Stawicki’s Conversion from Catholicism
By Julian Stawicki
BRO. WHITE: About two years since I embraced the Advent doctrine under the ministration of Bro. Czechowski. In my youth, being a Roman Catholic, I was ignorant of the Holy Scriptures, never having heard them explained until under the ministration of Bro. C. Before I left Poland, my native country, I endeavored to serve the Lord. I sought with all my heart to live a holy life, but could find no encouragement from either priest or people to carry out my desires. I began to see more and more clearly the corruptions of the Roman Catholic Church, especially after I became a fugitive in Algiers, Africa. Being a young man about 18 years of age, and not understanding any trade, I was cast upon the providence of God. By little and little I learned the French language. As my mind became enlightened, the hypocrisy and the iniquity of the priests and people became more and more manifest to me. I do not blame the people as I do the priests, for they have not any of the true religion of Christ. May the Lord hasten his coming and pour out his vengeance on this synagogue of Satan, who hold so many poor deluded souls in bondage, keeping them in worse than Egyptian darkness, so that they know not their God and Creator. On arriving in New York City over four years ago, a French infidel paper fell into my hands. The editor there stated that each nation formed a God for itself, and every nation can do as they please. I thought this might be true, owing to the thick darkness I had fallen into, until finally through the mercy of God I met with Bro. Czechowski, who invited me to hear him preach, which invitation I gladly accepted. Then for the first time in my life, I heard the word of God in its truth. The prophecy of Daniel interested and surprised me very much. The prophetic chart was truly clear to my understanding, for which I am thankful to God our merciful Creator for shedding forth the light of his glorious truth into my heart, giving me the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. May the Lord keep me faithful, and enable me to overcome Satan's power. It surprises me very much that Protestants, professed believers in the Bible should so openly disobey God's holy law, and reject the seal of the living God, and follow the "beast," Papacy. After I heard the second lecture I felt a strong desire to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. At first I was persecuted somewhat by my own countrymen, and Satan was busy to overthrow my faith. I pray that my heavenly Father may give grace to overcome Satan's power. By the help of God I realize, little by little, the truth as it is in Jesus. My heart goes out in thankfulness to God our heavenly Father, for bringing me into the glorious light of this precious truth. May the Lord bless this precious cause, that the third angel's message may go with a loud voice to poor benighted sinners. I have no doubt there are many honest souls that may be saved from the approaching doom of this world. It astonishes me that many with good judgment and good understanding are so blinded to the truth, and continue to do wickedly. But when I refer to the prophet Daniel I find that the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand. I pray that I may be kept from following my own ways, and may be enabled to become crucified to the world, and the world to me, to be separate, that God may receive me and make me a son eternally in his everlasting kingdom. Brethren and sisters pray for me. Yours till victory shall crown us.
JULIAN STAWICKI.
Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug., 1862.