Signs and Wonders God Wrought in the Ministry for Forty Years/Chapter 21
CHAPTER XXI
“MULTITUDES, MULTITUDES IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION” (Joel)
In the fall of 1889 we felt that the Lord was calling us to California. We obeyed the voice, made ready and started at once, not, knowing one person in that part of the country. I will give a condensed description of our journey to California and of the country. As we traveled along, the cars rolling through one State after another, we noticed the difference in the climate. Some States were given wholly to vegetation, everything green and beautiful; some were mining districts, vast wealth in minerals of different kinds; many stone quarries of beautiful, stone, which many of the finest mansions of New York and Chicago are built beautiful valleys. On either side were the high mountains reaching, as it seemed, almost to the clouds. In a little while we found ourselves passing along over the tops of these mountains. Again we found ourselves sweeping over the plains and deserts. Sometimes for hundreds of miles there was not a shrub or tree to be seen, nothing but yellow sand at times was visible; then again nothing but black sand for miles and miles. As far as the eye could see, the ground was as level as a floor—no vegetation on it. As we came on further into California we saw a great change The plains were cultivated, covered with grass, trees and shrubs and vegetation of all kinds, As we looked upon all these grand and wonderful works of creation, our hearts were filled with love and tenderness, and we could look up and say: “My Father, the God of heaven, hath made all these.”
At last we. arrived safely in the great city of San Francisco, and stopped; at a hotel for a few days. Being very tired from our long journey and summer’s work, we felt we must seek a quiet place to rest both mind and body, so we took a journey of sixty miles to Pascadero, a small town in the valley surrounded by mountains.
We commenced meeting in Oakland, California, October 28, 1889. The wet weather had set in. We pitched our tents during a rain, such as was never known in Oakland before. People looked on in wonder and amazement. From a human standpoint, everything looked dark and discouraging. Surely God’s ways are not our ways. It takes a great deal of confidence, faith and courage in God to move forward at His command, not knowing one step of the way. Here we were in a strange land and our money about gone. No means to go back east. We confessed we were pilgrims in a strange country, but knew we were seeking a city out of sight. We had no thought of going back till a great work had been done for the Master. We had no fear of suffering for want of means; we knew our God would supply all our needs.
The meeting was not advertised. The people did not know what was going to be done there. The first night twenty-three came. They felt that God was there. I told them that God had sent us there, and there would be a great work done; that hundreds would be saved. In a few days the tent would not hold the crowds that would come to hear the gospel. Some laughed, as much as to say, I would rather see the crowds in this wet tent than to hear of them coming. All who were there came the next night and brought others with them. Some of God’s children heard of us and came to see. They saw and felt that God was there in power, and that a great work would be done. One of them went and ordered stoves, and had them put in the tent at once. They got lumber and put a nice floor in the tent. Oh, how we praised God for his tender care over us! We could hardly stand the cold and dampness, but now things looked bright and comfortable. The dear Christians seemed to anticipate our wants. It was very cold in our dwelling tents; we had not yet got a stove.
At the close of the meeting one night, as we started from the large tent to our dwelling tents, I said I wish we had a warm stove in our tent. As we opened the tent door, to our surprise we found some kind hands had been there and set up a stove and had it red-hot: We were made to give glory to God and say the Lord will provide. We never knew who put it there. In a few days one brother sent in seven dollars worth of groceries. One gave twenty dollars; another fifty dollars. In this way the dear Lord continued to provide and care for us.
The Christians came from all the churches to the help of the Lord against the mighty, with their prayers and with their means. They advertised the meeting largely in different ways. The interest increased every service. In about a week the tent was crowded.
The first converts were five old persons from sixty-five to seventy-five years of age. The people kept coming to the altar to be saved and healed of all their diseases, old and young, until several thousands were happy in Jesus, and many could testify that Jesus had saved their souls and healed their bodies.
