Page 23 - THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
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be, and he replied: "Because if I begin to keep the Sabbath as you do, I
will lose my job."
I said, "It is better to lose your job than to lose your life." And the
conversation ended. But the next time I went into the office I saw a
wreath hanging on the door, and everything seemed to be upset. Then I
was told that Mr. Harney, the sales manager, had suddenly taken sick the
night before and died early that morning.
About that time the head bookkeeper, too, became interested in discussing
religion with me. As time went on, I discussed the same I had discussed
with Mr. Harney, and at last he, too, said, "Houteff, it must be wonderful
to feel as you do, but I could never be a Seventh day Adventist." I said,
"Why?" "Oh, I could not keep the Sabbath and my job, too," he replied.
"Well," I said, "it is better to lose your job than to lose your life, Mr.
Barber." And surely enough, the next time I went into the office, I found
everybody talking instead of working! Then I was told that Mr. Barber,
the head bookkeeper, was found dead that morning in his room! Believe it
or not, but this is what happened with both men after they sold their
convictions for the price of a job!
A little later, I thought that I should have something of my own instead of
continuing to work for Mr. Sleuter. So I was spending most of my time
with experiments on health sweets, and as I then sold a washer only now
and then, I was not too popular with the company. And as the company
owed me some commissions, I decided to find out why were they held
back. After discussing the matter several times with the sales manager he
put me off each time with a promise to "see to it." But one day I pressed
the matter harder, and as a result he said, "Houteff, I am tired with this
and I don't care, you can quit." Next time I went in, I learned that Mr.
Lisco, the sales manager, was discharged and that Mr. Foster had taken his
post! Mr. Lisco, you see, was the one who had to quit, not I!
I then went to see the new manager about my commissions. He promised
to investigate the matter and to let me know the next time I came in. He,
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