A New Believer Seeks Fellowship
By O. F. Tripp
BRO. O. F. TRIPP writes from Ohio: I wish to tell you what God and his people have done for me. On the 25th of last January, I visited an Advent meeting held at South Lancaster, Mass. There were present some twenty members, perhaps more, and among the leading ones were Elders Howard and Rodman. I was with them three days, and God be praised for what they did for me, a sinner. They pointed the way to me. I want the light and the truth, and I seek in the word of God for it. A blessed book! Once I thought otherwise (may God forgive me for it); but now I love it. It is my safeguard, but I need help to understand it better, and I believe you can give me succor in those truths which you preach and publish. At the meeting in South Lancaster I bought the Three Messages of Revelation, Preach the Word, The Sabbath by Elihu, and Scripture References. I embraced the Seventh-day Advent faith, but have not been baptized, as a member; and I now wish to become one of that brotherhood. On my change of heart and principles, and from keeping of the Sunday Sabbath, many of my old friends became opposed to my new views, and I finally left them and came to this place in search of my brothers, of whom I have two living here. But I have met with great opposition from them, and some of the people of this place; for I showed the little books which I brought with me. One day, some two weeks ago, I was feeling very bad and very lonely, for the hard things that had been said to me, but judge of my joy on coming home at night to find four Seventh-day Adventist papers called the REVIEW AND HERALD, waiting for me, which had been sent from Worcester, Mass. They are the first ones I have ever heard read, and I found much comfort in them. I have shown them, and some of the people are interested in them, and in the Advent movements, so much so that one man who is reading the Three Messages of Revelation, which I have given him, sends with me for a copy of it, and one of The Prophecy of Daniel. I want more of your books, and would like your paper very much, but I send you all the money I have, and it is hard for me to earn it, as I have not my eyesight like others. I can only see to read through a microscope, or a large magnifying glass, but I want the books and the truth. Is there not something I can do for the cause of Christ and for you, by which I can earn them? I want to do all I can for Jesus, he has done so much for me. Once I could see to read and work like others, but now I cannot, and to be thus afflicted, even in the morn of life, seemed hard to me, till I came to Jesus, and in him I now find light and happiness. Truly he is the way. I sometimes long for some of like precious faith to keep the Sabbath with me. I would that there were more laborers in the field, so that some one could come to this place and wake up the people to the truth. But God's will be done, and praise and glory be to him forever, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.