thousands saw the wrong of remaining in the denominations; so they
came out. In fact, Brother Davis, God's sheep would naturally stay
together if they were not induced to separate. The denominations have
good Christians in them, but there are many members who do not have an
experimental knowledge of grace and these have led many churches into
worldliness and formality."
"I see it," said Robert. "The church was hidden down through the
Catholic and Protestant ages and is just now again coming out and
standing aloof and clear for God and her blessed founder, Jesus
Christ. Oh, praise God! it is all so plain now. Thank God."
On the third night of the meeting a mob formed to frighten the
minister out of town and to destroy the meeting. Old Peter Newby
helped organize it. The ammunition consisted of a vast assortment of
ancient eggs, also stones, brickbats, and a few clubs and sticks. The
mob stormed the house about the time of the close of a powerful sermon
on A Better Testament. Windows crashed, portions of egg bespattered
many, several persons were struck by missiles, and a great hubbub was
created. The evangelist was the quietest person in the house, though
his clothing bore mute evidence that the egg-brigade had singled him
out as their target.
The mob did not come into the house; so after a few temporary
adjustments an altar call was given and seven came to the altar, among
whom were old Mr. Stephenson and Charley Moss.
On the next day rumors flew thick and fast. The wildest stories were
told. Some heard that the evangelist was killed, and great excitement
stirred the whole community. That night some were too much afraid
to go, others went out of sheer curiosity, while one partisan of the
evangelist formed a band of men in favor of him, and they sent word
both to the evangelist and to the mob leader that they would be on
hand that night to protect the preacher. Needless to say everything
was perfectly quiet and the meeting closed without further
disturbance.
The last night Evangelist Monteith preached on The Judgment Day, and
he pictured the doom of sinners until the stillness of death pervaded
the room. Great conviction rested upon the people. At the altar call
several went forward and found glorious peace at the foot of the
cross.
The last good-bys were said with eyes brimming with tears.
"I shall see you again, God willing," said the evangelist, and the
meeting closed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE BABEL OF TONGUES
It is not every town that can boast of such a religious commotion as
Bethany had during the next three weeks. Rumors of a strange people
floated in from Piketon and Shenandoah, rumors of a strange doctrine,
a new religion, a really strenuous religion that had left the old
conventional churches high and dry in their formality. The members
of the band who were holding the meeting could speak in "tongues,"
"unknown tongues" at that. And the demonstrations were wonderful. Then
the news came that they were coming to Bethany.
They came. There was a band of six--two ministers, their wives, and
two helpers. They rented the empty store building owned by Mayor
Hempstead and began. The scenes enacted at the meeting were well-nigh
indescribable. Robert Davis attended one night, two weeks after the
meeting had begun, and he said to Mary when he got home:
"Mary, I never saw such demonstrations in all my life before. Would
you believe it if I should tell you that I stood in front of the front
row of seats about ten feet from the platform and that I could not
hear a word that those on the platform were singing? It is a fact.
The altar extended between the seats and platform and the seekers and
those talking to them were making such a noise that the singing could
no longer be heard.
"Why did they make so much noise?" asked Mary.
"I do not know," replied Robert, "they seemed very much in earnest.
Let me tell you something more. I saw young women jiggle and jerk
all over until their hair was all thrown down, and their clothing
disarranged. Two or three men were running about on the platform as
if they were mad, others danced more gracefully. One or two were
bellowing. There were noises that were indescribable, screeches,
howls, yells, and several gibbering syllables that no one understood.
Some were shaking all over, some were lying prone and stiff, some were
falling down into various attitudes. Why, Mary, it was simply awful.
You would never dream of sane people doing such things."
Next morning Kate Newby came over. She came in dancing and talking in
the "unknown tongue."
"Oh, I have got it, I have got it," she exclaimed.
"You have got what?" asked Robert.
"I have got the Holy Ghost, I have the 'tongues,' hallelujah!" shouted
Kate.
