REMARKABLE HEALING

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Apr 22, 1880

REMARKABLE HEALING.

BRO. WM. BUTCHER, one of the early settlers in Vacaville, Solano Co., Cal., is now 52 years of age. He had a mal-formation of the throat, and did not talk at all till he was four years old. He has always had a great impediment in his speech. It was not an ordinary case of stammering, though he stammered badly. The effort to speak was distressing, and seemed to affect his whole frame.

He was formerly a member of the Methodist church, and he embraced the advent and Sabbath truth a few years ago. He is the elder of the Church in Vacaville. About the first of February last he felt a strong desire to be able to read the Bible and speak in the meetings. He earnestly prayed that the Lord would grant him this blessing, and he received the assurance in prayer that it would be given. So firm was his faith in this assurance that he invited his Methodist friends to the meeting the next Sabbath to hear him. They had no confidence in his hope, but they came, and, to the astonishment of all, he spoke without any difficulty. But when the meeting closed the natural impediment was found still existing. He had only asked that he might be able to speak in the meeting, and he received just that for which he asked.

Afterward he prayed that he might speak all the time. Again he received the assurance of an answer to his prayer; and this time he called upon his family to join with him in giving praises to God, for he was going to loose his tongue, and enable him to speak at all times. They were somewhat incredulous, but the blessing came. He felt a change take place in his throat, and the mal-formation was removed. Since that time he has continued to speak fluently and without any painful effort. He has held meetings in the neighborhood to which his friends and neighbors come to see and hear what the Lord has done for him. The papers in that section have published it as a remarkable case, which truly it is.

At the time of our Annual Meeting we had the pleasure of hearing Bro. Butcher give his testimony, to the praise of God's wondrous grace. Having known him when he spoke only with great difficulty, we can testify to the marvelous change which has been wrought in him.

Bro. Butcher takes a reasonable view of his responsibility in this case. He says if he is unfaithful a worse thing will come upon him. This is always true; if we become boastful of our blessings they will be withdrawn. But this circumstance should lead to increased gratitude and faithfulness in us all. If we distrust God with such evidences of his loving-kindness, we shall be without excuse. Let us exalt his grace. "Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah."