The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-19

AL things material I'm about two months
as the basis of the faith.
During August and the first two weeks |
of this month there were many converts
In ell countries, and the idea OF winding
up mundane affairs before November
was particularly attractive to people OF
the United States.
In the northern part of this city and
In that portion OF Pawtucket just beyond
tho city line the belief IN the Spaniard's
prophecy gained quite foothold in the
minds OF several earnest people. AS res
suit Of this band of 80 or 40 was organ
ized under the leadership of Ephriam
Medbury, an itinerant gospel worker.
They have held frequent meetings and
their rendezvous was in the woods at
Blackstone Park. All were present by 4
o'clock this morning at what was firmly
believed to be the last gathering. A
NEWS reporter, IN spite OF his unbelief,
had been asked to attend and accepted
the Invitation.
The spot chosen by the Medberrians,
as they call themselves, was small tri-
angular opening in the thickest part OF
the park woodland. The base OF
this triangle ran along the bank of
the big ravine which bisects the
park, and at the apex mound Of dead
leaves and twigs had been raked up to
serve as a platform for the leader. 1t is
space SO closely walled in by the over
hanging trees and shrubbery that on the
sunniest day 1t is twilight there. This
morning it was gruesome and the half
scared, half-hopeful faces of the believ-
ers looked green and ghastly in the dense
shade, while the congregation listened
to the last sermon that Mr.. Medbury
would preach with his earthly life.
At first there was an informal hand
shaking and whispered chattering kept
up among the different little groups gath
cred about this man or that woman whose
faith seemed stronger than that of the
Others. At $3.50 O'Clock the formal ser
vices began by a loud handclapping in
concert by all present and then mono
tonous cnant to the effect that We are
going up" With the suddenness of
trained chorus singers, the chanters
stopped the refrain and Ephriam Med
hurry stepped up onto the mound of
leaves, and on either side OF him stood
an attendant with lighted railroad Tan
tera, to reveal the good mans worn
and emacisted features as he spoke words
of cheer and encouragement.
He plunged at once into scripture and
said;
sand il shall be at an instant sudden
ly. A visitation shall come from the Lord
| of hosts In thunder and with earthquake
and with great noise of whirlwind and
tempest and with the flame OF devouring
fire.
Sand thou shall go up and come like
a storm ana like a cloud TO cover the
land, thou and all thy bands and many
people with thee"
.Say TO them that daub without tenn
pering that the wall shall fall; for there
shall be an overfiowing shower and 1
will cause great hail stones to fall
violently from above and a stormy wind
TO throw IL down."
"Lo, will cause a stormy wind to
break forth In my indignation and there
shall be an overfiowing shower in my
anger and great wind in my wrath to
consume"
"Behold the Lord is mighty and strong
| as a storm of hail; destroying whirl-
wind, as the violence of many waters
overfiowing and sent forth upon spa
cious land"
After the quotations from Scripture
there was a short sermon on the joys OF
getting through living and then more
chants. At 7 o'clock, when the storm
was at its worst, q great ecstacy seized
the converts and they shouted "Th:s is
the end"
But It wasn't. The rain let up and the
thunder ceased and the wind subsided.
Cries of Joy gave place to groans, and
those who half an hour before believed
they were going to paradise realized that
they must go to work.
Slowly and sadly they left the grove.
Rev. .Ephriam Medbury took to the
rAyine and followed the course of the
brooklet beneath TO the shores OF the
SeekonN. rhe rest came down into the
city, some in trolley cars on the Olney-
Vile line and others on foot, and they
necked the water from their garments
as they walked.
And one there was who wrung the
rain drops from her bloomers and be-
strobe two strange wheels, upon which
she glided swiftly by her companions
and reached the button counter just in
time to receive the rebuke OF the floor
walker for being late.
HOUSES BLOWN DOWN AT NEW BEDFORD.
NEW BEDroRD, Mass, Sept. IA
fierce windstorm. accompanied by
thunder, lightning, hail ana rain broke
over this city at about 1880 o'clock this
morning. An unfinished building was
II lNdemollshed and Boniface Bouchard. who