Interest is growing in what God has done in the Dallas area through the years. One of the greatest moves of the Spirit for any given city took place one block from Fair Park in 1912. In late July at the invitation of F. F. Bosworth, Maria Woodworth-Etter came with her company to preach salvation, heal the sick, and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit. For five months thousands were saved, healed and filled with the Spirit. They came from at least twenty states, and as far away as Canada and England . Likely most Christians in the DFW area today are not aware of this great Pentecostal tsunami that changed the spiritual landscape and opened the depths for numerous wells of life to spring forth in this region.
The following quotations are excerpted from periodicals and books which chronicle this event. This information is enclosed here hopefully to whet the believer's spiritual hunger to see again what has gone before.
Dallas Morning News, July 23, 1912
Mrs. Maria Woodworth-Etter, evangelist and healer, will conduct a series of tent meetings in this city at the corner of Parry and Fletcher Streets, beginning Thursday night July 25, and continuing for one week. In addition to her lectures, it is claimed that Mrs. Etter will exert her power of curing diseases of all kinds.
Signs and Wonders at Dallas, Texas (Reprinted from Word and Witness )
Dallas, Tex., Aug. 11, 1912
It has been about two weeks since our dear Sister Etter joined us in the meeting, and we give glory to God for the way he has used her every night in preaching and demonstrating the wonderful gospel of the Son of God.
The interest and power increases every night. Last night there were thousands of people in and around the tent. Sinners look on and weep, as they see the sick and afflicted healed by the power of God overnight. Among those healed last night, before the great audience, was a mute, 36 years old, born deaf and dumb. He came from Oklahoma , and was instantly healed in the first meeting he attended last night. Sinners wept when they saw he could hear and shout praises to God.
Yesterday morning a wonderful miracle was wrought on a 15 year old orphan boy, Emmett Martin. His right arm was paralyzed when he was one year old so that he has never been able to raise that arm above his head or to open and shut his hand. His other arm was in splints and in a sling, badly injured by falling off a street car a week ago. The bandages and splints were removed and the arm instantly and perfectly healed; and then when Sister Etter in the name of Jesus commanded him to stretch forth the paralyzed arm it was also instantly healed. He raised both hands above his head and clapped them together and shouted praises to God. He was gloriously saved at the same time, and was in the meeting again last night and testified before the great audience.
The lame, the blind, the deaf and dumb, the palsied, the paralytic, cancers, those suffering from operations, and others dying with incurable diseases have been wonderfully converted and healed by the power of God. Sinners are converted and flock to Jesus for salvation; and Christians are baptized with the Holy Ghost.
More About the Revival in Dallas, Texas (Reprinted from The Bridegroom's Messenger)
On August 12 three men brought a man dying with consumption and fistula, two hundred miles in a baggage car on a cot. He came from Mercury, Texas , and looked like a dead man when they carried him into the tent on the cot. He was in the very last stages of tuberculosis, and nothing much but bones. When prayed for, the power came and he jumped from the cot and ran up and down before the people, praising God. He returned home sitting up like other passengers, and is gaining four pounds a week, and the fistula was healed the next morning, and never had to be dressed again. the country was stirred, and about twenty-five more have come from that vicinity. Night before last a delegation from the county came with two deaf and dumb mutes. One was 34 years old and the other a beautiful young lady of 17 years. God opened the ears of both. The young lady was saved and healed at the same time, and is very happy. They were both at our home this morning, and I played on the organ for them. Many others have been healed of deafness.
Yesterday was the most wonderful day I ever saw in this work. God came with the melting and slaying power. Twenty-one were struck down like Paul by the power of God, and lay from one to ten hours. They had wonderful visions of heaven and of Jesus and all came out with shining faces and filled with the love of God. Twelve of these received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time. Never saw such power displayed. It looked like a battlefield to see them fall and lie as dead. God said, “The slain of the Lord shall be many.”
Miracles of Healing in Dallas(Reprinted from The Latter Rain Evangel of Chicago )
God is truly working in a wonderful way in Dallas, Texas, in the meetings conducted there by Mrs. Woodworth-Etter and the pastor. During the first week in September about 50 were baptized in the Holy Spirit, besides many bright conversions and miraculous healings.
