The Cecil Whig., 1885-01-10
WOMAN W0RSHIPE2S.

An Alleged Idolatrous Society Applies for a
Chartor-A Strange Religion. Belief.
From the Philadelphia Fress.
The 81 Elimar Mira Militia Congregation
of the Lord" composed of people whoss
form of religion. belief i. most remark able
has applied for : charter Tho application
is resisted hy the friends of the woman who
founded the church, and exception to the
application for the char WAS made on
Saturday.
The sect was invented about two years
ago by . woman, no claimed that she had
had revelation from the Lord to the effect
that she was tn. third person Of the Holy
Trinity. The w0m>n's name was Anna
Meister, but after the alleged revelation she
assumed that of j. Eimar Mira Militia. A
number OF crsdulous Germans believed her
story, and formed a church for the advance
ment OF her dsas. They purchased 4 house
on South Eleventh street, and become so
infatuated with the new religion that they
decided it to Miss Meister. In ths building
they set up a meeting room, and in this
they ccngresAted every Sunday to worship
the selEstyled prophet, Niiss Meister, it is
claimed by these resisting the application
for the charter was in the h hit of We .ring
a crown and a tinsel dress, and of going
through all sorts of weird inca" tations,
while the members OF the congregation paid
her homage uron their knees, AS if she had
been a deity Several members of he con-
yregatiou were rich, aud no expense was
spared in fitting up the hnildiug in which
the 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 con nviction>.
A few months ago Miss Meister, Who is
said to have b-en religious monnrn ,.niac,
died The enthusiasm of the congr.g alton
redouhled, and they worshiped her as a
saint. A difficulty, however, arose on which
they had not counted. Tbs hsrs of the de-
ceased prophe. prepared To take possession
OF the temple on the ground that, As liz was
Miss Meistcr's prop erty, her death made it
theirs. This view the congregation was by
no means ready to accept Ia their conf
,iencs in the woman as 4 prophet, it is true,
they Iii ,,ie her present of the building
without throwing any legal restrictions
ai;,uE the transaction, bat they claimed
that they never intended that it should be
used for \ purpose oi her than that for which
it was purchased, namely, the performance
0f r"ij ginu< cerr!f!U.ies. Th"y aTerrei that
the buli,iing was ned ;,v Miss NeiSrer in
trust for the congregation. Ihls is aroAh er
point that will have 10 be settled.
,rn,iratipu for ti,e charter ,na1e
last week The purpose for which the in
corporation is designed il to 'maintain the
worship OF Triune God according to the
Lutheran Cultus and tho teachings of j.
Elinar Mira Mitta.' Charles G. Lister, of
l2j Walnut street, is the attorney Uf Meta
Maister. the iier of the exception and the
sister Of the deceased mira Militia" The
first reason set forth in the bill Of exceptions
is as follows:
''Becau.e he object of the sail petition
ers is not the support of public Worship,
but the maintenance of an lt!olItrnus wor-
ship Of the said j. Eiimar Mira Militia rs
one of tho persons Of the Trinity
The ffth, sixth, seventh and eighth clauses
are thus:
"BecauSe, without knowledge on the part
OF the learned Judges 50 TO what constitutes
the teachings of the said j. Eliinar Mira
Militia, il is impossible TO certify tina: the
object of the Incorporation is not injurious
because the sxceptant has been informed
and believes that for many years prior to
her recent decease the said Anna Meater,
under the assumed name of j. Elimar Mira
Militia, asserted and taught that she was the
Holy Ghost, that she was one OF the per
sens constituting the Holy Trinity, that she
wore a crown and decorated herself with
silken gowns and robes and jewels, and WAS
worshipped by tho persons who now seek
the charter OF Incorporation.
"BecauSe the association, of which the
subscribers are membrrs, have conducted