USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume II > Part 35
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and welded together into mutual love. The glory of God was manifest. The meeting continued to 1 p. m. One brother on this morning was in a field near the church trying to husk corn; but his hands seemed clumsy. He could not work. So he said, "If I can't husk corn, I'll go to church." He came just in time to get a great blessing. From then on there was victory in the services.
In a revival meeting held in the winter of 1890 in St. Paul's Chapel, Bunker Hill Circuit, a John H., one of the big sinners of the community, had been out to the altar seeking salvation. He labored hard for a number of nights but with- out success. One night a local preacher of another church came to the meeting. Pastor S. H. B. had him sit on the rostrum. After preaching, the appeal was again made for sinners to come to the altar. H. again came out with others. For a while he labored hard to press into the kingdom of God. Suddenly he stopped praying and went to the local preacher on the rostrum and said to him, "Do you remember that 20 years ago you were viciously assaulted by a fellow on a certain saw-mill ground?"
"Yes," said the local preacher.
"Well," said H., "I am the fellow that did it. I am sorry for what I did. Can you forgive me? I want salvation, and I felt I cannot find peace without asking forgiveness from you."
"Sure I'll forgive you," said the local preacher, "I am glad you are seeking Christ and want to live a good life."
H. then went back to the altar, knelt down again and anew called upon God for mercy and pardon. In less than five minutes he was saved.
Another confession followed his conversion that night. He said, "I had a natural hatred for preachers. I often wished I dared to rush out on the public road when Rev. Baumgartner passed, and seize him by his long black beard, and pull him out of his buggy, and drag him around in the deep mud, not because he did me any wrong, but just because he was a preacher. But now it is all changed. I want him now to stop at my house, and eat and sleep in my home. My hatred for preachers is all gone.
In 1904 presiding elder, B., while holding a quarterly meeting in Decatur. Indiana, preached an evangelistic sermon on a Sunday evening. Then followed an interesting and encouraging event. After he was through preaching he felt that an opportunity should be given to come to the altar. The Lord really had a surprise for the preachers and the people, for there were five young people who responded to the call and were blessedly saved.
At a certain revival in southern Indiana a young woman was earnestly seeking salvation. She came to the meetings, but something was hindering her in the finding of peace. Her presiding elder, one night, asked her whether she
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knew of anything that she should confess in order to obtain pardon. She dis- covered two things that ought to be adjusted. . One was the possession of a graduating diploma to which she was not entitled. The other was having taken a brooch. She then asked, "What must I do to get peace?" It was suggested that she should write to the teacher, and make a confession. This was ex- ceedingly humiliating, but she followed the advice. In a few days she heard from the teacher that she was forgiven by him. But she had no peace until she had made right that little theft. To appease her conscience, she restored two-fold of what she had wrongfully taken. Then the peace of God came into her soul.
On Jan. I, 1896, a revival meeting was begun in Berne, Indiana, by J. W. M. in the Evangelical Hall. The Holy Ghost was the active agent in this meeting. in answer to much praying and earnest preaching of the plan of salvation. The power of God was manifest in the hearts of those who waited upon the Lord. The attendance was so large that it became difficult to find room for those who came. Some meetings, due to intense interest, could not be dismissed until after midnight. At the end of four weeks a most remarkable thing occurred. It had been planned to close the meeting then. A number of persons had been saved. At this time the impression was that the plan of closing the meeting should not be carried out. Services were, therefore, announced for Monday night, believing that this was a better night to judge the propriety of whether the revival should close or not. The usual program was followed, praying, sing- ing and sermon. When the invitation was given, twenty persons came out to the altar, not merely to be prayed for, but that they themselves might be able to pray. The revival continued three weeks longer with definite results each night until there were fifty-three people saved.
In 1880, Geo. R. held a revival at Salem, now Linn Grove Charge. After four weeks of meetings the pastor was going to close the meeting, but just be- fore he closed he gave one more invitation, saying that if one came the meeting would continue. To his surprise one soul came out. The meeting was continued. God's Spirit was striving with the unsaved, independent of the church which up to this time had not yet rallied. The unsaved came to the altar, but there was no spiritual power. The membership was helpless. Some prostrated themselves with faces to the floor in shame, and agonized for power and victory for them- selves. Victory followed, resulting in 44 conversions. There was a man who tried to run away from the meeting, though he did not even attend it. He and his wife started on a trip to Michigan. Reaching Ft. Wayne his horse took sick and he was compelled to return home. He now yielded to the wooings of the Spirit and came to the revival but filled with prejudice against the little preacher whom he considered proud. But he could hold out no longer and came
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to the altar. As a backslider, he found forgiveness and became an enthusiastic worker in the church.
Not far from this church was a schoolhouse where a lady taught who claim- ed to be a Christian. When a number of her scholars were converted, and began to hold prayer-meetings during recess, she became so convicted that she suspended school until the revival closed.
