CHAPTER XV
AN EARTHQUAKE AT ANDERSON
The sinners and Christian people of Anderson, Indiana, had been making an effort for two years to get me to go to their city and hold a meeting. I had a strong desire to do so, but was unable to go until July, when I commenced a camp-meeting at the Fair Grounds.
The first night the tent did not hold the people. Nearly all were non-professors, or, dead professors, which is worse. I had very little help. Many citizens who had been professed unbelievers made their way through the crowd and stood by us. They encouraged the meeting enough to make the church members blush and bow their heads in the dust. We had hardly strength to stand or voice to speak, but we commenced the battle in the strength of Elijah’s God, shouting victory!
I did not ask sinners to come, but insisted on professors coming to the front, but the sinners made a rush and came crowding to the front from different parts of the tent.
Before the meeting closed nearly the whole city became interested, and wanted to do something. Ladies from all the different churches called, and invited me to their homes. Every inducement was offered to get me to remain longer, but I had promised to go to Farmland, Indiana, and must keep my appointment. I should have been at Farmland the Sabbath previous. I was publicly announced for that time. I sent several other good workers at that time, to carry on the work until I could go. On the first Saturday night, when I was expected at Farmland, there were two thousand people: at the depot to meet me, and they were much disappointed because I sent others instead of going myself. While sitting in the station at Anderson, waiting for the train to take me to Farmland, I was surprised to see one of the evangelists sitting there that I had sent to Farmland. She said she was discouraged, and could not do anything there; the people were so. hard and spiritually dead. She said she had a vision and saw them all in their coffins, and believed they were so dead they
would never be raised spiritually. As soon as I got there one of
83
