p. 84 | A REMARKABLE MISSIONARY WORKER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 13, 1879

A REMARKABLE MISSIONARY WORKER.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I HAVE recently visited Abram Clymer of Bluffton, Allen Co., Ohio, who, though confined to his bed, is yet an active missionary worker. He is fifty-nine years of age, and has been an invalid for twenty years. For ten years he has not been out of the room where I visited him. He has lain upon his back for five years, unable to move any part of his body except his head, shoulders and arms. He cannot so much as turn from one side to the other. His hip-bones are out of joint, and both his limbs are entirely helpless. He has contrived various ways to ease his sufferings, which are very great.

By the means of a pulley at the head of his bed he can lower and shut the window at his will, and thus ventilate his room. Just over his head is a lamp, which he can reach and light, and he is thus enabled to read and write. By the side of his bed he has, within his reach, pen and ink, writing materials, a knife, and other useful articles, papers, books, tracts, and the like. On one side of the bed hangs the ten commandments, on the other The Way of Life and other appropriate religious pictures.

His whole soul is indeed swallowed up in the love of the Lord and his truth. This is his constant theme and study. He takes and reads all our papers and books. He talks about the present truth to all who come in, and loans or sells them reading matter. Besides this, he has an extensive correspondence, and sends off a large number of papers and tracts to all parts of the country. Among other items, his report for the last quarter shows that he has obtained one subscriber for the Signs, given away twenty Annuals, distributed thirty-two periodicals, given away 1,230 pages of tracts, and loaned 6,329 pages. This is only a part of his missionary work for the last three months.

Bro. Clymer is cheerful and contented, and really appears to enjoy life. This remarkable case should teach us some lessons. 1. It shows what a man can do in the work of the Lord under the most adverse circumstances, when his heart is in it. Will not such cases as this condemn others who have ten times the opportunity to work, and do not do a tenth as much? 2. It shows us that worldly prosperity, health, and strength are not necessary to contentment and happiness. Bro. Clymer is really much more contented and happy than many others who have good health and all the comforts of life. If we are inclined to murmur at any circumstances we may be in, such cases should teach us thankfulness to God for the blessings we have. D. M. CANRIGHT.