p. 3 | How Providence Prepared the Way by William A. Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

How Providence Prepared the Way

By William A. Spicer

THIS week's testimony to the Lord's intervening power is from our own earlier history. I hope it will suggest to some of our readers that it is time to send in accounts of manifest special providences in connection with our work and workers.

It is cheering to recount these experiences of deliverance or special leading, with their evidence of a Heavenly Father's constant care over his children and his work. “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.”

This story tells of the manner in which the Lord prepared a sister to hear and accept the truth, and prepared a laborer to present the right thing at the right time.

In the early years of our work, Miss Annie R. Smith was a student in a young ladies' seminary in Massachusetts. Her mother, in New Hampshire, had embraced the Sabbath truth, and was specially burdened for her son—Uriah Smith—and the daughter. She had talked with Elder Joseph Bates of her burden, and now that he was soon to hold a meeting, in Somerville, Mass., near Miss Smith's place of residence, it was arranged that the mother should inform the daughter of the meeting, and earnest prayer was offered that the young woman might be led to attend.

The sequel is told by Elder J. N. Loughborough, in his “Great Second Advent Movement:” —

Elder Bates had never been in the room where the meeting was to be held, and therefore knew nothing of its situation. The night before the meeting, he dreamed of being in the room, and that every seat was occupied except the one just by the door. He also dreamed that he changed his subject from that on which he intended to speak, and spoke on the sanctuary question; that they had sung the first hymn, prayed, and sung the second hymn, and he had just opened his Bible and was reading, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,” pointing to the figure of the sanctuary on the chart, when the door opened, and a young lady entered and took her seat in the vacant chair. He also dreamed that the person was Annie R. Smith, and that she at once became interested, and embraced the truth.

Elder Bates' meeting was on the Sabbath (Saturday), and as there was no school that day, Annie said, “Just to please my mother, I'll go.” The night before that Sabbath she dreamed that she went, and was late; that on arriving at the door the first hymn had been sung, prayer offered, and they were just concluding the second hymn; that as she entered, she observed that every chair was occupied but the one by the door; that a tall, noble, pleasant speaker was pointing to a chart such as she had never seen before, and was repeating, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” She dreamed that what he said greatly interested her, and that it was the truth.

She started for the meeting in ample time, but missed the way, so failed to get there until the singing of the last of the second hymn. When she entered, everything was exactly as she had seen it in the dream, and the identical man of her dream was repeating, in the same manner, the text from Dan. 8:14. It

struck conviction to her heart at once. Elder Bates had not thought of his dream until she entered the door and took her seat. He had prepared to talk on another subject, but his mind would rest on the sanctuary question. While he was repeating the text, his dream flashed into his mind, and silently he prayed for help to speak to the hearts of his hearers. He had great freedom in explaining the passing of the time, with which Annie was familiar. Then he set forth the truth of the third angel's message and the Sabbath.

As he closed the meeting, he stepped up to Annie, and said: “I believe this is Sister Smith's daughter of West Wilton. I never saw you before, but your countenance looks familiar. I dreamed of seeing you last night.” Then Annie told her dream. She left the meeting with feelings and aspirations all changed, having there and then accepted the truth of the Sabbath.

She went back to the seminary, packed her trunk, and went home. On learning of Elder White's cares in publishing, and of his labors in preaching, she felt that God called her to go and help him in his office work.

Miss Smith continued with the REVIEW until her death, a few years later, having given to us some of our most inspiring hymns; by which, though she sleeps in death, she “yet speaketh” of the goodly pilgrimage and the thrilling cry of the advent message.

W. A. S.