p. 379 | A Remarkable Incident by Stephen N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 19, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 24.

A Remarkable Incident.

By Stephen N. Haskell

[THE following letter was received by one of our brethren from a gentleman who is not fully with us, but who is interested in our views and work. He has distributed much reading matter, and a number have already embraced the truth of God as the result. The letter speaks for itself. S. N. H.]

DEAR FRIEND: Owing to poor health, I have been unable to write much for a long time; but this morning I feel impressed that I ought to write and inform you of a remarkable—occurrence, I will call it for want of a better word.

A young couple who had been married three years—the wife thirty, and the husband thirty-three years of age—refined, highly educated, and wealthy citizens of West Virginia, friends of my wife, made arrangements to pass a few weeks on a visit here late in March or early in April. They had passed through the streets of Erie a short time previously. Although friends, we had never met them personally, but had their photos. They were a noble-looking couple.

Days and weeks passed, and no tidings from them came. Wife became uneasy, anxious, alarmed about them; for they lived in the flooded region. One morning the papers contained the following item, the first news we had of their sad taking off:—

“Mr. — and wife, widely known and respected citizens of West Virginia, were drowned by the capsizing of a skiff on the Ohio River, during the recent floods. Mr. and Mrs. — had friends in or near Erie.”

I telegraphed and wrote for particulars to friends at different points along the river. Yesterday I received a letter from a Methodist presiding elder of the West Virginia Conference. He gave in brief an account of the drowning, the recovery, and the burial of the bodies. He said they were noble-hearted, Christian people, intelligent and talented, but very peculiar. He related some incidents to show how peculiar they were, and among other things mentioned that they were recently walking the streets of Erie, and picked up a couple of copies of a Millerite or Advent paper called SIGNS OF THE TIMES. “These people keep Saturday for the Sabbath, and preach and practice other oddities. On the train they carefully read the papers, and strangely enough adopted the views of this people at once. As long as they lived (four weeks), they kept Saturday for the Sabbath.”

There is nothing particularly remarkable about a young couple being drowned, or about their adopting new doctrines and new rules of life; but what seems so remarkable is this: I generally carry copies of the SIGNS or Review, sometimes both, for distribution. One day I was down-hearted, low-spirited, discouraged, was in poor health, and had the blues. My life seemed a wretched failure. I felt that I was one of the most useless men on earth. I am naturally hopeful and cheerful, but that day was a “black Friday” in my life. I was almost in despair. I threw the two copies of the SIGNS on the sidewalk. Looking back, I saw a stranger pick them up. Soon afterward I saw him enter a railway car. I have no doubt whatever but that the gentleman and his wife who found the papers were the same ones we afterwards learned were drowned. It may seem commonplace to others, but to me this is all very mysterious and incomprehensible, and is constantly in my mind. “Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but God alone can give the increase.”

Some things I cannot see as you do; but I am satisfied it is my duty to keep the books you send me before the public. There is good and only good in them. I wish their teachings were more generally practiced.

Sincerely your friend.