Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17
WOMEN WORSEsIPERS.


An Alleged IdOlatrOlIs Society applies
for q Charter-A Strange Religious
Belief.
From the Philadelphia Press.
The 81. Elimar Mira Militia Congregation of
the Lord" composed of people whose form of
religious belief is most remarkable, has applied
for charter. The application is resisted by the
friends of the woman who founded the church,
and exception to the application for the charter
was made on Saturday.
The sect was invented about two years ago
by woman, who claimed that she had had
revelation from the Lord to the effect that she
was the third person of the Holy Trinity
The wOman's name was Anna Meister but after
the alleged revelation she assumed that OF J.
Eiimar Mira Militia. number of credulous
Germans believed her story. and formed
church tor the advancement OF her ideas. They
purchased house on south 1lth street. ana be-
came so infatuated with the new religion that
they decided it to Miss Meister. In the building
they set up meeting room, and in this they
congregated every Sunday to worship the SELF
styled prophet. Miss Mester, it is claimed by
those resisting the application for the charter.
was in the habit Of wearing crown and a tinsel
dress, and OF going through all sorts of weird
lamentations, while the members of the congre-
CATION paid her homage upon their knees, as if
she had been deity. Several members Of the
congregation were rich, and no expense was
services took place. For eighteen months the
followers of Meister assembled weekly. and
sometimes more frequently, to go through
the forms that had become sacred to them
through their convictions.
A few months ago Miss Meister who is said to
have been religious mOnOmanac, died. The
enthusiasm Of the congregation redoubled and
they WOrshiped her as saint. difficulty,
however. arose on which they had not counted
The heirs Of the deceased prophet prepared to
take possession Of the temple, on the ground
that, as it was Miss Meister's property, her
death made 1t theirs. This view the congrega-
ton was by no means ready to accept. In their
confidence in the woman as prophet, it is true
they made her present OF the building without
throwing any legal restrictions about the trans
action. but they claimed that they never in
tended that it should be used for purpose
other than that for which it was purchased
namely, the performance ofreligiOus ceremonies
They averred that the building was held by Miss
Meister In trust for the congregation. This is
another point that will have to be settled.
The application Tor the charter was made last
week. The purpose for which the incorporation
is designed is to maintain the worship of
Triune God according to the Lutheran Cuitus
and the teachings of ]. Elimar Mira Militia"
Charles G. Lister, of 425 Walnut street, is the
attorney OF Meta Meister the filler of the excep-
ton and the sister of the deceased mira Militia"
The first reason set forth in the bill of excep-
lions is as follows:
Because the object of the said petitioners is
not the support Of public worship but the
said J. Elimar Mira Militia as one OF the persons
of the Trinity"
The fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth clauses
are thus:
Because, without knowledge on the part of
the learned judges as to what constitutes the
teachings Of the said J. Elmar Mira Militia, it is
impossible to certify that the object of the cor
poratiOn is not injurious.
Because the expectant has been informed
and believes that for many years prior to her re-
cent decease the said Anna Meister, under the
assumed name Of ]. Elimar Mira Militia, as
serted and taught that she was the Holy Ghost;
that she was one OF the persons constituting
the Holy Trinity; that she wore crown and
decorated herself with silken gowns and robes
and jewels, and was worshiped by the per-
sons who now seek the charter of incorpOra-
ton.
Because the association, Of which the sub
scribers are members, have conducted this IDOL
atrOus worship In q private dwelling house, and
no lin public house Of worship, open to all
who may desire to be present and join in public
worship.
Because. without more definite statement
OF what the subscribers regard as the Lutheran
Cultus,' it is Objectionable to large body Of
Christian believers, regularly organized as the
Evangelical Lutheran church, to have the cor
poration styled Lutheran"
The opposition to the granting of the charter,
1t Is said will in it's turn be desperately fought
by the Mira Militia congregation. The lawyers
OF Miss Meister's sister declare that they, too.
will fight the case tooth and NAIL and compel
the production in court of the pictures. crown
and other paraphernalia used at the services of
the congregation in order to convince the court
of their idOlatrous character. Whether the
charter can be refused If the application for it
Is properly amended 80 as to meet the technical
demands Of the law is a point that promises to
excite some controversy. The question of
whether it is polite or lawful to prevent the
formation of such congregations where the
members are really believers in what they pro-
fess and act in other respects in good faith, IL
one that has champions on both Sides