In January, 1893, I. H. Griesemer held a seven-week revival in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, when sixty souls were saved. Among these was a woman who had sought pardon for five years. Nearly every night, during this meeting, she came to the altar. The last night of this meeting, after dismissal, she said, "Oh, now another revival closes, and still I'm not saved." Then she wept bitterly and prayed ardently. A number of the members remained with her, praying and directing her to the Lamb of God. Suddenly she believed the promise of God and was saved.
Rev. I. H. G. had a successful revival in New Harmony, Indiana, in 1907. One of the seekers at the altar was a young man, who bore the reputation as a saloon lounger. He was seeking peace for more than a week without success. One evening the pastor knelt with him and asked, "Brother, are you willing to surrender all unto the Lord?"
He hesitated, then finally said, "Ye-es".
Then he was asked, "Are you willing to give up swearing, gambling dan- cing and fighting?"
He replied, "Yes."
But the pastor knowing his weakness, once more asked him, "Are you will- ing to give up drinking?"
He said, "f am willing to give up everything except my daily dram. I must have that."
Then the pastor told him, that it was of no use for him to pray any longer, that his secking was all in vain unless he surrendered all, including his daily dram. After a little further exhortation and praying with him, the seeker called out, "Well, Lord, I'm willing to give up everything, even my daily dram." Scarcely had he said these words when the peace "that passeth all understand- ing", poured into his soul.
At a revival conducted by J. R. a drunk man one evening was in the meeting, apparently in a sleeping stupor. When the invitation to come to the altar was given, he was the first one to come, knelt and began to pray mightily to God for salvation. R. and a minister present began to instruct him what he must do, seeing the condition he was in. Some of the folks in the congregation considered him a "drunken fool", and some made sport of it. But R. explained to them that
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God was able to even save a drunk man, if he really wanted salvation, and de- liver him from the demon of strong drink. Soon the man arose professing to be saved. He was a changed man from then on, for he ceased drinking, became kind to his family, and lived an honorable life. He was saved from a drunkard grave and hell. Though he was drunk when he came to the altar, he had sense enough to repent, pray and believe while many of those who made fun of him, did not.
While J. R. was holding a revival in a small town, a doctor and his wife attended regularly. One evening R. saw the woman weeping. After the altar call, he went to her and asked her to come to the altar. But she refused, saying, "I am not coming to hear you preach any more. Every time I come you expose my whole life." But he assured her she was in error since she was a stranger to him. Then she said, "Somebody has told you all about me." Again he as- sured her that he was ignorant of her life.
"How then can you describe my life as you did?" R. told her that it was the Word of God which describes every case, and shows one what one is and where one stands, and then urged her to come to the altar. But she declared, "I cannot. My brother is up there and he won't speak to me."
The pastor then asked her, "Will you speak to him?"
She replied, "Yes, I will."
Then he said, "Then come to the altar and I'll see that your brother speaks to you."
She came and knelt at the altar. Her brother was choir leader. Soon the pastor changed the order of the meeting, and asked everybody to come and shake hands with the sister to encourage her. The people gladly responded except her brother. Then R. said to him, "Now you go and shake hands with your sister."
But he declined, saying, "Oh, I can't. I must lead the singing."
But R. said, "Yes, you can. I'll keep the singing going on until you get back. Go on!" He obeyed, and as he came to her, she arose from her knees and then they clasped each other's hands and were reconciled. Thus she was saved and victory and rejoicing followed.
J. R. relates a revival meeting held in a certain community where serious trouble existed between several neighbors without his knowledge. A court litigation was soon to follow over the contention. The meeting progressed slowly. Some of the children of these neighbors were converted, who also be- fore this would not speak with each other, just as their parents did not. One evening as these children came home from school walking arm in arm, their parents took notice and wondered what had happened. When told that their children were converted in the revival in their neighborhood, they said, "We
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must find out about this." They came to the meeting and were brought into a deep sense of their own need. A get-together-meeting was arranged between them. A reconciliation was effected, and the civil action was withdrawn. The lawyers were the poorer, the parents and community the richer.
In the above revival an infidel, living in this vicinity, was bitterly opposed to it. His two girls, now young women, attended the meeting, and became con- victed of their sins. He forbade them to attend this meeting, but they insisted on attending. He consented to it, but forbade them to go to the altar. If they did, "there would be something doing". J. R. knew nothing about his threats to his daughters. One night both came to the altar. On that very night he told them and others if they went to the altar he would take them away. The church was crowded. The father was there. When the pastor gave the altar call both girls started for the altar. Just then the father leaped to his feet and took hold of them. The pastor started down the aisle exhorting and was scarcely ten feet away, when he heard one of the girls shout, "Glory, glory!" and "Fa- ther, get down, get down!" God interfered with him, saved his daughter before she could get to the altar, and the father had no chance to take her away. While he held to her, and she to him, he begged of her. "Mandy, let go of me. Mandy, it is all right." But she would not. She insisted that he must go down to the altar and pray. Then the meeting was changed into a testimony meeting, and Mandy again shouted, "Glory", etc. The father got up and made a con- fession, and said, "I cannot understand this." The pastor replied, "My brother, the Lord knows how to rescue those that come to him. He was too quick for you, He always is."
