The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-04-29
anew RELIGIOUS SECT

Great religious excitement exists
in Macoupin, New York, twelve miles
from Patterson, A new religious
society, called ''Jehovah's Band" has
been started, supplanting favorite
station of the Methodist Church.
The Methodists send their best
preachers to combat the heresy, but
they are Fepudiated. Each in turn
is forced to leave.
The peculiar form of worship de-
velops itself in putting, blowing,
whistling, shouting, jumping, wrest-
ling, falling to the floor, and rolling
over and kicking. Both women and
men engage in the exercises. Bap-
tism is by immersion in the village
mill-pond, in the dead hour Of the
night. On Saturday they hold con
tinuous services, and take a recess
for meals only, refusing to read a
newspaper, or even to receive Il let
ter on that day.
Every Thursday evening they held
their meetings in the school house,
until SdiGiculty about the candles
used led them to leave it, and now
they meet at any house in the neigh
borhood where the spirit manifests
itself.
John Rhinesmith, a wealthy and
well-to-do farmer of the neighbor-
hood, is the chief man of the band,
and recently had his house rebuilt
especially to accommodate his breth-
ren-one room resting on strong
beams; it stands the jumping; but
about a month ago an ardent mem.
Der in a paroxysm of fanaticism, de
clared that when filed with the
Holy Ghost he felt as light as air
and even though they jumped upon
a looking-glass they would not SC
much as bruise it with 4 scratch:
wheregpon he hogan to leap upon
the stoye-heartb, and broke it of,
and then leaping on the top broke
in the frail covers, and finally smash,
ed big rocking chair, before he
subsidized.
Recently Rhinesmith baptized Mr.
Gilbert B Speaker, man of family
and a convert to the new faith, the
baptism took place in Rhinesmith' s
| mill pond, before the members ofthe
band and amid shouts and cries, the
whole gang at one time shouting
"fre," to the alarm of others in the
neighborhood; it being then after
midnight
One of the band told a reporter
that as he was at work in his barn
when he got the spirit, that he ran one
mile over bitches and fences before
the spirit left him, and all this time
he was so clated that he thought he
was flying.
When jumping in ccstacy Of the
Holy Ghost, they say their spirits
rise far above their bodies.
They permit no person excepting
those who are members Of the band,
to join with them in singing orjump-
| ing, or any other of their exercises,
although no objection is made to the
attendance ofoutsiders at the meet
ings OF the band. \ dozen will
have the floor at once, pounding
and kicking, and the whole crowd
seemed worked up to a fearful state
of excitement-some jumping until
they fall; the women shrieking in
the widest manner; and others prayr
ing, whistling or putting, as for a
wager
They permit no levity on the part
of the young folks during their pro
ceedings. Mr. Cobb, one of the
band, is thought to be growing in
sane under the excitement Of this
religious phrensy. There is no
doubt that the members of the band
are sincere enthusiasts. The socle-
ty now numbers over five hundred
members,-Ciacianaf Commercial,