The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-15
CLAIMED HE SAW CHRIST.
pzNARKABLE STORY TOLD BY A
KENTUCKY CLERGYMAN.

qbe Rev. Stephen holland, Lately De.
CEASED, Maintained That He Had
Seen the Savior Face to Face on
several Occasions, and That the Lord
Had Spoken to Him at Considerable
Length-Fuu Text of Mr.. hollands
remarkable Letter.
From the Chicago Tribune.
NIcHoLAsvILLE, KY, Feb. 9.-The
Triblle's recent special on the death of
Rev. Stephen holland, which revived his
remarkable visions of Jesus Christ, has
brought letters of inquiry from every part
of the United States to the local papers and
the postmaster. The story that the divine
recauted or modified his published state
nent is not true; but he recently wrote of
tbe heavenly visit OF the Savior of man.
kind as ''the sweet experience of his life.n
The famous letter, which was published
in 1887. in a paper of which Mr. holland was
the editor, is as follows:
We have been sick some two weeks with
rnalarial Intermittent fever and deep cold
The spell has not been a severe one so as to
cause unusual suffering or apprehension of
death There has been nothing in the disease
or medicines to affect the mind. Throughout
life we have been singularly free from Dreams
visions or iInSginary speculation concerning
the other world. Indeed, many a time in
preaching to mutitudes where a revival was in
progress we have been conscious of the calmest
state of mind, and have almost enved those
who showed the feelings of their souls by
external manifestations, while at the same time
we feel as much sympathy in our heart as any
one could feel. When prosecuting the heaviest
felonies as commemorative attorney for sew
eral wears we were at all times happily free
from any mental excitement that would dis
turb our reason. We write this as many
readers who are not christians may suppose
that some strong mental delusion may have oc-
casioned the following narration, while we know
that we were never more in our senses at any
period of our life.
1t was the third or fourth day of our sickness,
while we we're praying TO our Savior with no
unusual fervor but with the common assur-
ance Of his presence that we have felt in prayer
for fifty years and with no fear or apprehension
of death whatever. While we were in a short
doing state that lasted only a few minutes and
seemed almost in walking state the Lord ap-
peared to us. We could see his person plainly
from his head to his breast. He had large blue
eyes, full of beauty and tenderness, such as we
had never seen; clear skin, long flowing
beard, and rather Jewish phySiognomy. The
body had more a spiritual than an ordinary ma
terial appearance. By this time we were wide
awake, and while we were surprised at his visit
we were not in the least alarmed. Our good
wife was passing about the room, but we said
nothing about the interview to her.
CoNvERsED WITH THE SAVIOR.
With a smile that seemed heavenly he said:
MY son, have come to-day to make you hap
py."
answered. Lord, am so full now that I
can hardly bear more.'
He answered: 81 am going to give you Ben
Jamin's portion to-day, and when you cannot
bear it l will withdraw my hand"
With a graceful move of the hand he seemed
to pour something into us, not liquid, but
something that our soul felt. We were wide
awake and in our senses, and felt a thrill of
rapture and joy until we both cried and laughed.
He then said: ~ have q short lesson for you
to-day. Without saying how far it is to it. there
is a river called Jordan you will have to cross.
1t is justly alarming to many persons on ac-
count Of their lives To them 1t is muddy and
deep and swift, but when you come to it shall
form an eddy on both sides and reduce the
waters SO that you can almost walk over on the
rocks"
We said ''Lcrd when you want us to die we
are no more afraid Of II than to walk to the
rOnt gate.'
He said: "Your time has not come yet"
We asked: Lord, what have we ever done
tat you have visited and made us so happy
tCday?'
Ie answered: 81 know what you have done,
an it is all right"
70 then left us, and we remained awake with
outtozing for considerable time in an ecstacy
of bss
ANOTHER VISIT FROM THE LORD.
ulu uOU G4p6CG Iue uedT pHVlOT
TO return again, but the next day about the
same lour, being 10 O'Clock in the morning, he
appeaed again on our left side, exactly as he
did theday before. Accusing from doze, we
were aionce wide awake and happy. With the
same steet smile he said: MY son, I am come
to give lou another short lesson to-day For
more thin forty years you have been preaching
and writing on depravity, justification by faith,
the witness of the spirit in regeneration and in
assuranceto believers, which has been attended
with SomecoItroversy, bat want you to know
from me tlatyour views are true and strictly
scrIptural Continue in these doctrines and be
faithful, ind l will prepare the river for you
when youreash it, as l told you Yesterday"
We haf nov much to mediate upon and to
fill us win jo1 the rest of the day. The next
day our ord came again at the usual time and
in the uual manner. Approaching us he said:
My sol, want to give you wider view to-
day. mink of all the preachers whom you
knew il former years and who have died and
crossed the river"
We bgan TO enumerate at once and thought
of Edwin Roberts, Brother Sidebottom, Father
James and list too long to mention here.
Then le resumed: my son, they are all over
the river yonder in wide plain, and they know
you, TAX about you, and say while they do not
wish te hasten the time that they all wish to
see yoi and have conversations. l will keep
the riDr prepared, as have toll you"
THE LAST INTERVIEW.
By tits time the interviews were not surpris-
ing, sill we did not expect any more. One
the Lori came again, time, place, and manner
being he same. Every time that he ap-
preached us we were filed with unspeAkabe
peace and love which lasted for hours. He
never SIT down at any time but seemed to
stOop. His face was not more than two or
three feet from our own. In this fourth inter-
view be said: MY son, wish to recall the past
to youto-day. Think of all the camp-meetings
at witch you have preached for more than
forty years."
Our memory acted badly in reviewing the
past. We went to the mountains and thought
of Creathitt, Clay, Know, Lawrell, Owsley, and
Estl Then we came to the interior and
thought of the camp meetings in Montgomery,
Madi.on and Jessamine. and the prOtracted
meetings in Covington New York, Winchester,
Cynttiana, Paris, Lexington, Georgetown. Yer
sales, Danville, Sicnolasville, and many other
places where we had preached during the
years. Hundreds and hundreds of people who
were dead came to our recollection, but
not one who was living. The Lord then said to
us: My son. many of these people are safe
over the river. and they speak of you and wish
to you. When you cross the river you shall
see all these people one by one, and have con-
versations with them every day. Do your part
well, and will keep the river prepared for an
easy passage"
The dear Savior went away, but left his spirit
with us, and we have faith in God
STEPHEN holland.