The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-19
THEY woRsHIPED HER.
-, Aged Swiss Woman ldolized as
- the Daughter of Jehovah.

Frop, the PHILADELPHIA Inquirer.
,;u,,+ in the midst of this great city there |
evisted unnoticed for over thirty years
congregation of religious fanatics. Their
Iiof 10 the moro remarkable because or
- Intelligence and thrift. All of them
tneil n,ora or less engaged in active business.
d. u, the outside world they have failed to
abihit any of the signs which would cause
tLan1 to be classed among the peculiar ot
..tslpeanantric.s On the contrary, with keen
e.rociation that their mode OF worship, II
atLi9 might result in their being set
Sn1yn as cranks, they have secluded their
1o% L nriestess and have hidden from view
+be temple of their rites
In C. dscreetly were their affairs managed
totit was probable that for thirty years to
tn 80 they might have met in retirement,
O9o.aljIist,lrhed by the wonder and comment OF
u town we're it not for a lawsuit which
tn brought them into court. Most remark
nGIe testimony for the past two years mas
baen taken in this case, and as 1t Is now
Sbont finished hearing within the next
few weeks will be had before the judges OF
the common pleas court.
voRsHIpED AS THE HOLY GHOST.
Tbase persons have actually worshiped as
the HOLY Ghost Swiss woman of some 60
4 T-ears unmarried whose name was Anna
Mester. In 1856 they began this species OF
idolatrv. From that time on to her death
ID, 1894 they surrounded U6E Will bHSL
h comfort and followed her teachings and
Trecents with unswerving faith and de-
1I,otion She was to them the third person
in +he Trinity; the spirit of God, and they
Iva her the nsme of 81. Elimar Mira
sHitta-the daughter of the great Jehovah"
A house was purchased for her IN TINS
4 high-soundng name, at No. 112S South
Eleventh street, in 1864. Three years pre-
vious the congregation had removed to this
place from other quarters, because 1t was IN
0niet neighborhood, and being cut OIL
from a line Of dwellings afforded better ia.
cilities for the uninterrupted exercises OF
their religious tenets. Here the temple OF
worship was set up. Mira Militia, surrounded
NV her devotees like a goddess, received
their adulation The front part of the sec
ond story was fitted up with an altar. pull
nit and all the paraphernalia suitable for an
imposing religious service. Ceremonies
we're held every Sunday. The Daughter
Of God surmOuntad with crown studded
with brilLants symbolical of her high es-
tate. encircled with girdle sparkling wit n
gems, in loose silken robe, preached her
religion to her abject followers, who bowed
before her.
SHE LIVED LIKE QUEEN.
Her teachings and sermons were delivered
BY her while under the influence OF a
trance" 1t was the veritable belief that
the Holy Ghost had sought lodging in her
earthly body, and through her spoke the
inspired words. A costly cloth covered the
chair upon which she sat, to protect her
from all contact with that which was sin
full By the mere passing of her hands over
a table sacred writings would appear upon
it. Angels bearing scrolls. inscribed with
golden letters, commanding her worship a!
the Holy Ghost, could appear readily al
her command.
Anna Meister was born at Shaffhausen
Switzerland, and probably came from that
~, IL vab0 al haff
when she started her religious sect Hel
followers were all Germans and her cere-
monies were held in that language. Sever
of her congregation purchased for her TIN
Eleventh street house. They gave $5OO(
for the property. subject to an incumbranc'
Of about $4,000, which the congregation
afterward paid off. In this home Arms
Mester lived up to the time of her death
She occupied sumptuous apartments on th'
third floor, and a couple of her devotees
lived with her and attended to her every
want
When she died the congregation found, t
their dismay, that the premises, being in tn
name of u. Elimar Mira Mitta," would
under the law, she having died withou
making WILL go to her three sisters ant
the children Of her deceased brother. ANN
Meisters family in part had been brough
to this country from Switzerland by none
furnished by her congregation. In fact
they were so indulgenU with their teache
that in the summer time she was lnvarlaDl
sent either to the seashore or to the mour
tains Even trips to Europe were provide
for her, where, her sister said, she live
like queen"
BELIEVED TO BE THE THIRD PERSON.
Although worship was still carried on &
the old stand over which the departe
Mira Militia presides in spirit and althoug
her relatives have not shown any dispos
ton to disturb the peaceful possession {
the "elect," yet it was thought advisab
by the congregation to begin law suit
secure their property for their own use
To this end Attorney r. +. Schively w
retained. He filed bill in equity again
the Meister heirs and asked the court
decide that Mira Militia did not personal
own the property, but simply held it
trust for the religious uses of her follower
The MeisUer people retained Lawyer Wi
lam H. Stake to look after their Interest
Thus it is the peculiar belief of these lie
pie will now find ventilation in the court
The testimony on behalf of the congreg
tion has all been submitted, and the gre
faith Of the witnesses in Mira Militia a.
her teachings cannot be better eviden
than by giving extracts from their stat
ments.
Jacob Endress, a butcher, who join
the congregation in 1857 says that
had been in the habit of taking Mira Nit
out riding once or twice week for Gig
years.
Lissette Munzert, who was part of Mi
Mitta's household and attended to
wants, in speaking Of her teacher, says:
think the Lord formed the congregatit
She was brought to us, and it was sho
from the Lord that we had to take care
= her. believe she was the third person
the Holy Trinity"
;. Mrs Munzert was then asked by Law.
Starke: You mean God, the Father, '
: the first person; our Lord and Savio
Jesus Christ, the second person, and t
she, Anna Meister, was the third persons
Yes, sir"
This is the language used by tbelwitn
B. In detailing visions which wete had
members OF the congregation and were
foundation Of Mira Mittas identity W
d the Holy Ghost:
= Az first my mother and lady saw M
Militia surrou ded by angels. Mira Mi
passed her hand over table, and they r.
II as plainly rs in a newspaper, y. Elir
- MIRA Militia Other members saw visi
l. Oh the same kind. II was revealed to I'll
mat the name meant the daughter Of
Lord jehovah
\ SHE SAW THE SAVIOUR.
Mrs. Caroline Lang, another witness,
-: mat an angel appeared at the meeting