit of reading fictitious writings that caused him to question the truthfulness of the Word of God. One seemed to him to be just as real or unreal as the other until he became awakened to the situation and was enabled to believe in Jesus Christ and become a Christian.
JESUS SATISFIES
“There’s not a craving of the mind Which Jesus can not fill; There’s not a pleasure I would seek Aside from his dear will. From hour to hour he fills my soul With peace and perfect love; While rich supplies for ev’ry need He sendeth from above.
“The joys which this vain world bestows. Have lost their charms for me; ‘Once I enjoyed its trifles too, But Jesus set me free.’ Its joys will perish in a day, Its pleasures quickly fly, Its mirth like mist will pass away, And all its honors die.
“Christ stilled the angry tempest’s power, Which raged within my heart; And bade each sinful passion there To speedily depart. Oh! Jesus is my all in all; He satisfies my soul; For me he died on Calvary, And now he makes me whole.
“Yes, Jesus is my Savior dear, My Rock, my Strength, my Song; My Wisdom and my Refuge safe— To Jesus I belong. He is my Advocate with God, My Way, my Life, my Light, My Great Physician, and my Friend, My Guide by day and night.”
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PROPOSED TRIP TO HONOLULU
Honolulu is a city of one of the Hawaiian Islands, out in the Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 miles from San Francisco. In the year 1893 I had a peculiar dream about going there as a missionary. While the dream was quite impressive upon my mind for some time, yet I did not fully understand the meaning of it just at that time. I have had a great many dreams which seemed to have little or no significance, while some others were very impressive, and through these the Lord made known to me his will concerning certain matters that I could not well understand otherwise. But when I have had a dream by which the Lord was trying to reveal something to me, I have generally been able to realize at once the divine inspiration. God has made known to his children many things through dreams, as was the case with Jacob when he saw a ladder let down from heaven and angels as cending and descending. It was through a dream that a warning was given Joseph to take Jesus into Egypt soon after his birth, and likewise other men of God were given dreams through the inspiration of the Spirit of God - dreams giving instructions and warnings necessary for the occasion.
At the time mentioned, I dreamed that I had taken a trip to the Pacific Coast. After I had arrived at Los Angeles and had met some of the brothers and sisters, with whom I was to remain for a few days, I made preparations to go to the foreign field as a missionary. Among the first ones I met after our arrival at the depot at Los Angeles was Sister Caroline Robbins, who had in former years lived near my home, although I did not know that she was now living in that Western country. I went to the ship-landing, but did not know just what ship I was to take. In the harbor were to be seen the masts of many ships from different countries. As I viewed the long line of different ships, I saw, near the top of one mast, the name in silver letters. I said, “That is not the one.” Further on was one with the name in letters of gold - Honolulu. Immediately I felt that was the vessel I was to take. I awakened, but could not fully understand what the dream meant
Two years afterwards the Lord moved upon me to take an evangelistic trip to the Pacific Coast and the Western States to attend a number of camp-meet ings. While I was preparing for this journey, it was impressed on my mind that possibly Honolulu was in this trip. Before starting on this Western tour I mentioned to my brother my feelings for the past few days that Honolulu might be included in the tour. But having never been engaged in missionary work in a city, not being a good public speaker, and knowing nothing about the language of that country, I keenly felt my inabilities. Then came before me the consecration I had made while plowing in a field a number of years before, that I would preach, go to Africa, or do anything else that the Lord should call me to do. After reviewing my consecration I found it was complete and included Honolulu or any other place to which the Lord might direct me. The Lord desired to test me to the extent of my consecration, as he did Abraham of old.
Brother J. W. Daugherty accompanied me on this evangelistic trip. My wife and children went on to California, where we were to meet them later. After our arrival at the camp-meeting in east Washington, Brother Daugherty decided to take the trip with me to Honolulu if the Lord so directed. We did not know what the expenses would be. We had only a few dollars, but the means were not bothering us, as we knew from past experience that God would sup ply our needs. We were not working for a salary, neither were we taking up collections, but were de pending on our needs being supplied by free-will offerings unsolicited. One day while crossing the camp-ground I found a piece of paper lying on the ground, which proved to be a time-table giving rates of a recent excursion to Honolulu. From this piece of paper was obtained the address of the general manager of the steamship company at San Francisco. The fare mentioned on the circular was about $150 for a round trip from Portland, Oregan. I said to Brother Daugherty, “The Lord must bring that down to $25 one way for each of us,” and remarked to another brother that if my dream had anything to do with it we were to start from Los Angeles. The brother laughed at me and said, “Los Angeles is an inland town, and you can not sail from t | | |
