Signs and Wonders God Wrought in the Ministry for Forty Years/Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVI
A HARD PLACE: MUNCIE, INDIANA
After many solicitations by the Christian people of Muncie, Indiana, to come to their city and hold a camp-meeting, I decided to do so, and went there from Farmland and commenced a meeting on the Fair Ground. It was under very discouraging circumstances that I started the meeting at that place. The weather was cold and dismal, and the hearts of the people colder still; but I commenced, knowing that God would bring wonderful victory. I was nearly worn out with the hard battle at Farmland, and as I had very little help it looked dreary, but I had faith in God, and he brought me through "more than conqueror." The skies brightened, and with the bright skies came the people until the large tent was overflowing. At some services many were unable to get within hearing of my voice.
God was present in mighty power, and hundreds-were brought to the Saviour's loving arms. Many aged ones were brought to Christ, and scores were healed of various diseases.
Muncie was noted for infidelity and scoffers of religion. They had made their boast many times, saying, I would never come to Muncie; that I was afraid of them. After hearing so much loud talk I determined to go and let them know what God could do. Many of these infidels and scoffers were the first to fall under the slaying power of God. Others trembled so they could not stand, and fell on their faces and cried to God for mercy. The meeting continued four weeks. The oldest people said there had never been such an awakening; they had never seen such multitudes assembled for the purpose of worshipping the living God. Many converts from our meetings in Hartford City, New Corner, and all through Indiana, and from other States, came to help fight the battle.
Scores of ministers came with their workers. On Sabbaths the crowds were so great we could not hold the meetings in the tent. They made a high platform on the top of the hill in the grove. When it was understood that the services would be conducted in the open air, such a stampede had never been witnessed by anyone present. Everyone tried to get where they could see and hear. There were no seats, young and old had to stand, but they seemed glad to get a place to stand. Scores of these were very old; they wept and shouted and praised God that they were permitted to live to see a real Pentecost revival. Day after day the power of the Lord swept over the congregation till many times they were shaken like grain in a storm. These meetings as in all other places, looked like a battle-field; the slain of the Lord could be seen lying all around, and sinners weeping their way to Calvary, amid the shouts of victory, the howling and growling of the enemy that was driven from the field.
Having long felt impressed that it was my duty to commence a work for the Master at the Capital of Indiana, we went from Muncie to that city and inaugurated what proved to be the hardest contested battle I ever fought for King Jesus.
AT INDIANAPOLIS
On a cold December night we threw our banner to the breeze in the Meridian Rink, at Indianapolis. I think I am safe in saying no one ever commenced a revival meeting in that place with as little sympathy and as much opposition as we did. The powers of darkness were all in battle array against us, but in the midst of all the trying circumstances and fiery darts thrust at us on all sides by the enemy, we continually looked to Jesus, and, though the battle was long and hard, we had a grand victory.
It was just two weeks before Christmas and the churches were all having one social after another, preparing to have a big time the holidays; and most of them were thinking of everything else but a revival of Holy Ghost religion. Nearly all the people had their minds on Christmas, and their time was taken up in some way. I could see multitudes of souls all around, rushing down to an awful hell; could see the funeral passing every day, many of them taking a leap in the dark. Instead of looking at the dark side of all these things and getting discouraged, I felt my responsibility that much heavier, and said, in the strength of our God, we will go forward. About three days before we went to the city the United Brethren church house burned down. The minister and his members came up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. The salt of the city, as they heard of the battle, came. Many ministers stood by and worked nobly in the battle. They were never absent if they could get there. We had three services a day. Souls were saved in every meeting. We remained in the rink four weeks; then went to the Masonic hall.
