Pentecostal Possibilities or "The Story of My Life"
by Milton Lorenzo (M. L.) Haney
CHAPTER 55
Second and Third Evangelistic Years
The campaign of the second year opened at Keota, Iowa, October 27, 1876, where I was an utter stranger, but met with precious saints who greatly loved our Lord. As the meeting went forward with fearful power and the preaching of holiness was bringing its old-time results, lying tongues were let loose for a season. Some one, who claimed to know what he affirmed, said, "The evangelist had gone crazy on holiness and had been three years in an insane asylum in Jacksonville, Ills., and getting away from his keepers had run off to Keota, Iowa." On hearing this I responded, "Well, if that is so let us praise the Lord that he has got out!" Another declared I "had two wives," and a third, after I had given the testimony of my wife to holiness, said I "had no wife." While brethren were collecting money to help support my family a fourth messenger of Satan, who claimed to know me well, "knew me to be a very wealthy man, having money in all the banks of the country!" Up to that time I had never had one nickel in any bank on earth.
To none of these statements did I give my attention, nor attempt a word of explanation, but went on praising the Lord. Nor should they be mentioned here, but to let others know, when thus assailed, that they should "not be troubled as though some strange thing had happened unto them."
In this second year we held thirty-three distinct meetings in Illinois and Iowa, involving above 600 services. In some of these we had severe battles, in others, smooth sailing; but there were many new names in the book of life and some hundreds of God's children testifying to the all cleansing blood.
The third year began with a meeting at Augusta, Ills., October 30, 1877, which closed November 18 with meager results and a salary of $4.00!
The most marked display of Divine power in response to the prayer of faith that year was at Gridley, Ills. The Pastor, Rev. J. Kern, and his saintly wife were in the experience of holiness and greatly tried with the death which reigned at Gridley. It did seem among the most discouraging of all undertakings. After counsel and prayer it was decided to persist in a series of Bible readings on faith. The class leader and others were restless, insisting that I should preach as they "could read the Bible after I was gone." Our group was very small, but they were of God's elect and yielded to no discouragements. One afternoon, after days of waiting, they were led to combine in the prayer, that within the compass of five miles, God should fearfully convict every unsaved soul! This leading was out of the ordinary line, but proved to be of God. Some of our number, at least, left that service of prayer with a deep inward assurance that we had the answer! The church building heretofore so nearly empty, now became crowded, and such throngs of awakened people, filled with the arrows of God, we have but rarely seen in fifty years!!! From one to three days after that service of prayer, a dear brother came thirty miles to the meeting and missing connection was compelled to walk the latter part of his journey. On arriving he told us that five miles out a large number of people were gathered at a country store, and "they looked as though called to the judgment;" adding, "Bro. Haney they are all under fearful conviction." Personally, I shall believe, till God shows me otherwise, that not one unsaved man or woman, in that territory, was left without direct conviction by the Spirit of God. In this case, none needed to be sought after or persuaded; but awakened people walked from one to six miles, when the mud was so deep it was difficult for a horse to wade through it, to get the privilege of kneeling at an altar of prayer!
What about the fearful loss of that phase of faith for Divine conviction, on impenitent men in these past thirty years? Would it not be well in hundreds of instances for the ministers to stop preaching and summon; the elect to pray, till this lost power is restored, and real Pentecost returns? How often, by substituting our plan and efforts at preaching for the Holy Ghost, we mourn defeat and seem not to know the cause!
During this year I was a factor in thirty-nine distinct meetings, involving near seven hundred services.
At Lexington, Ills., the M. E. Church was closed against me at the end of the third day, by a prominent brother, who would not have holiness preached there! I had sworn to preach it, as a Methodist preacher, and he shut me out for keeping my oath!!! Yet we keep on repeating the statement that "all our people believe in holiness."
Eight out of thirty-nine meetings were held in Iowa, and in each of these we had victory.
The Illinois camp meetings this year at Hillsboro. Plymouth, Greenville and Fulton County were seasons of great and gracious power and many are now in Heaven who found God in this year of Divine outpouring.