The Red Cloud chief., 1879-09-25

PeeaiiariI-. 81 the BABE. os the N'--is D
Western W~issonsin.

though the name by which th.I arr call
,.i la ihem-.lye. /. the Peculiar Chill
/ dr,n," and | am much mistaken II. after
| perl>ing ihi- letter, readers If III"
I Grdth,c do not agree that II l. a Gr-i
name for them. The s.7't wa- founded
-onc time ago in the "wn II b-akana
by an honest farmer named benjamin
Roe. who va formerly a Baptist, tout
who. having been informed ''ht the
spirit that "A literal Interpretation wa-
Ia b- given io the third verse If III"
eighteenth chapter If -. Matthew, -et
I about Ia preach hi new revelation ON
hi own hook, and a. hi former br"'h-
rcn did not take kindly Ia hi doctrine.
Withdrew from the Iiapii-t> altogether
aud finally succeeded in making quite a
I number nf converts IN this and neigh
boring towns. H. j. a large and rather
oood-looking man. about 40 years odd.
awkward in his movements anil unc"tth
in speech. and. a. in hi~ ~earns-tnrs-.
there J. no possibility "f doubt. Er.i-
laTly l,c holds forth AZ what wa~ form
rrlv the Methodist Mcc;ing-hnu~c at
D>akana. but now in TIA" -nIumcr many
# hi followers have come with him Ia
the woods. whittier q number uf "ui-id-
rrS have also been drawn 10y curiosity.
and certainly they are we'll paid for their
visit. Singular a. it may SEEM. several
converts have been mad" during ih" lat
three day-, aud there j. prpmi~, If
MANY more. for the frrSor l. rapidly
CROWN" Ia fever heat, and IL j. proposed
Ia continue Ih" camp mrciln" for tw"
weeks, that Time la bc further extended
if the interest shown shall warrant an
extension.
The meeting j. conducted a. such
gatherings were in the old Methodist
day.. The people are summoned 10th"
preaching 10y the blowing Of u "c"nch
she'll" and the preachers stand i =
sort of wooden box containing a plat
form. AT the side "f " hich arr seats for
the speakers. Immediately III front If
this stand boards are arranged. "n which
Ill prominent members of the sect. both
male and female. as also persons wi"
are - ANXIOUS" Behind these are seats
for the congregation AT Eir"" aud for
visitors. On the day Of my arrival a.
the camp grounds the meeting had been
in session four days, and - ] have SAID.
considerable Interest had been mani
if~ttu- ! iIilNfl III tillit l"I Nv 'i''l
noon service: indeed, they wrr" -in"in"
the first HYMN a. | reached the ground.
This HYMN. which was sung with great
fcryor, was followed 10y Il prayer lay Sis
ter Lawson, after which cam" another
hyrnn and then the sermon hy Mr.. Roe,
the founder IF the sect. ] can not hope
to reproduce this strange discourse,
which was thoroughly d"ctrinnl. the
text being the one Of which ! have al
ready spoken: Except We bc convert
cd and hccomc ~ little children W shall
not enter the kingdom of heaven" The
necessity of Il radical conversion was i'll
sisted upon ~ a preliminary to bec"m-
in~ a. little children: il was shown in :;
way tina, seemed To produce full r"mvic-
tion. that conversion WIS 80 radical and
thorough Il change of the whole nature
that IA converted man will no longer
have the fear Of man before his ewes and
will he willing even happy I" endure
the filings and quip> Of a sinful world. 81
that he will care no NOR. for them than
innocent children. What i ii that i
the peculiarly of childhood? Innocence,
sincerity. and above all no care for land
or gold, but. instead. love of innocent
endowment and play. To become really
IA little children we must east aside all
love for pomp and vanity and enjoy
those things alone which are ~intrin>ical-
" worthless. This. said Mr.. Roe, i tn,
literal and, therefore. true meaning al
the text. and he who fears or j. a>hamc,
la become thus like little children i hut
a. other men. and can not hope {" he,
come one of the Peculiar Children. H.
l%uStrationS of his meaning We're given III
great numbers by Mr.. Roe. and had IL
not been for the absurd conduct which
followed the sermon. one might hay,
been almost willin" la accept his doe
trinr. at least. a. Il logical one. Shouts
of amen" and ..trIr. BROTHER were
frequent iurin" the discourse. ami when,
1t last, the preacher stopped, with per
Spiration streaming" down his face. il
was evident that all had been profound
IL impressed. After the sermon. the
peculiar ..cNcrci>c>" of these -tran%
enthusiasts were entered upon in the
way which ! will now proceed Ia explain.
Mr.. Roe retired from view for Il moment.
and while he did 81 the brethren and
sisters Immediately in front of the
platform began Ia tie strange little caps
and bonnet> on their heads and long
checked aprons around their bodies.
while Others drew marbles and tops
from their pockets. | made my WAY Ia
the front. curious la see what was forth
coming. and presently Mr.. Roe re-
appeared in a Jacket and with his irouS-
erS rolled up Ia his knees. Stepping f.
the front of the platform he CAV i
mighty crow. and. whirling his cap
around his head. he cried Justify,
girls Then jumping from the stage h'
graSped a sister by the hand. and said
What lets play:?" Then amid Il tumulr
of voices and such hu>tling and crowd.
i'm" aS NAV he seen in II school ward
during recess, some called for - King or
the Castle" Uncle John is Very Sick
or =. Bows and Girls Come ON Ia Play
while others shouted for "ball al
=. >hinnv." One poor old enthusiast,
who could not have been far from three
score years and ten. dragged away will
him several others. and set about L" play
Follow My Master" 10y %>tandin" I'll
his head ito the imminent danger of his
neck) against a tree. 1t WAS rather
painful than amusing Ia see these old
fellows. tottering on the verge If thu
grave. try Ia throw hand>prin%> and
somerSaultS. hut they did Is well ~ the,
were able. and evidently the spirit wa
willing though the flesh a weak. \
group of old ladies sat ut the right ot
the platform comparing dolls and bick.
ering over sugar candy. while another,
composed partly Of old gentlemen. had
been formed into a ring. and with >ilrill,
cracked voices, but Yes sparkling with
eNaltation, sang:
Come. p~hilandcr. lets De- u marching.
see in YOUR ranks there's no de>ertirn.
Choose your true love now or never,
see that Nou don't choose any other.
Love. farewell, Love, farewell
We must all Ice a marching,
Love, faIcweli.
Then 4 >c>agenarian man would
choose his love from among the old
ladies, kiss her and stand still while the
same performance was repeated until Il
procession had been formed. AMI
marched about singing. gigylin- and