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Called By God
With God’s blessing, Mary Walsh’s question box became an important part of the
evangelistic series. It was advertised in the paper, “Bring your questions,” and those
attending brought them on every subject imaginable. The answers Miss Walsh gave not
only blessed people spiritually but also boosted the attendance at the series.
In spite of all her continuing study and preparation, occasionally a question would
pose a true surprise. There were suspenseful moments when she wondered whether or
not she would be able to find relevant Biblical material on a subject quickly. But God
had promised to give her “a mouth and wisdom” which all her adversaries could not
gainsay or resist. God has never failed her.
Because of her effectiveness and skill, another challenging assignment came her way.
The Boston Commons was a place where individuals or organizations could reserve
space and speak on issues of their choice, and a great deal of discussion took place there.
The Seventh-day Adventists were assigned a spot by a special tree at one end of the
mall. The Catholics were at the other end. Various Protestant denominations ranged in
between, each at its assigned concession. Often considerable bitterness was generated
between Catholics and Protestants during this period of heated religious debate.
Every Sunday Elder Fries and Miss Walsh spoke and answered questions at the
Commons. Many people would have avoided such direct confrontation. “But that put us
on the map,” Miss Walsh explained. “This is why we could get advertised.”
According to Mary Walsh, Elder Fries was a master of the situation in the give-andtake on the Commons. “He was a military man before he became an Adventist,” she
explained. “And he had that military bearing, impeccably dressed and groomed. When
he would get up, I was proud of him.” (From Walsh interview, July 13, 1984.) Mary
Walsh would also walk down the Commons flawlessly attired and cheerfully ready for
the unexpected.
In the aggressive manner of the times, the pastor of one of the largest churches, a
Baptist, advertised in the paper that he would speak against the doctrines of the Seventhday Advent-ists. He was nationally known and drew a packed house. It seemed unbelievable to the Adventists that any preacher would rail against them and their teachings in
the way this man did.
Accusations that she considered to be untrue and unfair did not set well with Mary
Walsh. When she found Elder Fries with some of the other workers looking at the advertisement for the attacker’s meeting, Miss Walsh exclaimed, “Who is this uncircumcised
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26.)
The moment she said it, she sensed that she was doomed. Elder Fries insisted that
Mary Walsh was the very person to answer the accusations—not only in the church,
but also on the Boston Commons. Over her protests he proceeded to advertise that this
would happen.
“Beg, and plead, and tease, and weep—no sir! I had to do it,” she recalled. “He went
ahead and put my name in the paper. I wish you could have seen that crowd on the
Boston Commons!”
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