Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-12-26

Several months past we have
heard rumors to the effect that a
strange and entirely new religion
was being practiced in the vicinity
Of Lone Elm, Henderson county
In order to get bottom facts we
took steps to obtain the followir J,
reliable statements. Our information
was obtained from Mr. Ransom T.
Jones, of Lone Elm, and cor
roborated by many of the best ci-
tizens of that county:
About the Both OF April, 1873, a
man calling himself Robert Edge
| made his appearance in Lexington,
Henderson county, Tenn, aud rep,
resented himself us a preacher
He enLeavorcd to unite himself with
the Missionary Baptist church,
Failing in this he tried to identity
himself with the old Baptists, but
they, after considering his claims,
pronounced him unworthy of fell
lowship. He then tried to affiliate
with the Masonic Fraternity, but was
in like manner repnlsed. Then he
began to preach i'll the town OF Lex
ington. After delivering two or
three discoul ses to very respectable
audiences, he informed his hearers
that lie could not preach as he de-
sired unless he had congregations
composed entirely of males, as Ia
dies were too modest to listen to
true gospel sermon eXpounded after
his order. At this juucture the
cold shoulder was turned toward
him by the good citizens OF this
town, and seeing that he had driv-1
en- the people from him, and lost
his Influence, he shook the dust of
Lexington from his tect, and hieG
him away to the rural districts of
the county in search Of those upon
whom he could more easily impose
He inquired of leading citizen of
the Twentieth district for the most
ignorant settlement in the county,
and was laconlcally informed that
he was then in the midst of what
he desircd-dense ignorance where
upon he pitched his tent and pro-
ceeded to pronulgate the tencts OF
his lnstful and pernicIous faith
His first discourses were we'll re-
ceived and much applauded by sew
eral OF the most prominent citizens
of the district, and it was evident
that he was destined to reap bonn
tiful harvest from the seed he was
sowing. He was man of fine
though nhassuming appearance,
gifted by nature with remarkable
powers of eloquence, and evidently
possessed OF a good education. He
began system of preaching and
practice that surpassed any thing
known since the palmy days OF
Brigham Young, contining his la
bors chiefly to the section of coun-
try lying between Berkett's and
Haley's creeks, where he had many
proselytes, some OF whom are prac~
ticing ard preaching now after the
manner OF this modern Messiah
His services were commenced after
the usual MARINER, with singing and
prayer. He would preach from
several texts and read "A good deal
OF Scripture in each sermon. The
passage upon which his doctrine was
founded was as follws: "Add to
your faith virtue, and to virtue
knowledge, and to knowledge tenn
Perance, and to temperance patience,
and to patience godliness, and to
godliness brotLerly kindness, and
to brotherly kindness charity -
He taught that his religion was
composed of seven distinct ingredl-
ents, based on the foregoing graces,
and that having taken all the de-
grees it was impossible for his dis
ciples to sin, no matter what they
did.
In administering the first degree
: he extended to the applicant the
right hand of fellowship and whisp.
cred in his car what he was pleased