The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-30
Mrs. woodworth's Converts.

Hartford City Special.
Among the conversions is a man Familiarity
known about town, whose name is withheld
from publication, a man Of c~onvivial habits,
and who, on this occasion, was loaded to tho
guards. Determined on breaking up the meet
ing, he marched within ten feet of the pulpit and
says, his tongue failed him. He sat silent, an
noyed at being overcome by a woman who had
caused this result without making any special
effort in his direction. He seems, as be says,
when asked what his sensations are like, not to
understand what it is, but replies in the injured
tone of a man who has been personally af-
fronted: "Go up yourself and find out.'
All sorts Of theories are out as to
the secret of the evangelical power. The
belief generally seems to be that of mesmer;sm.
although she bitterly denies her power of mes
merism, and says that it is truly tho power of God.
If mesmerism it is, she must have some way Of
securing private interviews with her subjects,
and bending them to her ways afterwards, for
she certainly does not have an opportunity tor it
in church. In no instance can the writer find
out that this has been done. and for this reason
We have to give it IN that we know not Of what
power it is. A strange phase Of this revival. and
one not attendant Oh the ordinary meetings
is the prostration of people away from the
church, One young woman went to an evening
service, and at lis conclusion went home, where
she talked on the usual topics before re-
firing. A whole night interviewed, and at break
fast the young lady did not appear. She was
found sitting up in bed cold and apparently stiff,
with wide-staring eyes, her pulse barely percep-
tible, and not able to speak.
When two or three hours later she came out
of the so-called trance, she seemed greatly wor
ried. and when rested told that with one excep-
ton the scenes that she had witnessed were glo-
rious. The exception was that of a body OF
angels marching down to hell with lost souls
Viola McDermot is a lady above the average
height, with a very pale face that is saved from
being plain by a pair of handsome dark eyes,
which have anything but a restful look when
she is interviewed. She says;
81 know as we'll as anything when the trance
is soming on, for / have been in one now five
times. My hands get cold as ice, and 1 feel my
arms stiffening. My eyes get hard. and the in
side of the church or room gets smaller. The
darkness begins at the outer edges of the room,
and comes toward me from all sides, and gets
closer. l get more icy and stiff, and then the
sight is gone. | can't talk, and don't want to
talk. am in both worlds-in this, because /
can hear everything that is said AROUND me. and
in the other, because can see the great white
throne"
'.How does it look9s was asked.
II hardly know how to tell you: it is some
thing like a chair, only a great deal larger than
any / ever saw"
did you see anything else2p
Yes: golden streets, with angels passing
around through them. There are habitations,
or paradises as you would call them. They rise
up on each side, glorious and magnificent. The
light is not white, but radiant and brighton,
so bright and glorious! / go there by two ways
-one with nothing on my mind. and all is hap
piness; the other is to have a sinner to save, and
then ] am praying and pleading for him. That
is lard work, and / suffer. My coming back is
just the same as my going. There is no time of
total Inconsistencies between. am always
very much worried afterward."
This young lady has been a member of church
about two years.