CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WOMAN'S GOSPEL WORK.
By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin
Since our call for financial aid in behalf of the Woman's Gospel Work, we have received small gifts from time to time, and we wish to express our gratitude to the givers, and to state our hope that many others will also remember us in this way. We realize more and more every day our need of an emergency fund. The following are samples of the calls that come to us, to which we long to respond:— Through a complication of circumstances a young sister in a Western State was left with nothing for support, and an aged mother, almost bedridden with cancer, and a little niece, depending on her. The only place that they could call home was a sod house, with no floor except the earth, the roof hardly waterproof, and only two whole glass window panes. Water and supplies had to be carried over a mile. All three were barefoot, and had scarcely sufficient clothing for comfort. She says:— The problem of living has been mine to solve for eight years. My father was a helpless old man long before he died; and until mother required my almost constant care, I worked by the week, and supported them and my little niece. Now mother can no longer be left alone, unless it is a while in the day. I do not like to leave her even that much, but was obliged to this fall. I had an opportunity to cut broom corn, and she stayed alone through the day, as baby was herding. I had to come home every night, walking seven miles every day in going to and from the field. I have seen but one Sabbath-keeper in eight years. I sometimes long for just one of our own people to talk to; but the Lord has said that where two or three are gathered together in his name, he is in the midst; and there are three of us,—mother, baby, and I. Baby loves the Sabbath, and is little by little learning the blessed truth. I am not naturally strong, and the way is often very hard; but the Lord has never forgotten nor forsaken me, and now I pray that I may not faint with the goal in sight. We are glad to say that we brought this case before the president of the Conference in which she lives, and he presented it to the brethren and sisters, who immediately responded with a contribution of money to relieve her immediate want; but other such needy cases may come to our notice. Another sister finds herself in extremity, as her husband has had a series of accidents for the last few years, which has made it impossible for him to work steadily. He has been engaged in the canvassing work; but about three weeks ago he met with an accident, which has confined him to his bed. She found herself without money and without food, and insufficient clothing for the severe winter she may expect in the part of the country where she lives. She writes:— We were in good circumstances when we accepted the truth, and I had never dreamed of such poverty as we have had and still have to experience. I can not but believe that Satan has been contending for our lives and our usefulness ever since we accepted the truth. There is one thing certain—if the Lord should come personally to me, and offer me the opportunity to choose my own way, I would not do it; for I can not see the future, and what might seem to me to be a great good might be the means of the loss of all heavenly good. Through the contributions, which were so kindly made, we were able to send this sister a barrel of clothing and provision, and are trying to arrange something for more permanent relief. Through the personal interest of one of our sisters we came into correspondence with a Christian woman not of our faith, but one who has been an earnest gospel worker, and now seems ready to receive the truth. She is, however, in poor health, and needs medical care at once. She has passed through a severe operation in the city hospital where she lives, and the doctors urge her to have another; but she feels that it would be throwing her life away, and leaving two motherless children in the cold world. She has learned of our institutions, and feels that she could safely trust herself in the hands of our physicians. Very liberal terms have been made to her at the Chicago branch of our sanitarium, but she does not have even a small amount of money to advance. We believe the Lord has brought this case to our notice, and that we shall be held responsible if we do not do everything in our power to see that she is properly cared for physically, and that the precious truth is presented to her as she can bear it. We have just received word from a Michigan family, in which the son and his wife are very ill with typhoid fever. They are far from our people, and in an isolated condition. They say that one visit from a doctor costs eight dollars, and they beg for a missionary nurse to be sent at once. We are not always able to send nurses to such places, but there is a dear sister here in Battle Creek who has had long experience in treating the sick, and is a woman of faith and prayer, who, if her traveling expenses are provided for, will go to places where there is such need, and give the necessary help. We should like to be able to advance money in such cases as these, with the expectation that it would be returned by the persons benefited, with as much additional as they feel they could give; and thus our fund would not diminish, but increase by circulation. The total amount received up to the present time is $24.10. By way of explanation, I will say that this does not include the help that is to come to our department through the sale of the book, "My Mother's Life." We will receive the percentage on the books after the special offer has expired, the first of December. We are sure the Lord will bless all in giving, and we shall depend upon him for wisdom in the distribution. Those who are interested in the special requests for prayer in this department will rejoice to read the following:— I believe that your prayers have been answered in behalf of my family. Since I sent you my requests for my sons, one of them has expressed a desire to be a Christian. He writes me: "Dear mother: I know you have been praying for me, and that your prayers are being answered. I never before had such feelings as I have had for two weeks. Christ is knocking at my heart. Shall I let him in? I do want to keep the Sabbath, and— is as anxious as I am." His wife used to be opposed, but they are united now. My other son, who married a Catholic girl, has been under conviction for several weeks. He is now ill with typhoid fever, and he thinks this sickness was sent upon him because he married this girl when he knew it was wrong. I try to comfort him, but he thinks it is too late. The woman whom I wrote you about, who was so affected by a thunderstorm, is with me; and although we have had the worst storm of the season since I wrote you, she kept at her work. She said she felt badly, but was not prostrated. Over a year ago I sent to Sister Henry the names of two wayward sons, as subjects of prayer. In reply she wrote: "The names of your sons have been entered on our list, and we will do as seems best in regard to them." I would acknowledge to the praise of God that one of them has been converted since, and is endeavoring to follow Christ. The other, having established the habit of using tobacco, is yet in Satan's chains. I think he desires to be a Christian, but is not willing, or does not seem able, to make the necessary sacrifice. I feel encouraged still to ask that the sisters make him a subject of prayer, that he may be converted and lead a new life.