"What has it done for you?" asked Mary.
"Oh, I have got it, I've got it!" was all the reply Kate would make.
"Did you make a complete consecration to God? Did you seek Him for the
cleansing power? Were you brought near to Him? Was your heart brought
very humble and yielding to God? Tell me how you prayed and what your
faith took in," said Robert.
"I have got it, I have got it," was all Kate could say about her new
experience. She seemed to be very happy, yet she looked as if she were
in a tremendous strain and lines were drawn in her face which denoted
care and anxiety.
"My dear, did you come to the Lord for more of His grace?" asked Mary.
"If so, we have a sure promise, but what is this 'tongues' that you
have received?"
"That is proof that I have the Holy Ghost," said Kate. "Don't you
know that the apostles spoke in tongues?" But Kate did not know the
theology of the new religion very well.
Robert Davis was determined to know the theological basis of the new
outburst, if it had any; so he went to see the ministers and asked
them for their doctrinal belief.
"Very well, sir, sit down," replied one of the ministers.
"The first Scripture text is a prediction by Christ (Mark 16:17):
'They shall speak with new tongues.' The second is where the prophecy
was fulfilled (Acts 2:4): 'And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance.' Next in Acts 10:46: 'For they heard them speak with
tongues, and magnify God.'
"Now the doctrine is this: everybody must speak in tongues as the
evidence of having received the Holy Spirit. This is the evidence. Do
you have the Holy Ghost? If so, then you have spoken in tongues."
"But," said Robert, "why should one manifestation of the Spirit be any
more of a witness than another manifestation?"
"Oh, you have got to get the 'tongues,'" replied the preacher. "Come
tonight and seek the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!"
But Robert noticed a peculiar accent to this "hallelujah," and
also that every one present seemed to be moved by one dominating,
overwhelming spirit or power. Among these people there seemed to be
more seeking for something to exhilarate them than seeking the face
of God for more grace and love. There was an amazing brazenness about
most of those who had the "tongues," an air of superiority, a sort of
spiritual pride that disgusted him. When he attempted to reason with
them he found them unreasonably impervious to argument or logic. He
finally concluded that the doctrine was based on a false claim, a
misconception of Scripture.
"No wonder," he said to Mary when he got home, "that these people have
gone far beyond the line of reasonableness, when one considers that
law of physics which says that the reaction goes about as far as the
action. The truth is, Mary, many churches have become so formal and
dead that the cry of mankind is for life, freedom, spiritual power,
spiritual joy, spiritual victory. No wonder the pendulum has swung
over to the other extreme. The right place is in the middle, between
these two extremes. I believe we should go over and see Kate Newby."
Kate Newby had yielded herself fully to the new religious idea. Kate
was emotional. When a girl she was easily mesmerized and always took
everything that was going, diseases and all. However, she was a good
woman, and true, and conscientious. During the week after she got her
new experience she had dreams and visions, spoke in tongues, read the
Bible, shouted at every meeting, danced, and became a willing worker.
Along toward the end of the week she began to feel depressed. A
stray thought or two forced its way into her excited brain as to the
propriety of some of the demonstrations going on. There were some
extremes which her soul could not approve. She began to pray earnestly
for divine guidance. She remembered her excursion into the wilds of
false religion, into the Christian Science delusion.
Kate was somewhat in this frame of mind when Robert Davis and Mary
went over to visit her. At once she asked Robert what he thought of
the "tongues."
"Kate," answered Robert, "if the Bible says that speaking in a tongue
is the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit it is plain that all
should have that evidence. But listen, Kate, are you ready to believe
that for all these years, yes for centuries back, God's children have
not had the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Can you believe that D.L.
Moody and John Wesley and George Whitefield and men like them did not
have the Spirit?"
"Why, I never thought of that, Robert," said Kate, "it does not look
reasonable, does it?"
