Sister Baker’s Conversion
By E. Baker
Bro. White: It has been about thirteen months since I first heard an Adventist preach, except one funeral sermon. At that time I was as bitterly prejudiced against Adventists as I could be. I thought they were the most deluded set of beings professing Christianity. I had been told that they put our Saviour on a level with man, and many other erroneous things, which made me feel that it would be a sin for any one to go to their meetings. But now thanks be to the Giver of all good things, I am as bad as the Adventists. Perhaps you would like to know how I became connected with them. I will give it in brief. I always had a desire to be a true-hearted Christian, but after I had lived long enough to see the sinfulness of my heart, I came to the conclusion that there was no salvation for me. In this awful state of mind I dragged along about six years; finally light began to dawn upon my mind, and there seemed to be as it were, a voice calling me to come;—not only when I was awake, but when I was asleep the invitation was repeated. I soon saw I had been distrusting God's word, and I made a firm resolve to distrust him no more. I made up my mind if I perished I would perish trying to do the will of God. I prayed earnestly for direction and I soon began to feel like a new creature. Little by little light came into my dark mind, and as fast as I saw my duty, I tried with all my heart to do it. One year last February, I discovered that it was my duty to be baptized; but I saw so much corruption in the churches, I did not want to join them; so I went to a United Brethren minister and asked him if he would baptize me without my joining his church. He said he could not. I was now grieved exceedingly. The next day (which was Monday), as I was busy at work, something seemed to speak very plain to me: "Are you doing the will of God by keeping the first day of the week?" I was uneasy all day, and as soon as night came, and my children were all asleep, I left them alone (my husband being in the army) and went half a mile to a United Brethren neighbor, who I thought was trying to serve God. I asked him if he could show me where Christ or the apostles changed the Sabbath. He said he could; so he got his Bible and read the eighth chapter of Romans, and some other passages, and made it appear to his satisfaction that the law was dead; but I was not satisfied. So I continued to investigate, and thought I would keep Sunday until I became thoroughly convinced that I was wrong. But as the sun began to go down Friday evening, I became more uneasy, and resolved to keep the Sabbath. The next day I went to the Advent meeting determined to see what they would do for me. I thought Bro. Russel to be a good man, though I thought he was very badly blinded, but as long as he was good at heart I thought there could be no sin in having him baptize me. I listened attentively to the sermon, and was greatly surprised. I never heard such a sermon before! I saw Bro. R. after meeting and told him what brought me there. He asked me for my reason for not wanting to join the church. I told him honestly how I had always felt toward the Adventists, but that I knew nothing about them, only what I had heard. I promised to listen to their teachings, and as far as they went in accordance with the Bible, I would go with them. I was baptized the next day. I attended meetings regularly (with few exceptions) from that time until the next October, when we moved nearly 100 miles away. Pen nor tongue cannot express my thankfulness for the gospel light that I received in that time. When my husband came home from the army, he was soon convinced, and now keeps the Sabbath with me. By request of others I have written this sketch. Your in hope of eternal life.
E. Baker.
Neillsville, Clark Co., Wis.