A FLASH AHEAD

Madam Parrot never dreamed that her decision to ride side-saddle to the tent meeting would draw the attention of the entire community. Nor did she foresee her near-fatal accident and her healing so miraculous that even atheists could not deny.MML v.1

Among those who attended John Loughborough’s evangelistic meetings at Santa Rosa was a young medical graduate from Geneva known as Madam Parrot. An urgent sick call took her to the bedside of Mrs. Skinner at Piner. After a week’s cot-duty, her patient had so recovered that Dr. Parrot announced her intention to return to the tent meetings. Mrs. Skinner’s atheist son Oliver readied a horse that was used to ladies, but as she mounted, he began to buck furiously. She was thrown to the ground and the horse upon her with such force that it bent the saddle horn out straight. As her friends looked upon her mangled form, they felt certain she was dead. When she regained consciousness, she could barely whisper.MML v.2

“Shall we send for a doctor?” someone asked her.MML v.3

“No,” she responded. “A doctor can do me no good. Send for the ministers at the tent. If they pray for me, the Lord will heal me.”MML v.4

Elders Loughborough and Bourdeau had just begun their evening meeting when the prayer request reached them. Thinking it unwise to dismiss their congregation, they promised to come very early the next morning. When they arrived, they learned that the doctor’s condition had required four attendants throughout the night.MML v.5

“Anoint me and pray, and the Lord will heal me,” she whispered.MML v.6

As the ministers prayed, Dr. Parrot soon began to pray in a loud voice, then clapped her hands and declared, “I am healed!” She arose, dressed herself, and began to assist with the home duties. In the evening she rode to the meeting in a lumber wagon, completely free from all pain. Former atheist Oliver now enthusiastically witnessed of God’s power to everyone he met.MML v.7

PICTURE JOHN NORTON LOUGHBOROUGH 1832-1924