Led Unmistakably to the Editor’s Chair

When I entered army service I was, and for four years I had been, in the service of the American Sunday School Union as the Sunday-school missionary for Connecticut. During my three years’ absence in the army I was still counted as a representative of that society among the soldiers at the front. On my return I was appointed to the oversight of its missionary work in the New England field. Later I was appointed its Normal Secretary, in charge of its teacher-training work throughout the entire country.

The work of traveling from Maine to California, and from Minnesota to Florida, holding institutes and conventions and conferences, with an almost limitless amount

of public speaking, became severely tax- 47

Lllustrative Answers to Prayer

ing to me. Naturally I began to question in my mind whether I could continue work of this kind as the years passed on, or whether I could do better work of another sort for a longer time by my undertaking labors like those of a writer or an editor at some center of influence. But, as to this, God knew better than I did, and I must leave it to him to indicate his will. Moreover, 1 was not by any means sure that I had the qualifications for such a place as that which I thought of. That also I must leave to God’s decision and guidance.

In the early spring of 1875, just as I was leaving home to conduct an extended Sunday-school institute in Toronto, Canada, I heard that Mr. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, had purchased The Sunday School Times, and was seeking some well-known Sunday-school worker to secure as its editor. At once I questioned in my mind whether that were not a place that I should be fitted for, and in which I might hope to

do my better life service. As I had known 48 Mr. Wanamaker for years, it occurred to me that, if he knew that I would be willing to leave Hartford, he might invite me to — come to Philadelphia and edit his paper. But for me to suggest such a thought to him would be like telling the Lord where I would like to be before he had indicated his purpose, and that would be contrary to my life principles of service; therefore I left for Canada in the line of my legitimate service, having prayerfully committed all my interests to the Lord trustfully. Returning to Hartford after an absence of two weeks, I found awaiting me a letter from Mr. Wanamaker asking if I would consider a proposition to remove to Philadelphia and become editor of The Sunday School Times. Mr. Wanamaker said that, if I would do this, he would like to have me visit Philadelphia at his expense for a conference on the subject. I accepted this letter, not as an indication that I was to be in this new field of labor, but that I was to consider the proposal carefully. Accord- 49

Ulustrative Answers to Prayer —

ingly I so wrote to Mr. Wanamaker, and afterwards visited him.’

Before I could listen to any formal proposition to assume a new charge, I must be sure that I could discharge all obligations already assumed or under consideration between myself and other parties. As Mr. Wanamaker was soon to leave for Europe for an absence of several months, he wanted me to undertake the editorial work at once. That, I told him, was impossible, as we were arranging for an International Sunday-school Convention, and I was chairman of the Executive Committee, and could not abandon that work while it was incomplete.

He was then ready to waive the question of time. Several other questions were subsequently, one by one, disposed of. This required repeated visits to Philadelphia. Everything thus far seemed to indicate God’s purpose of leading me into the new field; but until I was sure that there was

no existing duty as a barrier to my enter- 50 ing the field, I declined even to. consider the question of pecuniary or other compensation involved, lest I should be unduly influenced in my mind by the thought of this. And now comes the story of the most striking interposition of Providence as furthering the settlement of the preliminaries in the case.

As I was one morning leaving Philadelphia for New York, in the course of these prayerful conferences, Mr. Wanamaker asked me:

“What now stands in the way of your decision?”

“I must see two other persons, — one of them in New York, the other in Boston.”

“Why not go at once and see them?”

“Because I have an important committee meeting in Hartrord the day after to-morrow,” I replied; “and I must be at that meeting.”

“Well,” said Mr. Wanamaker, “then we must wait, and hope for things to work

”
°

out
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Ulustrative Answers to Prayer

On my way to Hartford, as I entered a car at the Grand Central Station in New York, to my surprise I saw the New York man whom I said I could not stop to meet. He represented a prominent national religious society that wished me to superintend a department of its evangelistic work. I had promised to consider this carefully, and I wanted to learn from him the details that would enable me to know what was my duty. He was in the next seat to mine on the way to New Haven. Sitting down by him, I entered into conversation, and obtained the desired information without telling him of my purpose, and was convinced that my duty was not in that direction. Before we reached New Haven the first barrier of which I spoke to Mr. Wanamaker was removed.

When I rose the next morning, I prayed earnestly over my important duties of the day in Hartford, and asked that the Lord would give me further light as to The Sunday School Times matter. My next Led Unmistakably to the Bditor’s Chair

desire as to this was to see my Boston friend, Mr. Thomas C. Evans. Yet there were two points in connection with my committee meeting, and another interest for the day, that burdened my mind as I prayed. It seemed as though the Lord counseled me, “Go down town, and do the best you can there, and leave the rest to me.”

All went well at the committee meeting. The points of difference which I had feared would cause trouble were settled: satisfactorily to all, and soon after noon I returned to my house grateful for the day’s results so far.

As I entered the door of my house, to my great surprise I saw through the open parlor door my friend Evans of Boston sitting inside. He had never before entered my house, nor had he now any reason to suspect my special desire for an interview with him. In my amazement I called out to him, as I entered the room;

“Tom Evans, what brought you here
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to-day ? — or, rather, what do you think brought you? I £xzow, but I would like to know what you ¢hznk.”

“Well, that’s the queer thing about it, Clay,” he responded. “Last night I was at my brother’s home in Shelburne Falls, above Greenfield, Massachusetts. This morning I started for my home by the way of Springfield. Just as I was starting [that ‘was about the time I was praying over the case] a strong impression was borne in upon my mind, ‘Go down to Hartford and see Clay Trumbull.’ I said to myself,‘ I’ve nothing to see him for, and it will take me out of my way and delay my return home.’ Again the impression came, ‘Go down to Hartford and see Clay Trumbull.’ So I came, and here J am.”

“That is right,’ I said; “and now I’ll tell you what you came for.”

Evans was a friend and old army comrade. He knew much about newspapers and their business side, and I wanted to

have his counsel on several points before I 54

Led Unmistakably to the Bditor’s Chair

could decide on such a change in my life occupation as I was now considering. Therefore it was that I was so anxious to see him. With that afternoon’s talk with Evans the last preliminary obstacle to my considering Mr. Wanamaker’s proposition was removed, and I wrote him accordingly.

Soon an arrangement was made by which I became sole editor and part owner of The Sunday School Times, and my son-in-law, John D. Wattles, became the business manager and a part owner of the paper. Two years later we two purchased Mr. Wanamaker’s interest in the business, and we had entire control. And this was the way in which I was led of God, step by step, to the editor’s chair, for my work in the last third of a busy life.

When, in July, 1875, I, with my family, left Hartford for Philadelphia, I said confidently to my wife:

“Alice, if future events should seem to show that I have wrecked my business

prospects, and even my reputation, by going 55

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to Philadelphia, I want you to know that I was sure, when I left Hartford, that God wanted me to go there. Whether I personally am to gain or lose by the move, God knows. That God clearly indicated his wish for me to make the move, / know. The result I am glad to leave with God.”

That’s a good way to feel about any and every move in God’s service. In fact, it is the only right way for a child of God to feel.

VIIl