Pentecostal Possibilities or "The Story of My Life"
by Milton Lorenzo (M. L.) Haney
CHAPTER 45
Some Short Meetings
After the great meeting at Williamsville, Ills., several short meetings were held on the Chicago & Alton R. R., where God's arm was uncovered, but not on so wide a scale. The services at Elkhart met with opposition, but the Mighty to Save was with us. A Mrs. Broadwell; for whose husband the town of Broadwell was named, had been driven by her soul hunger into the Williamsville meeting, and, among the first things, sought counsel of me as to how her husband could be saved. It is not unusual, when the Holy Spirit is pressing God's children into the fountain, that some other power suddenly wakes them up concerning the salvation of some other souls! So I said to her: "Sister Broadwell, if I could be in your place I would drop the case of my husband, for a time, and give my whole attention to my own soul." She was surprised at my counsel, but followed it without delay. She was a superior woman, and a leader in society, and such generally have a difficult time to find the Lord. I explained to her, that the sacrifice of all to God would have to precede victory, but assured her that was the key to soul liberty, which would be given her of God. I said: "Let no power stop you till you have reached the bottom of your own heart, and every thread is at Jesus' feet. When there, give one look at Him, as your present, all-sufficient, Almighty Saviour from all sin, and He will make you a completely holy woman. Then go home and live that out before your husband, and when he is in the best mood and the Holy Spirit leads, tell him of the glory that fills, and thrills, you, and I believe that will bring him to Christ." She had insisted he was a wonderfully good man, in his outer life, and a good husband, but she was satisfied he had never been born of God. He was a member of the so-called Christian Church, and was resting his soul's salvation on having complied with Christian ordinances. She had been truly born of God, but felt sure that the new life from God had never come into his soul. I think the battle with her continued for days, but victory came, and she was clearly, and wonderfully, sanctified.
On a subsequent Saturday night, I opened the meeting at Elkhart, four miles from their town, and, while taking my text, saw Mrs. Broadwell enter the door, followed by a gentleman, whom I supposed to be her husband. He gave earnest attention to the preaching, and the hunger of his soul was apparent. Sabbath morning they were there again, and having no opening for an after meeting, I announced a service at 2 P. M. The house was well filled, and after a short Bible reading I called to prayer, watching Broadwell, at the same time. We had not proceeded far till Broadwell, standing straight upon his knees, said with a loud voice: "There is no use; I will give up to God!" And instantly he sprang to his feet, praising God with a loud voice, and went through the crowd shaking hands and asking all to come to Christ! When opportunity was given he gave in substance the following testimony: "When my wife came home from Williamsville, I saw she had a wonderful spirit. She did not say very much, but every time I came near her, I felt she had something I had not. This made me so uneasy that I felt I could not stand it any longer, and made up my mind to come to this meeting and give my heart to God. And oh, He has saved my soul. Now, I know for myself there is a reality in this great gospel salvation!" Mrs. Broadwell might have cried, and prayed, through the years for her husband, and died without seeing him saved; but giving herself wholly to God, and being filled with the Holy Ghost broke his heart of stone. How many wives, how many husbands, how many parents, and how many children are in like condition? If you would save others, brother get fully saved yourself! Jesus knew well, the world would never believe on Him unless His people were really sanctified. See John, 17th chapter.
In the audience at this meeting, day and night, there was an elect lady of about sixty years a devoted Presbyterian. I preached at night largely to sinners, in each case giving a call to sinners for pardon, and believers for holiness, but in the day meeting I was with great persistence insisting on the church being holy. It was a difficult field, and to reach the greatest number of dead souls possible, I took the afternoon meetings to them at their houses. This elect lady earnestly requested that I hold a meeting at her house. She had commodious rooms, and I was glad to go, but passing the depot on the way, I saw a large group, from Williamsville, getting off the cars. I feared their wide-awake, and fiery testimonies, might jostle my Presbyterian sister, but they were on my hands and I was glad to see them.
As the meeting progressed, these people told how wondrously God had blessed them, and I saw the tears start from her eyes and her whole frame quiver. Rising. she said: "Well, if this is what you Methodists call sanctification, I believe I have had it for seven years!" And we had some well rounded up hallelujahs! Seven years preceding this, she had married a man with a family of eight children, one of whom was an idiot of 22 years. The dear girl when in childhood, had been seized with epilepsy, and had fallen into the fire, being badly disfigured. At times she was vicious, and exceedingly disagreeable. Her step-mother found she could not endure her new relation with the grace she had, and, in despair, had fled to God for help. The mountains before her were so high that no early power could enable her to cross them, and, in utter abandonment of hope from any other source, she threw herself, with this unbearable load, on God. She had been taught she never could be wholly sanctified till death, but she must be fully saved or sink, and the Lord fully saved her. She knew something wonderful had occurred, which gave her a faith which held like an anchor, and no storm had shaken her inmost calm for seven years, but she did not know it was entire sanctification. Now, coming in contact with these saints of God, she found their experiences, and hers were identical! Subsequently I was going to St. Louis over this road, and a nice-looking young man came and sat down by my side in the car, introducing himself to me as a member of this family. He said: "You were at father's house when I was absent, but I saw you in church afterwards." He was an unconverted man, and this woman was his stepmother, but he began at once to tell me about her, saying very strong things in her favor. Among others he said: "You saw that unfortunate sister of mine, but you could have no idea of what she really is from what you saw of her. My stepmother has cared for her for seven years, and I have not seen her impatient once with her. Mr. Haney, my own mother could not be half as patient toward my sister as is this woman. I believe she is the best woman in the world!" O, if such testimony as that could be truthfully given concerning each soul on the earth, professing this wonderful grace, holiness would soon prevail in every land!