Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-10-28
THE TRANCE PREACHER.
He Visits q Peculiar Sect in Ian
caster County Efforts to Solve
the Mystery.

"A iOPl CoCutSh(ANC Va InC LlctO-
ing Eagle drove through por-
, tions Of Lancaster county last
week to attend the very strange
meetings held by the Amishmen.
The correspondent says:
These honest, straight-haired,
broad brimmed people are great
:. ly exercised over the advent in
to this section Of one of their
brethren from the State Of Iowa,
a preacher named Noah 1'royer,
lwho only delivers addresses
when in somnambulistic state.
| His fame became known to them
through the church organs, and
they determined to spare no ex-
pense to secure his attendance.
He arrived at the Gap a few
days ago in company with his
wife and two attendants, and
was received as the guest of G.
l.. Kaufman, residing near by.
He officiated at a large meeting
on Monday night at Mr.. Kauff-
mans residence, and again on
Tuesday night at the same place,
it being estimated that on the
latter night not less than. one
thousand persons were present,
including members Of the de-
nomination from all portions of
Lancaster county, as well as
from surrounding counties.
At five o'clock in the evening
he laid upon a bed, ,and was soon
(apparently) sleeping soundly.
After the lapse of about an hour
he commenced to pray, and his
prayer was admired for its force
and the beauty Of its rhetoric.
At the conclusion of the prayer
he leaped from the bed, when he
was at once taken care of by his
| two attendants, who led him
through the house and out upon
the porch, where he preached to
the vast multitude from a text
announced as soon as he left the
bed. His discourse is represent
ed as being a powerful one, and
was delivered partly in German
and partly in English. His
main effort appeared to be di-
rected toward healing the differ
iences at present existing in the
Amish Church, and it is said
that he appears to be accom-
plishing much good. His SER
mon OH Tuesday night occupied
nearly two hours in its delivery,
and was listened to by a number
of the Bishops of the Church in
Lancaster county. DR.. A.G.
B. Parke, of the Gap, and sever
al other physicians present at
tempted to solve the mystery of |
the strange condition in which
Mr.. Troyer is placed, but with
out success. The pulse showed !
no change from the time of lying
down to the end of his sermon, at
the conclusion Of which the
speaker awoke, looked about him
in a dazed sort of way, and was
led off by his attendants. He
says in his waking moments that
he has no knowledge of what he
says while asleep. His attend
ants say he has preached one
hundred and thirty sermons in
as many consecutive days.
He has his eyes closed all the
time he talks, and occasionally
his hands are crossed upon his
breast. Some say that he goes
into a sort Of trance, land that the
spirit comes unto him and in
spires him..
At first l could not believe
that the man was actually y asleep,
but he himself assured me that l
could tell all the people through
the Eagle that such was the fact.
He is a middle-aged man, medi-
um in height, and seems to be
very much of a gentleman.
All the Amish people sincere
ly believe him, and many imag-
inc that he has been specially
sent by some unknown power to
bring peace, happiness, content
ment and blessing upon those
who are troubled with discord.
All this valley is now stirred up
by Troyer's coming. His adj
vent is hailed as the dawning OF
a new era in the life of the Am
ish people. Mr.. Troyler dresses
in the costume of the, Amish, ,and
is quiet, reserved and sincere
looking man. He was first made
aware of his power sev eral years
ago in the West. He has a
splendid physique, or he could
not undergo the hard work OF
the incessant talking that he has
done. He speaks loudly, clear
ly and distinctly, and thus far
has made the most satisfactory
impression.