"Let us note, Kate," he continued, "that the Bible nowhere says or
intimates that speaking in tongues is the essential evidence of the
reception of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is a gift of the
Spirit. Paul asks, 'Do all speak with tongues?' (1 Cor. 12:30). The
inference is plain that he did not think they did. These gifts are
distributed to advantage, being given to every man as God wills (1
Cor. 12:4-11). The idea that speaking in tongues is the essential
evidence of the reception of the Holy Spirit is chiefly responsible
for the fanatical extremism that these folks exhibit. Why, Kate Newby,
you know that this is not New Testament Christianity, this wild,
riotous, noisy thing! It cannot be.
"You see, when one decides that he must speak in tongues as the
evidence of the Holy Spirit's baptism, he becomes so eager to do
so that he often receives a mental or spiritual deception which he
considers the real evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism."
"I am beginning to see the deception of it," said Kate. "Yesterday,
I believe the good Spirit of God was talking to me. I felt that
something was wrong. While I professed to be very happy, still there
was a feeling that I was not right after all. But I thrust the thought
aside as not coming from God and held on. But, honestly, I am not
happy. I did not consecrate. I just fell in with the spirit of the
meeting and got the 'tongues' in a few moments. I doubt if God had any
connection with it at all."
The next day the town marshall was called to the home of Mrs. Jane
Smith. She had embraced the new religion and was losing her mind. The
new teaching had so upset her that her weak mind could not stand the
strain. She was taken to the asylum, where she remains to this day.
When Kate Newby heard of this she became more convinced that there was
something wrong with the theory and she thoroughly renounced it.
The "tongues" meeting left Bethany in the worst spiritual condition
that town had ever been in. Families were torn apart, many persons
became skeptics, and there were debates, and arguments, and violent
clashes almost daily.
It remained in this condition until the time when Evangelist Monteith
began his second revival the next year.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A MODEL CHURCH ESTABLISHED
Jesus Christ brought the grandest conception of human brotherhood that
the world has ever heard. He intended to create a perfect society,
and to establish principles of social justice in the earth. He planned
that sin, with its accompanying maladjustments, should be destroyed
and that man should live in harmony with man and with the infinite
Creator. Nothing less than the transformation of society was His goal.
His plan of rejuvenation was based on the truth that all men are of
one blood, created by one God, whose children they all are by virtue
of that creation. All should have equal claims upon His mercy,
goodness, and love, and upon the material blessings which the earth
affords. Divisions into rank, classes, and strata are not the will
of God. Jesus put all on one common level when He invited all to come
unto Him and rest, when He said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out" (John 6:37).
This work of reforming society goes on like yeast working in dough,
particle by particle, a little at a time, but at an accelerating rate.
At first there were the twelve apostles and a few others. By and by
there were more. But always and ever Christ carries on His great work
through His people. First one man is enlightened and saved; he then
becomes a missionary to enlighten others. They in turn lead others to
Jesus until there are enough to establish a congregation of the church
of God at whatever point they live. This local congregation becomes
then, a model in miniature of what society would be if all were
Christians. Vast responsibilities rest upon a local congregation. They
represent God. They show forth the power of God and exhibit to the
world the blessed state of the saved. They are responsible to make
their society attractive, so that sinners may be convicted of their
lack and be persuaded to become members of it. The next several months
of our narrative embraces the time when God raised up a church, a
society of the saved, in Bethany.
One year after the "tongues" revival, Evangelist Monteith began the
second revival of the church of God in Bethany. He was accompanied by
three helpers. Robert Davis and Mary were sanctified wholly. So
also was Jake Newby and Kate, old Mr. Stephenson and Charley Moss.
Thirty-five were converted, and twelve besides the ones named were
sanctified. Mrs. Thomas Jones was healed of tuberculosis and Dr.
Horton, who had been her physician for three years, met her one day
and was much surprised at her appearance.
"Why, Mrs. Jones, whatever has happened to you?" he said, "you look so
well."
