Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-11-13
PIOUSa USaSHERMANITES.
A Peculiar GLASS Of People Living
N n. Alabama. \
They Are Honest, Temperate, Wash Ono
Another's Feet, But Never Cut Their /.
Hair = Religious Enthusiasts
Full Of Quaint Conceits.

lue otner uay rough-lo0king country
man walked into general supply store in
this city and stated to the proprietor that he
wanted to purchase 800 worth of goods on
credit, writes Birmingham (Ala) cor
respondent Of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette. The man wore his hair lone
like woman, and his beard reached al.
most to his waist. His clothes were all
made at home; they were ill-ftting and OF
the cheapest material, and altogether he
was strange specimen Of humanity.
"What is your namei" asked the mer.
chant, when the man stated his business.
John Smith, answered the countryman.
"When can you pay for the goodsl''
"Pll pay you in November, when I sell
my cotton crop"
"All right, Mr.. Smith; you can have the
goods"
The goods were soon loaded on Smiths
wagon, and he drove away without giving
themerchant note or any kind of security.
"Do you know the mani" asked of the
merchant. .tfI
''Never saw him before"
"Will he pay you for those goods"
"Certainly."
"How do you know"
because he is a Shermanite He 10 q
member OF q remarkable religious society,
and If he failed to pay debt he would be
expelled from his church, and driven from
the community in which he lives, in dis.
grace. Imay not see or hear Of him again
until next November, but if he is living he
VIII come and pay me every cent he owes
me. The Shermanites all wear their hair
long like this one, and they are easily rec
ognized any where"
Tn Taodso UoIlau L. xhn
part Of this county, there is q colony of
Shermanites. There are about one hun
dred families, and happier, more content
ed people can not be found in the word.
Their religious rites and ceremonies are
peculiar. Who founded the society none of
them seem to know, but it Is very old, as
the fathers and grandfathers Of the present
generation were Shermantes. They claim
to follow the teachings of the New Testa-
ment in spirit and letter, and they believe
that only Shermanites will inherit the
Kingdom Of Heaven. They have churches
and preachers and worship in manner
similar to many oSher religious sects. One
Of their peculiar rites is the washing of
feet. A foot-washing service is held once
every month, at which the preacher washes
the feet of every member of the church.
The members then in turn wash the feet Of
the preacher and of each other. This service
usually lasts all day, being interspersed
with singing and praying.
Members Of all other religious denomina-
tions they regard as heathen, and send
missionaries among them instead Of send
ing them to foreign lands. Shermanites
never cut their hair or beard, claiming that
Christ never patronized barber-shops. In
every home may be found ancient wood
cuts representing Christ and His Apostles
as wearing long hair and beard. A Sher-
mantle who falls from grace Is lost forever,
and he must always live up to certain moral
and business rules which are very rigid.
To pay all debts Is part OF their religion.
No man can be saved, they say, who does
not pay his neighbor what he owes him.
They never charge one another interest on
a loan, and no written acknowledgment Of
debt is ever gwen. The word Of Sher-
mantle is his bond, and it becomes his
sacred duty for him to fulfill every promise
made. They are an Industrious people be-
cause industry is part of their creed.
The Shermanites are all small farmers,
but most of them own their farms and
some stock. Many Of them are compelled
to purchase few supplies in this city every
summer, for which they are unable to pay
cash. Where their peculiar religion is
known they have no trouble in obtaining all
the credit they want. They give no notes
or security of any kind, but merchants who
have done business with them for years
have never lost dollar due from Sher-
mantle customer. Their preachers accept
no pay for preaching the Gospel, working
on their farms during the week as hard as
any member Of the Church. Divorce
is something unknown among these
people, and the women are all
virtuosu. Drunkenness is another vice un-
known among these people, as they follow
to the letter the advice of the Apostle, who
said: "Be temperate in all things" Their
homes are models of neatness and comfort,
and the stranger is always welcome within
their gates. It would be almost an insult to
tender them payment for food, lodging or
any other favor shown q stranger. The
Shermanites make few converts to their
peculiar religion, but they lose no members,
and seem happy and contented In simply
holding their own.
One remarkable thing about them Is that
they will have nothing to do with courts
and lawyers. A lawsuit in which Sher-
mantle was plaintiff can not be found on the
court records Of this country. they never
seek legal advice unless 1t Ii actually nee
esssry. All their differences are settled by
traitors. and the civil courts are never
under any circumstances resorted to. They
seek in every way possible to avoid jury
duty or being summoned as witnesses In
any cases. They take no part In pohtics,
and a Shermanite was never known to hold
an onice of any kind. Some OF them vote at
every election, but they have no campaign
clubs In their community, and every man -
allowed to vote as he pleases, Many OF
them never vote at all. ...
! Ths first settlers Of this Shermanite col
ony came to Alabama from South Carolina
and Georgia about forty-fve years ago. Inc
Oldest of them say their ancestors came
originally from New England, but they are
unable 70 say who was the founder OF their
society.
Thoughts Of the Dying.
It is affirmed that . dying person In his
last moments thinks of the chief events OF
his life. Persons resuscitated from drown
ing, eplleptics with grave attacks, persons