Signs and Wonders God Wrought in the Ministry for Forty Years/Chapter 19
CHAPTER XIX
A GREAT FIGHT
The next battle fought for King Jesus was in Louisville, Ky., August, 1888. Among the many from other States and cities who attended our meeting at Springfield, Illinois, were a number of prominent citizens from St. Louis, Missouri. Among these were Mr. R., a merchant of the Famous boot and shoe store, and his mother. They insistedon us visiting St. Louis and stopping with them. We did so and remained there several days. The people were very anxious for us to hold meetings in one of the parks. A number of the business men made quite an effort to have us stay, but we felt the Lord was calling us to Louisville. It was quite a cross to leave such a good opening and bear the expenses of the long journey. Not knowing a person in the city, no one to open the way, to board us, or help us, bearing all expenses ourselves, which were very heavy, we spent. nearly every cent we had, which was about four hundred dollars, before we received a penny. This was walking by faith.
There we were among strangers in one of the wickedest cities in the world. We never thought of being discouraged, but kept shouting "Victory!" knowing that Jesus was leading every step.
When we came to the city we were very tired after so much hard labor and the long journey, and went seven miles from the city and camped out on the bank of the Ohio river in a small grove to rest. While there we. realized that we were soldiers indeed, and, as Paul said to Timothy, we were "enduring hardness for Christ." We did all our cooking on a stove with one small hole. It stood outside the tent. We used a box for a table, benches for chairs, grass for a carpet, and made our beds on the soft side of the floor. We were far from the city and no way to go back and forth, as the cars did not run that way, so that we were deprived of many comforts. We had money, and we could have put up at @ good hotel; but we saved it to start the meeting, and spent several hundreds of dollars before we received any money. We did this in many places.
I find that the earnest followers of Christ have very little rest here. Like our Master; we must be about our Father's business. We could not get a grove in the city in which to hold religious meetings, though we could have gotten one for most any other purpose. We succeeded in getting the Commons. We pitched our tent in the hot sun. It was the first of August and we knew that it would be all we could stand to hold a meeting in a tent day and night. But we knew God had called us there and he would take care of us. We moved and pitched our small tents on the Commons to get ready for the battle. Our large tent and most everything we needed for comfort was delayed for over a week, but we did not want to use the Lord’s money to board at a hotel. It began to rain the day we camped and continued almost incessantly for a week. The water was over us, under us and around us. It came up even with the floor. We were a sight for curiosity seekers, some saying we were Gypsies, but there were no children or horses around. Some said we were fortune-tellers, and others that we were artists, But we were none of these, but a band of Pilgrims living in tents like our fathers, and seeking a city out of sight.
Finally a reporter came and interviewed me and gave us a good advertisement in a daily paper. Then the citizens began to call on us. It was not long before they knew who we were and what we were doing. When the large tent and all the small ones had been pitched, they said it looked like a village. It was during the presidential election, and the citizens were having a street fair or a business parade which lasted several weeks. There was a sham battle fought on the Ohio river by moonlight, Thousands came daily from other States and cities. While all these things were against us still it brought many from other States to our meeting. A number being convicted and saved, who otherwise never would have been.
Amidst all this excitement we never missed a meeting, but held them day and night. The night they had the wonderful fireworks they were only a short distance back of us. The noise was terrible and the devil tried his best to drive us from the field. All classes were there and while all the artillery of hell was turned on us, by the help of God we fought with. the fire, sword and shell from heaven, and won the victory. The two armies had come together. God’s soldiers came up inline. I told them to take their eyes off these surroundings and turn a deaf ear to the noise; to lift their hearts to God in silent prayer and I would preach. God came in wonderful power while we were singing and praying. Many going to the fire-works were so astonished to see such a crowd and such a meeting they were held as under a spell. The tent was crowded. All standing-room was taken up inside and hundreds were standing outside. I preached an hour or more. The congregation was so attentive I do not believe they missed a word. Oh I praised God for victory ! Amidst all the noise of the different kinds of fire-works I was not bothered in the least. God gave me voice and power to hold the people.as still as if death was in our midst. Glory to God! The devil is mighty, but God is Almighty. Let no one who reads this ever get discouraged in doing the work of the Lord. There never was a meeting held under more discouraging circumstances. Everything was against us; nothing for us but God. He was more than all that was against us.