"Hadn't you heard about my healing, Doctor?" she replied pleasantly.
"At the meeting recently the Lord touched my body with His healing
power and I do not cough any more, the fever is gone, and I am gaining
two pounds a week."
"My, if you folks keep on I will starve to death practicing medicine,"
said the Doctor.
"Probably we shall not spend money for drugs, Doctor, but there will
still be things you can do for us," said Mrs. Jones. "We are still
under physical laws and your knowledge will be of great help to us in
keeping well."
In the advertising matter which Robert Davis published at the
beginning of the second revival he publicly repudiated Mormonism,
Russell's "No-hell-ism," Adventism, and announced that the meeting
was under the auspices of the church of God. The meeting itself was
so sane, yet so spiritual, that it commended itself to every one who
attended. There were no excesses, and everything was done decently and
in order.
On Sunday, the last day of the meeting, the evangelist preached on
"The Church, the House of God," and in the afternoon he preached on
"The Church, Its Divine Ordinances," after which thirty-nine were
baptized in the river which flowed close by. The minister stood on the
banks and said:
"We have met here this beautiful afternoon, friends, to administer the
ordinance of baptism. Jesus commanded His ministers in Matt. 28:19
and 20--'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.' We gladly
obey the commands of our great Redeemer.
"Baptism does not save the sinner, but it is the answer of a good
conscience, as Peter 3:21 says. Baptism represents our death to sin
and our resurrection to righteousness. As Paul, the great apostle
says: 'Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from
the dead.' The whole idea of baptism is beautifully pictured in Romans
6:3, 4, 'Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him
by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life.'
"Once these dear ones were dead in sins, but through repentance
and faith they now are saved. They are, therefore, fit subjects for
baptism."
It was a very solemn occasion. A holy awe covered the crowd, a holy
atmosphere was prevalent among the people. One by one the minister
led the candidates down into the typical grave of water and when they
arose out of the water there were praises and thanks given unto Him
who had loved them and washed them from sin in His own blood. So
affecting was this scene that three persons asked for prayer that they
might be saved.
At 6:00 P.M. the ordinances of feet-washing and the Lord's Supper were
celebrated. When the congregation was assembled the minister said:
"Jesus, on the night of His betrayal, ate the last Passover supper
in the upper room with His disciples. Before this supper was ended
He took a towel and washed the disciples' feet, and said: 'If I then,
your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one
another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as
I have done unto you ... If ye know these things, happy are ye if
ye do them' (John 13:14, 15, 17). We shall follow Jesus in this
ordinance. It symbolizes true Christian humility and service one to
another. It symbolizes one of the most tender relationships one person
can hold with another, that of mutual helpfulness in little things. A
very deep lesson it teaches, one that has not been very well learned
by Christians yet."
Then they separated, the men going to one place, the women to another,
and participated in the blessed ordinance.
Afterward, they assembled for the Lord's Supper in remembrance of
Christ's death for them.
The effects of this meeting on the people of the town were profound.
Some wondered, some scoffed, some were deeply convicted, but many were
stirred to the point of discussion and earnest Bible-searching to see
if these things were so. Mr. Johnson, the bookstore man, sold more
Bibles the next month after the revival than he had in the whole
previous year.
The congregation raised up began at once to lay plans for a suitable
church-building. A lot was donated by one of the new converts, and
many volunteered their services on the new building that was to be
erected.
The zeal of the church led them to hold meetings in the neighborhood
surroundings, one of which was held in the neighborhood of the
Fairmount School, where the debates had taken place. Peter Newby had
spent considerable time in Bible study since those debates, but what
his conclusions were, no one knew. One Sunday the church announced an
all-day meeting and basket dinner in a grove near Peter's house. There
were many present, but one person, whose eye glistened with the fire
of energy, was conspicuous.
"Why, there is old Peter Newby," said Mary to Robert, and they ran
over and greeted him cordially.
