LETTERS by Elvira L. Bascom

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 16, 1857

LETTERS.

By Elvira L. Bascom

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."

From Sister Bascom.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Though I am a stranger to most of you, yet the love I feel in my heart for God and his people, leads me to claim you as brethren and sisters. I feel that I am one that has come in at the eleventh hour, as it is but a few weeks, since I found I was violating God's holy law. O the goodness of God, in showing me the error I was in. A kind brother while passing through the place scattered a few tracts, and some came within my reach. As he handed me one, he said he thought we had not been keeping the right day for the Sabbath. Not keeping the right day for the Sabbath! can it be possible, thought I, that any one would dare to change God's holy Sabbath without a command from Jesus or the apostles to do so? I did not read the books through, before I went to searching the Scriptures for myself. I and my family, besides several others, saw our error nearly at the same time, and commenced to keep a Sabbath to the Lord. I need not tell you the difference in my feelings in keeping the true Sabbath, as you all probably know the difference. I can truly say the Sabbath is my delight.

Soon as I embraced this light I felt anxious to see, and hear from others of like faith, and I felt an anxiety for others to see the light. How fervently I prayed that God would send us help; and he has heard and answered our feeble prayers. Brother Frisbie is now laboring in this place and the Lord seems to move upon the minds of the people. Some that we thought nothing would move, weep like children. Some who stood out against the truth, have now embraced it, for which we would praise our heavenly Father. O the goodness of God, not only in giving his Son to die for us, but his long-suffering with us when we were violating his holy day. Other errors I find that I had also been in, but I pray the Lord to search my heart as with a lighted candle, and by his grace assisting me I will give up every error. It is over eighteen years since God for Christ's sake forgave my sins; and how little have I known of God, and of the way of eternal life. How dark have been some things, and how hard it was for me to teach my children; but now I know the reason. I was blind myself, and when the blind lead the blind they both fall into the ditch. But now light has come I find my children can understand; and a man though a fool need not err therein. I find with this light comes love. I love my Bible better I love Jesus better, and I love his children better. It refreshes my soul to hear from the brethren and sisters through the Review. I anticipate a happy meeting with them when Jesus comes, for which may I be fitted and kept by the grace of God through Christ my Redeemer. ELVIRA L. BASCOM. Caledonia, Mich., June 25th, 1857.