The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-28
SOME VERY CURIOUS Scots.
Odd and Queer Religious Beliefs of
the Present Day
From the New York Press


Odd and Queer Religious Beliefs of
the Present Day.
From the Ne,o York Press.
Men take many and varied methods of
lighting their way to heaven. The organi-
cations which have arisen in the worlds his
tory, each of them claiming to be specially
the people of the Almighty's choice, are SO
numerous as to make it certain that some
OF them at least must have been mistaken.
Between the rigid ranks of Calvinism and
the rowdy rioting of the Salvation Army a
wide gulf intervenes, but it is closely dotted
by little islands, many of which represent
some long exploded fallacy or some still
prevalent faith. Some of the more remark
able of these beliefs are mentioned below
THE IRvINGITEs
This century has witnessed a revival.
among many scattered sects, of the belief
that men filed with the spirit of God can
speak with tongues, prophesy and work
miracles OF healing and power. Perhaps
the most notable denomination OF this de-
scription is the Catholic Apostolic church.
Its founder was Edward Irving, popular
Presbyterian minister of London, who died
in 1884. His belief was that the wonders of
the Apostolic age lay in allegiance solely be-
cause of the faithlessness of the church, and
that still earnest faith and prayer would
produce the results which were the wonder
of ancient days. Such was the result of
his marvellous influence that before long
many in his congregation claimed to be
actually in possession of the gifts referred
to, and most remarkable scenes ensued.
Among those who came under his infu-
ence were two young Scotch girls, Miss
Campbell of Roseneath and Miss Macdonald
of Port Glasgow. Both of them were pos
sessed of highly susceptible natures. Both
were seriously i'll when the events recorded
took place. One day, it is said, Miss Mac
donald suddenly declared: "This day there
will be mighty baptism of the spirit"
Shortly afterward her brother James said:
81 have got it, and going to her bed, or
derad her to ''Arise and stand upright. ~
She at once did So By similar power
Miss Campbell was cured of her disease.
She was the first to exercise the gift of
tongues, and one evening startled her friends
by shouting loudly IN mysterious language
She was taken to London, and there the in
f1uence was so expanded that at some of the
services both men and women were stimuli
taneously shouting with superhuman
strength in an unknown tongue, to the as
constituent of all who heard and to their
own great edification, for he that speaketh
in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.n So
says Edward Irving.
Some of the expressions used by the
Campbell girl, who enjoyed the implicit
beoros, senoote-foorime, oorin. hoopo tanto
noostin, noorastin, niparos, dantitu, ham,
poctina. sastinootino, epoongos, o fastus
sungar, beressino, and many more edifying
phrases.
Another feature of the denomination is
the restoration of the apostolic office In
every respect it attempts to harmonic
with the Primitive Apostolic church. Its
founders prayed for apostles, but the apos-
ties must be appointed by the Lord. The
answer soon came. At a prayer meeting
one evening the spirit spoke clearly through
those present, and ordained Mr.. Henry
Drummond, rich banker, and Mr.. Hay
ford to the apostolic office. Subsequently
the College of Apostles was increased to
twelve, but latterly it has decreased to
much smaller number. At the head of
every church is an angel. This is, of course,
scrip tural, and "Unto the angel Of the
church at New York" is the manner in
which Paul would have addressed commu-
nication to the head of the church here. In
fully constituted church there are also six
elders, prophets, evangelists pastors and
The cause has never made much progress
In England. where the movement at one
time, created great excitement, there are to-
day only few thousand members. There
are, however, some well known men among
them. The Duke of Northumber land and
a. II
of tile present government, are strong up
holders of the sect.
In this city the Catholic Apostolic
church is situated at All West Fifty
seventh street. The building is a handsome
one but the church is not making much
head'xay. The angel of the church in
looking, white-haire old gentleman, who
resides at 1877 West Sixty-third street. The
church has also small German station in
Clinton place, and there is a church in Bos-
ton and two in Connecticut. At the West
Fifty seventh street church there is service
twice daily, at a. m. and p. m. On
Sunday there is a special preaching service
at 7:45 p. m, to which the public are in
vited.
The modern church does not, however,
claim to exercise all the gifts which were
made use of at its foundation. If there are
no DR. ophets in the church of New York to-
day it is just because the church has no
special need of them When the proper
time shall again recur, God will inspire with
prophecy such of his servants as he shall see
fit. But all his servants, whether apostle,
angel Cur prophet, are directly appointed by
God The church service is largely ritual
istic and in this and other respects it has
more resemblance to the Church of Rome
than to any other body.
ORTHODOX AND UNoRTHoDox MoRMoNs.
Another creed, even more marvellous in
its details, and much more astonishing in its
success. had its origin on this side of the
Atlantic at about the same time that the
miracles of the Irvingites were rousing
London It was in 1880 that Joseph Smith
declared himself in Manchester, N. Y, as
the peculiar instrument of revelation from
the Most High. The story of the repeated
visitatations of the messengers of God
which he claimed to have enjoyed, and of
the discovery of the "Book of Mormon"
and the instrument by which it was to be
read, are too well known to be repeated
here But the details Of its creed, apart
from its peculiar demands on the matri-
monial market, are not so generally known.
The Mormon faith is essentially material
istic. Everything that exists is either
matter or a modification Of matter. Even
the Supreme Deity is a combination OF par
ticles OF matter having parts and passions
like men.
The God! that others worship is not the God for
me.
He has no parts nor body, and cannot hear
nor see.
So says the Mormon hymn. God has also
a wife--a female deity-and residence
the pla net Kolob. From them have been
born many more deities, and also angels and
the spirits of men. Jesus Christ had also
many wives, two of whom were Mary and
Martha, the sisters of Lazarus.
The question of plurality of wives was the