The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-02
YOUNG WOMEN ORDAINED
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES IN THE
PENTECosT CAMP YESTERDAY.
Young People Become Missionaries to
Africa and India-An Experience
Meeting Conducted.

The most important and interesting fea-
ture Of the day at the Pentecost camp
meeting at Broad Ripple Park yesterday
was the missionary service in the after
! noon, which closed with the ordination of
class of thirteen young men and women.
all Of whom expect to leave for foreign
lands to carry the gospel to the unenHght-
ened. Three of the women will go to Afri-
ca, the others to India. That Is, they will
go when the Lord opens the way''-pro-
vdes the money for their passage. None
of them are rich in this worlds goods; all
are poor in that respect but they rejoice
IN spiritual rtchess and express unshaka Bile
belief that some way will be provided
whereby they can carry the gospel TO ma
tons sitting in darkness"
TIE missionary service lasted over two
hours. Rev. Thomas Nelson spoke of the
great need of Christian missionaries in
Africa and India, picturing in vivid words
the deplorable state in which the natives
live not only as regards the darkness and
hopelessness Of their religion, but also to
physical necessities, referring TO the famine
and plaques that are sweeping them off by
the thousand. He spoke of the glorious
resolves the young men and women had
made and expressed implicit belief that
they were indeed called to God" to go
forth to do battle for his kingdom. lie
began in his usual magnetic, deliberate
way, but spurred on by the cries of GLORY
to God, P" Amen" "Hallelujah" from the
members of the band he grew impassioned
and made wonderful impression on his
hearers. His voice rose louder, and its
clear, ringing tones were plainly distin-
guishable above the shouts and low chants
word amen in long wailing chant that
began as she slowly arose from her seat
on the singers stand, extended to the high
est note as she stood upright with hands
rigidly extended above and then died
away as she slowly relapsed into her
seat. 1t was rather unearthly and sent the
blood tingling through the veins of those
VINO heard it. Sobs came from many parts
OF the tent as the preacher proceeded with
his description Of the horrors that the mis-
sionaries Will have to encounter. AS he fin
ished the singers spontaneously struck I'D
q characteristic song. Each sang with
zest The song relieved somewhat the
intense feelings that were swaying the
great audience.
Then the young women who have vowed
to devote their lives to spreading the gos-
pei began one by one to tell how they
were called" Two of them are colored
women, Anna and Laura Brown. Anna
Brown told first of her conversion some
years ago in simple but passionate Ian
gudge. Alter she was converted her heart
was f1iled with the peace of salvation but
IN short time her mind was troubled with
vague unrest, a feeling that there was
more FOR her to do before entering into
full peace.
Often when 1 retired at night" said
anna BfoWn, Il could not sleep. L would
t Ia e INTO uneasy dreams and would awake
70 ma myself crying. The Lord was
troubling my heart. One day / made up
my mind to pray it out and find what the
Lord wanted me to do. / threw my whole
being on the cross, saying: Lord, here [
am DO what you will with me- Then
knew what was wanted Something told
me ought to go among my own people
IN the dark land, and since then / have
tried to prepare myself for the duty L
VIII enter Africa to carry the light as God
or ten years will L go, but for life /
VIII remain until the life passes out of this
poor casket of clay, telling my people OF
Christ and salvation through His blood"
Shouts and cries of COMMUNICATION arose
as she proceeded Help her, Lord; help
my servant. the people cried, to which
others responded with fervent amens Other
missionaries on the stand began weeping
not tears of sorrow, but tears of ecstacy
Following Anna Brown pretty young
GIRL Maggie VAIL of Greensburg, told her
experience. After her conversion she be-
ed her to go and spread the light among the
heather. Friends laughed at her, telling
her that it was just a fad and would wear
off, but she could not be turned from her
purpose. Gods voice kept urging her to
do her duty. She is one who will go to
Africa Her friends would prefer that she
go to India, but she feels more good can be
done i'll the other land.
William McCready, raw-looking young
man, who reminds one of the circuit riders
Of early religion in the pioneer days, heard
the cali while he was in the field plow-
ing. God spoke to him; The voice reached
not only his heart, but penetrated his en-
tire being, filing him first with terror and
then with peace, when he answered, Lord,
L viii go where Thou sendest me-
Experiences related by others were of a
similar character. All of them admitted
that they had at first rebelled against
taking UP the cross ? but had been finally
led into the way by the Spirit There was
no pride manifest. All stood humble and
meek, ready to do the bidding of that
voice which they say has called to them.
The ordination services were like those of
the primitive church. The elders and
preachers went to the candidates one by
one as they stood in a row with their backs
to the audience Hands were laid upon their
heads Blessings we're invoked for them and
celebrations to faithfulness and humility
were addressed to them in sympathetic and
tender language. Some = the women
sobbed aloud, shuddering with emotion.
Thoughtless people who came to crafty
curiosity were visibly affected by the scene.
After all We're ordained prayer was Of
fered and then Mr.. Nelson presented to
each q certificate showing LAT they are
regularly ordained preachers of the Church
of God, empowered to perform the rites OF
baptism marriage, ETC., as long as their
lives conform to the teachings of the Scrip
ture and as long as they preach doctrine
not at variance with the Bible. Those who
were ordained were as follows:
William McCready, of Connersville, ina;
Matthias Cline, Lowell. ILL.,; John Mason,
Grafton, W. Va; George &. Bula, Indian
apolis; Sadie Hill, Blairs, lie, Pa; Emma
Acorn, Cokesville. Pa; Magg'e Vail,
Greensburg, Ind; Lena ana Anna Brown,
Eldon, Ia. Louisa Bl!c, y" - Pleasant,
Ia; Ina Cone Lexington, it,. LA Rob
erts, Greenfield, Ind, and Eli fucker,
Corning, Ia.
The camp meeting will Gloss next Sunday
evening, when the sacrameLt of h Lords
Supper will be admin store. ,unday after
noon a number of p nee will be baptized
by immersion in the Yer. The programme
this week includes a tree lecture on Africa
by Edward Matthews, who was with Stan
ley on his explorations. Mr.. Matthews has
many interesting relics of that country
which he will exhibit. The lecture will be
delivered tomorrow evening. Wednesday
afternoon there will be meetings for the dis
cussion OF social purity, one for men and
another for women, in separate tents. The
usual all-day services Will be held to-mor-
row.