WM. CARTHY by Wm. Carthy

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 29, 1859

WM. CARTHY

By Wm. Carthy

From Bro. Carthy.

Bro. Smith : I am willing to be counted among that poor and, at present, despised company, "who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." I have written to you before for books, which I then wanted for argument's sake. They have opened my eyes more fully to see the truth and beauty of the word of God.

I have been dissatisfied for the last two or three years with the doctrines which have been taught by those who profess to understand the word of God, of the natural immortality of man, the conversion of the world, the immateriality of God, and the institution of the first day of the week for the Sabbath. All these I condemned as spurious, but at the same time I felt a greater condemnation resting upon myself for trying to convince others of the fallacy of such doctrines, while I was myself rebelling against God and breaking his holy commandments. I felt more deeply the necessity of coming out from the world while attending a Methodist revival at Little Prairie last winter, but it seemed hard for me to come out all alone and take such a different course from the rest. How I wished that the truth might be preached there that I might embrace it; but it could not be so then, and I knew that procrastination was dangerous, for I could see that according to the prophecy of Daniel and the revelation given to John, that the door of mercy would soon be shut. I was at last, by the mercy of God constrained to yield, and now feel to praise the Lord, although others may revile me.

The ministers and members of the M. E. church appeared very lamb-like at first; but as soon as I began to give my views on the Scriptures, their speech was as that of a dragon. They told me that I must not mention such strange things to the young converts until their minds were settled, or they might become infidels. But I knew that the truth would not make them infidels. My heart longed for them to know the truth, and I found one friend who had ears to hear, and a mind to understand. O what joy it gave me to see that by degrees the true meaning of the word was understood by him. The anxiety that I felt for a time none can tell but those who have had a like feeling for some dear friend. I looked on to see how the scale would turn, with intense interest. I was pleased to see a letter in Review No. 13, from him. He has sent to the Office and obtained several books treating on the different subjects of our faith, which he has read and embraced with pleasure. C. W. Olds (the individual's name) lives one mile and a half from me. We have much opposition here, and there have been several sermons preached for our particular benefit, by the ministers of the place, but they were to us as the "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." We expect Bro. Phelps will be here this fall, and I have faith to believe that some of the honest ones will receive the truth, although there is great prejudice. My prayer is that their eyes may be opened that they may see their danger before it shall be too late; and may he help me so to live and conduct myself that whether I sleep or wake I may be the Lord's at his coming.

Yours truly.

WM. CARTHY

Little Prairie, Wis., Sept., 1859.