Testimonies of Former Workers
Frances (Pruitt) Murphey
Frank Edward (my twin brother) and I were born on August 22, 1918, after the folks moved from Clovis, New Mexico, in June.
The folks lived at 611 W. Mansur when we were born. Frank and I were 17 months old when they moved to 924 W. Mansur. I was 8 years old when they built the Print Shop by the house. When I began working in the Print Shop, we folded the paper by hand. Mother would put a pot of beans on the stove on paper day, and then around noon she would go over and make cornbread and we'd gather in for lunch.
It took us two days or longer to put out the paper, but the day came when they bought a folder. Before we had had to fold, staple, trim and wrap the paper by hand, but this machine folded, pasted and trimmed it. It was a special day when that machine came to the work.
We children would also gather in and fold tracts by hand. We didn't keep a stock of books. The paper and tracts were the main things we published. There was a big demand for the tract, 48 Hours In Hell. When that was ready to be stitched (stapled), I knew I had a job that day. It took a long time because I had to do it by myself.
At home we had chickens and a cow which Mother would take out to graze alongside the road. Papa would make a garden and plant lots of potatoes, which were placed in the cellar for our use through the winter. He would also go to the food mill and buy wheat. We children would help him clean it and then grind it for whole-wheat mush to eat for breakfast. Leftover mush was sliced and fried for supper.
When fruit came in season, we canned peaches, apples and pears, and also made jelly.
In spring we would pick wild greens and Mother would buy salt meat for seasoning. What we really enjoyed was when Papa would come home with two sticks of bologna, a box of crackers and pork and beans. That was a treat. Papa liked candy, and every once in a while he would bring home a sack of it.
During the depression the Lord supplied us with plenty to eat. I can't remember ever going hungry. We had eggs and milk and lots of potatoes.
We always had visitors and workers in our home, where we gathered each morning and evening for worship.
The Lord was dealing with us children. I was always tender and wanted to do right, and in later years I wanted to live for the Lord, but just couldn't seem to. I would try and fail. Then Willie Murphey came along and would ask me, "Frances, when are you going to get saved?" "When I can live it," I said. The day came when the Lord really burdened me with my need for salvation. I gave my heart to Him and went on to sanctification. I learned to depend on the Lord rather than myself to keep saved.
I thank the Lord so much for His goodness and how He helped us down through the years. My determination is to always be what He wants me to be.
Clifford Wilson
On page 176 of the book titled God's Gracious Dealings, written by Bro. Fred Pruitt, mention is made of the arrival at the Print Shop of a Model `B' Cleveland Folder. This machine was to be delivered, set up and made ready to run. The set-up man was to do a brief break-in session with someone from the Print Shop on the proper operation and care of the machine. The man who came to do the set-up job was quite impressive with his skill and ability at working with machinery, for the folder came completely "knocked down" and the pieces crated and packed in a number of different crates and boxes. He came in the first morning with a good-sized toolbox in his hand and went to work unpacking pieces, each of which he laid out in a pattern on the floor. When all the pieces were accounted for, he began assembly. He worked for three or four days fitting them all together. Any of you who have ever worked on the Cleveland `B' will know that it would be quite a thing to assemble starting from scratch.
Shortly after shop work started one morning, we heard the motor on the Cleveland `B' start up and the set-up man began the process of fine-tuning the machine to fold sections for a book Bro. Pruitt had brought him. It didn't take long to get the machine in running shape, and the next thing I knew I was elected to go in and take the "short course" on how to operate it. Well, about the first thing needed was some paper stacked on the "board" to feed from, so he began showing me how to stack the board. You pick up a stack of paper of the correct size, a half to three-quarters inch thick, lay it on a flat work surface with the edge that will lay toward the folder away from you, then hold the stack down with one hand. With the other hand, pick up the outside corner of the stack and pull it in toward the center of the sheet, holding the corner down rather firmly, not enough to make an obvious crease but enough to put just a bit of up-curl in the corner of the paper. Then, with your hand flat on the corner, roll the corner back out until the paper is flat again. Do the same thing with the opposite feed corner. With this slight "up-curl" in both corners of the stack, fit the lead edge of the stack against the folder guides and do another stack. Keep this up until the board is full, twelve to sixteen inches or so high. The blower on the folder will blow air gently into this curled-up front edge of the stack, loosening the top sheets so the suction feed cups will pick up only one sheet at a time.
With my unskilled awkwardness and his explaination of various procedures as we went along, it took a while to get the board stacked, but when we finally did, I looked over at him and said, "What happens, now, if I get in a hurry sometime, decide all of this prep work is not necessary, and just stack the board without it?" I will never forget the look that came on his face, nor the answer that he gave me. He must have stared at me for a full minute or more before he finally spoke, and then he said, "I have been sent here to set this machine up and show you how to run it. If you do it the way I show you, it will run and do the job. If you try some other method and it doesn't work, tear it down and set it back up like I have shown you and it will work."
That has been something like fifty-five years ago, and times without number, through the course of my life, this man's saying has re-echoed in my ears, especially in regard to my service to our Lord and Master. When the suggestion would come to cut a corner a bit here, or spare a little detail there, or use some idea of my own instead of His specified instruction, this counsel would echo through my soul again, and I would hear the Master saying, "If you will tear the whole thing down and build it back the way I have taught you, you will enjoy the success you are seeking." Oh, how I thank and praise my blessed Lord for the truth.