The colored people were the greatest drawback. The Southern people are so prejudiced against them that they will not permit them to worship with the white people. We gave the invitation for all classes and conditions to come to the meeting. The invitation was accepted by the rich and poor, the white and the colored, church members and all kinds of sinners. The white people said that if the colored were permitted to come, they would stay at home. Then we gave the colored people one corner of the tent and had them sit by themselves. This did not suit the people. Some of the wealthy citizens said that they liked the meetings, would help support them, but they would not do anything if we let the negroes come. Ministers and professing Christians said the same. They said all evangelists that had been in the city could do no good until they drove the negroes away. I told them God made the whole human family of one blood, Christ had died for all. Christ said, “Go preach my gospel to all nations, to every creature.” Can we obey God and drive the hungry souls away?
When Jesus sent me out to stand between the living and the dead, he said, ‘“Go where God sends you, without respect to persons or places.” I told those people who came to persuade me to not let the colored people attend, that I knew if we let them come with the feeling which existed, we would have a terrible battle, but we did not dare drive them away, for if we did the Holy Ghost would leave and God would hide his face from the work and it would be a failure. Thank God, amidst all this trouble we shouted victory, knowing that God would overrule all for his glory and do the greatest work ever done in the State of Kentucky. I thank God we had no desire to drive them away, but felt glad to have the privilege of leading them to Christ.
God came in such wonderful power it was not long till they seemed to forget the color. The altar was filled with seekers, white people on one side and colored on the other.
Sister F., a colored evangelist, whom I had heard of before I started out in the work of the Lord, was present. She was highly esteemed by the people of the East. She had labored with the white people. For years I had desired to meet her. One night I saw her in the meeting, did not know who she was, but called on her to lead in prayer. Such a prayer! She reached the Throne, took hold of God in such a way as to shake every member of the congregation and came near raising them all on their feet. God bless her. She is a fire-brand for God. Hundreds of colored people were saved in these meetings, and many bodies were healed. Some had wonderful visions.
We stayed in the city over three months, the interest increasing all the time, when the weather got too cold for our tents we rented a large hall. Hundreds of souls were converted, and hundreds of bodies healed of various diseases. Persons came on crutches, and went away without them. The blind went away seeing; the sick were brought on beds, healed, and picked up their beds and walked off with them.
AT SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
We arrived at Springfield, Illinois, at eleven o’clock p.m. A band of converts met us at the train-and took us to a house all furnished for our use. We found a nice supper ready for us. It was like a mother coming home to her children. They had spared no pains to make us feel at home, and as I looked at their happy faces, shining with the Saviour’s love, I thought of the Marriage Supper of the Lord, when I shall sit down with the dear children God has given me, who shall come from the East, West, North and. South. Oh, what a meeting that will be!
With such a band of earnest workers to help us fight for God, you may know we had a wonderful meeting. Sinners came flocking to Christ the first night, and the interest continued to increase until the last moment of our stay in the city. Hundreds of souls were saved, and many remarkable cases of the worst diseases and infirmities were healed by laying on of hands and prayer. All classes had been reached—infidels, skeptics, gamblers, harlots, drunkards, dead church members and moral men. Two members of the legislature bowed at the altar, were converted and addressed the crowded house, telling what God had done for them and was doing for others. Many said, when we left, the work would go down in six weeks—they would all backslide. That is what they say every place we go. But when they saw that the converts were standing firm and had saved more souls the five months we were gone than all others had in the past year, they had to confess that God was with them and doing a mighty work.