It was a wonderful sight to see hundreds and sometimes thousands crowding around the tent, many times standing in the rain, trying to get near enough to hear the preached word. The Christians said we must have a larger tent to hold the multitudes. They ordered one at once, costing $1,325, with a capacity of holding eight thousand. In a short time it was made and on the ground ready for the dedicatory service. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the pastor of the M. E. Church of San Francisco. Prayer was offered by the pastor of the M. E. Church of Oakland. A number of other ministers were present. The congregation was pleased with the services and also the tent.
People came to the meetings from nearly all parts of the world. God drew by his Spirit many of his children from the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern States. They. were baptized with power from on high. They testified that they had never received such blessings and power and light-before. They entered the work of-God with more faith and-courage, never expecting to stop the work till Jesus comes for them in the clouds, or by death.
Many sailors came from all parts we of the world together with the captains of the vessels. Thank God, some of the captains and their wives were saved, and many of the sailors and officers.
One captain and his wife were saved and twelve of their crew before they left. The captain and wife said they would have services every afternoon on the vessel: They were sailing for the West Indes. They: claimed every soul on board for God. They said they expected everyone to be saved before they landed in port.
Many took my books, and literature with them. The workers bought hundreds of my books arid sermons, and scattered them in the ships, and sailing vessels. Many were baptized with the Holy Ghost, and held meetings on the ships, on their journeys over the seas; so that the wonderful gospel, and the mighty works of Jesus, through the Holy Ghost went out, and were scattered in many parts of the world.
I never saw so many nations represented in one meeting, nor so many of them brought to Christ. They were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Many of these felt God was calling them to their own nation to work for the salvation of souls. Many were called to evangelistic work, and were baptized with the Holy Ghost and power. They started back to other nations to preach the glorious news of a Saviour’s love, and of the soon coming of the Lord.
The power of the Lord followed the preaching in “signs and wonders.” The slain of the Lord were many. Many sinners of all classes were stricken down in their sins. Some lay for hours. Some had visions; they came out brightly converted. Among them was an old man, sixty-three years of age. He gave a short experience one night of his life and wonderful conversion. He had traveled in all parts of the world wherever white man had trod, and had visited the Holy Land three times. He had stood in all the sacred spots connected with our Saviour’s life. He and a party of friends were visiting Oakland at the time of our meeting. They heard of the meeting and came through curiosity. As he looked over the congregation he made some light remark to his friends about the display of the power of God, and started boldly up towards the pulpit to investigate, but before he reached the pulpit he was struck to the floor by the power of God and lay there over two hours. While in this condition God gave him a vision of hell and heaven, and told him to make his choice of the two places. He called upon the Lord to save him and said he would choose Christ and heaven. He came to, praising God and realizing he was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. He had lived over sixty long years in sin and had never made a profession of religion.
This brother came to our meeting at Portland, Oregon, three years after his conversion, and told his experience. He said he had been kept by the power of God, saved and happy, and working for the Master in every way he could.
The power of God was over all the congregation, and around in the city of Oakland. The Holy Ghost would fall on the people while we were preaching. The multitude would be held still, like as though death was in their midst. Many of the most intelligent and best dressed men would fall back in their seats, with their hands held up to God, being held under the mighty power of God. Men and women fell, all over the tent, like trees in a storm; some would have visions of God. Most all of them came out shouting the praises of God.
The tent held eight thousand. It was claimed to be the largest gospel tent in America. It was crowded every night. The day we closed, the police fearing there might be trouble, on account of the crowd, were there in force, and said that ten thousand were unable to get into the tent. After the close of the meeting they said that they had the best of order. Many ministers were present at both the day and night meeting, and they asked all that had been blessed or healed to stand up. Several thousand arose in both services. They all stood, and sang praises to God for the great work the Lord had done.
Some of the worst men and boys, those that had given us the most trouble, would not leave until the police had brought them up to say good-bye. With tears running from their eyes, they begged us to forgive them for what they had done, and asked us to pray that they might be saved.