The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-26


 horror. Under no prctaxt do they have recourse to the protection of the magistrate, preferring to suffer with patience, To appeal to the law for protection would be to recognize 1t, to submit to social institutions; but to submit to law is to destroy one's Individuality, which should rest for its suppor, only on the individual conscience and personal convictions,
 It must be added that they do not believe In the life of the other world and the rewards of the future life. They hold that man Is immortaliRcd only in pesterity, in behalf of which he spends his moral and physical force, About twenty five years ago new mystical sect appeared In Russia, called the Bumpers" (PrTgooay,) The Caucasus and the neighboTiag ooan- tries serve as the place of exile to which the government sends hardened and recalcitrant dissentcrs, fearing their demoralizing influence on the masses ot the Russian people. There arc to be met representatives of all the Russian sects--Molokanes, Skoptsys, Vagabonds, etc. There, because at 90 great a distance from the centre of government, and because the whole country is in semi savage condition. the sectaries find greater liberty .o arrange their lives according to tho precopts of their religion, and they take advantage of this to carry on an active propaganda among the natives and the Russian colonists. 1t was among this population of scctarics that the new scot of "Prigoony" arose and carried fanaticism and religious ecstacy 10 the highest point, It soon invaded several villages and attracted number of people to its doctrine. It's principal apostle called himself God and taught chiefly that, since the end of the world was at hand, all must prepare for 1t by repentance and puri- flcation from past sin by confession to the elect of God. The enthusiasm aroused by this teaching was such that the new disciples left their work and devoted all their time to prayer, and to listening to sermons and instruct i've discourscs. The principal dogma of this sect is the descent of tho Holy Spirit upon believers. This descent takes place only upon the elect during religious meetings, and takes place continually only upon two or three persons in each meeting. IIabitually 1t occurs only at the end ot meeting when all have been suitably prepared by prayer. The signs of His presence are chiefly an unusual pallor of the face, quiekencd breath, then sway ing of the whole body, then the persons begin to tap rhythmically with their feet and then follow jumpings and violent eontortions, and in the end they fall heavily to the groud.
 All this does not always follow In the same order. Some of the believers sway, and then, springing on the benches, begin to jump. Others fall from the benches to the floor, and there remain stretched out for whole hour or more. Others march round the table with theatrical stride shaken by hysterical sobs. And while twirl- ing in their places, throwing them selves about, falling on the ground or raising themselves again, they retain . fixed look of great solcmnity and seri- ousness imprinted on their faces. The meeting ends with a fraternal greet ing, the teachers and apostles embrac- ing each other and then retiring to the opposite sides of the room. Then the brothers and sisters come to them suc- cessively, throw themselves on the ground three times before them and embrace them three times. This fra ternal greeting lasts sometimes an hour or two, and the number of kisses each brother and sister receives reaches a hundred more.