Appendix B—The Public Ministry of Ellen G. White
231
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 that time. He
called upon Brethren Faulkhead and 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 A,
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 A 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
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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. A 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 to come forward who
felt their need of drawing nearer to God, to the surprise of all, these
sisters came forward. The sister who had lost her little one said that
she was determined that she would not move forward, but the Spirit of
the Lord so forcibly impressed her mind that she dared not refuse...
.