The house was filled day and night. Hundreds came from the country and other cities. Hundreds of old people were saved, from forty to seventy-five years of age. Some were eighty-five. One old lady was brought twenty-five miles. She was one hundred and three years old. She had fallen and had been badly injured. Her sufferings were so great she could be heard screaming day and night. When she heard of the people being healed she told her son if he would bring her to the meeting God would relieve her suffering and heal her. It was a big undertaking in her condition, but he was very proud of his aged mother and anxious to do anything to relieve her. She was carried in. We prayed for her, and she was healed and filled with the power of God. She shouted over the house, and praised God, and magnified his name in a wonderful manner. When her son rose and told the people his mother was one hundred and three years old, they said: “We have seen strange things to-day.” She was the oldest person I had ever met. A minister who stood very high in the Methodist church and who had, helped us in the meeting, said he had been laboring for lost souls for forty years, had been in many wonderful revivals, but had never seen so many aged men and women at the altar; never saw so many gray heads bowed in sorrow weeping their way to Calvary.
The closing day (Sunday) of our meeting at Indianapolis was without a parallel as a day of rejoicing among those children of God. The house was crowded all day with those who had been saved during the meetings, and many were unable to gain admittance. A general praise meeting commenced in the morning and continued nearly all day.
At night the building was filled to overflowing, at an early hour. Hundreds were unable to gain admittance. I spoke for over an hour, my subject being, “The General Resurrection.” At the close of the service we stood for nearly an hour saying farewell and shaking the hands of those we had learned to love during our stay in Indianapolis.
We next went to Greensburg, Indiana, where previous arrangements had been made for us. We commenced our meeting on the following Saturday night at the opera house. Here, as at other places, we found true Christianity at a discount, and, dear reader, do not be surprised when I tell you that on the first night when I asked those who were on the Lord’s side to stand up, no one in the large crowd acknowledged that he belonged to Jesus. This was the start at Greensburg, but before many days scores were on their feet at once, only too glad of an opportunity to tell that they were on the Lord’s side.
We continued our meetings for four weeks and had a grand victory for our Master. Several hundred were brightly converted. Many were entranced at the different services, some of them seeing wonderful visions. A merchant’s wife who was converted was entranced at one of the services while sitting in a chair. While in that condition she was the very picture of loveliness. The scene was awe-inspiring and caused the stoutest-hearted to weep. She came out shouting, having, as she said, seen her daughter in heaven.
Judge W. came to the meeting from Anderson. He told the congregation he felt it a duty he owed to God and the people to come there and tell what the Lord had done for him a hundred miles away in answer to our prayer. He said he was very low with consumption; had given up all hope of getting well; expected to die soon; and that I had appointed a time for prayer and told him to go to the Lord at that time and expect God to heal and baptize him with the Holy Ghost, and we would pray for him at the same time and it would be done. He said while all alone with God at the time appointed he was healed. The people saw he was well and strong. He stayed several days at the meeting.
Brother H., a Methodist minister of Indianapolis, was very sick, and was instantly healed while we prayed for him. He came to Greensburg and told what Jesus had done for him. While he was talking the power of God fell upon him. He began to shout, Hallelujah! The words rolled out with such power and sweetness that they seemed to come from behind the Throne.
At the close of the meeting at Decatur we packed our tents for the season and returned to Indiana and held a few days meeting. While there we met many of those who had been healed of bodily diseases at the meetings a year previous, and in every instance they were strong and well, just as we expected, for God’s work is not like man’s. It is thorough and lasting. As we look back over the years of labor for the Master, we remember the many hard battles fought amidst trying scenes and difficulties. Through it all we have ever kept our eyes on Jesus, and been led by his loving hand. No matter how hard the battle, nor how strong the hosts arrayed against us, God has brought us through more than conqueror. All glory to his name.
HE IS COMING SOON
As he wanders in exile from home;
Soon will the Saviour in glory appear,
And soon will the kingdom come.
Coming back to this earth again,
And the weary pilgrim will to glory go,
When the Saviour comes to reign.
Shall be opened as wide as before,
And the millions that sleep in the mighty deep
Shall live on this earth once more.
Sweet songs of redemption we'll sing;
From the North, from the South, all the ransomed shall come,
And worship our heavenly King.
In a little while we shall be there,
Oh! be faithful, be hopeful, be joyful till then,
And a crown of bright glory we’ll wear.