Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-01
THE VERMONT PILGRIMS.

THE VERMONT PILGRIMS.
The article which follows Is from the pen Of
a TREND, on whose information we can Iely.-
W have seen all article extracted II om a Car.
Isle paper, purporting 10 be some account OF
me IttgriHiS who, some time ago, attracted
80 much OF the public attention. That az
count informs us OF their arrival 1T Pittsburgh
-enharkng iheuce IN a hoAt-landing on an
iSland somewhere in tue Ohio riyer-the de-
Ser''on OF their ch'ei, or prophet and the
consequent dlstIesseS of his followers. But
the person who gave this information was uiI-
doubleday misIniOrmed himself.
1t may be remembered ,hat in The Spring of
1916, 4 WAS announced in the Eastern Jour
nals, that singular sect calling thems. Ives
PtigriAaS had associated together IN Yer
Mont, and were then travelling Ia the south
westward. In Their journey through, the
New England States, where goSsipping surely
Is thought no SIN. their course, their conduct,
ana ther motives were debated upon, and
SpecuidtFd INTO, by every village and city
journal. 10 the prodigiouS gratticaiiou of The
less busy Southerus, who have long aud alway>
depended upon their Eastern c0rrespordenis
for news.-lhe editorial accOunis were trau-
ScIibed throughout the States from Maine II
STANDARDIZATION New York 10 ST Louis-amd
the W estern Country was on tip. toe for The
reception OF the strange visitors
Though the interest with which thew were
formerly regarded has in a degree sub>ided
perhaps some further account will be read
The PHgrinlS arrived al Pittsburgh in the
autumn OF 1916, and uere Accommodated for
The time with an Ont-bmiiding belou.iug 10
MIR. IL. The general curiosity of Thar cit,
was excited upon their arrival and every one
was anxious 10 be gralit.d with the sigit Of
so novel a sect. Some, that were more curI
Gus aud who suspected the sincerit, of tI,eu
religion. watched them, unobspryed AT hours
wheh IL might be supposed they would commit
themselves; nor wtIG they disapnoiuted -
Many anecdotes are related OF Then, in Pitts
onrgh, which would represent them as the
most abJect creatures OF the vilcSt taaaticism
They did not embark at Pittsburgh. They
travelled through the interior Ii was i'm the
winter OF ISl6-i7. at Rush Greek, a lille
town that bears the name OF the stream il
stands on, the writer met with them. MIR NJ.
OF Philadelphia, MIR. ID. OF Evansville, and
Mr. q. OF CINCINNATI, were there at the time
we had put up at the only tavera i'm the place
for the night. Upon being told OF the PHI
Sri'nS being IN town, we all went 10 see them
We were led TO one story frame or log
house: Upon entering 1t we heard a confused
noise. Passing through Que vacant room we
entered another, long aud narrow II wa.
nine at night: The Pilgrims were per forming
their evening devotionS: motley sighl the,
were. One side OF the room in a range from
Ihe farthesi eud was strewed with dirty blank
cts. upon which some lay asleep A few men
that seemed TO be about retiring were stand
ing, here and there, IN different positions. with
their eyes shut ,mntterinG in a cadence IhaI cor
responded With the see-Sa" motion OF the body
Uul WHICH was ulilUleIllRlDfe. Around
IA fire, which was the only light afforded. sat
perhaps dozen females in tattered dresses
some nursing their little squalid. half naked
children. Their looks were of the most
wretched and disgusting filthincss Those
who were nOtslent and scratching their heads
were hummiug some incohereut aud tuneless
hymn.
Just behind this disagreeable circle stood
middle aged, short, bnt remarkably robust
man, with coarse, matted, black hair. and
thick, slOvemly, grizzly beard, which he wore
long. He was protnSely loaded with every
colour and every kind Of rotten garments He
leaned, as if oppressed by infirmiiy, though
his cOuntenance and person belied it. upon
crooked staff. Before him stood a thin look
ing man. dressed geHteeily aud like "A methn-
dist Him he was about 10 address when we
entered. The old prophet was then gr0animr
d M-O-bHl m-O-OH with an emphatic
motion Of the right hand aud BODY, and which
came from his loud hoaTse throat like tue bel
lowln. ot bull. II was hard 10 decide whe-
ther the ugly looks of the prophet or his solemn
usual 2rodns, we're most unpleasant.
AT length lie began o speak: addressing him
sell TO thl, man, lie told him in an animated
car e, . narrow voice, that if he did not i'm
medIately leave the world and walk with him
dreadful DliyortEHes 'cOuld soon happen tn himself
and family, ochich mOHh Jorercr render him mise
rdbie," The poor Infatuated wretch trembIed
a the deBunciaIiOms, and humbly answered
that he was aware they were tile ouIy true
children OF The Lord, and that only one con-
Sideration deferred him from following their
holy example, Whats that1' asked The
prophet. lie replied that his delicate consii-
tuition required something tcdIUl in the morn
ing
Il seems that these pilgrims lived only on
bran cakes aud other as simple fare. The pro.
phei assured him that the Lord would moi
require what he was unable TO perform and
promised to grant him the indulgence he
needed.
During this discourse The women often ioin-
ed WIN Tie prophet III lis celebrations, and
ont OF them IN particular, 20 young female with
a child al her breast, aud whose features and
countenauce weTevery good, frequently spoke
IN manner elegant and eloquent beyond her
rags. We were told That she came from New
York had lett husband dud friends and do
neStic comfort, TO accompany these gTetclIed
beings!
The man whom they were endeavonrinp TO
leaving the room soon after we also
we're requested 10 depart, aud we left the
whole tribe TO retire together, like so mauv
swine, buddled H. one heap.
nave since been informed indireCtly that
thi' man aud his wife nave Joined the I;tiIatirs
abandoning family OF young children aud
handsome estate for, TIE principles Of these
pilgrims were, the sacrifice Ofali earthly con-
alterations. Ike PETER the Fisherman, 10 fol.
Ow the prophet. For ;hp modification of the |
1esh, ihry wore sack cloth and rags and ATE of |
.he meet bomelN provision. They were to |
IUtSdke all worldly connections cOuitrat 6Iiat
ind parental; marriage was not knoyyn |
'mone them and it was wonderful how hap- |
ply thciT numerous quotations from Sculpture
aere made 10 apply Their Suphistrv' tlto' |
Easily dSceyned, was Bot TO I've Oui-reasoned |
In word, they were The most singular aud |
lie most iIauseOus spectacle on Garth Clean. !
iness was positively forbidden. They never
hanged. nui washed, aud they seemed TO /
ride themselves upon their 9th aud yermin. !
" hat bas become Of them know not.
LPha. Union
fNME SE LONGEVITY.