The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-08-19
BELIEVERS AMOUNTED.
Strange Spectacle at the Christian
Alliance Camp Meeting.

Freaks of Faith and Cures of the Afflicted
Hundreds of People Cured BY Faith
and So Testify-A Young Man who
Caused Sensation in the Camp.
[Biddeford Standard.)
Between $50 and 300 persons, nearly all
women, professed their acceptance of
divine healing, and were ''anointed''
under the supervision of President Simp-
son, at the Christian Alliance campmeet-
ing at Old Orchard yesterday afternoon.
Long before two o'clock the hour fixed
the huge building was packed. People
filled the aisles, stood in the hall and sat
in rows about the steps of the platform.
At the hour fixed Mr.. Simpson made
his way down the aisle. He is care
worn man of fifty, with black hair and
beard, high and bald forehead and deep
set circular eyes. AS he lay aside his
cape and hat, his assistant, Miss Louise
Sheppard, began singing. "The great
physician now is near" in which the
audience joined. After prayer and an
hours answering of written questions
handed up by those who desired further
light regarding the doctrine, s'the giving
of testimonies" was begun.
The first was that of a woman who
said that she had been cured of rheuma-
tism within the past "a hours. Next
came a man who said he had been
afflicted with hereditary insanity, but
within the year he had been entirely re-
lieved. After several cases of relief from
insomonia, grip, defective eyesight, ETC.,
a minister arose and testified that he
had been suffering for long time with
hepatization of part of one lung, being
unable to draw full breath, but that
last night he was healed, and he felt now
that he could breathe clear down to his
boots. In fact, very many testified that
their healing was accomplished in spite
of anxious relatives, who wanted them
to rely on medicine. Some of the testi-
monies were rather peculiar. One
woman testified that she had every symp-
tom of cold this morning, but that
it was all gone now. Another had been
greatly troubled with corns, but had OBJ
tanned entire relief. About this time
nervous looking woman, who had been
standing a long time awaiting the presi-
dents recognition began to speak. After
speaking three or four minutes she be-
Workers on the platform began ex-
changing smiling glances. Finally her
voice began to rise at the end of each
sentence and her breath came in gasps.
The men present nervously fingered their
hats and the women sat with pale faces
and parted lips. The excited women be-
came incoherent and then began hyster-
ical shrieking. Everybody shivered. The
next instant some one started familiar
hymn, and by the time the second line
was reached all had joined. Two or
three stanzas of it were sung, and by that
time the audience was quieted, but the
moaning of the woman could be heard
during the next two or three testimonies
of Divine healing.
About o'clock this part of the SER
vices was concluded, and Mr.. Simpson
summed up. He asked those who had
been healed of consumption, ''the real
thing" to stand up. Sixteen persons
arose. He continued in this way, calling
the roll of diseases and receiving answers
by people rising. One poor soul rose up
every time, attracting at last considerable
smiling attention.
Mr.. Simpson then asked for those who
desired Divine healing and wished to be
anointed. About 250 responded These
wer ranged upon seats at the front, and
Mr.. Simpson and his assistants, nearly
all being clergymen, anointed their
foreheads with oil. Following the
amounting, in each instance was laying
on of hands by Mr.. Simpson woman
assistants. DUNG this service the most
perfect stiffness prevailed.
When the amounting was almost con-
cluded a fine-looking young man of 25
suddenly drew the attention of all by
walking forward and ascending the plat
form. He wore his hat and had white
handkerchief bound around his forehead.
He carried another handkerchief in his
hand, and as he reached the platform he
began waving it about, gesticulating as
if preaching. Then he clasped his hands
cast up his eyes, pointing with his fingers
and moved his lips, but all the while
uttering no sound. One of Mr.. Simpsons
assistants took him by the arm
and asked him to go down,
but the man resisted violently
and drew back his arm threateningly.
Three or four sturdy assistants of Mr..
Simpson surrounded him and he sat
down in chair on the platform. Mr..
Simpson then announced to the excited
gathering that the young man had lost
his mend and that he was possessed of a
devil, and further suggested that all pray
for him. Prayers followed for 10 MIMI
ties the young man sometimes bowling his
head in his hands and sometimes renew
ing his gesticulations. He did not at
tempt to speak however.
The meeting was then quickly brought
to close. and at 6.45 the gathering dis
solved, having been in the tabernacle
nearly five hours.