To the Benevolent by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 15, 1858

To the Benevolent.

By Editor

BEFORE us is a circular containing an extract from a letter of J. W. Eaton, Pastor of a church in Keeseville, N. Y., and published in the Watchman and Reflector, Jan. 25th, 1855. From this circular we copy the following:

"Twenty years since there was in the University of Cracow, in Poland, an aspiring youth, of noble birth, a devout Catholic, pursuing an education for the priesthood. In due time he is ordained. At length, Luther like, he finds a Bible, drinks in its sacred truths, and aims to bring about a reformation. Severely persecuted, he goes to Rome for redress, flies to Paris, escapes to this country, lands at New York, and thence finds his way to Mooers, in the northern part of this State, where he was baptized. Besides being familiar with the sciences he speaks seven different languages. Receiving an appointment from the American Baptist Home Mission Society with a salary of only $350, he commenced preaching to the French Canadian population of Clinton County, with indefatigable zeal. No toil, no fatigue, no danger daunts him. Souls are converted."

This minister is now in Battle Creek, a Sabbath-keeper, reduced to poverty, yet striving for a humble living at Book-binding. He appears to be a humble, sincere servant of Christ. He has given us a brief rehearsal of his life, which we cannot give in full for want of space. He was imprisoned two years in consequence of opposing the Roman Clergy. He landed in New York city with his wife, penniless, and went to work in a brickyard. Finally he reached Montreal with only $1.00, and worked as Book-binder three months, and slept on straw. His friends set him up at Book-binding; but in the great fire of 1851, he was burned out, and left destitute. His success in turning the French Canadians from Catholicism was wonderful. But being greatly abused by a Catholic Priest who professed conversion, and whom he baptized, with other discouragements, he left his mission and is soon a Book-binder at Finley, Ohio. He attended the Tent-meeting held there last Summer, and embraced the truth. His Baptist brethren, who had assisted him, withdrew their patronage and support. He came to Battle Creek. By this time he was near $100 in debt. Then came the hard times. Without murmuring, he has labored hard, while his family have suffered, for the common blessings of this life.

It was recently suggested that he should now go to northern New York, and teach the present truth to his old and warm friends. His heart leaped with joy at the thought of taking his Bible and the French Tracts, (one on the Sabbath, the other on the advent,) and with his family return to Mooers, where he has a house and ten acres of land and a horse. He owes on his place fifty dollars. His name is M B Czechoski. He must have help now. We will be one of thirty to raise $150.00 at once. The sum must be raised before our conference. We make the beginning.

JAMES WHITE $5,00.

ELLEN G WHITE $5,00,