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Evangelist and Teacher of Ministers
mother, a homemaker. While Jessie was growing up in Wilkes-Barre, two Seventh-day
Adventist colporteurs visited them. Selling books to earn a living, these men were even
more eagerly seeking to win souls for the kingdom of heaven. At one house the woman
whom they met did not buy their books but suggested they visit her cousin, Catherine
Weiss, because she might be interested. Jessie’s mother listened carefully to the booksellers’ presentation, and she bought their books. Later she provided them room and
board when the Adventists held tent meetings in Wilkes-Barre. Catherine Weiss became
the first Seventh-day Adventist in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (From Jack and Joan Davis,
interview with the author at the Davis home in Monrovia, Maryland, August 24, 1984. (See
appendix A, 5.2.) Quotations in this chapter not otherwise credited are based on a transcription
of this interview.)
Jessie Weiss, like Helen Stanton Williams (chapter 1) and Anna Knight (chapter 4)
prepared for ministry at Battle Creek College. At the age of 14, Jessie was the youngest
student ever to be accepted at the college, according to her family. No doubt her bright
mind and earnest zeal contributed to her early admission. After starting college, Jessie
switched her curriculum from nursing to the course preparing students to become Bible
workers and ministers.
Her education completed, Jessie returned to Pennsylvania. As a means of earning a
living, she entered the art glass business with her brother, Homer. He and his wife,
Vanetta, as well as their sister, Olive, and Olive’s husband, John Davis, were all
Adventists. John became business manager of the Review and Herald Publishing
Association at Battle Creek in 1893. Mr. Weiss, Jessie’s father, became a Seventh-day
Adventist at the very end of his life.
Jessie Weiss was a successful businesswoman, but at heart she was an evangelist.
Every time a Seventh-day Adventist preacher was sent into her area to hold a series of
meetings, Jessie offered to give Bible studies to interested people. She assisted Elder H.
M. J. Richards and other established evangelists. Thus she added practical experience to
her Biblical learning from college.
After a while Jessie Weiss felt called by the Lord to hold a series of evangelistic meetings herself. Consequently she asked for the use of a tent, and the East Pennsylvania
Conference administrators granted her request. The other expenses and responsibilities
she shouldered herself. She asked her nephew, Jack Davis, an accomplished singer, to
assume responsibility for the music and arranged for two nurses to assist her in
presenting the health message. Jessie prepared and presented the nightly sermons herself.
Although the newspaper article reporting the meetings is entitled, “Kingston Girl
Holding Services Near Drums,” Jessie Weiss was 45 years of age at the time of the
effort. A woman of vitality and enthusiasm, she seemed a mere “girl.”
As she prayed and worked, God blessed her effort in a remarkable way. One night
just as she was preparing to preach, Jessie learned that a Jewish husband and wife were
in the congregation. What should she do? Quickly she asked the Lord for wisdom.
Jessie longed to say something to convict this handsome couple concerning the
Messiahship of Christ.
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