Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-02
ISIT HYPNOTISM2
st. Louis Doctors After Mrs.
Woodwork.
THEY THINK HER Do1NGs BANEFUL

Trance Incidents Related Perform
ances of Some of the Subjects-The
Evangelist on visions-What She Told
the Physicians.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-, Sept Fully 5000
people lined the levee yesterday afternoon
to witness the baptism by immersion in
the Mississippi of fifty converts to Mrs.
Woodworth's preaching, while half as
many more sought points of vantage on
wharfboats and in all manner of floating
craft. The first to be immersed was a girl
OF 10, who bravely entered the murky
waters and after brief exhortation was
dipped into the stream and her venal sins
washed away. The second candidate was
very tleshy woman, whose appearance
called for many side remarks from the ir-
reverent mob of sight-seers
Irreverent Bridge Enders.
From this time on the converts were
fearfully "guyed" by the crowd, until
there appeared dudish man in spotless
white shirt and wide trousers. As the of
iciating clergyman led him out into the
stream, placing his hands upon the con-
vert's shoulder, the crowd with one ac-
cord shouted, "Down Went McGinty," and
he disappeared beneath the waters TO come
up sputtering and fioundering The spec
tacie was not Very edifying, and when the
fair evangelist addressed the people after
the baptismal service she had but an mat
tentive audience. The police were out in
force.
A Boys Conduct I'm a Trance
remarkable scenes are witnessed at the
revival meetings conducted by Mrs.
Woodwork. Saturday night boy of IL
years OF age was taken to the arena, where
two attendants took turns caring for him
aud exhibiting him to the crowd which
gathered on either side to watch his move
ments. The boy extended his arms to their
UTMOST length and threw his head back
ward, while his eyes assumed CLASSY,
staring appearance, and he quivered as
QUE suffering with a severe attack of epi-
lepsy. His attendants followed him close
ly as he moved slowly about the arena,
now and then jumping, and apparently
trying 10 rise to greater stature than
his height would admit
Other Exhibitions of the Kind.
His attendant kept him close to one
which he moved the boy slowly across to
the other side, apparently so as to allow
all those about the arena TO obtain a good
view OF the BOY in his trance" Several
times he was laid on bench, where he
remained but "A shorG time, with his arms
extended and his eyes staring upward
While this was going on several other per-
sons about the rostrum were also going
tnfn .Rf,
Some of them assumed very rigid ap-
pearance, and their spasmodic actions
were anything but agreeable TO look upon.
Others assumed a calm, sleep-like appear
ance while kneeling. with their arms ex-
tended ut full length
Mrs. Woodworth Tries it.
Mrs. Woodworth herself then suddenly
went into trance" She stood motion
less for several minutes with her arms
upraised, gazing upward and forward, and
then she assumed an expression just a
shade theatrical. She then began ,omoye
slowly about the rostrum, apparently un-
conscious, and being closely followed by
one, and sometimes two. lady supporters.
Her attitude and expression gradually be-
came less dignified. her face assuming a
vacant, meaningless look. She remained
erect however, until long after the close
of the services. The leading soprano
singer also became entranced, and after
brief period of almost motionless silence
she sank down and was laid upon the ros =
trum.
How to Act to See Visions.
In an interview with Drs Adams and
Dnley, who with other physicians have
petitloned the mayor TO stop the business,
as they claim that the power welded by
Mrs. Woodwork is hypnotism, she said:
"When you have vision like folks do at
the meetings you must give everything up
to God. Hou must look right up and
stretch up your arms and you will see the
vision Ii you are stubborn and won't
look up then you will not be transported
You don't completely lose consciousness.
but know everything that goes on all
around you. Ii a person in this state is
touched the vision is broken for an in
stant, but it comes back again"
Her Hearers Sometimes See Stars.
DIR. Adams asked if the persons could
move while in this state IL lose my own
will power but am stronger" said Mrs
Woodward. Sometimes it takes six per-
sons to hold me. The Lord has me, mind
and body, and | have no control over my
actions. l have preached while under the
power, and my face shone as bright as
star, and the people have told me that
they have seen bright lights around my
head, like the Savior"
What,the Doctors Think.
The physicians say that they believe
Mrs. Woodward to be insane, and that,
| although she is perfectly sincere in her
pretensiOns, the nervous strain brought
on the enthusiasts, influenced by hypno.
| tism is exceedingly harmful, and Will re-
suit seriously not only to the persons in
| fluenced but will remain hereditary.