The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-27
THE TRANCE EVANGELIST.
Mrs. woodwor,h Create. Ex.i,emens in Pc,

Mrs. Woodwork Creates Excitement in Penn
syivania by Performing Many Miracles.
Chambersburg Special to New York Herald.
Mrs Maria 3. Woodwork, tine trance evan
eelistn who performs miracles and has created
such sensation in Indiana, Illinois and else
where, is now in this place.
The sensation she is creating is withou parallel.
She claims. in brief, to have been called by Jesus
Christ to go out and heal the eick and preach
the gospel, as did the apostles of old.
"She has," we are told, frequent vsitaticns
or frances, during which she talks with the Sa-
vior, and tastes of the joys of heaven; she is
also sometimes given glimpses of the horror of
hell in order to spur her on to harder work in
saving souls therefrom."
She claims to be endowed with apostolic fire.
or inspiration, the same as that given the apos-
ties on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy
Spirit descended upon them and they spoge with
divine tongues So far the meager records
go, it would that she has already per-
formed more miracles than all the apostles COM
bined.
The meetings here are held ia the King street
United Brethren Church. which is not quarter
large enough to hold the throng Mrs. Wood
worth aud her three assistants. all females, con
duct the meetings. 1t is said they were saved
from bottomless pit by the evangelist.
Mrs Woodwork has in her husband bust
ness manager who Is up to tho times and be-
heves in taking care of the nickles and dimes
That fall into the contribution box which Is
relgously passed every half hour.
Mrs. Woodwork ie a pleasant-faced lady,
aboat 45 years old. but looks younger. and is
easy unembarrassed and unpretentious speaker.
She makes preparation for her address,
except by reading the Bible-she trusts to the
inspiration of the Lord-and she repeats herself
considerably In private conversation she Is
witty; but the indications are her early educR-
ton was somewhat neglected
The most remarkable cure Mrs. Woodwork
has performed since she has been here was that
of ex-Sherif Josiah Fletcher. who, by the way.
is q very intimate friend of Col. A. K. Mcclure,
of Philadelphia. Mr.. Fletcher, about a year
ago. had paralytic stroke. which rendered the
right side Of the body helpless. On Thursday
night Mrs. Woodwork told him if he had abso-
lutte faith she could cure him. He said he had
faith. and she told him to kneel down and she
would pray that his affection might be removed.
Mr. Fletcher expressed the fear that if he got
down he would be unable to get mp again, but he
was told to have faith, 30 he got down on his
knees After Mrs. Woodwork had offered a
prayer and rubbed his leg and vigorously
she told him to arise. and he sprang to his fe &C
as timber a boy or sixteen, and holding his
paralyzed arm above his head, thanked God and
Mrs. Woodwork for the miracle. He then
stuck his under his arm and walked home.
Mr.. Fletcher says Mrs. Woodwork exercises
electrical force, which she during the cures
in connection with the faith of both He says
she vigorously rubbed his right side, including
his shoulders, arms. and legs. for long time
while they were praying together. and attrib-
utes his recovery largely to that. He not
so timber the next morning, but was still vastly
better than he had been before Mrs Woodwork
operated on him. He says he has perfect conf
dence that she, by the help of God cure
him entirely. In fact. he is almost we'll as
ever now.