Page:Signswondersgodw0000wood.djvu/121

 nothing with them. I said to my co-workers: “We will never give up, and if they take us out of the tent before we are ready to go, they will take us out dead.” I told them to lead in prayer one after the other, and the God of Elijah would answer.

A sister knelt on the pulpit pale as death, her hands and face raised to heaven, and in a clear ringing voice asked God to save and bless the judgment-bound multitude. A feeling of the awful presence of God began to fall on the people. Another sister followed in prayer, then I arose, and stood before them. I raised my hand in the name of the Lord, and commanded them to listen. I said the Lord had sent me there to do them good, and that I would not leave. until the Lord told me to, when our work was done. I told them the Lord would strike dead the first one that tried to harm us, or to strike us with a dagger. If any tried to kill us the Lord would strike them dead. The power of God fell, - and the fear of God came upon all the multitude. The sweat came on their faces, and they stood like as though in a trance; the men began to take their pipes out of their mouths, and their hats off. The women began to cover up their bare necks and arms with their aprons. They felt they stood naked. and guilty before God. They began to get off the seats, and try to sit down, but some fell and lay like dead. Others stood with their mouths open. One Catholic said that I struck him down, and showed him hell. Tears ran down many faces, through the dirt, leaving streaks. They stood like they were afraid to move, and they all passed out quietly. After that the hoodlum element always respected me. Many would take off their hats when they passed me; but they stoned the people coming and going to the meetings, and threw stones: through and over the tent for some time, till we: got them conquered in the name of the Lord; and the help of the police.

The citizens took it in hand, and went after the police for not doing their duty, for they were afraid of the mob element. The chief of the police came and told me I should be protected, if he had to send out the whole police force: The soldiers at Jefferson Barracks said we were doing a great work, and if the police would not protect me they would.

The ground near our tent had always been used by the hoodlum element from all parts of the city. They would come together on Sabbath and bring kegs of beer. Several companies