While sifting through the data looking for Mattie Crawford, I found this letter penned by Elder Thomas C. Davis.
7/24/1915 (Indianapolis Star, p. 8) In Defense of the Truth. To the Editor of The Star: I was rather amused to read an article In Wednesday's paper written by Marlon L. Lantz, 1918 Holloway street, In which he made many hearsay accusations against the Oak Hill Tabernacle, 2024 Roosevelt avenue. Truly we can say we believe these days are the beginnings of sorrow, for Jesus said, "We would be persecuted from city to city and be betrayed both by parents, brethren, kinsfolk and friends (neighbors), and even be hated of all men for his name's sake." (
Luke 21:10-17.) Also that, "If the world hates you, ye know that It hated me before It hated you; If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (
John 15:13-10.)
When the prodigal sons come home we rejoice, while sometimes the elder son comes near from the field, hears the music and dancing, gets angry and will not come In; but tho rejoicing continues Just the same. David danced with all his might before the Lord, and In these last days God is pouring out Ills spirit upon us In great tidal waves from the floodgates of heaven, and the strange acts which take place, with dancing In the spirit, speaking in other tongues as the spirit gives utterance, as well as many other operations and gifts of the Holy Spirit, are only confirming the last message of the soon coming of the King. They only take place with the peculiar people whom Jesus has chosen for Himself, therefore I praise the Lord for healing me of a chronic disease of about twelve years' standing; my daughter was healed also after losing the sight of both eyes, when oven the eyelids were paralyzed and could not be opened, and now also sees perfectly; my wife also was healed after being sick for five years, when physicians could do no more all through prayer and faith In Jesus the Great Physician.
Why should we not rejoice with a loud voice? If the people who pray to a god that never hears or answers, their prayers would pray to Elijah's God once and get an answer they would stop finding fault with us who know that Elijah's God still lives.
We can truthfully say that we have seen hundreds healed, saved and filled with the Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost (
Acts 2:4), at the tabernacle, which seems to be so lightly spoken against; many from the different denominations in the city have come and seen for themselves and declared that of a truth God is with us. While we have no man-made doctrines, neither church membership here on earth, our names are recorded in the lamb's book of life up in heaven, and who are firmly built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone (
Eph. 2:20). And we believe that signs Jesus said shall follow those that believe will follow according to
Mark 10:17-20. And we are earnestly contending for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints (
Jude 3), slnce there Is only one body (the church), one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all (Ep. 4:4-0). ELDER T. C. DAVIS. Indianapolis.