Bread Found by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 8, 1874

Bread Found.

By R. M. Kilgore

The wise man says: “Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.” “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” In harmony with this injunction, and fulfillment of this blessed promise, we relate a few instances which lately came under our observation and which prove these sayings true and faithful.

A few years since, the only daughter of kind and affectionate parents, embraced the truth and kept the Sabbath alone while the rest of the family pursued their usual avocations. She afterwards became the wife of one who had long been obeying the truth: and now she sleeps, awaiting the call to a glorious immortality.

Another family had been the recipients of the REVIEW during the late six months trial volume, sent through the Tract and Missionary Society by some unknown friend. In the same place, a lady, whose health was such that when her attention was called to the subject of health reform by one of its friends, she took the Reformer, adopted its principles so far as she could, and became friendly to those who advocated them.

A man from the same vicinity, on the fourth day of last July, went to a neighboring village, to visit an acquaintance of his who was not a believer in present truth. While there, he accidently picked up a volume of “Spiritual Gifts” that his friend had borrowed a short time before; and it opened to a reference concerning the Sabbath where he read a few sentences which arrested his attention; and on returning home, he took his Bible to prove that the first day of the week was the Sabbath.

In all these cases, we see bread cast upon the waters and the sequel shows that it was found again.

During the past season, the tent was pitched in the same village, and among those who embraced the truths of the third angel’s message during that series of meetings, was the mother of the faithful and godly daughter above mentioned; the whole family who had received the REVIEW, the lady whose sympathies were with the Reformer, and the man who had read but a few words on the Sabbath in that volume which only refers to the subject. He was the first to embrace the whole truth and take his stand upon it, even at the loss of his situation.

And yet more: while this meeting was in progress, another man, whose attention had been called to present truth, came twenty miles, attended two Sabbath meetings with us, and since then has taken his stand upon the truth and is now keeping the Sabbath.

Another case of the same character has come to light since I came to this place, where I have been holding meetings about two weeks. A minister of the Baptist church a few months since, while walking along the road, picked up a small tract (“Sabbath by Elihu”), a seed fallen by the wayside. His attention was arrested and doubts arose in his mind concerning the divine authority of first-day observance. Since the meetings began here he has attended regularly, and now before I have done with the Sabbath question, he is fully satisfied where the truth lies. Last night he came into our room to talk with us, and said, “As for me, I must obey God; my duty is clear.”

Here was bread cast upon the waters but a short time since, by some one who loved its sweetness, which is now found at this early date; and although it was seed sown by the wayside, it was picked up by one whose heart is now imbued with the spirit of the truth, and the fruit of which, it is hoped, may be seen in the kingdom of God. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” R. M. KILGORE.

Hancock, N. H.