We quote the following from a private letter received from an eye witness, under date of August 22:
“There are about 5,000 people in attendance every night and on Sunday nights many more. The sick and afflicted are coming from all parts of Texas, and some have come from Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana . They are coming on trains, covered wagons, and every way they can. Oh, the pitiful sights! How they make my heart ache! Sometimes it is more than I can bear when I see as many as four or five in one service nearly eaten up with cancer or consumption and given up by all earthly aid, and as a last resort they come to the Lord. The first night I was here, there were four brought in on cots in a dying condition, several in roller chairs and many afflicted who were able to walk. I saw two on cots get up and walk when prayed with. Some who were thought to be dying have jumped right over the end of their cots, leaping and walking and shouting all over the tent after the prayer of faith was offered. I will mention one or two remarkable cases:
A woman here in Dallas, dying from a double affliction of cancer of the stomach and tuberculosis of the lungs, a living skeleton, given up by all the best physicians of this city, was brought to the meeting on a cot and thought she would die before Sister Etter could get around to her. When prayed with she was healed instantly of both afflictions, arose from the cot and shouted and praised the Lord. She is coming to the meeting every night and testifying. She is still very thin, but the disease is killed and she is gaining every day.
A boy, brought from Beaumont , Texas , several hundred miles away, suffering from epileptic insanity, was healed instantly and a few days afterward a businessman from that city, coming to the meetings in Dallas, testified that the boy was sound and well.”
We also give the following clipping from the Dallas Daily times-Herald of September 7, 1912 : “Hundreds in Dallas and all over Texas and many other states have already been healed in this meeting of all manner of diseases and afflictions by the power of God, in answer to ‘the prayer of faith.' Many have been brought over one thousand miles and have been wonderfully saved and healed. The lame, the blind, many deaf and dumb, the palsied, the paralytic, consumptives, those suffering with cancers, tumors, fistulas, pellagra, operations, many with epilepsy, and invalids for years are praising God for healing soul and body.”
Mrs. Clay E. Martin, one of the deaf mutes who was healed, gives a written testimony as follows:
“I am now 54 years old. My father and mother were first cousins. . . . . My two sisters and I were born totally deaf and dumb. I was born at Jonesville, Lee County , Virginia ; educated at Staunton , Virginia under Prof. J. J. Covell. I was teacher in Prof. Van Nostrand's deaf and dumb school at Austin , Texas , at the time my uncle, Ben D. Martin, was state senator under Governor Coke. On Wednesday, July 31, 1912 , I went to the wonderful meeting in the large tent at the corner of Parry and Fletcher streets. When Sister Etter put her finger in my mouth at the root of my tongue and then in my ears, commanding the ‘deaf and dumb spirit' to come out, God instantly opened my ears and gave me my voice. . . Oh it seems so wonderful to hear everything.”
The Mighty Power of God at Dallas, Texas (from Triumphs of Faith , Oakland , Calif. )
We have already published reports of these Dallas meetings, which we knew were reliable, but is has been a joy to attend them for ourselves, and to witness the mighty power of God convicting and converting sinners; healing sick bodies; and baptizing saints with the Holy Ghost. . . . . There really are so many healings day by day, that only the more remarkable ones attract attention.
Mrs. Etter is one that speaks with no uncertain sound, and we have never seen anyone else rebuke disease and demons with such Heaven-sent authority and power. It brought a new wave of spiritual joy to our heart to hear the way in which these “cruel demons” were ordered to depart.
Mrs. Etter preaches the Gospel in great simplicity and power, backing up all her remarks by quotations from the Word of God. The altar services are very remarkable, as saints and sinners gather around in deep earnestness seeking God for their individual needs. The power of God often prostrates them, and even little children are seen “under the power;” apparently unconscious to all but God, and with their little faces shining like angels.
The Pastor's Report (Pastor F. F. Bosworth)
Having, during the past five years, read and re-read volumes 1 and 4 of “The Life, Work and Experience of Mrs. M. B. Woodworth-Etter,” recording the wonderful Acts of the Holy Ghost in her evangelistic meetings during the past thirty-five years, we became very anxious for her to come and help us in the work at Dallas, Texas, where for many months we had been conducting Pentecostal meetings every night, during which time there had been a continual revival, many being saved, healed and baptized in the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:4.
Feeling that it was God's plan for her to come, we wrote her concerning it, and in April, 1912, I visited her meeting, then being conducted in Indianapolis , Ind. During the three days' visit I witnessed some wonderful healings by the power of God, and met personally many who were wonderfully healed by the laying on of hands. Brother and Sister Etter also felt that God was leading to Dallas, so they came and began labor with us July 25th, 1912.
