The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-08-29
A Nest of Fanatics.

Il
In Petersham, which is in the hill
country Of Massachusetts on this
side the Connecticut river, there has
been for several years a socialistic
community known as Fullerites.
In the beginning it consisted, we
believe, of Millerites, who got fan
tastic notion that they knew rather
more about God and his will than
the rest of the world, and they club.
bed together to enjoy their blessing.
The community has been peaceable
enough, for the most part, and pros
porous, receiving accessions occas-
ionally, but not growing numerous.
They cultivate the land and en-
gagged in some light manufactures,
we believe, selling their surplus pro-
duct. People thought them peculiar
and bit beside themselves on reli-
gious matters, and their morality
was suspected; but they were fair
dealing and honest in pecuniary mat
ters, and made no trouble. All at
once they have become scandal to
the rural community thereabouts,
and one of their number was this
week before the court in Athol for
Indecent behavior.
These people take their name
from their leader for the time being.
At first they were Howlandites, then,
until lately, Fullerites, and now
Howeites. John G. Howe, the pres
ent leader, halls from Worchester L.
He joined the community last Ju ne,
aud with him another man named
j. A. Gusley. Since then revolu-
tion has taken place. Howe, a gray
haired old gentleman, is regarded
as a special messenger sent by God,
and seems to have usurpe d complete
control, leading the weak fools who
trust him into strange courses. He
receives revelations from God"
like a Mormon prophet, and the
brethren and sisters obey him with
ridiculous trust. His conduct has
been. grossly indecent, and he is un-
der arrest for indecent exposure of
his person. At the trial in Athol,
Tuesday, the witnesses against him
were Asa F. Richards, Treasurer of
the corporation, and his son. L. G..
Fuller, daughter of President Full
Ter, whose name they were known
by for long time, and two other
members of the community. Some
of these have been driven away by
Howe's conduct. Howe had no
counsel and no witness, and preten-
ded to rely upon Divine interposi-
ton in his behalf; but President Full
Ter, Sister Hawkes. and Steward
Briggs harangued the Court in his
behalf, insisting that he was born of
God and the holiest man alive, and
condemning some of those who testi-
fed against him as spiritually low"
He was, nevertheless, bound over
for trial in the Superior Court at
Fitchburg next week.
1t came out that the community
numbers Is persons, and in an incor-
porated body empowered to hold
100000 worth of property. The
married couples who join it are sep
arated on their arrival and thence.
forth hold higher marriage relation,
the nature of which we do not pre-
tend to understand. Formerly
their farm was well kept, but has
latterly fallen sinto decay, and
not long ago they sold all their furni-
ture by auction and bought new. 1t
is not unlikely, and is certainly much
to be desired, that the dissensions
that have arisen and the revelations
that have been made will have the re-
suit of breaking up the community.
Massachusetts is not very prolific in
communities of this kind, but they
are likely to spring up anywhere
when a few fanatics under upsetting
excitement take fancy that they
have obtained new light on dark sub
jects.