"It was in May, 1883. I was a mere boy and had been preaching only two months. A lumber boss had invited me into the wilds of the Muskoko country, in Ontario, Canada, to hold a few meetings, in hopes that his men would be reached.

"An upper room in a boarding house was secured and seated. On the first night the room was filled, largely with rough men. One man, who sat near the door, evidently decided to break up the meeting. He kept up a continual pounding on the floor with his feet and with a chair. He talked out loud, laughed and made a general disturbance. Others of the same element joined with him, and it seemed for a time as though the meeting would be broken up. In desperation, I fell on my knees and committed the whole matter to the Lord, asking Him to take charge of this man who seemed determined to interfere with the work. As soon as the meeting closed there was almost a stampede, as the men started for the street.

"The next day was spent in fasting and prayer. I knew, that unless God undertook the case no more meetings could be held. As I came toward the building that evening, I saw a company of men talking excitedly, and as I passed into the room little groups of people were whispering. My first thought was, that they were planning to mob me. Imagine my consternation when I was informed that the man who had attempted to break up the meeting the night before had been suddenly killed at half-past five o'clock.

He had taken his ax and had gone to chop down a little sapling, and was found a few moments later at the root of the tree with his head broken. A limb had fallen and struck him in the forehead. Thus did God manifest His power. The people were awed to silence, and the work moved on."

 

From: SIN, THE TELL-TALE By William Edward Shepard, God's Revivalist Press, Ringgold, Young and Channing Sts. Cincinnati, O.

 

 

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