Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-09-08
From the PhiIadcIphia Bulletin. The Anna Meister Delusion-A Female Religious Imposter-Curious Rites of NLnrshirn


 The jury in the case of Anna Meister, Caro- line Mueller and Caroline Warner, tried for conspiracy to defraud various persons, came n- to court at Philadelphia, on Tuesday, after having been out two days, and rendered yer dict of not guitv,' but the defendants to pay the costs. This is virtual conviction of crim- nal practices, though the particular offence of conspiracy was not proven. Atthe time of the l first arrest of Anna Meister, we gave an account of her extraordinary practices, and the proceed l ngs of the trial have been reported from day to day in our columns. But the case is such an extraordinary one, that, now as she is again 1 discharged and at liberty to resume her former course, 1t deserves to be again presented to the public.
 Anna Meister is young German woman who has lived in Philadelphia for several wears. year or two ago she represented herself to be inspired, gathered followers of both sexes around her and began to preach to them. She declared herself, at different times, to be the daughter of God, the sister of Jesus Christ. and the Holy Ghost. She succeeded in getting quite number of persons to believe in her, and she preached to them the end of the world was at hand. They believed that it was the Almighty that spoke through her, and when she told them that they must give her money, jewelry, plate, fnery and other valuables, they did not hesitate to comply with her demands. She wanted a blue satin dress to ascend in, when the end of the world should arrive, and the money to procure it was contributed.
 In the course of the trial it was ascertaned that one woman had given her about $500 in money and presents; another over SlOO; one a ring worth S250; another gold watch; another a silver pitcher; another dresses and, indeed, of ,l,l stantly and cheerfully gratifed by her deluded followers. She wanted silver crown set with jewels, and promised that those who contrbu- ted to it should be the first to 90 to heaven; the money was given and the crown procured.- She wanted gold watch and chain, and those who contributed should be carried up by the cham to heaven; the watch and chain were purchased. She did not, in her ouasi divine character, scorn such little gifts as ribbons col lars, undersleeves silk stockings baskets and other trfes, all of which were generously sun. piled to her. She always disavowed acceptino or using these things for her own pleasure, but said it was in compliance with the command of God.
 The woman, clever as she was in obtaining proselytes, and in getting money and valuables from them, does not appear to have presented any particular doctrine or we'll defined creed Beyond declaring that she was sister of the Savior, and that she was sent to warn and pre- pare the people for the end of the world, there is no appearance of any preension to distnc- tive theology. The various witnesses do not all agree On minor points, and it is quite possi- ble that, having no very clear notions of doc Urine herself, she contradicted herself at times Occasionally she pretended to have miraculous power, and attempted to cure diseases; but again she would say that she had not this pow CT, but would have it shortly. At one time she would say that she the sister of the Savior, and another the Holy Ghost, and she frequently declared that it was the Holy Ghost that spoke through her.
 At one time she declared that it was Adam and not Eve that brought sin into this world To one person she gave a string of command ments, and mingled grotesquely among those of religious character, was one forbiddinc the use of coffee, tobacco and onions. On one oc- casion she baptised child after death, saying 1t was necessary for it's salvation. On another she made four young girls kneel down and swear before her to serve God forever, and then she gave each of them three swallows of e- monade, which they drank in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. She generally said that the destruction of the world would begin In Philadelphia, and that only 1 those would be saved who attached themselves to her.
 These are few illustrations of this marvel. lous imposture, which, strange to say, created a great excitement in portion of our German population for the victims of the dclusion were. we believe, all Germans, and Anna Meister preached in her own language. The effects oi it in the families of her followers were often distressing. The women who were deceived by her. had to deceive their husbands, in order to get money to satisfy her importunate de- mands. Some families were reduced to power. ty, and in all there was certain amount of the credulity of wife or daughter. It is said that separations of man and wife, and parent and child, were caused by the delusion, while some of the victims have been brought to condition littleshort of ofinsanity. There are some who still presist in believing all that she says, and now that she has been delivered from the hands ol justice, they will probably ascribe it to mrac- ulous agency, and rally round her more de