Brother W., the noted infidel, and one of Robert Ingersoll’s first teachers in infidelity, was converted in Springfield, Illinois. In writing of our first experience there we gave you his wonderful experience. He attended our meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, and gave his time and strength in winning souls to Jesus. Like Paul, telling of his wonderful conversion. He went back to Springfield and had a stroke of paralysis. His prayer was that he might live until we got back. God answered his prayer and we went to see him. He was very low; taking my hand, began to weep and praise God. He was perfectly satisfied with his experience. Jesus was all in all to him. He knew that his building of clay was crumbling, but that to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord. He had a mansion in heaven. “A house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” He felt that he was truly a brand plucked from the burning. “God has been so merciful in saving such a sinner at the eleventh hour,” he said. When he could not speak his friends thought him unconscious. Jesus was so precious and was with him all the time. I did not see him pass away, but he sent me his dying message: “Oh, sinners, hear the dying testimony of the converted infidel. Tell Sister Woodworth she was the instrument in God’s hands of saving my soul. I have never had a doubt of my experience with God since my conversion. All is well. I thank God that the light of heaven ever shone in my soul.” The remains were taken to the hall where we were holding the meetings. I preached the funeral sermon from Eccl. xii. 3: “In the day when the keeper of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves.”
The Odd Fellows buried him, many of whom had known him for years, while he was teaching infidelity. When they heard of his triumphant death, they wept. Many were convicted of their sins and convinced of the reality of religion. Nearly all of the congregation marched out to the cemetery where I made a few remarks at the grave. Strong men were weeping; the power of God fell on all.
We organized a Church of God, appointed two elders and two deacons, and arranged for a new building in which to worship. We closed our meeting of seven weeks February, 1889. The church continued to hold meetings in the hall where we held our meeting. The Lord gave them many souls. They had a large Sabbath-school.
Several went out as preachers and evangelists and met with good success.
The ministers of the city met and tried to crush me and the work, They brought history, doctor books and the devil’s works to prove that the power of God had been taken from the church. When they got their ammunition ready they chose Doctor B. of the Christian church, the great theologian and champion debater, to fire off the cannon. He announced that he was going to prove me a fraud and drive me out of the city on the strength of it. He drew a large crowd and took up a special collection. Many of the citizens took notes and brought them to me. They said it was the thinnest thing they ever heard, and were disgusted. The night I was attacked our hall was packed, the people thinking that I would denounce him. After the congregation had gathered God gave me a text which I had never used. Psalm lxvi. 16: “Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
I gave a sketch of my experience from my birth to that time. People were weeping in all parts of the house. I do not think there was one there who did not believe God had called me to the work, and that he was with me in mighty power working wonderfully in the midst of the people., I did not intend to reply to Doctor B.’s arguments. I had said that I would meet anyone on the Bible. He had gone outside of it for nearly all his proof. The citizens were very anxious for me to reply. Finally I that I would meet him on Sabbath night. The hall was crowded and they said hundreds were turned away.
Dear reader, it was an undertaking to meet this giant. He boasted of his college course, of his education, of his wisdom, of his popularity, and made it appear that I was a poor, ignorant, blinded crank. I am a crank for Christ, and the devil cannot turn me. My trust was in God. I set my face like flint, for God was with me, knowing that no weapon raised against me should prosper, and every tongue raised to condemn me I should confound. When I arose to talk the congregation was as still as death. I held the paper in my hand that contained Doctor B.’s arguments, and referred to one after another, and proved them to be false. He said that I had failed in every scriptural test. and that I was a fraud. I said the best proof of our being called of God to preach was the fact that souls were saved. I asked all who had been converted in these meetings to stand up, and over two hundred arose.
I asked all who had their bodies healed by thé power of God to stand up, and about fifty stood up. The people said that before I had taken the Bible in my hand, I had cut his head off with his own sword. I met all his arguments on the Bible and did not go outside of it. I proved him to be wrong on every point. Glory to God for victory! With all his boasted wisdom God chose a weak woman to confound and condemn, and show to the world that it was useless to fight against Him or the Holy Ghost power. Not one minister stood by me, but all united in opposing and trying to crush me. Notwithstanding all this power of darkness that was arrayed against me, the interest increased daily. Requests came from all the best citizens and from all over the city to stay, saying I had gained such a victory over Doctor B., and all the opposers of the true doctrine of Christ.
Many of the brightest talent in the city were inquiring the way of salvation, but God was calling us back to Louisville, Kentucky. We closed our meeting with many sad hearts and much weeping. We left the next morning at nine o’clock. When we got to the depot we found a large crowd there to see us off.
Old gray-headed fathers thanked us, with tears streaming down their cheeks, for leading their children to Christ; wives, that their husbands were saved, and drunkards, that they had been saved from a drunkard’s grave.