Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-10-22
GENERAL.


In the issue of July 9th under the
head, "A Practical Question: you in
vite personal experience of men who
have proved Gods promise true: seek
ye first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all these things shall
be added unto YOU When fifteen
years old | went to work on Western
river steamboat to learn to be an en-
gineer. When twenty-five years of age
| was chief engineer of Il fine passenger
steamboat My pay was 800 per month.
| worked hard and left nothing undone
that | could do for the best interests of
my employers. never had to seek en-
ployment, bnt had Il choice of positions.
[ married, had nice home il good wife,
children came and loved to make life
happy for my family.
But there was thorn in my heart.
No Sabbath for me. God, Church, Sab
bath school, prayer meetings, all given
up that | might support my family by
breaking the fourth commandment.
Was happy? No. l kept IA cheerful
face but, when l thought of living apart
from God, choosing the world and re-
jecting Gods law, it was at times more
than | could bear | can truly say from
IA child l have known the Scriptures
Mother desired me, her youngest boy, to
be minister. She said to me short
time before she went to Heaven that
she believed God would grant her prayer
and that her boy would preach the
Gospel. Four years after mother died
dear father, after few hours sickness,
went to meet mother i'll Heaven, and l,
the child of Christian parents, the child
of many prayers, became steamboat
engineer, every Sabbath denying my
God and breaking His law. Do you
wonder l was not happy?
In 1870 | gave up my position as a
river engineer and determined by Gods
help to remember the Sabbath and seek
to serve my God. l had no work and
had family to support. Isecured work
in machine shop ut - per day. The
work was hard and the wages small, but
| had my Sabbath. 1t seemed like a
new life when we took our places i'll the
house of God to hear His Word. How
happy | was to take my children.to Sab
bath school and prayer-meeting. l had
left the far country and come home to
my kind Heavenly Father, who bade me
welcome home.
After working six months i'll the ma
chime shop secured a position at $3.50
per day. | was now IL member of the
church, a teacher i'll the Sabbath school
and seeking to do Gods will as worker
in His church. l next accepted posi-
ton in large manufacturing house,
salary $1,000 per year. l remained i'll
the employment of this firm for twenty
years; for twenty-five years | never lost
IA single days salary. l had been an
elder in the Presbyterian church, super
intendent of the Sunday school and do
ing home mission work i'll large city
every hour could spare from my daily
work.
When fifty years of age, God called
me TO give up worldly employment and
to preach the Gospel. July, 1889, was
ordained and became the pastor of a
Congregational church, salary $500 per
year. God blessed me i'll this new field.
He has used me AS His messenger and
has given me the great joy of leading
others to Christ. During almost sixteen
wears of work as home missionary
pastor | have lost but one months
salary. l never had to seek church.
We have never lacked for bread. God
has done more for us than we could ask.
| am still doing Gods work and God is
crowning my days with tender mercies.
The Word of God answers every ques-
ton asked by those who are interested
in this subject
, /, Am doing right in breaking Gods
Law Matthew vii, 2l; Exodus xx, s.
2, Who is responsible :-Romans xiv,
II.
3, Gifts for the Lords work: l Samuel
XIV, %.
Read Isaiah, first chapter, verses 10
to 20. G.. w. M.
Spring Greek, Pa.