Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-08-16
ATONEMENT IN BLOOD
False Prophets Deluding Ig-
nOrant Negroes In Georgia.
THE WILD ORGIES or THE
BLACKS.

nOrant Negroes In Georgia.
THE WILD ORGIES or THE
BLACKS.
SUCCESSIVE IMPOsTORS PERSON
ATETH MESSIAH, THE PROPHET
ELIJAH, AND KING SOLOMON
MIDNIGHT INCANTATIONs IN
PoREsTs-MoNEY FOR ANGELS
WINGS.
HINEsvILLE, GA, Aug. TN the
Jail here are confined dozen indl-
viduals, one of whom has posed as
the Messiah, another as Elijah,
and yet another as King Solomon.
Among the remainder are claimants
for the honors of all the lesser
prophets. The events which have
led up to the incarceration OF these
men have gained general attention,
and the results upon the people OF
Liberty county haye been dlsas'
trous. Liberty IS one of the Oldest
counties in Georgia. When Ogle'
throp first planted his colony on
the site of what is now Savannah,
he was applied to tor refuge by a
large body of Scotch covenanters,
who desired the peace Of the new
world. Their application was re-
cieved with favor, and to the set
tlement which they made was
given the name of Liberty. These
people possessed all the sturdy
qualities of the Scotch race, and
! the fact that they we're refugees
from political intolerance and re-
ligious character. Churches and
schools went up before residences,
and the mans standing in the
church was the measure BY which
he was gagged. The oldest church
In this part of the wOrld-Midwsy
is situated near by. and upon its
rolls are to be found the names OF
men who haye achieved fame IN
every part of the South, an d
breaches who have made themselves
felt in every part Of the United
States
When, in the course Of time,
slavery became an institution, 1t
existed in Liberty county in its
most benevolent form. The plant
ers regarded their dependents as
one large family, and their slaves
we're educated up to the highest de-
gree Of Christianity. The mar
rage tie was enforced, parental
rights we're respected, and general
policy was such to warrant the
highest expectations from negro de
velopement. The Walthour plan
tatlon was a notable one. OF broad
acreage, with generous and consci
entious master, the colony o.
slaves thereon was an Ideal repub
lie. War destroyed the bond which
held master and slave, only tC
drive the master away, leaving the
slave in full possession. Not only
we're the slaves IN full possession
of the acres, but elevated by sew
ersl generations of strict Christian
training, they had every reason Il
Justify the hope that they would
establish the fact that theirs was s
progressive race. That vOodOOisn
and fetlchlsm existed among then
has frequently been charged b,
their ehemies and as war mly de
MED by their friends. a prominent
citizen, in explanation OF the pres
ent state OF affairs, yOuches for thu
following story
.tIn 1870 several colored girls
who had been educated for tina
purpose, we're sent to Africa a.
missionaries. One Of them married
a native chief, and readily fell bacl
into the customs OF her fathers. A
few years later she revisited he
people IN Liberty county, wher'
she was an object OF great atten
ton. She held receptions in
dense swamp, after dark, to which
E she took care that no white mar
should be admitted. II is claimed
that at these meetings horrible in
carnations were practicel, and the
negroes were initiated int all thu
barbarous rites which their fathers
h had leftibehlnd them in Africa
Certain it is that after the depart
> ure of this woman the negroe
were 4 changed people. Churc
u membership tell of, while secre
voodoo meetings increased. L
these meetings prominent member
. would tall into trance and naTat
= wonderful stories of what they ha
seen, both in heaven and in hell
Their stories would be accepted a
, gospel truth, and no commau
which they gave would be disc
=, beyed.
With this state OF affairs explain
L..