The evening was given over to a testimony and experience meeting. Many
testified to full salvation. It was to the surprise of Robert and Mary
Davis, as well as the others, when Peter Newby arose and said:
"Friends, let me tell you something," and he looked around in that
same quizzical way and poised his head as he used to do. "I am
convinced." And he stopped again. Everybody listened most attentively.
"I fought Bob Davis over there ever since he came into this
neighborhood. I fought holiness. I fought divine healing. I fought
the church of God. I really thought, friends, that the Bible said, 'He
that saith he liveth and sinneth not is a liar and the truth is not in
him.' But I never found it." And the old man stopped again.
"I have watched this church of God come up in this neighborhood, and
I must confess it has done more for this community than anything
that has ever happened to it since I have been here. It has lifted
up several of my neighbors out of sin. It has brought peace to many
homes.
"I am sorry that I fought this work. God forgive me. I was wrong and I
was stubborn. But I know now that if a man is a Christian he will not
commit sin."
It was almost overwhelming to Robert and Mary Davis. Tears of joy
flowed down their faces. They ran over to old Peter, grasped his arm,
and said, "God bless you, Brother Newby, we knew you were honest at
heart."
That day Jake Newby recovered the confidence he used to have in his
father.
These were the beginnings of the church at Bethany, the church of
God. A church-house was built and the church was organized by the Holy
Spirit into a working body of saints. Robert Davis soon afterward felt
the inspiration to teach and exhort and he was much used in this way.
By and by he preached occasionally until his gifts were recognized by
the church through the laying on of the hands of the ministry.
There was a true catholicity of spirit in this congregation which
caused them to make all Christians feel at home there. They maintained
unity by keeping close to God. Their Sunday-school soon was the
largest in the town. Three missionaries went from it to foreign,
heathen lands, and colporteurs carried the literature of the church
into every home in the town. The reputation of the church spread far
and wide. It became noted for the honesty and humility of its members.
The business men of the town had the utmost confidence in the church.
It became the greatest power for righteousness in the town, and
every one came to look upon it as the living exponent of the best and
highest in civic life and in social uplift as well as in religion.
Zion became a praise in the earth, as the prophet had said.
The events narrated occurred many years ago. Last summer there was a
reunion of the Davis family in the old home at Bethany. One son had
become a minister in the church, the other was the editor of the local
newspaper. One daughter was home on a furlough from China, while the
other was married to a Christian brother of the town. Robert Davis, in
the meantime, had preached the whole gospel. He had been instrumental
in raising up several congregations.
"Dad, what is the most interesting experience you ever had in your
life?" asked Marie one day.
"The most important experience of my life occurred right here, my
girl, when Janet was a baby," he replied. "Here is where your mother
and I first became seekers. Here I debated for the truth before I
fully understood it, but I felt it was essential to stand up for what
I knew was truth. Here your mother was healed when life seemed almost
gone and the last ray of hope had died in the gathering darkness. Here
I first learned of the church of God. Here that good religious paper
first came to my notice, bringing rays of light to my mind and soul.
"Those were the beginnings, humble ones indeed, but they were the
beginnings of my life of service. My days are about over. My work is
about done. My eyes are dim, and my strength is failing. My race will
soon be over. I have seen the church in Bethany grow into the place of
influence it now has, from the very humblest beginnings. I have seen
thousands flee to the cross of Jesus for mercy and pardon, and I have
heard the shouts of hundreds that have been sanctified wholly. And I
have seen many, many sick persons healed.
"My children, be true to God, be true to the cause of truth. Carry
these precious truths to the next generation, unadulterated, as pure
as they come from the Bible. Invest your all in God's cause; you will
receive a hundredfold now and hereafter.
"May you ever champion the cause of truth which Jesus Christ came to
establish. The church He built shall stand till the mighty Gabriel
declares that time shall be no longer, till the judgment-day comes,
yea, and afterward she shall live in the heaven of heavens eternally
with her founder and Lord.