J. R. was holding a revival in a neighborhood, which was all torn up by a feud. Here lived a brother and sister, members of the church, who had not spoken to each other for two years. Some declared it was useless to hold a meeting. Moreover, it was campaign year. But a score of young people were saved. Two little girls of the brother came to the altar and were saved. The world sneered saying, "They got all the young people they can get, and now begin on the kids." But God had need of these children just now. On the day they united with the church, their father was present. The pastor was worried, thinking he came to stir up trouble. He gave an opportunity to testify. This father asked for the privilege to speak. It was granted provided he would say nothing to hinder the meeting.
Then he confessed, "I had made up my mind I would have nothing to do with this meeting; but when my two little girls came out on the Lord's side, my God-I couldn't stand that." This he said with heart-breaking sobs and stam- mering tongue. His sister on the other side of the church, suddenly rose, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, said, "The Lord told me to speak to my
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brother." They met each other, wept together, begged pardon of each other and called for prayer. Then a wonderful season of prayer followed. The difficulty was settled A wonderful awakening followed. Sinners fell down at the altar, others in aisles and pews, and many were saved. Truly, "a little child shall lead them."
A CHAIN WITH A HOOK
At a certain revival conducted by Rev. D. D. S., a man was brought under deep conviction. He was tormented especially because he took a log chain from his neighbor. He sought forgiveness of his sins, but to no avail. Finally he resolved to go to this neighbor with the chain and confess that he had stolen it, and ask his pardon. When this was done he obtained pardon and peace in his soul.
In 1892, on Carmi Circuit, in the old country church, E. J. Nitsche conducted a revival. Two young men, who were under deep conviction, but would not yield to God, together agreed they would not yield until a stormy night, be- lieving that on such a night no one would come, not even the preacher. Then they would have a reasonable excuse for not becoming Christians, for then they could say to their parents, "We went to church on that stormy night, to seek salvation, but no one came, and this shows how much they are interested in us."
One night a storm raged over the community. The men decided to go to church. The Holy Spirit led Nitsche to go. His wife said, "Why, you cannot get through the storm." The Spirit, however, prompted him to go. Three times N. went into the bedroom to pray, each time convinced that he should go. Finally he said, "I must go, if I die on the way." Looking across the field he saw a light. Then he saw the door open, and a man entered with a lantern. It was the janitor who had gone home. But he saw two other men going into the church. When N. reached the church and entered, the young men arose in haste, looking amazed. They thought a ghost from the nearby cemetery appear- ed. N. quickly quieted their fear by greeting them, saying they would have a short service. The men stayed.
N. read from John 10, and gave them an invitation to come to the altar. They both came forward, and began to plead for mercy and pardon, continuing until 11 o'clock. As there was no fire in the stove, N. saw it was best to leave, though they wanted to stay there all night. He prevailed on them, however, to go to Father W.'s, and there to continne to pray for salvation. At 2 o'clock that night they found peace, and the whole house was awakened by their praises to God. At eight a. m., they came to the parsonage, still praising God, with six loads of stove wood and a fat pig for the preacher.
N. said, "It paid to go."
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In 1905, at the new country church on Carmi Circuit, Nitsche held a revival, at which a young man who belonged to the Catholic Church, came to the altar, and was gloriously saved. Five months later he was struck dead by lightning.
An incident occurred in A. G.'s fourth year of the ministry on the Waterloo Circuit of more than ordinary interest.
He was driving from Trinity to the County Line Church to fill the evening -appointment. For reasons that were afterward made clear, he lost all interest in his prospective sermon for the evening, and was at a loss, for some moments what he should preach. Finally his mind was directed to a Scripture that he never preached from nor studied carefully. He trusted in the help of God, witlı this new text. Not knowing anything of existing conditions, God helped him mightily in delivering His message. After the service, Bro. S., the exhorter, stepped up to G. asking, "Has anyone said anything to you about the awful state of things in this class? Surely God directed you in preaching the sermon you did this evening."
G. then went home with S. who made known to him the deplorable state of things in the class, which started among the larger scholars in the Sunday School. The parents of the unruly hoys took the matter up, resulting in a law- suit. Two fathers who were brothers, were antagonistic toward each other. After S. had related these existing conditions, G. said to him, "We must try to settle this trouble before I leave the community."
