EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
A SISTER who is isolated from others of like faith, and seldom has the privilege of attending church, living in a neighborhood of Lutherans, who are quite prejudiced against her, writes of the work she is doing, as follows:— Last fall I started a reading circle among my neighbors, which meets every Wednesday afternoon in different homes, using the Signs of the Times and “Steps to Christ” to read from at first. There are only three or four who attend, but we enjoy meeting together, and I hope that good may be accomplished. I often take one of our papers, and run over to my nearest neighbor’s home to read to her. As she has four small children, she gets but little time to read, and enjoys having me read to her. My husband and my son and daughter are not in the truth. My heart is burdened for them, and for my neighbors and friends. The REVIEW comes to me each week, and I always hasten to see what the Woman’s page has for me. I feel sorry for the dear sisters in their trials and perplexities, and a silent prayer arises from my heart, that the Lord will guide and comfort them. Dear sisters, do not try to force things along. Should they not work out just as we had in mind, let us rest assured that all is right. I also have trials. I am the only praying one in a large family. Sometimes Satan comes to me and says, “You are of no use here. You may as well give up trying to do anything for this family.” Then I say, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” and immediately I am strengthened. You who are troubled in this way, call to mind Micah 7:8 and Isa. 59:19, last part. Although able to get about but little, I have tried to be pleasant in my home, and have been on the watch to do little deeds of kindness. There are no sisters of like faith near me. The Woman’s page brings me in touch with many sisters every week, and my heart aches for the dear ones for whom requests for prayer are made. May the Lord comfort them, and give them the desire of their hearts. Let us make sure to get ready, for our Lord will soon come. Through the circulation of my copy of the REVIEW AND HERALD a dear woman was led to accept the truth. Her husband was a saloon keeper, but he sold his business, and they are now living on a farm not far from me. Of late she has been plunged into almost uncontrollable grief. It seems as if the evil effects of the twelve years of saloon life have been crowded into one short month. They have a son, who is a handsome young man, a graduate, and an accomplished workman. Soon after leaving the saloon business and going onto the farm, they found that he had formed the habit of drinking. Deprived of the privilege of the saloon, he bought liquor by the bottle, and drank to an alarming excess. With tears his parents begged him to do better, but he became very angry with them, and left home. The father came after me to stay with his wife, fearing she would go crazy. I never shall forget the scene that awaited me. The dear woman paced her handsomely furnished rooms in agony, longing to die. We knelt and prayed to Him who hears the ravens when they cry, and sees the sparrow as it falls to the ground. I stayed with her three days, and she became more calm. The son joined the United States Regulars for three years, was accepted, and mustered into service. He then came to himself, and realizing what he had done, wrote a pitiful letter to his parents, asking their forgiveness, saying that he intended to be a better son, and would trust in “mother’s God.” Sisters, seek out the homes where the curse of liquor is resting, comfort the wives and mothers, and manifest a true Christian interest in those who are ensnared, making them feel that you understand the longing of their true nature, and their weakness, and reveal the One who is mighty to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.