Maria Woodworth-Etter (1885 – 41 years old)
Introduction
This is not an account of one revival, but of many, extending over a period of 45 years (1879-1924), and they are observed in the ministry of Ohio-born evangelist Maria Woodworth-Etter (1844-1924).
Maria was a Pentecostal before there were Pentecostals. That is, she was already preaching and experiencing the message of Pentecost in her services as early as 1883, with all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifested. And this was long before historians began to write about Pentecostals.
► 13 years before the 1896 Shearer Schoolhouse Revival
► 18 years before the 1901 Topeka Outpouring
► 23 years before the 1906 Azusa Street Revival
The baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the accompanying gifts of the Holy Spirit including speaking in tongues, has been a historically documented occurrence throughout Church history (see our post).
The “revivals” that Maria experienced came through protracted meetings, meaning they were planned services that were conducted multiple days in a row, and sometimes extending close to six months in duration, all in one location. Many of these revivals involved two, and at times three, meetings per day, with the meetings occasionally running together.
Summer 1890: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri) shows people “under the power.” The woman standing is probably Maria. This was a common scene in her meetings.
Those “under the power” or “slain in the Spirit” often experienced trances, and while in those trances had visions of seeing both heaven and hell.
No Formal Theological Training
With no formal theological training, Maria often preached extemporaneously, that is, with no notes or prior preparation. She claimed that the Lord would give her a text to preach from, and that the Holy Spirit would take that text and speak through her what He wanted to say.
These are but a few of the locations where Maria conducted meetings, and many of these locations she visited multiple times.
Full Schedule
From the very beginning of her ministry, Maria’s preaching was so effective that there were always churches–from over 8 different denominations–continually contacting her to come and preach. During her first 1 ½ years of ministry she:
► preached 200 sermons.
► held 9 planned evangelistic events (revivals).
► planted 2 churches.
► preached in 22 churches.
► preached in 4 schoolhouses.
By 1889 her accomplishments, outside of souls saved and physical healings, were:
► starting 12 churches.
► building 6 church buildings.
► starting several Sunday Schools.
► bringing up 12 new preachers who became licensed.
The Methodist Church Was Her Inspiration
Though you can’t see it today, the Methodist Church was at one time “on fire,” as Maria testified:
When I was a girl the Methodist church was the most powerful and the most spiritual. The people fell under the power of God, shouted, danced, got healed from diseases and did lots of other things.
Advertisement posted to a telephone pole, announcing the Ottumwa, Iowa, meetings. Note that there were “THREE MEETINGS DAILY” (July 8-30, 1922).
Massive Crowds of Up to 25,000 People
Maria’s meetings got front-page attention in major newspapers, including the New York Times. The number of people that would assemble would reach into the thousands. She frequently used tents, with them being large enough to seat 8,000. Even with a tent that large, there were times when meetings had to be held in the open air. During meetings near Alexandria, Indiana, crowds swelled to 25,000.
This was Maria’s testimony from when she was preaching near Alexandria, Indiana, and this was also common wherever she conducted meetings:
Before I got through the power of God fell on the multitude and took control of about five hundred. Many fell to the ground. Others stood with their faces and hands raised to heaven. The Holy Ghost sat upon them. Others shouted, some talked, others wept aloud. Sinners were converted, and began to testify and praise God. I was overpowered, and carried to my tent.
The outpourings of the Holy Spirit experienced in Maria’s meetings were anticipated, expected, and enjoyed. They led to
► the reviving of hundreds of thousands of cold and lukewarm Christians.
► thousands of ministers who had grown disheartened and discouraged finding fresh life.
► the conversion of an uncountable number. In Anderson, Indiana, alone, during a three-week period, there were between 20-50 that were converted every day (420 – 1,050 conversions).
► the healing of every kind of physical ailment known to man.
► the adding to and strengthening of the local churches.
► the planting of many churches, with churches often beginning with several hundred new converts.
► the raising up of many men and women for ministry.
► the starting of many Sunday Schools.
10,000 people observe baptism near Eads Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Republic – 1889, Front-page story)
Baptism Services Draw Thousands
Typical of baptismal services conducted by Maria, the one held in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1885 drew 12,000 observers to Wildcat Creek to watch 82 people get baptized. A few weeks later 62 more were baptized there.
From those recently baptized, as well as other converts, a new church was started in Kokomo, with 320 members.
Woodworth-Etter tent in Sioux City, Iowa – 1920
Manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s Power
► In some locations, “the power of God was felt for fifty miles around” from where the meetings were being held.
► It wasn’t only in the meetings that the power of God was felt. “Men, women and children were struck down in their homes, in their places of business, on the highways, and lay as dead.”
