p. 316 | HOW WE FOUND THE TRUTH by Geo. E. Loomis

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 13, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

HOW WE FOUND THE TRUTH.

By Geo. E. Loomis

BY GEO. E. LOOMIS.

I WAS very much interested in the article by Bro. Garland on “Prophecy Fulfilling,” in REVIEW of March 25, 1880, perhaps more so than many others, although the careful observer of the signs of the times cannot fail to see that the prophecies are fast fulfilling.

I would like to say a few words concerning Bro. Garland. I first became acquainted with him in Clayville, N. Y., about five years ago. I had just embraced the doctrines of First-day Adventists, through the labors of Bro. Geo. D. Smith, now of Palmer, Mass. I was so happy that I was anxious to tell some one else the glad tidings. Bro. Garland was in a cold, unsettled state, and I began to talk with him on the subject of religion. He had never joined a church nor been baptized, although he had studied two or three years with a Methodist minister. His own words were, “There is something lacking. I am unsatisfied. I have been to all the churches, but could not make any of them my home, nor have I any desire to have any of the ministers baptize me. Something is wrong.”

This gave me an opportunity to advance the Bible view of the nature and destiny of man, the resurrection, and eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at his coming, now not far distant. Bro. Garland was willing to investigate. Bro. Smith and myself started a prayer-meeting at private houses (for there was not a prayer-meeting in Clayville, a place where there were four churches), and Bro. G. was revived, and through the influence of those little meetings nine were converted.

Bro. G. soon came into the truth of the Advent doctrine, and oh, what a happy man he was! But he said to me, “I am not fully satisfied; there is something lacking yet, and I do not want to be baptized, although I feel so much better.” He then began to preach some. I thought it strange that he was not satisfied; but there was an unrest, a place unfilled. Finally we heard that there was to be an Adventist camp-meeting at Rome, N. Y., and decided to attend it, supposing, of course, that it was a First-day Adventist camp-meeting. This was in the fall of 1876. Bro. Smith soon suspected that it was a Seventh-day Adventist meeting, and we changed our minds about going; for I was very much prejudiced, and was not willing to encourage by my presence a people that keep Saturday for Sunday, as I called it. But Bro. Garland, living some distance from us, did not know of this arrangement; so on seventh-day he came, according to agreement, and urged me to go. He had never heard any Adventist preaching, and thought we could sort it out, and take the good and throw away the bad. So we went, but we could not get Bro. S. to go.

We reached the camp-ground late in the evening after the close of the Sabbath. We found ourselves among friends, and received such kind treatment as we never can forget, not only from the Whitneys, but from all the brethren and sisters. I still hold their kindness in grateful remembrance, and often pray for them all.

That night Eld. Smith preached on the two covenants. We were very much interested in the subject; it seemed to take a good hold of us. The next morning I believe Eld. Canright preached on the Sabbath question. We drank in the precious truth. I made up my mind that Bro. G. was getting the one thing which had been lacking. It was one of the happiest days we had ever seen. Praise the dear Lord that he ever thought us worthy to receive the truth. Oh, how happy we were all that day; for we had heard strange things. The truth was being unfolded to us. We were being convicted by God’s holy law. We began to be interested in the people that represent the Seventh-day Adventists, the people that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus. We found that they had been misrepresented to us.

We stayed to the Sunday-night meeting, then we had to go. We spent all the money we had at the stand, for tracts, and walked eighteen miles to Utica after nine o’clock that night to save the amount of our fare to buy tracts.

Bro. G. commenced keeping the Sabbath immediately, but encountered much opposition. He lost his situation

in the shop; his friends turned against him, but he had great faith in God, and found that it is better to obey than to sacrifice. The Lord has blessed him in his trials and sacrifices for the truth’s sake. After he was thrown out of work at Clayville, he moved to Cassville, and set up harness-making, going into business for himself. He is battling against opposition, and meets with difficulties, but is strong in the faith. May God still bless and keep him, is my prayer. I also lost my situation in the factory, as I could not retain it and keep God’s holy Sabbath. I came to Westerly, R. I., among our Seventh-day Baptist friends, to get work, and have succeeded finely. Was baptized by Bro. I. Sanborn, and have united with the new church at Niantic, R. I. Bro. Garland is now satisfied; he has found a home at last, and has been baptized, and united with the church in Brookfield, N. Y.

Bro. G. and myself are interested in Bro. Geo. Smith, above mentioned, who is still out of the truth. I would ask the prayers of Sabbath-keepers in his behalf. I cannot give him up. Brethren, let us, as Bro. G. says, take to the closet, and watch and pray while the prophecies are being fulfilled, so that the Lord shall find us ready for translation when he comes.

Westerly, R. I.