Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-07-19
MISCELLANEOUS.

Fanatacism in religion most gene
rally arises from warm excitable feel
ings, working upon an ignorant
mind. which believes with the great
est reverence whatever is marvellous,
or beyond the limits of ordinary ex-
perience. Facts are overlooked with
indifference ; but the most extrava-
giant fctinns in religious opinions,
furnished by an imagination which
spurns the boundaries of experience,
will command the attention of the ig-
norant and susceptible, and ripen
their imperfect conceptions into the
most rewriting and attrocious actions.
Several occurrences took place in
the month of March last. amongst
religions sect Of fanatics in the Can
ton of Zurch, in Switzerland, which
shows human nature in pitiable
light, and must excite the regret of
the good and the pions, that religion
should ever be connected in any way
with such atrocities. In the village
Of Truellion, in this Canton, num-
Der of individuals of both sexes, shut
themselves up in a house under the
pretext of Offering up their prayers
tn, heaven. and performing the cere-
monies prescribed by their religion.
Enclosed within these walls, every
thing appeared to repose in silence
and solitude, till after the lapse of an
hour. when slight noise began to be
heard, which increased in a short
time to EXPLANATIONS. The inhabi-
tants of the neighborhood assembled
around the building, and demanded
admittance into the house. without
efftcting their object. But the tu-
mutt within increasing every mo-
ment, the door was at length forced
open, and the wretched people were
found in various groups, stretched
upon the ground, embracing one a.
mother with all the signs of rapture
subIimed into frenzy and madness.
They were arrested on the spot, and
conveyed instantly to court of JUS
tice. where their depositions were ia.
ken. They affirmed that they acted
from the immediate inspiration Of
God, and that his will was always re
vealed to them through the instru-
mentality Of young girl. Their
dispositions presented such mass OF
folly and extravaganza, that some OF
them, believed to be in state of in
sanity. were Immediately conveyed
to mad-house.
Notwithstanding the measures a
dopted by the civil authority to ter
inmate such scenes of extravaganza
and folly, the same enthusiasts, in a
few days subsequent to the preceding,
broke out into actions yet more hor-
rible and tragical. At an assem-
blage held during the night. young
female visionary burst from the group
offanatics, and declared to them in
loud voice that the spirit Of Bona
parte had appeared to her. and had
inspired her with the resolution OF
saving several thousand sinners, by
suffering the torments of death. Her
voice. her gestures, and her attitude.
infamed the imagination of many "a
mong the fanatics, and shouts were
heard among them, that in obedience
to the heavenly vision she should suf.
fer death. that so many thousand
souls might be preserved from etern-
al torments. The determination to
put her To death spread with rapid
ty among the enthusiasts, and they
rushed IA every direction i'm search
ofinstruments for that purpose. Men,
W ,men, and children, without dis
tinction of age or sex, Joined in the
act of madness. The unfortunate
young woman was instantly seized
and fastened to a board for the sacri-
flee. Nails were driven into the