MARY COMSTOCK
(Methodist)

 

MARY COMSTOCK
(Methodist)

The Misses Wilson and Comstock led the school in scholarship (at least among the girls),

and were both highly prized. Miss Wilson was a fine mathematician. She was a girl of refined
manners, and dignified life, but was not a Christian. The matron of the school was an earnest
worker, and had interested herself specially in Miss Wilson’s salvation. She did not yield at once,
but about the middle of the meeting she gave her heart to God and became a marked follower of the
Lamb.

Miss Comstock was the daughter of Dr. Comstock of Joliet, Ills., also a Methodist

preacher. She had grown up under the most careful training and was scrupulously moral. She was
really a Pharisee of the strictest sort, although she had never become a church member, nor had she
been converted. She was entrenched in self-righteousness. I had strongly desired the conversion of
those two girls especially in view of their influence upon others. I found Miss Comstock a perfect
lady, but a very difficult case to reach. When Miss Wilson was converted I thought through her
Miss Comstock would come down, but she stood stiffer than ever before. She would look me right
in the eye and say: “Mr. Haney, do you think I could ever identify myself with the church?” Her
views of her own moral standing were such that she really felt it would degrade her to come to the
level of God’s people! But prayers unceasing went up for this poor, deluded soul.

One evening before sunset Prof. Martin came down, somewhat excited in his manners, and

said: “Miss Comstock is very anxious to see you!” I answered, “What does that mean?” and he
said, “I think she has changed her views.” On reaching her room I found her majesty prostrate on
the carpet with agony of soul she had never tasted before! Miss Wilson and the preceptress were
in tears praying for her salvation. The Holy Spirit had lifted the veil from her deceived heart and
given her a view of her real self. The abhorrence with which she now looked upon herself I
probably have never seen equaled. The Lord wanted to save her, but He proposed that she should
first find out she was lost! That she should see herself in contrast with His real people, and
apprehend the subtle devilish power which had held her. O, what self-loathing, what confessions
of her deceived condition, what inward horrors, as God showed her that she was a vile leper in

 

His sight! But the point of utter despair, of self-extinction was reached, and it seemed to her like
the darkness of the second death begun, when Jesus came and the battle was ended!

Her conception of the exceeding sinfulness of sin was so clear, and fearful, that

immediately after her conversion she was a candidate for complete inward holiness. Her
conversion was so marked and wonderful that it could not be doubted, but it brought her such
views of God’s holiness, that her glad soul hastened into the fountain of cleansing. Her experience
of entire sanctification was equally clear and definite.

She was possessed of a wonderful power to bring others to the Christ, and rarely failed to

rescue those she sought. There was a girl in the seminary who had resisted all entreaties, whose
chums in the school and her sister had been converted; but she remained obdurate. Mary came one
day to her boarding place, and this girl was seated on the opposite side of the room. She walked
with a quick step to where she sat and knelt right down before her and never got up till the other
was converted! Nor did this die with the excitements of the meeting, as will be seen from the
following incident:

In the third year of the war, I think it was, I came home at Conference time. One day a large

number of ministers were extending friendly greetings, when a brother said to me: “Dr. Vincent
was inquiring for you.” I had known of the Doctor as a great man, but had not met him, and
wondered why he should desire to see me. It then occurred to my mind, as I was just from the front
of the Western army, that he was in pursuit of war news. So I said to the brother: “Where is he?”
And he led me to the doctor and gave me an introduction. Doctor Vincent seemed as glad to meet
me as if I were an old friend and said:

“I understand, Brother Haney, that you profess the blessing of holiness.” I said: “Yes, I do

;” and he proceeded to give the steps which led him into that grace. He was stationed at Joliet,
Ills., and the first Sabbath of his pastorate he had a general class meeting after preaching. Among
others who spoke there was a girl who gave in her testimony to the experience of sanctification,
and Vincent said: “I did not like it and resolved that I would prevent its being repeated. She
seemed to be a modest girl, and so before the services closed I gave a hint that it was not best to
set ourselves up above our brethren.”

But the good Doctor was surprised in the next meeting to hear her repeat her former

testimony, as though nothing had occurred! He then made statements more direct and extended
against such testimony, and felt sure that would end it; but the dear man met with a still greater
surprise in a third meeting to hear the renewal of her testimony, as though everybody believed it!
She made no reference to what her pastor had said and gave no symptom of a resentful spirit. The
Doctor made up his mind, then, to see her at her home and get this heresy out of her. So he made
her a patient, but persistent visit, and insisted he was her pastor, and the Bible exacted obedience
to ministers, etc., etc.

She insisted that she was loyal to her pastors and did nothing with design to affront or

disobey them, but was, on the other hand, aiming to do all she could to help them. And when they
met again she witnessed, as before, that God had sanctified her soul! The Doctor added: “She

 

conquered me, and I got the blessing!” I asked the name of this girl, and he said it was Miss
Comstock.

At this distance of time I may not have given the exact words of this interview, but the facts

I have faithfully recorded, in view of meeting them in that day. This great man’s soul, under the
moulding influence of the indwelling Holy Ghost, was as simple as a child’s and beautiful, as he
walked with God in the light of new-born love made perfect. Mary is in heaven, and Dr. Vincent
one of our Bishops. I wonder if his great soul is still flooded with this glorious light?

Source: “Pentecostal Possibilities
or Story of My Life” by M. L. Haney

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THE END

 

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HOW THEY ENTERED CANAAN
(A Collection of Holiness Experience Accounts)
Compiled by Duane V. Maxey

Vol. I — Named Accounts