Orson F. Whitney and Joseph A. West’s Providential Meal and Divine Assistance

In April 1883, Orson F. Whitney and Joseph A. West departed London to travel through Essex 'without purse or scrip,' emulating the ministry of ancient apostles. Their journey began with a planned trip to Epping, but after a dinner with the Larkin family, a telegram compelled them to return to London, leaving them with an unexpected half-crown gift. After walking to Woodford and taking a train to Chipping Ongar, they faced cold weather and significant religious prejudice. While in Ongar, they met Mr. Sargent, a Scripture Reader, and later Mr. Storkey, who provided hospitality. Their financial situation remained precarious; when they arrived in Chelmsford and sought a hall for preaching, they faced repeated rejection. Despite having only eightpence, they boldly rented a hall for eight shillings and hired a town crier to advertise their meeting. To cover these costs, they pawned Brother West’s watch for fifteen shillings. Later, in Braintree, they endured cold, physical exhaustion, and near-destitution, spending their final shilling on a telegram that eventually led them to the home of the Dover family in Rayne. Whitney observed that whenever they reached a point of near-destitution, the Lord would provide assistance through others, noting that their attempts to travel entirely without funds were constantly met by unexpected divine replenishment.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I may as well be frank with you; we have found it next to impossible to travel without purse and scrip. The Lord will not let us, for no sooner do we succeed in getting rid of our last sixpence, and begin to flatter ourselves that the time has at length arrived to exercise faith, than some one is sure to come along and replenish our purse, and administer to us all that we stand in need of. We left London on the 20th of April, with the intention of traveling through Essex without purse or scrip, after the manner of the ancient Apostles. We had not gone far, however, before we were invited to dine with a family of Saints named Larkin, and when we left them, they pressed upon us a half-crown, which we felt constrained to accept. We walked to Woodford, and from there took the train to Chipping Ongar. The weather was cold and disagreeable, and we met with much prejudice. We were kindly entertained at Ongar by a Mr. Sargent, a Scripture Reader, and afterwards by a Mr. Storkey. From Ongar we went to Chelmsford, where we tried to hire a hall in which to preach, but were refused by every one to whom we applied. We had but eightpence between us, and yet we engaged a hall for eight shillings, and hired a town crier to announce our meeting. To pay these expenses, we were obliged to pawn Brother West's watch for fifteen shillings. We afterwards went to Braintree, where we suffered much from cold and exhaustion, and were almost destitute. We spent our last shilling for a telegram, which resulted in our being invited to the home of a family named Dover, at Rayne, where we were kindly cared for.