Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-10
MUCH LIKE MURDER.
FanaticiSm Causes the Death Of Two
Innocents in This County,.
REFUSED THE AID OF PHYSICIANS.
Mr.. Willis Invents Religion to Suit His
Own Peculiar Nature.
SAVED BYA MOTHERS FOND AFFECTION

Some OF the awful effects of the faith cure
craze were discovered yesterday by General
Agent Samuel O'Brien, of the Humane
Society.
He visited place called Media, in Plum
township. Allegheny county, where a num-
Der of deaths have resulted from the insane
faith of the followers of this creed.
For some time there have been complaints
from Center that many of the children there
we're sick, and their parents had refused to
have anv medical attendance. Agent
O'Brien in Eestigated the case yesterday.
The result of his work he related as in the
following manner:
The settlement is mostly composed OF En-
glish miners He actually learned OF two
deaths. and heard of a number of others
from diphtheria. The indirect cause OF all
the deaths was the belief of the residents in
the faith cure and free Glove creed. A
preacher, the Rev. Mr.. Willis, by name,
had been there for some time, and found
many willing followers in his doctrine OF
faith cure. He taught these simple people
faith cure and free love, and cxhorted them
TO eat, drink and be merry; to dance and
forget sorrow.
SOME OF THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT.
He said appetites and passions were given
for mans enjoyment, and should be satisfied.
He also taught that if any one was sick they
should prav TO God for relief, and If be was
not willing TO save them neither doctors nor
any mortal power could aid them
One man named Forester had four children
sick with diphtheria. He was lmbued Win the
-F1a md Al medical
for his children Two of them died, and then
= physician was called in, and the lives OF the
other two innocents were saved.
Another family named StontfeT had two chill
dren afflicted with tins terrible epidemic The
parents we're believers in the strange doctrine,
and refused all aid but when the lives of the
little ones wavered in the balance, when the
blue-eyed children seemed half in heaven, the
mothers love for her babes overcame her re-
lIglous zeal. A physician was called, and the
lives Of the little ones were saved.
In the same settlement dwelt a miner named
Ednev who was devout follower of Willis
Il e also had wife who had the bright eyes, the
fair, soft complexion and all the general bux-
omness of the typical English girl. She was
the mother of four children, all of whom are as
pretty as herself. The preacher saw and loved
her. Immediately he began to preach free love
and told husbands their affections need not be
confined to one wife. He carried ont the senti-
ment of his preaching, and carried off Mrs.
Edney.
GONE TO THE BUCKEYE STATE.
The couple went to Salem, O., and after an
absence of several months, returned. The
deserted husband thought his wife would re-
turn to him, and while he SO dreamed, the
preacher and the miners wife again went to
Salem.
In the absence Of Willis a fellow named
Jones. who had a reputation for converting
himself into 4 bonded warehouse and for
total abstinence for work. took up the song
of faith where Willis had laid it down. He
preached for a while and then went to join
Willis at Salem.
Rather than see this happy form of religion
fan. another miner took mp the place as leader
in the faith. He differed from the former
PASTOR in that he would occasionally work. and
he ultimately dug coal and preached faith cure
ahd free love during his idle hours. One day
in the mine he became angry with his son, and
knocked him on the head with crowbar. Tho
father refused any medical attendance but
the boys strong constitution, aided by 4
mothers nursing. pulled him through.
Agent O'Brien says he cannot prosecute the
people now. because the trouble Is over. but he
will notify the authorities at Salem of the cher
acJer of jones and Willis Rev. Mr.. Willis is
the same man who found so many followers to
his faith cure doctrines last fall at Midway.