The next morning they started out on a mission of reconciliation. They first took one in hand and told him what their object was in coming, and said, "We want you to go along to your brother."
He answered, "No, I won't go, for he threatened to strike me if I ever darkened his doorway. I am afraid if I go it will only make matters worse."
However, with strong persuasion, he consented to go. When they got to the house, the second brother met the three at the door, and was told for what they came. G. said, "If you will promise to behave yourself, and keep quiet, we will come in, otherwise we will return home." They were invited in, and after being seated, G. read a suitable portion of God's Word, and said, "We will kneel and ask God's help." G. prayed and then called on S. who offered a very earnest and touching prayer. Then he called on the older brother who broke down with weeping, then called on the other brother who also broke down in the attempt. On arising from their knees, G. said, "Brethren, we have done all that we can, it is now up to you to settle your trouble." They arose and met each other and with arms around each other's necks wept out their gladness in the spirit of reconciliation. These brothers were old men at this time.
Brother S. and G. went home happy. The Lord got the praise for it all. G. was now certain why God's Spirit suggested a new text to him the night before.
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C. W. S. witnessed a wonderful determination of a 14-year-old girl who came to the altar for peace and pardon, on a certain night of a revival. Her parents bitterly opposed her in this. But she was firm to her conviction. After the dismissal of the meeting she would not leave the altar to go home. So prayer with and for her was continued until 1 A. M. when she was gloriously saved. The girl amidst unfavorable environment tried to serve the Lord. In the sum- mer following she died of typhoid fever. Her mother then confessed how she stood in the girl's way, but now she repented and surrendered to the Lord as a result of her girl's conversion.
C. W. S. witnessed how a girl from a rather illiterate home came under con- viction in a revival, and, obeying the wooings of the Holy Spirit, came to the altar for salvation, and was wonderfully saved. Then she at once began to testify and to admonish the unsaved people. Many could not refrain from weep- ing, and others burst forth in shouts, and hardened sinners were melted to tears and brought to their knees.
A ten-year-old lad, sceking salvation in a revival conducted hy C. W. S., had such a definite experience, that his countenance was very perceptibly aglow. A man 70 years old seeing this came up to the altar, seized the boy by each arm and drew him up to his face and then pleading, as a homesick child would ask, "How did you get it, anyway?"
In a revival meeting conducted by S. J. K. a man was under great convic- tion, but he resisted the power of God. The pastor while speaking to other unsaved ones in the audience, came to this convicted sinner, and inquired about his salvation. This fellow flew into a rage, and broke forth in a tirade of most terrible profanity, such as the pastor never had heard. The pastor stood by him until he was through swearing without saying a word. Then quietly he walked away toward the altar. Suddenly this man jumped to his feet, rushed by the pastor, and fell down at the altar, and in great penitence sought pardon and salvation. He was gloriously saved.
3,30
INDIANA CONFERENCE ERRORS IN VOLUME I CORRECTED
Page 11, after Butz insert "of Mt. Carmel".
Page 17, under 1847, 2nd line after "the", insert "western", farther on "Wiet- haup" as here.
Page 18, line 7 should read, "Indiana District" not "Conference".
Page 58, J. H. Evans, "Division Street, Elkhart, 2", is omitted.
Page 63, Geo. S. Lozier, figure "2" should take the place of "1".
Page 76, "Cumberland, Tenn.," should read "Cumberland, Indiana".
Page 80, under Fulton, erase "Defiance".
Page
84, under Julietta, after '78, insert "Geo. Schmoll, '79".
Page
87, after J. Fox, bring in "D. Bartholomew and C. Kohlmeier; and after C. Kohlmeier, 5th line, add year "1863'; after J. Miller, "1866"; after P. Miller, "1867".
Page 90, under Rochester Circuit, after 1892-93 .add, "L. Newman, '94-96; J. W. Metzner, '97-98; J. W. Feller. '99; E. Q. Landeman, 1900; Ph. Haney, 1915; between Rochester Circuit and Rochester Station insert Rochester Mission, G. A. Weishaar, 1909; Ph. Buehler, 1910-12."
Page 95, under "Special Missionaries," Ang. Ivan, "Oregon" should read Texas".
Page 96, in column "by what conference" after the names Browns, Burgener and Buyer, should read "Indiana" not "N. Y."; also after Ehrhardt, Evans, Erne, J. W. Feller, not F. M., and after D. E. Zechiel and G. F. Zuber, not M. E."
Page 384, under Huntingburg below Wesseler's name insert "Carl Heiden, 1855"; and after item 6, "G. W. Hallwachs, 1855"; and cancel the name Hallwachs under Louisville Station.
Page 385, under Indianapolis, First, between 3 and 4 insert "C. Stier, 1874"; and to Louisville Station add the name, "G. F. Winter, 1891".
Page 386, under "Came to Ill. Conf." cancel the last name "Brightmire".
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