Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-05-14
A Strange Trance Preacher.

A MINISTER. WHO CAN PREACH FIVE AND
A HALF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DE-
sCRIPTIoN.
&C. &C., &c.
Rev. John P. King, Tunker minister,
well known among his denomination In
Augusta county, writes to his church
paper. the Herald OF Truth. an interest
ing description Of the preaching Of his
brother in law, Noah Troyer. the trance
preacher OF Iowa. He says:
We found Bro. Troyer lying on lounge
unconscious Of everything sround MIN.
The house MAS we'll filled with spectators,
eagerly awaiting the moment when he
should begin to speak. do not think that
any one present awaited the occasion with
more ankle y than did the writer. The
curiosity. However. Of the assembly was
soon gratiued, for in a short time alter we
had arrived hs began to speak, whicn ne
usually dos in tile following manner: AS
soon as his antranced state begins he falls
asleep ans continues in that condition Tor
from thirty to sixty minutes. lie lies on
his back, silent and entirely unconscious.
Nothing will make an impression Oh him
or awake him. Suddenly he stretches MS
arms, which are as rigid as the limos OF
tree, heavenward, his eyes being closed.
In this position he usually remains for
short time. after which he begins to ad-
monish the people, this lasting about ten
minutes. He then rises instantly and as
sumes sitting posture, his hands being
still directed towards heaven. After
| few moments he kneels, though his hands
| retain their former p0siti'n--pointing
heavenwapd. He prays with wonderful
power for all conditions Of men and for all
| their necessities aud weaknesses, and eS-
pecially for ministers, for the young, and
sinners generally. AS soon as he has said
Amen" he attempts to rise to his feet
| but is not able to do SO unassisted. Two
persons who wait on him, help him on his
| knees and lay him down, help him to rise
| to feet and steady him few minutes. The
hands, which up to this time have con-
stantly been pointing heavenward, grad
ually begin to droop, and as they assume
their natural position the whole body re-
sumes its natural motions, after which he
is able to stand alone and begins to speak.
His eyes, however, he keeps closed and in
| consequence would. if not guarded, walk
against the hot stove or any other object
that stood in his way. lie is entirely un-
| conscious as to the number of persons be-
| fore him.
During my stay in that locality, Troyer
preached thirteen times. Eleven times |
| Was present, standing 80 near to him that
1 could touch him, which, prompted by
curiosity, did several times, On these
occasions there were never less than fifty
persons in attendance, the number often
amounting to several hundred, and on one
occasion it was estimated that one thou
sand we're present. He speaks from one
to three and half hours without any re-
| gard, whatever, az to whether there are
many or few present. During the times
that / was with him he spoke ABOUT half
the time in the English language. He
speaks very distinctly SO that even child
can understand him. Generally he
chooses q short text. such AS, II am the
light of the world" IF ye love me keep
my coma andments," Love ye one anOth-
er as rave loved you,'' If the righteous
scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly
and sinner appear" &c.
Sometimes he speaks in a foreign Ian.
guage but could not tell what tongue it
is. have been told by persons who claim
to know that it is Italian. His education
is very limited.
When he is done speaking he is assisted
to knee!ing posture, in which, with his
hands lifted heavenward he prays for all
present. and mankind in general, with
such power that seems sufficient to make
every soul tfemble. AS soon as the word
ssAmen" has passed his lips he falls back
lis bent knees are then so rigid that it is
impossible to straighten them. which |
myself in vain attempted. His hands,
also, are locked so firmly over his
breast, that, without iDjuring them, they
cannot be opened. Then being carri-
ed to lounge lie lies there for some
time apparently a lifeless body. l felt
his pulse, laid my hand upon his heart,
held my ear close to his nose. and observ-
ed him very closely with my eyes, without
detecting the least sign of life except a
faint beating of the pulse. 1t appeared to
me that if l should find man lying in
such condition by the roadside should.
without doubt, consider him either dead
or drawing his last breath. After lying
ing in this manner for from five to thirty
minutes he stretches himself, but contin-
ues to sleep until about four O'Clock the
next morning, whe he al ises, being in
his right mind, sociable and hearty, but
knowing nothing It what took place with
or about him within the past eleven hours.
When asked who was present, or where in
the Bible certain passages were found and
whether they read thus or so, he can give
no answer
His wife told me that now nearly three
years ago had passed since he had the first
attack. At first they. occurred only at
irregular intervals-Once, twice, three,
and perhaps four times week, afterwards
becoming more frequent until he, for the
past year or longer has spoken nearly every
night. am informed that he has spoken
one hundred and thirty-three nights Ill
succession, apparently without becoming
tired or hoarse His wife also told me
that the first time he talked he spoke two
hours; and at another time, year after
wards, he began at eight O'Clock in the
evening and continued until half past one
in the morning, which was five and one
| half ours. IT,
! A WOMAN WITH A WILL OF HER OWN.
Princess Pauline. Of Wurtemburg, who