Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-16
REMARKABLE SUPERSTITION IN PHILA-
DELPHIA.
WOMAN CLAIMING THE HoNoRs OF DIVINITY
SINGULAR CREDULITY OF HER FOLLOWERS.

SINGULAR oREDULIrY OF HER FOLLOWERS.
That the day of religious imposture is not
over, is proved by the frequent revelations of
supersttious belief in false prophets rnd relig-
ious fanatics. Females as well as males are
often the leaders of these singular decisions,
and among the most recent of that class is one
Anna Meister a resident of Philadelphia, who
arrogates to herself the title, Daughter of
God" The facts were publicly brought be-
fore one of the Philadelphia courts last week,
during habeaS corpus case, in which one
Mr.. Rudman claimed the custody Of a boy
five years old, then in the care of his mother,
Mrs. Rudman, who had separated from her
husband. One of the witnesses, Mrs. An
dress, testified to the good character of the
mother, and the examination resulted in the
following remarkable dialogue :
District Attorney-When the child is ill,
does the mother attend to it properly?
Witness-We belong to a society, and when
there is anything the matter with us or our
children, we ask Anna Meister, and she tells
us what to do; she gives us herbs, and we al
ways get well after using them. Anna Meister
knows what is proper for us.
Judge AliSon-What does she know about
medicine?
Witness-She never practised medicine, but
she knows what is good for u.s.
Judge Alson-How does she know 2 Wit
ness-We do believe she is the last witness
sent from the Almighty, and that we shall
obey her commands and live a just and pure
life. God gave his commands through Moses
first, and afterwards through Jesus Christ, and
he tells us Ito love thy neighbor and be pure
and just, and then God shall call US for the
first fruits of his flock" The witness contin-
ued in this strain at considerable length and
with great volubility Her earnest manner
and api1npt sinnaro hnliof in tho dnrtriupS nc
taught by Anna Miester were painful to be-
hold The Witness after she had allowed to
run on in this way for some time, was inter
rupted by the Judge, asking, "You believe
Anna Meistcr as though God were speaking"
Witness-"She speaks the pure doctrine to
love our neighbors and to act just" The ex-
animation continued as follows: The child is
taught to pray; | did belong to a Presbyterian
church. The child is treated now as when
Mr.. Rudman lived with his wife meet her
with the child every Sunday at our meeting /;
have seen her ten times at her house during
the year; have belonged to this society four
years Mrs Rudman Joined first; my husband
belongs; we take spring water because it is
pure; we boil the hydrant water to take the
impurities off; believe in eating salad.
Mr.. Remak-What is the object of that (?
Witness-Anna Meister told me | should give
it to my husband and child at 10 O'Clock every
night, and it would take the impure stuff from
their stomachs. | give it to my child at 10
o'clock at night; if he is asleep, l wake him
up and make him take his salad; we take
three forks full at time; we put on it a little
salt, lutte vinegar, and little sweet oil.
Mr.. Remak-How about onions Witness
1t is said it Injuries us; it is unwholesome.
Mr.. Remak-What else is there in regard to
your regulations about eating or drinking (?
Witncss-Theres beer. Ii we want spirituous
drinks we take wine; beer is not wholesome,
but the wine is pure, because there is nothing
mixed in with it (?); no quantity is fixed for
us to take; ! teach my child that what Anna
Meister says must be believed my child is
ten years old; there are twenty-five or twenty
five who belong to the society we givca ftp,
or a levy, or quarter a week. and sometimes
dollar is brought and this is given for Anna
Meisters board; we meet at Mr.. Munser's
house; he took her in when she commenced
preaching we have preaching on Sunday at
ternoon and prayer meetings on Wednesday
evenings; some of us have commenced to
preach, because it is our duty to be servants
of the Almighty, and must give the testimony /;
preach sometimes.
Mr.. B lker, the next witness, testified that
the child was used well. This witness ac-
knowledged his belief in the doctrines preach
ed by Anna Meister; his wife had been
hiehuei, put sne lell anu Decame pschsllu-
err
Mr.. Andrews, butcher in West Philadel-
phia, another witness as to the care taken of
the child, also acknowledged his faith in the
doctrines of Mrs. Mester. He believed she
was divine.
The case was decided by the judge allowing
Mrs. Redman to retain her child, to whom
she was legally entitled. The court endeavor-
ed to persuade the woman to live again with
her husband, but she refused to do so. The
entire case is a remarkable one, divulging a
singular phase of fanaticism.
We believe that this Anna Meister has been
carrying on her system of imposition for sew
eral years in Philadelphia, and has before this
been i'll the papers. Some of her disciples be-
lieve that they will not die as long as they
remain faithful to the tenets of the so-called
"Society of the Daughter of God"