PRACTICAL MISSIONARY LABOR by Mrs. F. H. Sisley

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, June 24, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 56, No. 1

PRACTICAL MISSIONARY LABOR.

By Mrs. F. H. Sisley

BY MRS. F. H. SISLEY.

In our last vigilant missionary meeting at Battle Creek, some points were brought out with so much apparent interest to those present, that we have thought it might be well to share them with our missionary workers elsewhere. Several, in verbal reports of their past week's labor, spoke of interest which seemed to be awakened in some whom they had relieved in a temporal manner. Others gave instances in their experience where through kind acts good had resulted.

One brother said that years ago a relative of his died, leaving a widow and several children in straitened circumstances. He visited this lady, and tried to assist in relieving her wants. He went with a friend to a store, and there purchased clothing for each of the children. He overheard this lady say to the clerk that he (this brother) would pay for them, and further, referring to our denomination, of which he was a member, she said, “That is the kind of religion they believe in.” She was interested to know more of such a people, and did; “and now,” said the narrator, “she is a firm believer with us.”

A sister also related an experience showing the effect of kindness. While canvassing in a city, she made several visits to a lady who, though poor, was very neat in her home. Each time she noticed a pile of children's garments all ready for the making, lying on the stand. The lady apologized for the worn garments upon the little ones, but said that pressure of care had prevented her from making the needful new ones. The sister kindly asked the privilege of taking them home with her to make. At first this seemed too much for the lady to accept but the next week she consented, and they were done. Now what was the result of this small act? We cannot tell; but the lady was evidently much encouraged to continue her investigations of the truth, and she is now with us in the faith. This kind act so impressed the mind of her unbelieving husband, that he said if ever he became a professor of religion he should be a Seventh-day Adventist.

Our leader remarked that the giving of bread to the hungry often does as much good as the giving of a tract. This brought to mind the following familiar words, which, in themselves, preach quite a sermon:—

“An old lady sat in her old arm-chair, With wrinkled visage and disheveled hair, And hunger-worn features; For days and for weeks her only fare, As she sat and sat in her old arm-chair, Had been potatoes.

“But now they were gone; of bad or good, Not one was left for the old lady's food, Of those potatoes. And she sighed, and said: ‘What shall I do? Where shall I send, and to whom shall I go For more potatoes?’

“And she thought of the deacon over the way, The deacon so ready to worship and pray, Whose cellar was full of potatoes. She said: ‘I will send for the deacon to come; He'll not much mind to give me some Of such a store of potatoes.’

“And the deacon came over as fast as he could, Thinking to do the old lady some good, But never once thought of potatoes. He asked her at once what was her chief want; And she, simple soul, expecting a grant, Immediately answered, ‘Potatoes.’

“But the deacon's religion didn't lie that way; He was more accustomed to preach and pray Than to give his hoarded potatoes. So, not hearing, of course, what the old lady said, He arose to pray with uncovered head; But she only thought of potatoes.

“He prayed for patience, goodness, and grace; But when he prayed, ‘Lord, give her peace,’ She audibly sighed, ‘Give potatoes;’ And at the end of each prayer that he said, He heard, or thought he heard, in its stead, That same request for potatoes.

“The deacon was troubled, didn't know what to do; 'Twas very embarrassing to have her act so, And about those carnal potatoes. So ending his prayers, he started for home. The door closed behind; he heard a deep groan, ‘Oh, give to the hungry, potatoes.’

“And the groan followed him all the way home; In the midst of the night it haunted his room,— ‘Oh, give to the hungry, potatoes.’ He could bear it no longer; arose and dressed, From his well-filled cellar taking in haste A bag of his best potatoes.

“Again he went to the widow's lone hut; Her sleepless eyes she had not yet shut, But there she sat in the old arm-chair, With the same wan features, same wan air; And, entering in, he poured on the floor A bushel or more from his goodly store Of choicest potatoes.

“The widow's heart leaped up for joy, Her face was pale and haggard no more. ‘Now,’ said the deacon, ‘shall we pray?’ ‘Yes,’ said the widow, ‘now you may.’ And he knelt him down on the sanded floor, Where he had poured out his goodly store, And such a prayer the deacon prayed As never before his lips essayed. No longer embarrassed, but free and full, He poured out the voice of a liberal soul; And the widow responded aloud, ‘Amen,’ But said no more of potatoes.

“And would you who hear this simple tale, Pray for the poor, and praying prevail? Then preface your prayers with alms and good deeds; Search out the poor, their wants and needs; Pray for their peace and grace,—spiritual food,— For wisdom and guidance,—all these are good; But don't forget the potatoes.”

Truly, there are hungry souls all around us; not only those suffering from natural hunger, but honest souls longing for a sure and tangible faith to build their hopes upon. If we can help to satisfy either, it is a good work, and eternity will tell the result of unselfish interest in behalf of others.

We read that in olden time the children of Israel were taught, through Moses, their duty to the poor; that when they reaped their harvest they should not make clean the corners of the fields, neither gather the gleanings. By this we see that it was a duty to relieve the wants of the needy, independent of any other consideration. By kindness we may have more influence to interest persons in the truths we cherish; yet we must not withhold our hand from the suffering and afflicted around us, even when we cannot hope to benefit them spiritually. In Prov. 28:27 we read, “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” Again, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.”

As this branch of the missionary work was so fully canvassed, it made us realize that the Christian platform is indeed a broad one, and that we must watch carefully at every step that we offend not. Solomon says, “He that winneth souls is wise.” Oh, for wisdom!