p. 173 | OUR ABLE MINISTER by Stephen Haskell Lane

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 16, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 11.

"OUR ABLE MINISTER."

By Stephen Haskell Lane

EDITOR OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES: During the past year I see you have placed my SIGNS on the free list. I appreciate your kindness, but I do not feel just right to read a paper which does me so much good, and have it cost me nothing. Please find inclosed a donation. Surely when we look over the field and number its converts, we can properly style it "Our Able Minister." He is able from the fact that he encourages in the good way by presenting the truth for these last days in a bold, fearless manner, yet in such a way as to not give offense to the most sensitive. If he falls into error by trying to defend a defective position, he repents without going into despair. He is independent without being stubborn. He is always full of faith, and yet does not run into presumption.

He is one of the most successful home missionaries in our denomination. He is such from the fact that he visits thousands of families in their homes wherever the English language is spoken. He is willing to go anywhere he is invited or sent, over sea or land, by ship, train, or stagecoach.

Not long since the writer was laboring in a field in which the truth has of late gained a foothold. While visiting a family I was accompanied by "Our Able Minister," and left him in the parlor. The good lady of the house became acquainted with him, and, on my return, said with much earnestness, "The truth is presented in just the right manner, and for what can his visits be secured for one year?" When told, the $1.50 was paid without hesitation, and now his visits are being made regularly, which are enjoyed by the family and appreciated by others.

Not long ago one of his converts addressed the writer, stating that she had a little means which she desired to put into the cause to aid the work in the State of New York. When she received a reply, some money was sent on. It came every few months, until the writer was anxious to know how she became interested in the truth. She replied that when a young girl she heard some sermons in relation to the second coming of Christ, and afterwards saw a few copies of a First-day Adventist paper. She saw no more of the papers for several years, and after a time united with a popular church, of which she is now a member. Some six years since she was impressed to obtain, if possible, the paper just referred to. She wrote a letter to the paper, but, not knowing where to address it, kept the letter, hoping to find some advertisement of the paper. While thus waiting, some missionary worker in one of the Western States caused "Our Able Minister" to make her a visit. She was so pleased that she drank eagerly of the truths he taught, and is now fully converted to the same, and, although she has never heard or seen any other minister of the same faith, or even a member of the denomination, her means, to the amount of several scores of dollars, has been sent to aid the work in New York, and institutions in other States, also the cause in foreign fields, and distributing tracts and papers in her own local field.

This minister, reader, makes his headquarters at Oakland, Cal. He makes many thousands of visits from there each week. He works faithfully, and yet, sad to say, he is not always able to pay his expenses at headquarters. Will you not, reader, aid him? You can do so by ordering him to visit your own home. He will visit you for $1.50 a year. Will you not only order his visits for your own edification, but for the benefit of others?

S. H. LANE.