The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-09-15
NEW SECT OF POLYGAMIsTs.

ANEW SECT OF POLYGAM1sTS.
Dispatches from Quincy announce that
early last Saturday morning the tempe
recently erected at Erwin, Schuyler county
Ill.,, by new religious sect that has arisen
IN that vicinity was blown up with giant
powder and totally destroyed. The build
ing had just been completed at cost OF
$1,000.
And thereby hangs tale" The sect
whose first temple" was thus destroyed
was known as the pilgrim Band" or
Obenshainers. 1t had its origin III the
usual wav. Obenshaln was a Methodist
preacher, of some ability, in high standing
in the Illinois Conference, aud had iol
years been assigned biennlally 10 one
church after another, according to the lie
nerant system of that denomination. But
like many other preachers, Mr. Obensha'n
had one weakness: he was salaclous.
Though the spirit was strong the flesh was
weak He had a comely wltc and hve
children, but a temptation entered his fam
lily IN the form of buXOm servant girl
named Mary McGhan, and for her the
weak pastor deserted the bed OF his lawful
spouse and committed "ioollshness" with
Miss Mary The wife rcbelled, made a
"fuss," and the matter, IN 1890, was brought
to the attention of the Conference. Mr..
Obenshain "scorned" 10 stand trial and
withdrew from the Conference and the
Methodist church About the same time
he told his wife that the Lord had revealed
to him that l, was no longer his duty to
support his wife and family, ana giving
her five dollars, told her to take the kids
and return to her kindred, whichp force
she did and has since been living witt
them.
Meantime Mr.. Caleb Anderson Obcn
sham could not afford to be idle. Having
attained that Joe.Smlthian state Of hOli
ness which enabled HIM to receive revela
tons from the Lord he appeared IN Schuy
Ter county and attached himself TO a sort
of ofishot of the MelhOdls's in that region
known as the "hollncss" pcople-Metho-
dists who believed that they could be so
far sanctitled as to be placed beyond the
possibility of SHINING. Being man OF
fine presence, winning address and not de.
void of eloquencc, his preaching soon led
to series OF notable revivals. But some
OF his doctrines and practices we're repul.
sive to the holiness people For instance,
he had a revelation that allowed him to
have two spiritual wives. whom he had
no difficulty in selecting from the sisters,
and he not only encouraged religious
meetings during total darkness, but
plainly taught the allowableness under
given conditions of free love and polygamy.
For these irregular ideas" he was thrust
out by the holiness people, and obliged toI
organize sect of his own which is known
as the "Pilgrim Band" with whom he has
been working about year, during which
he has been joined by kindred spirit
named Ryburn. The band" arc supposed
to number about 800, mostly women, but
representatives OF some of the
wealthlest families IN Shuyler county, IN
the vicinity of Irwin. Having no place of
and being forbidden most private
houses, they last spring erected tent on
the farm of man named Allphin, but one
night he tore it down and pitched it INTO
The road. The tent was soon afterwards
erected IN another place and on the night
Of July Sd il was torn down by mob.
Then brother gave them "A lot, upon
which, with great perseverance and sacri-
flee, they erected building at cost of
s. 900, which was last Saturday morning
blown up with powder, as stated above.