Pentecostal Possibilities or "The Story of My Life"
by Milton Lorenzo (M. L.) Haney
CHAPTER 53
Early Holiness Work and Workers
Among the pronounced holiness preachers in the outbreak of the holiness movement in Central Illinois, were John P. Brooks, J. J. Fleharty, W. A. Spencer and G. I. Bailey; and we were all pastors and knit together like the hearts of Jonathan and David. The opposition at first was light and largely covered. Up to that time open statements by Methodist preachers against the doctrine were unknown. At first the above mentioned group held conventions, between Sabbaths, where the way was open. When no other doors were open, there were five pastorates whose doors stood ajar day and night, so we would all meet in each other's stations and those were the most distinctively precious meetings I have ever been in. My ideal of Christian fellowship was never fully realized till then.
Aside from the public meetings we held one service by ourselves each day, and I am sure I have never known services which equaled these. Divine, unmixed love permeated everything that was said, or thought, or done. It was heaven in a sense we had never known before. Our people would rush together at the altar, and when sanctified, their experiences nearly all were clear, victorious, beautiful. We all had the joyful type of holiness. I do not call up one that was otherwise. My wife for years seemed swimming in a sea of gladness. From this center of light and love, the work widened rapidly, and the above marks accompanied it in every direction Holiness people were so happy day and night that multitudes came to listen to their victorious testimonies and were moved by the glow of Godlight in their faces. Preachers, farmers, mechanics, housekeepers, hired men, mothers, servant girls, all were so enamored with holiness that little else was talked about. We have all seen revival seasons where during the meetings the revival was the one theme; but this went right on, meeting or no meeting. It was wonderful, too, how these wide awake holiness people could find time to work for souls. Whole groups of them went from place to place, and a revival had begun before they were through with the opening service. Young girls were raised up and thrust out into the field who brought many hundreds to Christ. Among these were Eva Axford, a Baptist girl of Macomb, Ill., and Maggie Stambaugh, whose ministries for years were simply glorious. Miss Anna Romack, who came out alone from an unsaved family, and whose profession cost her a home in her father's house, an unpretentious, bashful girl, went forth not knowing whither, and all through these years has been bringing souls to God. Dear Brother Fleharty was a fountain of love. I may never have known so loving a man. What a benediction the very presence of such a minister. I saw him when the blood was applied to his soul, and he could not meet me thereafter without lavishing his love. He came so near the line, one day, between grace and glory that he went beyond it, and we have not seen him since!
Brother G. I. Bailey and wife, who were with us in those early battles, still survive, but are frail. Wherever they have been in all these years it is impossible that those who knew them should have failed to see the likeness of Jesus in them. Brother Spencer broke down utterly by overwork while stationed in Peoria. He was for a time well nigh a nervous wreck from a fourteen weeks' meeting in a church which could not appreciate him. He was restored partially by a trip around the world and afterwards became widely interested in missionary and church extension work. His faith was crippled for years, as compared with his early ministry, when he labored in the advocacy of holiness in the presence of its enemies, but in the latter years of his ministry, especially in connection with dear Bishop Joyce, he was made a glorious power and has gone up on high.
John P. Brooks was probably the ablest of our number and was greatly prized by his brethren. He was able with the pen, as well as in preaching. Bishop Waugh said to me, "I consider Brother Brooks the ablest Conference Secretary in the Methodist Church." He was for years the editor-in-chief of the Banner of Holiness, which for a length of time was among the best and most efficient papers we have had East or West. In the pulpit and through the press there were surely many seals to his ministry. Through all the years he has been true to the doctrine of holiness, and, when clear in its experience a glorious minister. Dr. Jacques was among the earlier professors of this grace and a superior preacher. He was brought into the experience of holiness under the ministry of Sister Phoebe Palmer, and was a devout example of this glorious grace. Prominent as a college teacher, he had not the opportunity of so wide activities in the ministry. He faltered some, when the crest of the first antagonistic wave struck him, and feared to be fully identified with the movement, but I thought him true to the doctrine, till he went to his reward.
Rev. Stephen Brink was brought into the experience after the movement began, and was much more than an ordinary revivalist. At first he became identified with the "Wesleyan Holiness Association," which was our first organization. Its name was afterwards changed to "Western," in view of the fact that people of other churches beside Methodists were brought into its fellowship. Brother Brink came in contact with a man, our brethren had taken in, who never ought to have been one of us; who was erratic in his views, and afterwards made shipwreck of the faith, and separated from our communion. Through this brother's extreme statements, Brother Brink became fearful and retired from the association. In the main he has been very useful and has brought a great many souls to Christ. He never did make holiness a specialty in as high a sense as some of us, but has aimed to be true to the doctrine. When in childhood he joined some of Paul's weak brethren who lived on herbs, and only at intervals, has he ever been able to shake off the practice!
Other Brethren who started with us were tremulous about the rigor of the way and turned aside. Brother L. B. Kent came in later, but has never flinched for fear of man. But few have made more sacrifices for the cause, or been more intent on its advocacy. He has often been misjudged by his brethren, but his life will shine beautifully after the verdict of the Judgment Day! Brother Warrington of the Illinois Conference entered the experience early, and has fought a good fight. He was in the pastorate till his health gave way, but the way was always open in his pastorate for the holiness evangelist, and his people have never doubted that he was a holiness man. He still lives to help shout on the battle. Brother Sinnock of the same Conference was a faithful advocate of holiness for many years, and helped much to advocate it till he left. broken in health, for New Mexico. Sampson Shinn took sides with the movement till he left for glory. Back of the movement, and back of us all, was grand old Peter Akers, one of Methodism's greatest men who stood throughout his ministry as the possessor and defender of this truth. It is a benediction to any good minister to have known such a man.
In the beginning we were aided by the teaching and influence of Dr. and Sister Palmer, of New York, more than by any other Eastern helpers; but a little later on we were greatly helped by the mighty ministers of the National Holiness Association. God only knows the extent of that influence, or what we would have been without it. The ministries of John S. Inskip, and William McDonald, with their helpers, will tell on the work in the West to the end of time. The great Manheim Camp Meeting left its impress so upon me that I never can get over it. Its baptism of fire, with its revelations of God, will mark my soul to all eternity! Their camps in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas, are still going on, and no power in earth or hell can stop them. These men who thus led the battle are not with us now, but God in great goodness is filling their places with mighty ministers, and the end is not yet.
The third President of the National Association, Rev. C. J. Fowler, fills well, and wonderfully, the place of his predecessors. He combines the logic of McDonald, with the fire and force of Inskip, in a marvelous degree. It may be seriously doubted whether any member of the National Association, living or dead, has ever excelled him in depths of Divine knowledge, or devotion to the work of God. This statement is made after years of close heart relation with this man of God.