The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-03-25
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
F.idsy Morning, March 25 1870.
Strange Religious Experiences.
PORTLAND.

AN INCIDENT OF THE REvIvAL-wHAT A
YOUNG MAN, STRICKEN WITH THE POW
Err" HAS TO SAY CONCERNING 1T.
A Mr.. DeForest B. Dodge, a theological
student at Hartford. Conn.,, has sent to the
Springfield Republican,, a somewhat remark
abe account Of his experiences while overcome
by the power" at recent prayer meeting in
the latter city: 1t says that he had previously
proiessed, though not greatly enjoyed, Chris.
tianity. His temperament, he SAYS, is "ex.
ceedingly calm and unexcited," although the
account he gives Of what be passed throu ii
would hardly indicate as much. His account
is as follows:
Some days before attended the Springfield
meeting had heard of the deep religious in
tsress existing there, and listened to the Chris
tian experiences OF MIS-. Van Colt, relate to
me by brother. felt strong desire to hear
her, and attend one OF the meetings. Last
Tuesday .ening decided to 70, aud reached
the church about five minutes OF eight. When
I entered she was engaged in prayer. My
friends and self were conducted to front seat
l be room was very full. III the portion OF the
prayer which heard, I immedi itely remarked
three things: sweet affection toward God
implicit confidence in him, and vital union
with him. II seemed to me that this dear SIS;
ter realized she vas taking face to face witb
her listening Saviour. who stood ready to give
her :" what things soev"r she desired" She
then opened the B.b,e and read tor a text
JOB "a: ti,es knew q here | might
find bim." All will say oil the sermon Is be
fore it was through, the question was settled
IN my mind thai the Hol, Ghost does call and
qualify some women TO proclaim the salvation
Of our Lord Jesus. After The sermon, she in
vited those Christians who desired more o
the "iullness OF God" 10 come forward to the
altar Tor season of prayer. (Just previous to
this and immediately alter the sermon oppor
tunity was given 10 those who loved him, to
to testify Tor Jesus. Some seventy-tve spoke
I also said a iew words After this season Of
prayer the brethren and sisters returned 10
their seats, and sister Van Cott formally dis
missed the meeting, requesting all who could
to stay for another season OF prayer. She then
addressed some pungent rema,ks to the un
converted who we've "haltirg between two
opinion," At the close of these she gave oui
an invitation Tor all who wished to become fol-
lowers OF Jesus, all who were hungeriDg ano
thirsting for righteousness, and those Ch.is
tians who were in spiritual frame of mind,
to come fol ward tor season VI payer.
The altar was filled-more than hundred
In all. / should think. A moment befoie this
and in fact az this moment, / resolved to have
nothing 10 do with the N tier, ceither tC
kneel nor pray. But just here. sister Var
C.tt, who was now Al The remote end OF the
rail, molioneL with her band tor me to 60
into the altar. An impression came upon mt
tnat ought to so. instantly, stepped over Il
the end, and q brother taking me by tie hand
drew me 10. Then we all kneeled, and Sister
Van Colt comii 8 out where was, asked Two
brethren to lead ia prayer and requested mt
to follow, Tue momentthese brothers cea,ed.
a bro her behind commenced. hen this
bro her was about halt through with his pray
er, all infescriDable sense of the gIoriousnes.
OF God cauie pOweriuiH before my III nd. The
view was SO distinct and clear I at my emo
tions insiantiv rose very strongly. Ielt i'm
pei ed to break forth at The top Of my voice 10
praise to God. But restrained nyself with
the thought that, as was to pray in a mo:
ment, might praise God just as mitch as 1
liked, then without interrupting anybOd,.
v hen the brother ceased, this same view OF
Gods goodness, glory and blessedness contin
uiDg and having deepened. Hound 1t impossi-
BILE TO begin to pi ay otherwise than by shout
ing Glory to God!' Blessed be thy name.
o our glorious God" and such like express
ions. This BRIGHT view continued some three
or four minutes, when instantly the love iness
and blessedness oil God passed from my uind
and clear aud powerful view of the spiritual
condition of those sinners then knealing al
the altar came before me. Then recovei ine
breath broke out in esrnest prayer tor them
that God wonld show them the sin OF slight.
