THE KING’S BUSINESS
147
TWO INTERESTING LETTERS
HE LEADETH ME W E have recently received a letter from a business man which illustrates how God leads His people in the apparently insignificant details of life, and how He blesses men when they follow His leading. It is dated at the Travelers Hotel, Sacra mento, Cal. D ear D k . T orrey : I must tell you of a most remarkable experience I had while in Los Angeles. About a year ago I hap pened to be in San Diego on business. I left San Diego one Friday night, intending to take the boat Saturday for Catalina Island. When I arrived in Los Angeles I noticed in the Saturday papers an announce ment, of your sermon, a subject in which I was very much interested, so I decided to stay over Sunday and hear the sermon. Sunday morning the papers were full of the announcement of the fire at Avalon [Cata lina Island],’ and the guests at the hotel where I intended to stop were obliged to flee in their pajamas, and lost their bag gage. Since I had a valuable trunk of samples, I was thankful that I did not go to Catalina Island at that time. While visiting Los "Angeles two weeks ago, I was very anxious about business affairs. I was rushing hither and yon, but accomplishing no results. I thought about my experience a year ago, so I decided to stay over and hear your sermon. You spoke about “all things working together for good,” and I thought, “Well, we will see what we shall see.” Monday, the next day, as I was packing my trunk, I received a telegram that wai vitally important, as it completely changed my plans. I went to San Ber nardino, and Thursday afternoon had my trunk sent to the SanthFe Depot, intend ing to take the 6:20 p. m. train» for San Diego. As I was about to step on the train, the conductor told me that train would not make connection for San Diego, so in my confusion, I hastily decided to come to Los Angeles and go south the next day. In the morning I read in the paper that the Santa Fe depot had burned down. I spent the next day, Friday, trying to locate my trunk, and incidentally I thought, “Well, once Dr. Torrey saved my trunk for me, but this time I am up against it.” I was not only worried about my trunk, but I was afraid that my cherished theory was knocked into a cocked hat. However, Sat urday morning my trunk was brought up to my room without even a smell of smoke
to it. Then I thought, the least I can do is to stay over again and hear Dr. Torrey, and I did so, a week ago last Sunday. I met two of my friends on the street, and I told them of my experience, and they said I ought to write you a recommenda tion. I thought then that I would do so, but still my business aairs were in doubt. I said to myself, “If I had not stayed over to hear Dr. Tortey I would have been back east, and I am not sure yet whether I did the right thing.” I started on my way east again, and got as far as Riverside, and dropped off, as I was expecting.some mail there. The mail did not come as I expected. I waited a few days. Finally, I received a telegram to come to Sacramento, and now I have received word that it would be use less for me to come back east at this time, as it would be a waste of money. But that was not all. While I was in Riverside I sold a bill of goods for $935.00, something I was absolutely not expecting If this is not a good recommendation I would like to see one that is better. Yours very sincerely, ** Year letter written- 154 years ago, January 18,1763. It is so different from most of the New Year letters that one writes or receives today that we thought it would be of great interest. It was written by William Romaine, one of the godliest men of his day. The volume from which we take it was published in London, September, 1795. We think it is now out of print. This old book was presented to us in Dublin with the accompanying note: “From a grateful heart for blessing received. A specimen of the ‘old time religion’.” M y D ear F riend : I often remember you in the best place, and for the best purposes. Bfit cannot bring myself to love writing of letters, yet I have again taken up my pen to wish you every spiritual blessing purchased by the life and death of our incarnate God, and that will make you as happy, as you can be on this side of heaven. In this new year may you grow in the knowledge of the excellency of his most adorable person, of his complete finished salvation, and of your own particular inter est in it; and having these believing views, A NEW YEAR’S LETTER
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