Baptism of the Holy Ghost and Fire!

In connection with a research project for my MA program, I had the pleasure of perusing a copy of Minnie Abrams' little book The Baptism of the Holy Ghost & Fire: Matt. 3:11, published in 1906. Abrams' book recounts the events of the revival at Mukti Mission (a home for girls run by the famous Indian women's advocate, Pandita Ramabai). The Mukti revival had begun in 1905, the year before the Azusa Street Revival (which Western historians have often mistakenly lauded as the first Pentecostal revival). The following is my transcription of a portion of Abrams' delightful account.

In January, 1905, Pandita Ramabai spoke to the girls of Mukti concerning the need of a revival, and called for volunteers to meet with her daily to pray for it. Seventy volunteered, and from time to time others joined, until at the beginning of the revival there were 550 meeting twice daily. In June, Pandita Ramabai asked for volunteers from the Bible School to give up their secular studies and go out into the villages about us to preach the gospel. Thirty young women volunteered, and we were meeting daily to pray for the "enduement of power," when the revival came.

On the 29th of June, at 3:30 A.M., the Holy Spirit was poured out upon --- ---, one of these volunteers. The young woman sleeping next to her awoke when this occurred, and seeing the fire enveloping her, ran across the dormitory, brought a pail of water, and was about to dash it upon her, when she discovered that --- --- was not on fire. In less than an hour nearly all of the young women in the compound gathered around, weeping, praying, and confessing their sins to God. The newly Spirit baptized girl sat in the midst of them, telling what God had done for her, and exhorting them to repentance.

The next evening, June 30th, while Pandita Ramabai was expounding John 8, in her usual quiet way, the Holy Spirit descended, and the girls all began to pray aloud so that she had to cease talking. All in the room were weeping and praying, some kneeling, some sitting, some standing, many with hands outstretched to God. Promises and words of help were of no avail. God was dealing with them and they could listen to no one else.

From that time the two daily meetings of the Praying Band became great assemblies, morning and evening, and the Bible school was turned into an inquiry room. Girls stricken down under the power of conviction of sin while in school, the industrial school, or at their work were brought there. Regular Bible lessons were suspended, and the Holy Spirit, Himself, gave to the leaders such messages as were needed by the seeking ones. Soon three rooms were needed. After strong repentance, confession, and assurance of salvation, many came back in a day or two saying, "We are saved, our sins are forgiven, now we want a baptism of fire." One Sunday, the text spoken from was, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire." Matt. 3:11. The usual explanation of the fire here spoken of is that it means to trials, losses, sicknesses, and difficulties which God allows in order to bring us nearer to him; but the Holy Spirit evidently had taught the girls through this passage, and the one in Acts 2:1-4, as well as through the experience of the first Spirit baptized girl, to expect an actual experience of fire; and God met them in their expectation. They cried out with the burning that came into and upon them. Some fell as they saw a great light; and when the fire of God burned, the members of the body of sin, pride, love of the world, selfishness, uncleanness, &c., passed before them. Such sorrow for sin! Such suffering under the view of the self-life, while it was all being told out to God, the person being wholly occupied with God and her sinful state! This would have been too much for flesh and blood to bear save that all of these sufferings were intermingled with joy, wooing the stricken soul on, until the battle was won. Finally complete assurance and joy took the place of repentance. Some who had been shaken violently under the power of conviction, now sang, praised, danced for joy. Some had visions, others dreams. The word of God confirmed all of this. The Holy Ghost had been poured out according to the Scriptures. Such intense seeking could not have been endured save that it had been done in the power of the Spirit. They neither ate nor slept until the victory was won. Then the joy was so great that for two or three days after receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost they did not care for food.

The burning in the bodies of those who were seized with a strong spirit of repentance, given to search out sin, and to enlighten the dark mind concerning the way of salvation, as well as through the suffering experienced, to cause to realize the awful consequences of sin, and what Jesus has suffered for them, left a strong impression. This burning passed away when the joy of salvation came. When some who had been God's children for some time, and had known the blessing of heart purity, sought and received the abiding presence of the fire of the Holy Ghost, an abiding Presence, giving marvellous power for service, and to prevail in prayer, this impression was greatly magnified. At first some of the missionaries thought that the fire poured out on the girls at the time of repentance was necessary for their cleansing because they had been idolators; but when persons fully saved and sanctified received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, these workers began to search the word of God to see if this experience of power and service was for them also.

It is now fifteen months since this revival began. Lives are truly transformed, and those fully saved are walking with God in daily victory, while those who have received this mighty baptism for service are growing in power. The word of God confirmed by the example of these holy lives filled with power for service, convinced us that this baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is for all who are willing to put themselves wholly at God's disposal for His work and His glory. A goodly number of the foreign missionaries and workers at Mukti, as well as in other places have sought and found, and are convinced that until the fire has actually wrought within us purification; until He who is a consuming fire consumes us with humility, with love for souls, and with compassion like to that of Jesus; until God's holiness, power, grace, love and longsuffering have been revealed in us through the fire of the Holy Ghost, surpassing the knowledge of Him which had been received through intellectual avenues, the fulness of the baptism of the Holy Ghost has not been obtained. It is hoped that this plain account of what has been found in the word of God concerning this baptism, will reach many hungry hearts desiring perfect victory over sin, and power for service.

Cf. also this account by Stanley Frodsham in his book With Signs Following.