Throngs packed the large tent from the first, two or three thousands often standing around the tent. Great numbers of the sick and afflicted came, and were brought on cots and in different ways, reminding us of the scenes described in the Gospels, when our Lord was upon earth.
In almost every service for nearly three months, the slaying power so common in the day of Finney, Jonathan Edwards, etc., has been manifested, often “The slain of the Lord” covering nearly all the altar space in the front of the tent. Many most wonderful visions and revelations, throwing light on the coming of the Lord, etc., have been given to those thus slain by the power of God. Many have seen balls of fire and lights in and around the tent (Acts 2:3 and 26:13). Some of these have been sinners. Jesus has appeared to many in the meetings, and many have at different times seen a great host of angels just above the audience.
In accordance with Acts 19:12, handkerchiefs have been anointed and sent to the sick in all parts of the United States and Canada , and many have been wonderfully healed at the time the handkerchief was applied to their bodies. Others have been saved and healed while reading the reports of the meeting in the religious papers.
An Appreciation of Sister Woodworth-Etter
A minister of the gospel, who has been in the Lord's work for eleven years past, writes: We have met with most of the leaders of the Apostolic Faith Movement, but never before met with anyone so deep in wisdom and in the knowledge of the things of God as Mrs. Woodworth-Etter.
Never have we seen the power of God manifested to such an extent as in these meetings. Her preaching is always in the demonstration of the Spirit, and in power.
At times while the meeting is going on the Spirit of God will come down in an exceptional manner and envelop her like a cloud; she at such times is transformed in appearance; the fashion of her countenance changes, and standing motionless for several minutes, with the light of Heaven streaming radiant in her face, she sees the unseen and invisible Lord, and the angelic hosts and other spiritual things within the veil, which are hidden to others. Like when the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies; she leaves the congregation waiting till she returns in spirit and ministers once more to them.
At such times the fear of God, and strong conviction falls noticeably on the whole congregation, for they cannot but understand the Manifestation of the Spirit, and they act more reverently even than at other times, because of the more vivid realization that God is present in their midst, when seeing the visible operation of His Spirit in this way.
Dallas Morning News, October 6, 1912
The Woodworth-Etter meetings continue every night in large tent, one block east of the Coliseum.
(Note: This building is now the Women's Museum)
Maria Woodworth-Etter, For Such a Time as This, Wayne Warner, 2004
Despite the fact that this five-month Dallas campaign proved to be a key Pentecostal rendezvous, the Dallas newspapers for the most part ignored the thousands who were meeting daily and nightly. . . . So it was left up to the writers friendly to the Pentecostal movement to chronicle the meeting for their contemporaries in other parts of the country. And the one best suited for the writing task seemed to be the host pastor, Fred Bosworth.
Pentecostal editors around the world picked up Bosworth's Dallas reports, and then other writers relayed to their constituency the exciting happenings in Dallas. The list of influential Pentecostals who flocked to Dallas reads like a “Who's Who” of early Pentecostalism: R. J. Scott, Frank J. Ewart and Harry Van Loon represented Los Angeles ; Andrew D. Urshan, a disciple of William Durham, was there from Chicago . . . Carrie Judd Montgomery . . . A. P. Collins, who three years later became the second general chairman of the Assemblies of God; from England, Arthur Little, Miss Anna Barrett, and Stanley Frodsham (biographer of Smith Wigglesworth). (p. 155-156)
Howard A. Goss, an early Pentecostal leader, wrote that three very dignified ministers in clerical dress walked into a Dallas service late one night. Since there were no empty seats, three people who were seated on the altar gave up their place to the ministers. It was the wrong place for three proper ministers to maintain their dignity.
Goss said after the service “got well under way with the power of God as strong as usual,” one of the clergymen suddenly tumbled off the altar rail and into the sawdust where he lay motionless. The other two ministers paid no attention to their comrade. But within about five minutes, a second minister joined the first in the sawdust. It wasn't long before the third minister also toppled into the sawdust, where he, too, lay motionless.
There they remained, oblivious to all the excitement around the altar, for the next three or four hours. Then simultaneously the ministers arose, brushed off the sawdust, and sheepishly walked to an exit.
Reports of divine healing almost seemed common in Dallas, if divine healings can be called common. And the reports came from others besides Woodworth and Bosworth. Eyewitnesses from many states verified the accounts. Even the medical profession took note of the healings. One of these was Arthur C. Bell, M.D., who had a practice in Dallas and was dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
After describing all types of ailments that were healed in the meetings – from the healing of the deaf to those afflicted with cancer – Bell wrote, “Yes, Jesus can heal while I write a prescription. It is true, and I stand for the truth. No doctor would wish any of the cases I have reported in this report. They are all beyond them. The Lord has been good to send to us our beloved sister, Mrs. Woodworth-Etter. She is a chosen vessel.”
