The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-09
RAZZLE-DAZZLE EVANGELISM
Opening Meeting of Mrs. Woodwork,
the Cataleptic Converter of Sinners.
The Exciting and Sensational Methods of the
NATURALIZATION Eyangelist-Her As
sistants and Their Ways of Work.

Mrs. Maria Woodwork, the cataleptic evan
gelist last night gave the first of a series of
meetings to be held at the Meridian Rink There
were only about 125 persons present Occupy
ing the platform with Mrs. Woodworth were
three women, one colored and two white, who
said great deal as the meeting proceeded, and
one man, who said nothing The man was Mr.
Woodwork, husband of the evangelist The
youngest of the women upon the platform spoke.
She said that she had been converted little more
than week ago. She talked q long while, and
though the audience got very tired, was appar-
emily as fresh at the close as when she began.
The four women then sung 1.-THE Star of Beth
leham," which they insisted upon rendering as
the star of Bth-ef-ly-ham. They all seemed to
be suffering with colds, and the singing, arts.
tically considered, was not a success. Mrs
Woodwork began to talk. Her discourse was
jerky and disconnected. She said: MAY God
help us to get our eyes on that star and follow
it to the end. This young sister is only babe in
Christ, and yet she stands up before this audi
ence The righteous are bold as lion. Go to
Jesus the way she did and Jesus will change
your heart. You must be born again. Dear
dying friends. we here for Jesus. It is a
BIRTH You must be born again. When We are
born again We come into q royal family. We
are the children of King. Yes, dear friends,
God sends spirit into my heart, and that spir,t
bears witness TO my spirit. Our nature and our
affections are changed. We are His children
now, not only by creation, but by adoption"
While Mrs. Woodworth talked the three other
women groaned and calculated. using such ex-
pressions as 20 my God". 80 Jesusp "Bless
the Lord" etc, INTERPRETING them with such
rapiGity as to confuse those who were trying to
hear the evangelist
Mrs. Woodwork went on: eff there is no con-
domination on souls we have peace-a peace
that flows like river. The world cannot I'M
derstand it. Those who are not under grace
cannot understand the things of the Spirit If
we have the blood flowing over our hearts con-
tinualy we shall be kept pure and white. We
expect to stick to the word Of God We stick
to the Bible the simple word Of God, sharper
than two-edged sword We expect to go on
holding up the Lamb of God. Hold up Jesus.
Get into the lfe-boat and climb higher and
higher. Let Us cut the shore line and get out
into the deep waters of Gods life"
The metaphor here became so mixed the re-
porter couldn't follow any further. A young
man with his hair carefully plastered down over
a forehead low enough at it's best began to cry
out and clap his hands The reporter at first
thought that he was part of the audience, but
soon learned that he belonged to the combina-
ton.
A man named Ross, one of the audience, be-
gan pray. He was evidently man of sim
cere Christian spirit but the words of his prayer
were lost so far the audience was concerned.
The groans and CALCULATIONS OF the two white
women and the young man came faster and
faster. AS the supplicant raised his voice higher
and higher the young women and the young men
did likewise and soon smothered him complete
~. Several gospel hymns were sung, and three
persons from the audience gave their experience.
There will be meetings at o'clock this after
noon ana again this evening They will prob
ably continue for several days.