The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-12-18
A TRANCE
His Sermons in an Uncon-
sciOus State.

VIsTULA. Ind, Nov. 2O.-Last night
we were an eye witness to what we
must consider one of the strangest OK.
hibiti0ns of spirit control of modern
times. While we listened to one Of
the most impressive sermons we ever
heard it was hard to believe that the
preacher was in an unconscious state,
yet such was the case.
Noah Troyer, highly respected
farmer of johnson county, Iowa, a
member Sof. the Amish Mennonite
Church of that place came to our
neighborhood yesterday to visit friends
and acquaintances here, he having
formerly lived in this vicinity. When
it was made known that he was here
neighbors focked in from every di-
rection. We were one of the first ar
rivals, and awaited with interest the
beginning of the strange performances
of which we had heard so much. Mr..
Troyer is a medium sized man, about
forty-eight years old, of friendly, so.
ciable disposition. He had just step.
ped out when we arrived, but came
back in 81 few minutes and conversed
pleasantly with old acquaintance
whomshe had not seen for eight or
ten ye4rs. Presently his head began
to droop. and his friends advised him
TO lie down on . lounge which they
had preparedfor him. He had scarce
" time to. reach it whom he apparent
ly fell into q sound sleep, and in few
minutes he was seized with violent
conynlaions.. He struck about him
with his hands, but his lower
limbs soon became stiff as death. After
lying in this state an hour he extend
ed his open hands toward heaven 90 if
engaged in silent prayer. Every ear
was strained to catch the fret word he
might inter as he broke the oppress-
i've silence with a short but earnest
prayer. He then made an effort to
arise, and with the assistance of his
wife and an uncle, who accompany
him, heresched the floor in kneeling
posture. He then uttered another
ferseht prayer, thanking his Heavenly
Father for protecting him In his jour-
ney and asking for His spiritual pres
ences and guidance. With the assist
ance of his friends he now arose to
his feet. They supported him a mo-
ment and then stepped back and sat
down to listen to his eloquent dis
course. His text on this occasion was
this: eff the righteous scarcely be cav
ed where will the sinner and ungodly
AS he became warmed mp
with his subject he walked back and
forth through the room, emphazing
his thrilling words with appropriate
gestures, his eyes, meanwhile being
tightly closed.
He spoke about an hour in tho Eng
lish language, when stopping short In
his discourse he clutched his head
with his hands as If in great pain ;
then again extending his hands heav-
as if to invoke the divine
power, he began to preach in the Ger.
man language, and all who understood
him were moved to tears. Altogeth-
er he preached about two hours, and
we never before saw an audience give
such close attention to two hours
sermon, Before he closed he request
ed his hearers to sing, GA charge to
keep l have" and "Ihr junge Helden
Then kneeling down he
returned thanks to Almighty God in
the German language (his opening
prayer was in English). AS he utter
ed the last word of his prayer he fell
back, and would have dropped to the
floor if his attendants had not caught
him. He was again laid upon tho
lounge in q rigid and helpless condi-
ton. While the audience was sing
ing the hymns he had announced he
kept his right hand raised, az if to
convey the melody to heaven.
iItis1no about three years since
Mr.. Troyer began to speak in this
way. AT first he would not believe it
when told he had spoken. He now
falls into these frances Cor whatever
they might be called) every evening.
and after he closes his sermon herests
until morning and then knows posi-
lively nothing of what transpired dur.
ing, the night, but says he slept we'll
and sometimes asks his friends Whe th.