Cast Thy Bread on the Waters

Joseph and Freda Elgie were married in 1909, shortly after moving to Chatham, Ontario, Canada. A strong religious background had been provided for them by their Methodist parents. Their homes had been the scene of many church get-together’s and they saw their parents always as very active church members.

Their pattern of life appeared to be cast for them. Every day provided routine work at the store for Joseph, after which he returned home for supper and then frequently was involved in activities of the church.

A special customer

Each day a similar pattern was followed until a rather unusual customer came into the store. After his encounter, an excited Joseph arrived home greeting his wife with the news of what had happened. “Freda, I have heard the strangest things,” he said. “A customer came into the store and told me that there is no such thing as heaven-going when one dies. And he said the teachings of hell-fire and the supernatural devil are all false.”

The conversation at the supper table centered around Joseph retelling his experience of the day and carried on late into the evening. With the remaining embers losing their glow in the fireplace, Freda sat by the oil lamp and wrote to her father, telling of the stranger who had come into their lives bearing a different message. Her father’s reply was immediate, with a stern warning to avoid any future contact with this “messenger of the devil.”

Such a warning, however, would not affect Joseph Elgie’s thinking. The comments of the visitor had confirmed what had been going on in his mind for some time as he suspected the church he attended had been interpreting the scripture incorrectly. The unusual customer had thrust deep with the sword of the spirit-word from the pocket Bible he carried. Joseph Elgie and his wife could no longer return to the Methodist church.

A move west

The differences in Bible understanding created a rift between the Elgies and their parents. Eventually they moved west to settle in North Vancouver, residing in a comfortable home close to the waterfront.

The guns of WW I had been silenced. The country was trying to readjust to a postwar economy. The Elgies were affected by the economic turbulence and by the fact their dol­lars needed to be stretched further, for a little daughter had been added to their family. Living near the sea, a trip to the beach was a regular feature of family life. Mum and Dad took their little one so she could play with the seagulls and beach comb for treasures washed ashore from distant places. In the meantime, her father would be busy sawing beach wood to provide fuel for their home.

A second encounter

Back and forth the long cross-saw would cut into a log. One particularly big log was proving unusually stubborn. Joseph Elgie was wishing he had chosen a smaller log when suddenly the blade began to cut more freely through the wood. Looking up, Joseph realized another man was on the other end of the cross-saw. With a steady rhythm, the log was quickly cut in half.

Mopping the perspiration from his brow, Joseph invited the man to sit with him for a moment. After formal introductions, the conversation turned to religion. In the meantime, the little girl had left her dream world of far-away places and began listening to the interesting conversation between the two men. Suddenly her father reached out for her mother’s hand with a loving grasp and said, “These are the things we heard from the stranger who came to the store in Chatham.”

Commitment to the Truth

The seed of the word would not lay dormant any longer. From that day, a fervent study of the Bible was undertaken and Joseph and Freda were baptized into the saving name of Jesus Christ.

Moving from North Vancouver to Sayward on Vancouver Island, they were forced into isolation. However, the flame of the Truth kindled strong in the hearts of the new additions to the family of God. Continued Bible study, regular observance of the memorial service and a daily witness to their new-found faith occupied their lives until February 9, 1954. At that time, Joseph died, but Freda lived until 1972, remaining faithful to the Truth and imparting her precious heritage to her daughter and grandchildren.

Tools of the preacher

The tools in this case were a warm smile, a ready Bible and a willing hand to offer help. These were the instruments involved in the conversion of lives to the service of God Almighty.