Mary R. Denman's Testimony

The first time I ever saw this sister, Mrs. Amanda Smith, was in 1870, at a time that I, having a hungry soul, had learned that a party, called "Higher Life Christians," were holding meetings in the Y. M. C. A. rooms in our city.

I went to them to learn if they had something that would suit my case. At the first meeting I heard a brother giving his experience of the rest of faith, God had given him. At once I thought this was just what I wanted. So I followed them to one of their evening meetings, that was held in the Franklin Street Methodist Church.

Early in the meeting a colored woman arose, and began to speak and sing. I was disgusted, that a woman should be allowed to speak, and a colored woman at that, and felt she should be requested to sit down. But soon I became interested in what she was saying, and enjoyed her sweet songs, and at once felt that I wanted the same faith that that woman had.

From that time I sought something of the same kind, and found Dr. Palmer's meeting. Fifteenth Street, New York. There I heard other men and women give their experience, which taught me a great deal.

At last a colored woman, sitting the second seat from me, dressed in plain Quaker dress, arose (after a man from Ohio had

spoken and thanked God for the light that had come into his soul during that meeting) and gave thanks to God for His answer to prayer in giving that soul to her in that meeting.

I have often thought since it was my soul that was given to her at that time, for after she sat down I felt I wanted her prayers, and putting by all my prejudice (I had lived in the South many years), in asking a colored person to pray for me, I reached my hand to her and asked her prayers. She turned to me, as I thought, very coldly, and said: "What do you want?"

I had made a more full consecration of myself during that meeting, and now knew just what I wanted, and said, in answer: "I want bodily strength to do God's will." She said, "I will." And for the glory of God, I wish to give my testimony that I have had more bodily strength ever since. I did not know then that this woman was the same one I had heard speak in Franklin Street Church, for at that time she had not given up her irons, and wash tubs, and was dressed in her wash-woman's garb.

When I saw her the third time, it was at Sea Cliff Camp Meeting, when I was glad to tell her of the answer to her prayers for me.

After passing through the ten days' meeting, without receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit (having been brought up an Episcopalian, and not understanding the especial need of a clean heart, and this especial baptism), the dear Lord was very good to me, and came to me in the night with deep questions to my soul, that I could not answer in my own strength, and knowing that Amanda Smith was in the next tent, and had just come in from a late meeting, I called her, and she came in and knelt down beside me, asking what my trouble was. She prayed with me, and made me fully to understand that our Heavenly Father would not ask anything of me that He would not give me strength to do, and that all He wanted of me was to say "I will" to Him.

When I fully understood this, it took all my will power to say "I will" to God, for I knew it was no light thing to do, for it was to be "I will" to Him for the rest of my life. But when the "I will" was said, the power came, and she sang that beautiful hymn,

"'Tis done, the great transaction's done,
I am the Lord's, and He is mine."

I can never tell that great peace that came to my soul at that time, and down in the depths of my soul has remained. The

upper surface may be ruffled, as the ocean often is; but down below the surface the undying peace remains.

Dear reader, I am glad to give my testimony to the power God has given our dear sister, Amanda, to bring souls to Him, and to help them on to keep steady before Him, until He can finish His work of redemption in them. He is no respecter of persons, and is as willing to-day to give the baptism of the Holy Spirit to every soul who will come to Him in lowliness of heart, and ask Him for this blessing, and believe that He will give it. Wait for it. It will surely come, and you will be happy. When done with the up-and-down old Christian life, sinning and repenting, you will look to Jesus, moment by moment, for His guidance, which He will surely give, and then you call say to the Tempter when he comes (for he will never leave us while in the body), in Jesus' own words, "Get thee behind me, Satan." Jesus will open your spiritual vision when He comes in to dwell, and you will recognize the temptations of Satan from the blessed leadings of the Holy Spirit.

Respectfully submitted, praying God's blessing upon these few words.

MARY R. DENMAN, Newark, N. J.