The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-18
FRANCES OF THE WICKED.
Mrs. Woodwork Puts the Prayed-For
Power Into a Number of Sinners.
The Public Confession of a Fallen Woman
Who Resolves to Reform After Having
Had Cataleptic Vision.

AZ encir ulLuo anu passed INTO MERIDIAN Tllnk,
last night. to hear the cataleptic evangelist But
few of those who came were there out of idle
curiosity, and the majority Of the audience gath
cred close about the rude rostrum, on which sat
Mrs. Woodwork, her husband. the two white
young ladies' and the colored man and won an
who accompany the evangelist Mrs. Wood
worth wore her usual dress Of plain black, with
the white shawl thrown loosely about her shout
ders. AS the crowd gathered she cast her eyes
heavenward, as if going into trance, and
hummed song about "seeing the angels com
ing to carry her home" The other members of
the band sat in a semi-trance condition, with the
exception OF the colored woman, who sat next
to Mrs Woodwork and with a snow-white
handkerchief wiped the perspiration from the
evangelsts brow
1t was o'clock when Mrs. Woodwork was
aroused from her trance. and. stepping briskly to
the front of the platform, said: Dear friends,
come and test Him tonight. He will forgive
and forget your SINS Your sins will be as far
from you az the east is from the west-so far
that they will never get back again. You must
get converted. Then it is you get on the robe of
Gods righteousness. When you are converted
His anger is all taken away. He gives you
white robe to wear. In the name of God never
take anybody's word for this conversion bust
ness. He will give US whatever we desire if we
are converted. That is getting on the white
garment without any spot in it. When you
get converted there will be power enough
to keep your garments white; you then become a
soldier, you loose all your appetite for sin.
There have been many shouts in glory since we
came to this rink. The Lord has been getting
down his book-did you know no keeps book
and has recorded in big letters the name Of
all you poor sinners converted here. People
condemn us for shouting here, but haven't we
got right to shout when they shout in Heaven?
take no stock in this SHINING and repenting the
same day Glory to Jesus Brother get up
here and get the spots off your garments.
How many church members to-day say
they have religion, and yet there is a sister or q
brother in the church they will not speak to.
These church members get up in the classroom
and profess religion. and then 60 home and talk
about their neighbors. They need the power.
My God, turn the light in On them. We will all
be called up on the last day. The Judge will be
there, and there will be no bribng the jury.
We will all get our just deserts. Do you know
when you got acquainted with your wife and
loved her we'll enough to marry her2 Well, you
must love the Lord just the same way, and he
will give you the power"
At this point in her rambling talk the colored
singer interrupted her with the song:
Let me in the lifeboat
1t will bear my spirit home;
In which the audience all Joined, and score or
more persons crowded nearer the altar. When
the last stanZas had been sung at the suggestion
of the evangelist, Amos Hanway offered prayer
and his suppicaton was an earnest one, but his
utterances were not distingushable except to
those near him. on account of the Intersections
Of the thirty or forty persons around him.
Captain Taught, who has been taking an act
i've part in the meetings, spoke. He said, II
know God is looking down on this gathering.
Moses danced in the pavilion of fire, and we
mustn't be stopped here because we are perse-
cuted You say can't comprehend this work
Well you just try 1t and you will Oh, l wish I
had the power Peter had You come here every
night and see men and women fall, stricken
with their sins, and you don't believe there is
anything in it. / want you to come up and try
it. Get some of the power"
j. G. Davis, an old man who sells wood on the
market, arose and said he had never been in
every day in the year If he could. At the con-
clusion Of his remarks Mrs. Woodwork walked
out to the center Of the mourners' bench, and,
looking upward, started the song,
Hook way over yonder, and What do l sect
band of angels a'comin after me,
And as the song was taken up by the audience,
she urged sinners to come forward to the
cepted her invitation, and knelt along the
raised plank which serves as the mourners' bench.
To those who held back she said ''There is a
great rush here for the kingdom, and you had
better come up; Quit your hanging back, and
come up. Brother King come up closer, we
need your help here" When there were no
more to come she exhorted them to pray, and
take their eyes off the audience and look straight
at God. The colored woman sang,
am happy creature,
One of the merry crew,
And as she did so Mrs. Woodwork and her as
sstants passed among the nnourners and lifted
their hands upward, rubbed their wrists and
foreheads as if to infuse the power" 1t was
but few minutes until there were eight or nine
we'll developed cases of catalepsy, and then
there was great rejoicing over the sinners saved.
Among the number In frances was an old blind
man, who, before he fell, prayed that he might
see, and lame colored woman who pleaded for
renewed strength. 1T Is time we were rousing
them" said Mrs. Woodwork to the colored
woman "Sng the song / told you about" and
the dusky evangelist broke out with
Rise. shine give God the glory.
And Immediately the several afflicted persons
came to their senses and professed profound
happiness. Several of them gave their expert
ence. One, an attractive young woman mount
ed the bench, and, In clear, ringing voice,
said: II want you to see me. You know me.
You have all seen me in the skating-rinks, in
the dancing halls, and there are those here who
have seen me in dens of niquity. Ny name is
Emma Porter. l came here from Richmond
four years ago My father died when was
little girl. On his dying bed he asked me to do
better, but l didn't. I have served the devil
with all my might, but to night 1
came here and the power struck me.
When was unconscious I had vision. saw
my father and grandmother in heaven, and they
talked to me, and told me there was a great
work to DO here on earth, and asked me to here
after work for Jesus. I also saw hell, and saw
many of my former companions standing on the
brink of the fiery furnace AS long as there is
health in my body shall work for jesus
There were several other short talks, inter
mingled with prayers. and Mrs. Woodwork an
nounced that the meeting would have to close.
The audience sat quietly until the benedction
was pronounced by Amos Hanway.
Gedney House. New York