NOTABLE HAPPENINGS

Deliverance from Death -- Woman Slain Under Power of God -- Mobs and Eggs -- A Red-haired Man Led Out.

Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Ps. 66: 12.

     As long as one is abandoned to the whole will of God nothing can befall him but what is for his good. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." When they get to heaven? Yes, and long before they get there. They see Him in His providences; yea, in the very same circumstances under which most people complain. Thus they make stepping-stones of their stumbling-stones, and rise to grander views of things divine.

     I often had sickness and accident come within an inch of taking my life; yet an unseen hand protected, me until I could rally and go forward in the pathway of duty. A few such incidents I will here relate.

     While in a meeting at Stewardson, Illinois, we slept in the back part of the hall for a while before we were invited home with anyone. Then we rented a house and kept "bachelors' hall" and had the privilege of living for a week on nothing but Irish potatoes and graham mush. We had no sugar, hence often sang. "The Grace of God, it is so sweet." Later, when the meeting broke through, we had more things sent in than we could eat. The revival lasted several months, day and night, and being overworked I was suddenly taken down with hemorrhages and lung fever.

     It was said that I could not live, and friends flocked in to bid me good-bye. Of course, I thought my time had come, as two brothers and three sisters died with consumption at about the same age. The best doctor in town was doing all he could but to no avail. Friends wrote to an adjoining town for a man of faith to come and pray for and anoint me "in the name of the Lord," according to James 5:14. He did so and at midnight, December 16, 1889, I was instantly and miraculously healed. The next morning I dressed and sat by the fire. The doctor was notified that he need not come any more and, thinking I was a corpse, questioned, "Is he dead?" The answer was that I was healed and well. He did not believe it, so came to see me, and after taking my temperature, which had been up to 104 1-2, declared that something miraculous had taken place. The same day I walked up town through snow a foot deep. Some of the business men took hold of me, saying I was crazy and ought to be at home in bed. The fact was, though I looked like a dead man, I began to "amend", and in twelve days had gained seven pounds. The meeting continued and I was at my post again in as good or better shape than before.

     There were other things of importance in this meeting. One of the workers sold himself to a wicked Catholic editor, turned traitor, and the last I saw him he was fearfully haggard. He said he had sinned against the Holy Ghost and was simply awaiting the hour of death to be damned. Such terrific conviction seized hold of Catholics who had come to mock that though it was in the dead of winter they sat and fanned themselves, as if it were August. A large, two-hundred-pound German woman was under great conviction, but declared she would "never go to the altar," and accordingly arose to depart, only to fall full length -- which shook the building. She could not move nor find peace until she consented to be helped to the altar. This enraged the devil, and when we were dismissed we found a mob awaiting us. At this I felt inspired to say, "Just wait a moment and I will find out who it is," and rushed into the midst with a lighted match only to see them scamper in every direction. The next night they were prepared, and as soon as we had started home the eggs began to come thick and fast, but not one took effect until I, looking back, said, "Where are they coming from?" Just then one smashed upon my elbow. I expected, as soon as I reached home, to have a time of cleaning, but could not find a spot. Nevertheless it taught me a lesson to "remember Lot's wife," -- never look back.

     On another occasion the rowdies set in to break up the meeting. I arose to preach and when I took in the situation felt divinely inspired to say, "Now, we are here to do good, and if anybody, great or small, undertakes to disturb this meeting I shall come down and take him by the collar and lead him out." I soon noticed that a red-headed young man was anxious to test my strength. Then very deliberately I walked down the aisle as though going by him and when I came to him said, "You come with me." He made as though he would set himself, but over the seat he went and walked right along. It had a good effect upon the audience and from that time we had good order. It might prove a sad mistake to undertake such a thing again, especially in one's own strength.

     A second narrow escape from death:

     While attending a camp meeting at Terre Haute, Ind., some thirty preachers and workers, including the writer, went to the Wabash river for a bath.

     On this occasion several of us were walking in midstream, but it was so deep we had to stand on tiptoes to successfully keep our heads above water. Finally it became so swift that we had to swim, but the tiptoe strain had given me the cramps and I could not use my lower limbs. Presently I went under for the first time, and then called for help, but there was such splashing and diving that I was not heard. I struggled awhile and went under the second time. By this time the cry was general, "Brother Shelhamer is drowning!" Some stood speechless on the bank, while three or four brave fellows came swimming to my help, one diving underneath and lifting my head and shoulders out of the water until I could get a good breath, but as he swam out from underneath me I went under the third time. As I came up one caught me by the arm, but in the struggle I was swept away from him and down I went the fourth time. When I came up I gasped and caught another breath, only to succumb to the mad current once more. But thanks be to God and those brave boys, that as I came up this time, I was met with an old, sinking boat, which I seized, only as a drowning man could. It sank with me, leaving naught but my head above the water, but it served until some fishermen came to my rescue with a better boat.

     Afterwards we were informed that a number of men had drowned in that same treacherous place. Steamboats had passed up and down the same channel.

     In this battle the great God alone could step in and rob death of his victim. It was only His miraculous power, for generally men never survive after going down the third time. I have heard unsaved men say that all their past sinful record came up before them the first time they went under, but, blessed be God, no such scene came before me during this struggle.

     I seemed to be passing through a dark valley, and though I feared no evil, vet all hope of getting out alive was swept away, until the third time of going down. I was fully expecting to wind up in a watery grave, and the only thing I desired to say was to leave some parting word to be sent home to the little, heartbroken wife.

     Many honest souls are more or less harassed over the thought of sudden death, not because they are unprepared, but because they are fearful lest they fail to accomplish all that they ought to before their departure. It would help them if they could realize that he who is divinely led is immortal until his work is done.

     As I went down the third time one brother cried out, "Lord, help him; Lord, save him," and immediately the darkness overhead vanished, and then a volley of prayers arose from those ashore, as well as from those battling with the mad waters. When I was going down the last time, I could hear the sound of prayer. It was then for the first time that hope revived, and I thought, "How can God let these prayers sink?" From that time on I felt confident that though I was chastened sore, "He had not given me over unto death."

     The devil seemed pleased to keep out of every mind the thought of prayer; he gave consent for me to go to heaven, if he could only stop my getting other souls there. I appreciate life as never before. Since that awful struggle, one day seems fraught with more opportunities for receiving and doing good than did a year before.

     "Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

     "When darkness intercepts the skies,

     And sorrow's waves around me roll,

     And high the storms of trouble rise,

     And half o'erwhelm my sinking soul:

     My soul a sudden calm shall feel,

     And hear a whisper, 'Peace; be still!"