Bell added he had seen doctors enraged over the healings and that the doctors had called several meetings in an attempt to suppress the campaign. (p. 158-159)
Maria Woodworth-Etter, The Complete Collection of Her life Teachings,
Roberts Liardon, 2000
(Excerpts of a letter from Stanley Frodsham, 1912)
Dearly Beloved in the Lord,
About three months ago, a few of us sat round a tea table in England and read the account of the wonderful revival in Dallas, Texas; and as we read the account, the power of God fell on us; and we could do nothing but praise our heavenly Father, who is so wonderfully pouring out His Spirit in the last days. The dear Lord put the desire in our hearts to visit these scenes of heavenly visitation, and He has graciously allowed the desire to be gratified. Before leaving England , a brother asked us especially to enquire as to how the revival began, what were the causes of revival, and how such a revival may be repeated in other centers, and we have made special inquiries on this line. . . . .
This morning a boy came to the meeting on crutches with a poisoned foot. He was prayed with, and he was able to walk away without his crutches, walking as well as anyone in the building.
It is inspiring to hear the testimonies of those who have been healed, one of twenty cancers and epilepsy, one of pellagra (an incurable deathly disease akin to leprosy), another of asthma, another of deafness, another of rheumatism, another of consumption, another of broken limbs. One young lad came with a broken arm; this arm was put right and at the same time his other arm, which was paralyzed, was healed. He waves both arms as an indication of how perfect the Lord has made him. He was only a street urchin, but someone looks after him now; and he has a shining face and a bright testimony for Jesus. At this morning's service, it was wonderful to see a sister who has been deaf and dumb and is now blessedly healed, mightily under the power of the Spirit of God, doing her best to show what great things God has done for her. We have a wonderful God, and as they say here, “He has not gone out of business yet.” . . . .
Brother Bosworth, the pastor here, his wife and Brother Bindsall, came to this town in September, 1910 and when they arrived it was as dead and cold and hard a place as any that can be found. But they purposed in their hearts there should be a revival here, and they prayed and believed to this end. They would get down to prayer after they had had their breakfast, and it would frequently be late in the afternoon before they got up from their knees. Bro. Bosworth says that if you purpose anything in your heart, God will supply you with the faith for that thing. God gave them faith for a mighty revival here; and moved by that faith, they worked to that end. But humanly speaking everything was against them. They had no money, no influence, no helpers and no friends. They put up a tent but the cold and wet and the mud, which is phenomenal in this city, kept the people away. Some nights Bro. Bosworth and Bro. Bindsall were the only ones at the meeting, but they had faith in their hearts and the Lord gave them a good time. In February of 1911, after praying for five months, the fire fell in a Methodist Church in an outlying district; and from that time the revival has stayed, and we believe the revival will go on until Jesus comes. Bro. Bosworth is sure the best part of the revival has yet to come. . . .
In July, Bro. Bosworth went down to see Sister Etter and persuaded her to come down to Dallas. She came, and immediately God began to use her very wonderfully in healing. During the first meetings, three deaf and three dumb people were healed. The news of what God was doing soon spread all over the country, and the sick and dying have been brought from practically every state in the union, and the power of the Lord has been present to heal.
Since Sister Etter commenced her ministry in Dallas, more than a dozen deaf and dumb people have been healed in addition to many deaf people having their ears unstopped.
There is so much love here there is no room for division. There is no fight for terms – Jesus is the theme – and they are not looking for another. Some who sometimes take up time with long experiences are reminded in a loving way to “talk about Jesus.” Praise is called for more than testimony. There is no check to manifestations, but rather an encouragement to those who are under the power of the Spirit to let Him have His way. They trust the Lord to keep out fleshly manifestations and He does.
Well, we all praise the Lord for bringing us. It was worthwhile coming from England to America to get the stimulus to faith the Lord has given us here. What He has done here, He can do everywhere. There is no reason why there should not be a similar revival in every Pentecostal center, if the saints will pray and believe and work to that end. And above all “talk about Jesus.”
Yours in the boundless grace of Jesus Christ,
Stanley H. Frodsham (p. 427-433)
Compiled by David & Gayle Dyke, Refuge Church
