The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-06-25
THE KODSMEN.

Instances of great delusion or fanaticism
have been rare through our country, and
particularly so, among the intelligent yeo-
many of New England. Since the days
of the Salem witchcraft, and the times of
the Connecticut Blue Laws, probably moth
ing has occurred in our States exhibiting
such complete fanatacism, and so utter a
destitution of propriety and common sense,
as the origin and operations of fraternity
Of ROdsmen, formerly existing in this state,)
whose character it is now our purpose brief
" to sketch.
About the year $780, one or two families
in Rutland county, who had been consider
ed respectable citizens, and who were, at
the time, members Of the Baptist Church,
pretended to have been informed by the AL
mighty, that they were deccndants of the
ancient Jews, and were with their connex-
ions, to be put in possession of the land for
some miles around; the way for which
was to be providentially prepared, by the
!. destrsction of their ellow-townsmen. They
claimed, also, inspired power, with which
to cure all sorts fdiseases-intuItive knoWl-
edge Of lost or stolen goods, and ability
! to discover the hidden treasures of the
earth, as well as the more convenient talent
of transmitting ordinary substances into
precious metals. Within year, numbers
were added to this band of fanatics and
finally, most of the connexions of its origina-
tors were drawn in,-embracing parts of
some fifteen families and numbering nearly
forty persons. The instrument Of their mi
raculous powers, was cleft stick, or rod,
something of the form of an inverted Y I;
and when this talisman was firmly grasped
in either hand, by its two points, it was be-
lieved to indicate the proper course to be
pursued or point ont some substances of
medicinal utility, or fix the locality of some
I valuable mine whic ofthese the agent
was pleased to wish. In pursuing the di-
rections Of this monitor, the most ludicrous,
and occasionally very calamitous, results
followed. III shaped and craggy stones,
the offals of animals, decaycd wood, and
even the most offensive ordure, were gath
cred up as possessing great virtues: and in
one instance, at least, these last articles
were administered to a sick person until the
credulous patient was relieved from her dis
gushing boluses by the hand of death.
Before the adoption of any project among
the fraternity, nod Of assent was required
from the rods'of the whole, which was usu-
ally not wanting, providing that ofthe lead
err, Tor MilgicuIRp, as he was technically
called,) appeared favorable. In executing
plans approved by "the sublime direction o.
the rod" excavations we're made in the
mountains, some to great depth; the frame
of a large building was put up, (which is
now in use as a barn;) and numbers of hors-
es we're killed for their bones. From the
IL,
he taken; the building was to be erected
into furnace for smelling and refining it
and the horses bones were to be converted
into crucibleS
The operations of this band of mystics at
tracted but little notice, till the latter par
= of the following year when their move
meRts indicated something more serious
and fears were entertained that some higl
handed measure would be attempted, as
: winding-up scene to their career Of foil