The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-24
THE WOODWORTH REVIVAL.
Seekers Of "the Power" at the Trance
Evangelist's Meeting Last Evening.
Scenes About the Mourners' Bench. Where
Shouting Sinners We're Gathered-A Child
with st. Vitus Dance Seeking Cure.

Meridian Rink is not suitable place for speak
ers on rainy night The rattle on the roof dis
turbs every sound but that of stentoran voices in
speeches. singing and prayer. On this account
Mrs. Woodwork could not be heard distinctly
last night as she tried to move her $50 auditors
to religious interest. She gave up this part of
the programme much earlier than usual, and she
appeared to be worn and wanting herself the
spirit to make the meeting successful There
was no fervor in what she said about the power
of grace. "And we have it," she continued,
'the more faith we enjoy" Constant prayer
and belief would shake this town to its center
''All that is needed is to ask God to send this
grace of salvation" she said mechanically, as
was the method of the whole brief talk She
went at the evenings exercises as if she was not
satisfied with the result of herlabors The usual
forms of prayers, songs and amens were tried
with but little better effect. 1t was some min
utes before a seeker knelt at the altar, notwith-
standing the workers. among whom there was a
good mother two pleading with the unre-
generated. passed up and down the aisles, ask
ing Gods mercy for the stubborn unbelievers.
Mrs. Woodwork did not find the conditions
favorable for season of great outpouring, for
the spirit of the scene was slow.
hymn followed by prayer had some effect,
as three or four responded to the in vitatious to
outEumbered the seekers ten to three and even
they were less warm in their responses. Far
down the bench knelt wedressed
man who, during somewhat fervent prayer,
kept his hands and arms necessarily in rotatory
motion. His eyes were cast to the floor, but not
g muscle, except those to keep up the movements
described. showed life. This continued for ten
mi nutes, when with sudden jerking motion,
his outstretched arms went above his head and
his hands were clapped together at the rate of
about ten movements to the minute. while he
shouted glory" glory" the workers taking up
the cry in amens" and praise the Lord" This
was an ordinary subject.
One of more curiosity was girl. Aurea Case,
about ten yes of age. She is afflicted with ST.
Vitus dance. Mrs. Woodwork herself cared
for the little part of the time
She held each of the subject and
constantly moved them up and down. All con-
troll OF the girl seemed to have passed to the op
orator. who dd as she willed in placing the arms
in one position and again in another The little
ones eyes were opened, but they appeared to |
take impressions of surroundings, while her |
Inns moved as if in prayer After time Mrs.
Woodwork passed the subject to the OF a
praying lady, who held her on the bench and re-
peated Praise the Lord" Jesus, send the
power" over and over again. No appreciate
results in this case occurred UP to the close of
the meeting.
Eddie Wilson. colored lad, said he came
there deaf, but his hearing had been restored.
The only exciting incident OF the evening was
suffering speech and defective ears. He had
been there every night, but on this occasion for
time he took the role of cataeptc. with |
chastity look and rigid posture of duplication.
The Rev Mr.. Boyer knelt behind him with
finger in each of Watts ears. and not far away
there was a man constantly pray.n for the
seeker Directly the frenzy came and Watts
was carried from the bench by two strong men.
For the rest of the evening he lay the plat |
form shouting ''glory!" "glory" at intervals
supplemented by his hand clappiny as if his bliss
was unreasonable.
Two or three told their religious experience
and among them was W. H. Robinson once a
sheriff of this county. He has been religious
man since 1885, and for the past two years An in
valid. Last February he carried his condition
to God, who gave him renewed strength. When
these meetings began he took an interest in
them, and that afternoon he went to God again
for relief. For two months he could not talk
above whisper, but prayer and faith had given
him new voice
The afternoon and evening meetings will be
continued to-day, and If Mrs. Woodwork decides
to have one tomorrow night, she will talk on
the objectionable sin.