Visiting the Scattered Flock
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the leaders in the fanaticism, and who had greatly deceived and op-
pressed God’s children, came into the meeting, accompanied by the
two women dressed in white linen, with their long black hair hanging
loose about their shoulders. The white linen dresses were to represent
the righteousness of the saints.
I had a message of reproof for them, and while I was speaking, the
foremost of the two men kept his eyes fastened upon me, as mesmerists
had done before. But I had no fear of his mesmeric influence. Strength
was given me from heaven to rise above their satanic power. The
children of God who had been held in bondage began to breathe free
and rejoice in the Lord.
As our meeting progressed, these fanatics sought to rise and speak,
but they could not find opportunity. It was made plain to them that
their presence was not wanted, but they chose to remain. Then Brother
Samuel Rhodes seized the back of the chair in which one of the women
was sitting, and drew her out of the room and across the porch onto the
lawn. Returning to the meeting-room, he drew out the other woman in
the same manner. The two men left the meeting-room, but sought to
return.
As prayer was being offered at the close of the meeting, the second
of the two men came to the door, and began to speak. The door was
closed against him. He opened the door and again began to speak.
Then the power of God fell upon my husband. The color left his
face as he arose from his knees. He lifted his hands before the man,
exclaiming: “The Lord does not want your testimony here. The Lord
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does not want you here to distract and crush His people.”
The power of God filled the room. The man looked terrified, and
stumbled backward through the hall into another room. He staggered
across this room and fell against the wall, then recovered his balance
and found the door out of the house. The presence of the Lord, which
was so painful to the fanatical sinners, impressed with awful solemnity
the company assembled. But after the children of darkness had gone,
a sweet peace from the Lord rested upon our company. After this
meeting the false and wily professors of perfect holiness were never
able to reestablish their power over our brethren.
The experiences of this meeting won us the confidence and fellow-
ship of Brother Butler.