Pentecostal Possibilities or "The Story of My Life"
by Milton Lorenzo (M. L.) Haney
CHAPTER 12
A Striking Miracle
Father Lewis was an old local preacher, who in younger years had been an active worker. He was highly prized as a man of sterling integrity and trusted by his brethren. He was born and reared on the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania, and recognized as an old time Methodist. He now lived two miles north of Amboy, Ills., having moved with his family to this State. For many years his house was a preaching place in Pennsylvania. His daughter, Lurena, was wondrously converted when a child of seven years, and both parents testified to me that she had walked with God from that time on. When she was at the age of sixteen years, the junior preacher on the circuit had preached, and the class meeting followed. It was in cold weather, and heat was furnished from a large fireplace. That day the fire had been made with hickory wood, which had been largely consumed, leaving a bed of coals with blue flames coming up as from hard coal. As the class proceeded, Father Lewis had gone near the fireplace and was listening to the testimony given by his classmates. The minister led the class that day, and on reaching Lurena he asked her to speak. She gave in her testimony and was so moved while speaking that she began to shout the praises of God, as was more common then than now. With that she stepped out from her place, with face and hands uplifted, making a backward movement toward the fire. Her father stood between her and the fire, and the preacher was sure Father Lewis would protect her from all danger. But as she approached him he stepped out of her way and she went backward onto that pile of coals. Four persons stated to me they saw the blue flames come up both sides of her head! Father Lewis made no motion to rescue her, but the preacher sprang forward and violently drew her out. Her arms were outstretched, and as she was drawn from the fire one arm caught under an old fashioned andiron, which was red hot, and drew it clear out on the hearth! and there was not the smell of fire on her person nor garments!!! Not a hair on her head was hurt. The minister was tremendously moved, and when the child was rescued he turned to her father, saying with excited tone of voice: "Why did you not take your child out of the fire?" And Father Lewis answered: "I thought if God had put her there He could preserve her, and if she was a hypocrite, let her burn!"
I have aimed at an exact recital of what occurred, as given to me by four reputable Christian people who were eye witnesses to it all. These were Father and Mother Lewis, and the two Brother Hales, all of whom were then above fifty years old, and members of the church of which I was the pastor. I seriously regret that I did not procure their written statements to the above facts, which ought to have been done, but it is too late! There are a few persons still living who heard these statements, as I did; but the eye witnesses are not here, as the occurrence took place fully eighty years ago. "Aunt Reney," as she was called in after years, had the confidence of the whole people as a superior Christian, and was a great power for good when I knew her. When she prayed, saints and sinners gave attention, and I found her one of my best helpers. Her godly life was a special inspiration to my early ministry. I feel I should rescue this marvelous occurrence of God's grace and power, from oblivion, with the hope that some of His doubting children might be led to see that the days of miracles are not past.