A MARVELLOUS STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 191, 3 August 1908, Page 4

A MARVELLOUS STORY.

WU.NDEKFUL CUKES. IN ANSWER TO PliAYKli AXI) A\UL\TL\U. [We are asked lo publish the following, which tells of happenings that are nothing short of remarkable, it is written by a Cleorge Soltau, wuo has recently been on a tour of California.] Sau Francisco befoiv the earthquake had only 1800 Protestant church mem-; bers out of a population of some 400,00'.', and now multitudes have left the city, whose condition is deplorable and pitiable in the extreme through abounding sin and iniquity. Under such circumstances one Iwgins to impure, jfas not God some special witnesses to His power and Presence? Jf these false tongues have led nslr.iy and deceived, where are the genuine facts of Jlis power in salvation? For this is always llis work, and cannot be imitated.

He lias raised up a witness to llis power and truth in the person of a Dl\ Yoakum, who has simply abandoned himself to Cod in the salvation of body and soul of drunkards, consumptives, and insane persons. Thirteen years ago he was himself saved from death (alVr one lung had sloughed away, and the other was half gone) by anointing and laying on of hands, and has ever since been in perfect health with two good sound lungs. Long before that he was most famous for discoveries in the use of X-rays, and had wonderful cures of cancer anil lupus through this treatment. )'ut, as Ik» told me, he had seen far moio wonderful cures in answer to prayer and anointing, .so his apparatus lies locked up and unused, while his rooms are I thronged with patients seeking help ami I prayer.

lie. has a hoiue called I'isgah Home, where he can accommodate between seventy and eighty, and where he takes up the fallen and sick, who need love and care. Every week he takes in fresh cases, picked out of the gutter, and keeps them till they arc on their feet again, whatever may be their condition; and men and women go out saved in soul and body, healed of the disease of sin, and healed of all manner of bodily diseases.

Since the days of Dorothea Trudell, of Switzerland, I suppose there lias been nothing like it. Then, out in the, country, eighteen miles from the city, he has twelve acres of sand, forty feet deep, where he lias accommodation for some scores of consumptive;;, who come to him (many of them) in a dying stata, and in many eases are healed completely, and saved for the, service of the Lord. I have been at four or five, of his meetings in his city quarters, and in both his Homes, liis methods are unlike any I have seen or read of. He disclaims any gift of healing, and merely claims that the Lord loves people just as much now as when lie was on earth, and loves to do things in the, same way as then, if llis disciples will utterly trust Him, and yield themselves fully for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, so as to be the channels of communication of His power and blessing. In every meeting his method of procedure is, after a hymn and a few words of welcome and prayer, is to say how they have met there to help any who are in trouble of mind or body; and, without much more speaking, invites any who have desire to be saved to some right up and kneel at the eha-r in the front. Away they begin to come, some for salvation, some for healing of tin; body. With the utmost tenderness, but with splendid authority, lie brings such as are seeking to Christ, and oxplains to them what lie has ottered io do for them—will they accept His great, love? Faith is ill lively exercise at once, and salvation is given, with a note of praise. An old woman of seventy-two stepped forward tlie first at one meeting, saying. •' 1 lwvc never been saved, and 1 want to bit now." In three minutes she was rejoicing, and many came round to greet and kiss her. While this was going on, several were coming up for healing. In each case he anoints in the name of Hie Lord, two or three Jay on hands, if possible the all'ected part is touched, and after a few words of prayer lie says, "In Jesus' name rise and walk." However crippled the -person may he oil coming forward, 110 one is allowed to help them oil' their knees. With the most splendid daring of faith, lie commands them to rise in the name of Jesus, and they do. I have sen men and women with crooked limbs, rheumatic joints of years' standing, people carried up unable to walk and hardly to stand, rise ami walk without help, and ivithout crutches or slick with which they had come up. A man eauie tottering up so full of liipior that he could not steady himself, and lie had to be helped, but he was seeking deliverance. He had to he helped to his knees, ami there he confessed his sills. Then the doctor rebuked (lie demon in liiin, and commanded it In leave him in Jesus' name. Tli.'ii he gave Ilim a cup of cold water in Hie name of Jesus, and bade him arise, saved, delivered, pardoned, with the intoxication gone. He rose, his face shone, ho shook hands, the doctor's loving arms were thrown round hiin, he gave him the kiss of love and affection, and the man walked back to the further end of the room without falter or stagger, sobered and saved, and, after shaking liands with some of his old friends whom he found there, went hack to his work. I hare seen that take place in several cases, and have conversed with many more, who have testified to the suddenness, fulness, and reality of the salvation, aii'l wlw are walking with fiod. The men know Dr. Yoakum—know his heart is open to them, llis Home open (in.v hour of the day or night to them, for food or shelter. His arms go round any man the worse for liquor, however drunk or dirty lie may be, with affectionate greetings, "Oh, my son, my son! ITowglad fam to see you! Praise flod.you arc here for Ilim to save and bless you!" No wonder, with such a greeting, the man's heart is touched. Twice during a meal a drunken man made his way in; the eating was immediately stopped; all heads were bowed in prayer, and in three minutes the newcomer would be sitting among 11s, sharing the meal and saved! This is " newness of life."

There arc a hundred girls waiting to conic to liim from evil resorts when ? he ean receive them, but as yet he has ■no accommodation for such. Every ' Sunday morning his saved drunkards go with him and hunt up all the men the.v can find, bring them straight out to Pisgah Home, feed them, wash them, ' clothe them if necessary, and then deal with them in the afternoon meeting, when they will come forward, perhaps j before four hundred people, and and find the Lord. One Saturday night

late a man was brought up in the first stages of delirium tremens: he was prayed with, given the cup of cold water iii the name of the Lord, and next morning a bi*antifnl testimony at 7 o'clock breakfast., of how be had been delivered—nil the drink trouble gone, his heart rejoicing in Jesus, and he another man, to walk in '"newness of life/ 5 How his companions, who had been through "th« same thing, shouted the praises of the Lord! I talked with a woman who had beon healed of goitre in a moment, the swelliug vanishing, and her husband converted as a consequence. Just now he and she

are spending his two months' vacatioi: in taking Ho Gospel to the coiisnniplives who niv thronging the border line of Texas, being forbidden to go into Mexico, and us just living in tents and shucks, with 110 one to care for them. 'J liev ;ue having conversations all d.n long in ihe visiting them from tent to tent and telling them of the Consumptives' Convention Unit the doctor has called lor this month ami next, when any who are in the last stages may come into camp free, and be eared for, prayed for, led to Christ, aud, maybe, healed. Three weeks ago I saw a man brought up in the ambulance, carried into the meeting, and carried to a chair, in the last stages, apparently, of consumption in the lower part of tiic body. The (loctor\ iaee just shone as he. saw a good i;kc for his Kurd. When the time came, the man was helped forward, knell, was anointed, ha mis laid on him, anil lie was bidden In arise in .Icsus' name. Jie wailed ;i ii'w moments. then rose wilhinit help, and walked to his chair. I

1 watched his face for an hour. (.iradually (lie death pallor began to disperse, and a pink Hush slide over his countenance. An hour afterwards he was walking about the garden with me, not having walked for a year. The ambulance was sent away, and he stayed 011 there, and when I enquired about him, he was waiting at table and taking his share in tiie household work, which is entirely done by 'tin* inmates, is not this "newness of life"'; £