Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-23
CINCIyNdTI'S FEMALE CHRIST.
Those Who Have the Money VIII &c
With Her to Europe.

81. louis Republican.
CINCINNATI, o., July is.-The strangest
Of all the strange religious sects this world
has known since religion had a place in il
had its birth and growth here. Unlike
most such fungi there has as yet been no
faint of immortality about the new oigani-
cation, at least in grosser sense. Its head
and founder is Mrs. John Il. Martin. wife
Of well-known business man. and her
self for years a pillar Of Methodism. In
the latter years of her connection with
that denomination she became an enthu-
slast on the doctrine of sanctitcation OF
perfect holiness, and this was probably
the foundation for vagarles which later as
most people believe, grew INTO the most
shocking blasphemy.
Mrs. Martin was quietly dropped from
the church rolls, and soon separated from
her husband she was not heard of for some
time, when the astounding announce
ment was made that she had set herself
up as Jesus Christ, and had gathered about
her IA set of believers who worshipped her
as such. The most astonishing part of this
was the information that Mrs. Martin
followers were not cheap il-informed,
y-intiuenced, superStitiuus people, but
persons of wealth, refinement and cul-
ture-families whose names are known
and honored in the best social and bust
ness circles of the city SO devoted were
maniacs in her defence, ready to kill, it
necessary. 1t was almost impossible to
secure access to the meetings or to learn
what occurred in them but il was learned
that Mrs. Martin was obeyed blindlv; that
it was believed she was Christ come to
earth again never to die, and that these
her iirst converts, were to be rulers iii the
new kingdom.
A sister of Mrs. Martin possesses the
Holy Ghost, and the community call them
selves Perfectionists. They hold as little
communication with the outside world us
possible. and are, to u certain degree, com
munists in their belief.
To-day it is announced that great re-
ligious movement is about to take place on
Walnut Hills. Mrs Martin the self.
styled Christ is going To Europe. Whether
she goes for pleasure or inspiration is not
known, but certain ii is, She will be ne
companied by beloved disciples. Al least
one pair of lovers will be of the pnrty-Alr.
Herbert g. Shepherd aid his intended
bride, Miss Emma Brooke. The others
who will accompany her are us follows
John Koch and his sister, Rose DR. Julia
Carpenter, Miss Lille Carpenter, Miss
Mile Domhoff, Miss Cora Watts, Ed
| Gerome.
During Mrs. Martins vacation last sum-
| mer seven of the faithful dropped away
from the iold and TWO Others almost left,
bnt were cajoled back again. In order not
to risk anything, one OF these, who has
money, will accompany her abroad. while
| the other, poor working girl, will go as
far as New York, where she will be left
| with her parents until the party returns.
| They will leave tomorrow for New York
| where they will take the steamer Etruria
Saturday for Europe, where they will re-
main two months.
| Mrs. Martin has taken every possible DC.
| casion to condemn in unmeasurcd terms
all preachers who 60 Off on vacation
| She is considerate to take with her all her
| flock for whom she has any regard, and
the 3o-odd who remain must suffer because
they have not the gold.