Thomas Vada McMillian
It was the year of 1942 when I came to work at the Print Shop. Before that, I was living in Mississippi and was isolated from the saints. Someone had sent us a Faith and Victory paper. I got interested in reading it and started corresponding with Bro. Fred Pruitt. His letters were such a blessing to me. They were what helped me to be led to meet with the saints. I went to the Hammond, LA, camp meeting, and he was there. He invited me to go home with him from the meeting and help in the Print Shop. I gladly accepted the invitation and went to Guthrie with him and the company that was with him, which included Sis. Maybelle Pruitt, Bro. Ostis Wilson and Sis. Dorothy Byers. Sis. Dorothy was going to work in the Print Shop, too. Bro. Clifford Wilson was already there at Guthrie.
Being privileged to be in Bro. and Sis. Pruitt's home and to be with the other workers there was a great blessing to me. I was privileged not only to hear the gospel preached, but also to see it lived.
The family of Bro. Pruitt, along with the workers, would meet in the living room and have family worship morning and evening. Our worship consisted of singing a few hymns, reading a chapter in the Bible, and having prayer. Bro. Pruitt taught all of us to take part in the worship service. We all enjoyed it.
The atmosphere was heavenly, both in the home and in the Print Shop. It was a very common thing, when Bro. Pruitt would be working, to hear him say, "Praise God." And sometimes others would be singing while they worked.
Bro. Hyrum and Sis. Geneva Ray lived next door to the Print Shop. Sis. Geneva also helped in the Print Shop. All the workers would meet in Bro. Pruitt's home for the noon meal. Sis. Pruitt did most of the preparing of the meal. She was a real good cook. We all enjoyed the good food and the conversations that took place during the meal.
Bro. and Sis. Pruitt were almost like a father and mother to me. I will always remember their kindness.
While I was there, Bro. Merrill Williamson and Sis. Myrtle Grice came to work there, too. We enjoyed their presence also.
I worked there about one year. I count that as one of the most valuable years of my life. It helped me to become established in the truth. I have never doubted that I have met with the true people of God. I desire to finish my life with them, and also go to heaven with them, and live with the Lord forever with His great family.
Evodna (Thurman) Marler
I thank the Lord for preserving the Faith Publishing House outreach these many years. I know a little about the devil's attempts to stop it.
I am also grateful for the way a door was opened for me to be a part of the work there. What a heavenly atmosphere it was-quite different from what I was accustomed to. Bro. and Sis. Fred Pruitt were so dear, patient and gentle with us young converts. I know God led me to the saints and to that phase of the Lord's work, for it was my salvation in getting settled and established in the truth.
May God bless everyone who have devoted their time and talents, and all who have supported this means of spreading the gospel.
I am thankful for the precious memories of the years I spent at the Faith Publishing House. I enjoyed the spiritual atmosphere, and also the work. I remember when Bro. Fred Pruitt would have mechanical problems with the machines, how he would reply, "Praise God!" That was such a blessing to me. I appreciated Sis. Mary Pruitt cooking tasty meals at the Print Shop home. I enjoyed the company of co-workers, and all the experiences I had while living and working at the Faith Publishing House.
Ruth (Hornbeck) Taylor
I remember going to the Pruitt home as a very young child. I always thought Sis. Pruitt made the best gravy in the world, but the main thing about her was how much I felt she loved me as a child, and later as a young Christian. She was one of the sweetest older saints in my young life. We would come to visit Aunt Maybelle and Uncle Lawrence, then go across the street and down the block a short distance to the Print Shop. When it was time for the paper to go out we would frequently go up there and help fold the paper, then help put the addresses on. I thought it was fun. The machine that folded the paper and the tracts saved a lot of time for the workers.
I remember when Willie and Frances got married in the living room of the Pruitt home. It was in June and it rained so hard. I was sad because it rained on their wedding day. I thought they should have a perfect day for their wedding. To me they were the perfect couple.
I also remember when Aunt Maybelle and Uncle Lawrence got married. They had their wedding in the home of Grandma and Grandpa Miles up on the hill, north of where the dining hall is at Monark. The house burned long ago.
God has been good to all of us. I thank Him every day for the heritage I have had that taught me about Him and how to serve Him. May God bless all you who are there. Keep me and my family in your prayers, and we will remember you in our prayers.
The Workers Reunion of Faith Publishing House
On the morning of July 11, 1998, the present workers and many former workers of Faith Publishing House gathered in the new unfinished Print Shop building for a reunion commemorating 75 years of publishing the gospel.
The event began with Bro. Arnett Carver leading the song That Glad Reunion Day. Roll was then called and each worker given an opportunity to share memories of his or her time of service at the Print Shop.
At noon a light lunch was served. In the afternoon, roll call resumed. Group photos were taken at 4:00 p.m. before the evening meal.
Special recognition was given to my mother, Frances Murphey, and Andrew Pruitt, two of the only three living children of the late Fred and Mary Pruitt. Mary Embly, the other living child, had planned to attend, but was not feeling well enough to make the trip from California.
Last on the schedule was a slide and song presentation which revisited the past and promoted the purpose of the work of the Lord.
God blessed the assembly of those who came together for the workers' reunion. It was a time of tears and laughter. We appreciate all who made the effort to attend. If God permits, perhaps there will again come a time when the Faith Publishing House family gather on this side of eternity.
Until that day, may God bless each one, and let each of us remain faithful to our calling.