The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-14
RELIGION GONE WILD.
Wonderful Revival Meetings Held
by Trance Evangelist.

MARION, IND, July ll.-FllDns
Grove, mile west OF this place, has
been the scene of thrilling spectacles,
stirring incidents and considerable eX.
element the pact week. The occasion
of this is a series of revival meetings,
conducted by Mrs. Mary Mershon, of
Pendleton, Ind. Mrs. Mershon is a
disciple and convert OF Mrs. Wood
worth, the noted trance evangelist,
whose peculiar methods have for the
past two years been the theme Of
widespread interest and speculation.
The lady who is conducting the meet
iDgs at this place was converted two
years ego, aud was at once called to
become an evangelist. Although an
invalid, she obeyed the call, and to-
day is strong, vigorousand energetic
woman. She is about sixty years
old, hes broad forehead, black hair
and eyes, and is Of medium hight.
She has a pleasing and commanding
presence and graceful bearing, Her
theology is Of the hero'c order, with
out any faint OF mugwumpry. Her
reasoning is not powerful, nor her logic
faultless, bat her powers OF persuasion
are great, her earnestness convincing,
and her sincerity beyond question.
The meetings were commenced on
Saturday, the 9th of June, but for
time they dragged. The evangelist
Gays she never conducted meeting
where SIZE cortended with greater
difficulties at the start, or where the
indications gave as little promise Of
success. 1t was next to impossible to
secure tent. The attendance was
light and the interest seemingly dead.
She was not discouraged. Her faith
appearedto be Of that quality which
will remove mountains, The plain,
unpretertious and eloquent preaching
had IFS effect. The attendance in
creased. Her enthusiasm took hold OF
her hearers. The fame and report of
the wildscenes enacted spread among
the peope and the attendance and in
terest were further magnified and
multiplied. Last Sunday witnessed
the large. { attendance up TO date, The
Young converts are most enthusiastic
and demonsrative, They crowd the
space get apart for seekers of divine
favor, and with singing, shouting,
ehrieking AMI praying, gradually work
themselves into wild frenzy. Their
hands are uplifted and their
faces are tuned upward. Some
shoitt and yell in the exuber-
auce c I their estacy Others plead,im.
plore, and crylor the rolling away Of
their burdens. The spectacle at times
is wild, weird and unearthly. The
most nervous md excitable soon sue
cumb and go "under the power"
They are stretched out in every corner
and in every attitude. They become
rigid, and their wide open, starring
eyes have deanlike and unearthly
expression, as though gazing upon
scenes not preseted TO the eyes OF
mortals.
Sunday night witnessed the widest
and most extravsant scenes yet en-
acted. Such shouting, such jumping,
such hallelujahs, such delightful, pro-
miscuous and abandoned huggiug OF
brothers and sisteE in the Lord pre-
sented scene thelike OF which has
never before been Witnessed in this
country. 1t was Wild, unrestrained
saturpalia of unbIided passion and
emotion. The concerts who were
stricken down "by th, hand OF God"
prior to their conversion relate won.
derful tales OF being suspended by
hair over the pit othell, OF beng
famed by the sulphurms breezes from
the internal regions, q looking into
boiling cauldrons, Of beng nibbled at
by the fiery serpents md grinning
devils, of being saved by the cut
stretched hand Of plying Provi-
dence.
The meetings are st.llin progress
and will continue for at least two
weeks. The food tide OF interest and
excitement has app lrentt not yet
been reached. The numbr OF con-
versions to date is in the neihborhood
of ninety. A very large number Of
those ara people who woud never
have been reached by the churches.