Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-07-20

known to the residents for some time, but
no one felt disposed to interfere in any way.
Since the publication OF yesterday fifty
persons have come forward and declared
they knew all about it; that the matter
has been town talk for months, and that II
has long been rumOred that Mrs. Martin
has been wOrshipped rs Jesus Christ. The
fanatics were not in the least put out by
the revelations, but with that Christian
forbearance and candUr for which they
wish To he conspicuous, did not feel Offend
ed, and acknowledged that the statements
concerning them were in the main true.
As might be expected there was general
demand for
FURTHER DETAILS
of the origin of this movement, and more
specific biography of Mrs. John B. Martin,
who exercises such inexplicable power
over her followers The SO-called spiritual
Christ is well known on Walnut Hills
She was before her marriage Miss Hannah
Supple, of Philadelphia, Pa. She came
west with her father and mother
who reside on Walnut Hills with their
other daughter, Mrs. John +. Brooke
1t was ascertained yesterday that the
father and mother are also devOtecS at
the shrine of their GOd-like daughter. IL.
NJ. Supple, u brother is citizen OF Cum
minsville. Mrs. Martin was married to
John g. Martin about ten years ago. She
is now between thirty-iOur and thirty-iivc
years OF age. A prominent gentleman,
who was formerly Il beau OF MIS- Martins
saws that she is a woman of only ordinary
intelligence, but glib talkcr and wonder
fully we'll posted on the Bible, being
able to quote passages OF Scripture
on nearly every question. She Is
subject to violent nervous excitement, and
has on several occasions been almost fran
tic in revivals Mrs. Martin is woman
of isms. She was several years ago firm
believer in SanCtitiCatiOn, peculiar tenet
held by some members of the Methodist
Church, and latterly she was zealot in
the faith-cure mania. The lady is ecccn-
tric to notable degree, and her present
wild fancies, which have 50 deeply per
meated others, seem to be the logical out
come of her previous strange notions.
THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS
MOVEMENT,
which is, in the minds of its disciples,
bound to redeem the world, is closely in
twined with the religious career of its
leader. All the perfect were ''Slnctilica-
tiOnistS," and many of them were carried
away by the faith cure 1t Is quite diff
cult to clearly define the faith Ofthe Martin
ties. except to the extent that they regard
Mrs. Martin as their divine teacher, through
whom God is revealed. and that her sis
ter, Mrs. Brooke, the only other perfect
woman that has ever lived, as that part of
the Trinity which theOlOgianS designate
as the Holy Ghost. Yesterday afternoon
the faithful met ut the Brooke residence.
The entire band, with one or two eXCep-
tionS, were present. Several ladies and
gentlemen, among them Mrs Flora Miller,
Miss Maggie Address, Mr.. Brooke and Miss
Nellie DevenhOff, whose name was omitted
Yesterday, were seated on the shady pOrt'co
which runs across the front of the house.
They were found in parties of two or three,
and were evidently engaged in converse
tion. A reporter, who the previous even
| inc had masQueraded before Mr.. Jerome
under the name of Mr. Edwards, walked
up to the porch and asked for
MRS. MILLER,
who is recognized as one OF the most in
| telligent and enthusiastic of the peculiar
/ sect. She came down and asked the re-
porter to take seat by her side on the
steps.
what is the foundation doctrine of
/ YOUR new belief?'
'Tn tell YOU in nutshell, y replied
| Mrs. Miller, and thereupon she proceeded
with confused statement which Phila-
delphia lawyer could not make intelligi-
/ BILE. She claimed that people can
/ live without sin, for if they
can not Gods moral universe Is n
| failure: He holds us responsible for that
which we are unable to avoid. The preach
ers and churches declare that sin must
exist in every one, and on this point
the Perfect severed their connection
with all denominations which promulgate
such a pernicions doctrine. Mrs. Miller
and her co-religionists claim to live perfect
lives. The lady said: Death is the result
of sin; where there is no sin there can be
no death. and we shall not die"
''How about MrS. Martin; is she di-
vine?'
Mrs. Miller rather heSitated and was
confused, for this is dangerous ground.
Finally she responded TO the question
I'VE think Mrs. Martin has lived life OF
holiness longer than any of the rest of us
and is best fitted to be our teacher. She
is the most perfect, in fact
THE ONLY PERFECT WOMAN
That ever lived"
do YOU believe that she is Christi
''N-O, but she is possessed of His spirit
and He speaks through her"
Mrs. Miller admitted during her fal
from lucid explanation of her faith thai
none but the perfect could enter their as
semblieS, and she avoided saying anything
as TO her nature and character.
Several believers whose names were not
obtainable yesterday are here given: Mr.
Address, whose name is not in the direc
tory; Mr.. Henfy Thompson, of Walnut
Hills; Mrs. Downing, of Walnut Hills
Miss Amelia Dornhoff, clerk in Aims 4
DOepke's store; Mr.. and Mrs. Sheppard, o
Walnut Hills; Mr.. and Mrs. Supple, moth
er and father of Mrs. Martin, and Mrs
Brooke.
Not the least impressive feature amont
tba fanatics Is the cloSa bond of friendship