Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-07-01
MARIA HELLER.
Her Peculiar Influence Over au JufOtuuIId
Band of Religious Fanatics.

A few years ago a young woman
named Maria Heller, who lived in q small
village near Hainau, in Silesia, had sew
eral epileptic fits, and while she was
under their influence she pretended 90
receive divine inspiration and to be able
to prophesy. AS some of the sup
posed prophecies on local matters were
verified, many of the villagers begun to
believe in her; and when at last she
foretold the Franco German war,
and that came true, their belief was
much strengthened. Later on, some
time in the year 1874, Maria announced
dreadful war would soon break out, and
devastate the whole of Europe, and that
Australia would be the only secure place
of refuge in the world. She exhOrted
the villagers therefore to accompany her
to Australia, holding out promise that
after remaining there ten years she
would bring them to Jerusalem as q
second resting place, and subsequently
they should return to Germany, where
peace and plenty would then be found.
Many of the ignorant peasantry be
ieved, and commenced preparations for
the journey. They put all their money
into one common fund, and, leaving
themselves to Maria's guidance, pro-
ceeded by way OF Hamburg to London,
whence they took steamer to Melbourne.
The party, numbering sixty-four souls,
reached Melbourne in April, 1875. Here,
however, their number was reduced to
sixty by the secession of four of them.
At this time all they possessed was a
little over 9200 in money, and some
household effects which they had brought
from their German homes. They at
once made their way to the Benalls dis
trict, where two of their countrymen of
the name of Berndt had settled From
one of these (Mr. Carl Berndt) they re-
ceived great assistance, as most of their
business had to be done through him.
they themselves not being able to speak
word of English. After vainly per-
suading them to throw off the authori-
tY of the woman Heller, and to submit
no longer to her authority, he at last de-
clined to have anything further to do
with them. They consequently became
much straitened, and were nearly re.
duced to starvation.
Their settlement is divided into two
encampments, about two miles from
each other, and they have built them
selves bark huts TO live in. They have
altogether eight hundred acres of land,
which they have now commenced to cul-
tivate. Their gardens promised to be
productive; but toward the end of the
year provisions were running short, and
they were sorely pressed. Eight of the
party had died and others We're i'll. One
of the party, who had seeded, and taken
service with Mr.. Berndt, says that Ma
ria has great control over them all, that
she does no work, and that under her
they all run great risk of starving.
Some of these particulars having come
to the ears Of the police of the district,
an inquiry was set on foot, ald from the
report made, we gather that the party
were living almost entirely on "dam-
per " or bread, but that there were no
actual signs of starvation, for the chill
dren appeared to enjoy rude health, and
most of their elders seemed well, al
though having worn appearance. Sup
plies of provisions were sent them sutfi-
cient to last untilstheir harvest could be
got in.
The party are described to be Luther.
ans, but they seem to have greater faith
in their prophecies and her utterances
than in anything else. They believe
that during her frances she has conver-
sations with spirits, and that God
speaks to them through her. They left
their homes and native land because
they believed it to be the command of
the Almighty. Maria herself says that
she has had these frances since child
hood, and believes that God speaks to
her in them.
Maria Heller is described as little
over thirty years Of age-looaing, how
ever, nearly forty-not at all of pre-
possessing appearance, and witha rather
suspicious, uneasy look. There is some
doubt as to whether she is married or
not, as one of the seceders from the
party stated that she selected one of
their number for her husband, because
she had received q message that she was
to do so, and that they lived together;
that this man had since died, and she
had selected another Of the party, to
whom she was then engaged. Maria,
herself, however, Indignantly denied
having ever been married, or having
lived with any one as if married.