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Called By God
That the golden rule might be applicable in the case of a husband whose wife was called
to min-isterial work did not seem to occur to him.
Meanwhile, Lulu Wightman preached in Hornellsville.(Taken from John S. and Lulu
Wightman, “Hornellsville,” New York Indicator, August 12, 1896. (See appendix A, 3.3.)
Much of the material for this chapter was gleaned from the church paper the New York
In dicator and correspondence from the New York Conference, both available in the
General Conference Archives.) This did not seem a particularly promising location for
an effort. No Seventh-day Adventists lived there to help with the meetings, and the residents appeared rather apathetic religiously. Nevertheless, Lulu celebrated the good news
of the gospel and set forth the Adventist world view while her husband publicized the
effort. As weeks passed the attendance grew instead of dropping off until people were
thronging into the hall. Three in attendance started keeping the Sabbath, while others
showed interest.
At this point Elders Raymond and Stowe, with their tent company, were sent from
Cuba to Hornellsville to continue the work. The Wightmans, being committed to
spreading the gospel with the judgment hour message to unentered areas, moved to Gas
Springs so that Lulu could begin meetings there on September 15, 1896. As a result of
that series, the Wightmans could write to the Indicator that “fifteen of the best citizens
here have taken a firm stand for the truth.” (Indicator. November 4, 1896). They repeatedly demonstrated their ability to attract cultured, educated people to Adventism.
The young woman whom Elder Raymond had been hesitant to see entering the
ministry was blessed by God with results, and before long Elder Raymond as an
ordained minister was sent to organize a 26-member company at Gas Springs, New
York, the fruitage of Lulu Wightman’s preaching and her husband’s willing assistance.
Elder Raymond reported that the members were of good courage and all seemed strong
in the faith. (Indicator. December 30, 1896).
During the summer of 1897 Lulu Wightman preached in an interdenominational
church in Wallace. The meetings caused quite a stir in this village of 300 people. Local
churches brought in an out-of-town antinomian preacher (who taught against the moral
law on the grounds that faith is the means of salvation) to challenge the Adventists on
the matter of the Sabbath. The Wightmans invited their conference president, Elder
Place, to assist them in meeting this opposition.
At the time of the resultant debate, the interdenominational church—which held
350—was jammed with people while others stood eight to ten deep outside the
windows. Excitement was intense. The Adventist presentation was well received. The
Wightmans thanked God for this victory for truth and followed up the interest from the
debate with energetic, effective work. A company of 14 believers was soon formed in
Wallace. (Indicator. July 21 and 28, 1897).
Lulu and John Wightman showed a youthful exuberance and a relish for their work.
They raised part of the money for Lulu’s meetings during these early years with the
blessing of the conference president, who commended their work.

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