Special Appeals in Public Ministry
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prayers of the servants of God were invited to make it manifest. About
thirty came forward. Among those were the wives of the Brethren
F, who for the first time made manifest their desire to come near to
God. My heart was filled with unspeakable gratitude because of the
movement made by these two women.
I could then see why I was so earnestly moved to make this invita-
tion. At first I had hesitated, wondering if it were best to do so when
my son and I were the only ones whom I could see who would give
us any help on that occasion. But as though someone had spoken to
me, the thought passed through my mind, “Cannot you trust in the
Lord?” I said, “I will, Lord.” Although my son was much surprised
that I should make such a call on this occasion, he was equal to the
emergency. I never heard him speak with greater power or deeper
feeling than at this time. He called upon Brethren Faulkhead and
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Salisbury to come forward, and we knelt in prayer. My son took the
lead, and the Lord surely indited his petition; for he seemed to pray
as though in the presence of God. Brethren Faulkhead and Salisbury
also presented fervent petitions, and then the Lord gave me a voice to
pray. I remembered the Sisters F, who, for the first time, were taking
a public stand for the truth. The Holy Spirit was in the meeting, and
many were stirred by its deep movings.
At the close of the meeting many pressed their way to the platform,
and taking me by the hand, requested me with tears in their eyes to pray
for them. I answered heartily, “I will.” The Sisters F were introduced
to me, and I found that their hearts were very tender.... The mother
of one of the sisters who has now taken her position on the truth, has
been a most bitter opposer, and has threatened that if her daughter
did become a Sabbathkeeper, she would not allow her to enter her
home; for the mother would look upon her as a disgrace to the family.
Mrs. F had often made the statement that she would never join the
Seventh-day Adventists. She had been brought up in the Presbyterian
Church, and had been educated to think that it was very improper
for women to speak in meeting, and that for a woman to preach was
altogether beyond the bounds of propriety. She enjoyed hearing Elders
Daniells and Corliss, and thought them very clever speakers, but she
would not listen to a woman’s preaching. Her husband had prayed that
God would so arrange matters that she might be converted under the
ministry of Sister White. When I made the appeal, and urged those