Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
“I’m not do<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g. This is a sovereign act of <strong>the</strong> Spirit ofGod,” I retorted.People advised me to stop it, and I replied that I didn’t start it.They said <strong>the</strong> children would have religious mania, and that wasn’tright. They quizzed me, “Are <strong>the</strong>y better children? Do <strong>the</strong>y do<strong>the</strong>ir homework better? Do <strong>the</strong>y wash <strong>the</strong> dishes for <strong>the</strong>ir parents?Are <strong>the</strong>y more obedient?”“I don’t know,” I’d reply. “All I do know is that it is God who isdo<strong>in</strong>g this.”This went on for a considerable time. The Holy Spirit wonderfullymoved upon my daughter, Rachel. Able to discern <strong>the</strong> differencebetween hypocrisy and reality (and besides, I knew mychild), I knew Rachel wasn’t act<strong>in</strong>g. There was one little five orsix-year-old girl who, at first, did put on an act. She felt left outwhen she saw <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r children down on <strong>the</strong> floor, so she triedto imitate <strong>the</strong>m. Then, God moved on her, and she was no longerpretend<strong>in</strong>g.Bro<strong>the</strong>r Archie, who was co-pastor<strong>in</strong>g with me, objected. “Areyou sure this is from God?” he asked me. “Do you th<strong>in</strong>k Godwould visit children? Do you really believe it is God when <strong>the</strong>children lay prostrate on <strong>the</strong> floor with <strong>the</strong>ir limbs mov<strong>in</strong>g andkick<strong>in</strong>g, and with <strong>the</strong>ir eyes shut, <strong>the</strong>y’re shout<strong>in</strong>g ‘Jesus! Jesus!’?This is upsett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> adults,” he compla<strong>in</strong>ed. “This should notcont<strong>in</strong>ue, as it is <strong>in</strong>terfer<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs. The adults are not<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> it — only <strong>the</strong> children. It must stop!”Archie suggested that a responsible adult, a parent or someoneelse, should sit beside each child <strong>in</strong> every meet<strong>in</strong>g. The moment achild would beg<strong>in</strong> to tremble or beg<strong>in</strong> to move off his or herseat, <strong>the</strong> adult would hold him on <strong>the</strong> seat. At <strong>the</strong> next meet<strong>in</strong>g,however, <strong>the</strong> adults could not keep <strong>the</strong> children on <strong>the</strong>ir seatsand so, it cont<strong>in</strong>ued. There <strong>the</strong>y were, kick<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir legs and shout<strong>in</strong>g,“Jesus!”The next suggestion was to carry <strong>the</strong> children out of <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gand put <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hall at <strong>the</strong> back. It was w<strong>in</strong>ter and our meet<strong>in</strong>groom was heated, but <strong>the</strong> hall <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> back had no heat. Theadults carried <strong>the</strong> children out and deposited <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> almostfreez<strong>in</strong>g hall, th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> cold would br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong>ir senses,122