in, Chlist's love, and so reveal Christ to them
just then, as to induce them to put forth im-
/ recolect that Just st thi. time strong as
suiauce ran through Ine that God had an
swered my prayer. and OF eAclaimine, LORD,
we ucit-ve shat Thou hast saved them" lhis
assurance, growing stronger, repealed th..
same words louder than before. just at thi:
ins ant the assurance amounted TO perfect
certainty: and as, like flash of lightning,
realized the value OF an immortal soul, and
the absolute certainty that those seeking ones
for whom l was praying were saved. broke
out involuDtarily at the tip-top OF my voice,
Lord, we know that thou hast saved them"
Up to this moment bad been troubled with
huskiness in my throat, but now I felt some
thing warm in 1t, the cboked sensation sud-
denly gave way, and have since been told
my voice from this moment more re- eseipbled
a blast from trumpet than anything human
Ali am conscious about is that my voice
was very loud, and experienced great reliei
at The givins-way in my thrt at. believe ]
repeated the sentence "Lord we kh0p thai
thou hast saved them twice; the second
time louder, II possible, than the first.
remember now, Tor an instant, a total
blank In my mind, when there rushed
through my soul clear discernmept oil the
spiritual condition OF those Christians kpeel
ing at the altar, who were earnestly desiring
more close union with Gcd. Ilemember see
ing the condition Ut their souls pictured al
most as clearly before my. spiritual eyes as J
ever saw landscape IN the meridian sun. ]
remember praying tor the descrpt Of the spir-
1t upon them, but cannot recOliect the IAN
guage used, until came to this sentence,
"LOrd increase our love TO sinners, to Chris
tians ard to thee" These words just escaped
my iips, when the loveliness OF Christ began
10 dawn upon my mind with fnexpressibie
sweetness and mighty power. I ielt the world
suddenly recelins and myself carried into the
lection o. saying to Christ, "Lord. we do love
ihee." Then lost all consciousness oil this
world, and am told fell back On the aonr,
Perfectly silent, moti0nless and rigid. Tor some
quarter OF an hour, during which it is said
my counterance shone with a sort Of phos-
phorlc light
While lying there 1t seemed to me I was on
of the body aud out OF this world. telt
m,self rig1t in the immediate presence OF
Christ. God and Christ seemed blended in
one. realized with the most vivid clearness
the infinite lov.lness, gooeness; worthness
sweetness and glory OF Chlis. My soul was
ravished with the view and filed with in-
tensest love. I realized Christ was spirit
and that was viewing hin spiritually. At
the same time there seemed to be mysteri
Gus, a mystic veil, which prevented nv soul
from gazing directly upon the blessed Jesus.
Od how my soul fultered and painted and
struggled to break through this screen, which
seemed so very thin and so easy TO be pierced
Blessed be God, have the glorious assurance
that the time is near when that veil shall be
ronf fha oaziDv on Christ fhrouof, n GLASS
uafKH s6aif be forever done, and shall see
his lace. Gioiy be TO God!
Toward the last pait OF the time was ly-
ing there, my soul was filed with a mighty
aud sweet assurance OF my own salvation
No more FAINT hopes, uemb ing beliefs, hesi
tatiug trusts that was saved. An Is now
glorious certainty 1t Is a positive knowledge
that I am accepted of tod. Oh how this
hurst upon me! Twas like the glaze VI the
MONDAY sun. My trends tell me | here
shouted awtully loud such sentences as these:
MY own dear Savior, | am thine! khOw
am ihite! know shall jweiI with thee for
ever! know l shall sing the song OF Moses
and the Lamb! . my glorious Redeemer,
thou art miner --..-.t.
After some twenty minutes this view OF
Christ partially passed away, and opened my
e'es. ! remember. IS looked around, a
strange, confused feeling came over me tor a
moment, and / asked, "WheIe am l2' and
"bow Came here?" A dear brother re-
Piled, "rhe Lord put you here" Thus 1t
flashed back into my soul that l had oeen
passing through most bssful expeflen'e y,
a revelation OF Christ by the Holy spirit; !
was helped upon my FEET ano waiaeo