► All the gifts of the Holy Spirit were manifested (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
► Demons were cast out.
► The gift of healing began to be seen through Maria’s ministry, beginning in 1885, in the Indiana town of Columbia City.
► Physical healings were often verified by medical doctors who were on hand observing.
► It was common to see people overcome by the presence of God, resulting in them losing all physical strength (Daniel 10:7-17; Revelation 1:17). Some refer to this as going “under the power” or being “slain in the Spirit.”
► While people were “under the power” they often went into trances, sometimes lasting from 1 hour to 8 days.
► While in trances, visions of heaven and hell were often experienced. These trances were experienced by many ministers, medical doctors, and lawyers, as well as by simple farmers and children.
► A boy, after having come out of a trance, rose, and began talking with tremendous wisdom and power. As he continued with his exhortation before the crowd, weeping broke out all over the building. This led to the conversion of five hundred, as well as
1) People having deep spiritual experiences;
2) The fear of God falling on the city (Hartford City, Indiana);
3) The police having no work, as the bars were closed, with even barkeepers attending the meetings.
► At times “heavenly music” was heard.
Team Arrested in Framingham, Massachusetts, during meetings on Montwait Ave. (Left to right): Earl W. Clark; Maria Woodworth-Etter; Cyrus B. Fockler – 1913
Maria’s Legal Battles
This is a small sample of the many challenges Maria’s team faced.
► 1913—Framingham, Massachusetts (Montwait Ave.): They were charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. The prosecution’s accusation was that she misled the people by promising physical healings, and then receiving offerings. Following the 4-day trial she was cleared of all charges.
Louis (left) & Carl Romer: Louis had been forcefully removed
from the meeting in Topeka, Kansas
► 1915—Topeka, Kansas (in Garfield Park): A 10-year-old boy (Louis Romer) violated a probate court rule forbidding children under 16 years of age from participating in meetings, as city officials said that it was “too emotional for children.” The boy was forcefully removed from the meeting by the police. The police harassment continued till the meetings were moved across the street, outside the city limits.
► 1917—San Jose, California: They were charged with disturbing the peace. Charges were dropped.
► 1920—Fremont, Nebraska: They were accused of practicing medicine without a license. The case was dismissed.
Center second row: Maria Woodworth-Etter (1914 Petosky, Michigan)
Maria at the Winnebago Indian Reservation – Nebraska (1920)
Persecution
At times severe, the persecutions included these:
► They were pelted with rotten eggs and other objects while preaching.
► The meetings often made it to the front pages of major newspapers in the United States. Reporters were alternately kind and savagely hostile to Maria’s ministry.
► Two doctors tried to get Maria committed to an insane asylum. The charges were dismissed by the judge.
► They were accused of using hypnosis to send people into trances.
► When challenged to a public debate, Maria, though not a theologian, reluctantly accepted. Her tactic for rebuttal involved the request to have those saved during her meeting to stand—and 200 stood. She then asked those who had been healed in her meetings to stand, and 50 stood. The results seemed to have silenced the opposition.
500-seat Woodworth-Etter Tabernacle in Indianapolis, Indiana (built in 1918)
Legacy
Five of Maria’s six children didn’t reach adulthood. Lizzy, the oldest, passed away from injuries sustained in a bus accident in Indianapolis, Indiana, about one month before Maria died, in 1924.
In Indianapolis, Maria founded her own independent church in 1918—the Woodworth-Etter Tabernacle.
In many ways the Tabernacle in Indianapolis resembled the tent meetings that Maria Woodworth-Etter held while traveling, with the energetic and lively worship services.
The Woodworth-Etter Tabernacle grew over the years, and became Lakeview Church, located at 47 Beachway Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Primary Sources
► Signs and Wonders by Maria B. Woodworth-Etter
► The Woman Evangelist: The Life and Times of Charismatic Evangelist Maria B. Woodworth-Etter by Wayne E. Warner
Secondary Sources
► Acts of the Holy Ghost, or Life, and Experiences of Mrs. M. B. Woodworth-Etter
► Holy Ghost Sermons by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Life and Experience of Maria B. Woodworth by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Life, Work and Experience of Maria Beulah Woodworth by Maria Beulah Woodworth
► Life & Testimony of Maria Woodworth-Etter by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Maria Woodworth-Etter, Her Life and Ministry by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Marvels and Miracles by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Questions and Answers on Divine Healing by Maria B. Woodworth-Etter
► Revival Songs by Maria Beulah Woodworth-Etter
► Signs and Wonders (Abridged edition) by Maria B. Woodworth-Etter
► Spirit-filled Sermons by Maria Woodworth-Etter
► Trials and Triumphs of Maria B. Woodworth-Etter by Maria Woodworth-Etter
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