Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-09-23
PIOUS SHERMANITES.
A Peculiar Glass Of People Living
in Alabama.
They Are Eonest, Temperate, Wash One
Another's Feet, But Never Cut Their
Hair - Religious Enthusiasts
Full Of Quaint Conceits.

The other day a rough-looking country
man walked into general supply store in
this city and stated to the proprietor that ne
wanted TO purchase 800 worth Of goods on
credit, writes Birmingham (Ala) cor
respondent Of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette. The man wore his hair long
like q woman, and his beard reached al
most to his waist His clothes were all
made at home; they were ill-dtting 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"
an pay you in November, when 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
the merchant a note or any kind Of security.
"Do you know the manp I asked Of the
merchant
"Never saw him before.'
"Will he pay you for those goodsi"
! "Certainly."
"How do you knowp'
| DctaubC uC ID u hC 10
member OF a remarkable religious society,
and il he failed to pay debt he would be
expelled from his church, and driven from
the community in which he lives, in dis
grace may not ee or hear of him again
until next November, but il he is living he
will 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"
In Leeds Valley, In the northwestern
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 Shermanites. 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 a manner
similar TO many oSher religious sects One
Of their peculiar rites is the washing of
feet. 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
60, t,,,., vk,,;,t
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
loan, and no written acknowledgment of
debt is ever gwen. The word Of a 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
huoWu IHcy nave uO trOuUio III OutalilLS ali
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 a 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
virtaous. 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. 1t would be almost an insult to
tender them payment for food, lodging or
any other favor shown 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 aw-suit in which a Sher- |
mantle was plaintiff can not be found ON the |
court records OF this country. They never /
seek legal advice unless IL IL actually nee !
essary. All their differences are settled by |
arbitration, mutual friends being the arbi-
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 politics,
and Shermanite was never known to hold
an office Of any kind. Some of them vote at
every election, but they have no campaign
clubs In their community, and every man is
allowed TO vote rs he pleases, Many OF
them never vote at all.
The first settlers of this Shermanite col
ony came TO Alabama from South Carolina
and Georgia about forty-five years ago. The
oldest OF them say their ancestors came
from New England. but they are
unable to say who was the founder Of their
society,
Thoughts of the DyinE.
IL is affirmed that dying person in his
as, moments thinks OF tho chief events Of