Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-03
A STRANGE RELIGION.
TALK WITH A FOLLOWER OF THE
SWISS SEWING SPINSTER.

and Possessed Marvellous Power
The followers of j. Elinor Merra Meta,
who in her lie was and since her death is
worshiped as q divine parsonage, still keep
up their religious observances in this city.
AT the house o, worship, ,12S South Elev-
enth street, the congregation holds regu-
lar Sunday services. The congregation.
through death of old members, has dwin-
died down to eighteen, and at yesterdays
service but seven persons were present
The services were similar to those one
would witness IN any German church. The
members opened services by singing from
the German Evangelical Hymnal. Philip
Becker, one of The members, then lifted up
the voice of prayer. He prayed earnestly
that truth might be sent to the members
of the congregation, thanking the Lord for
the plentitude Of goodness he had bestowed
on them.
The only peer liar part of the worship is
the reading from a book the writings of
Merra Meta. The selections read took
the place of sermon, comment being
made upon them by the members. The
spirit of deep sincerity The lessons, as
read, touched upon the unity of God, of
his revelations md of a recital of Biblical
stories-the fal. of Lucifer and of man
principally.
A DEVOTED DISCIPLE.
Nothing couil be more simple and un.
affected than the service of the congrega-
ton. The spirit of simplicity the worship
ers carry out in their lives
Mrs. Eliza MunZert, a widow, and the
most devout of Merra Meta followers,
gave an extended account of her whom
they worshiped. In the story, tradition
and Biblical account were most strikingly
intertwined, Merra Meta being, accord
ing to their belief, the third person in the
holy trinity. Mrs Munzert at first talked
in a low, earnest tone, carefully guarding
every statement chat might appear incred-
ulous. AS she progressed, however, she
became animated, particularly so when
she told of most wonderful acts performed
by Merra Meta.
Yes" she began, II have devoted my
whole life to the service of Merra Meta.
OF course have been abused. The disci-
Piles of our Lord were stoned and beaten.
But think of this, that the eternal life to
come IS of more moment than this tran
sient earthly existence. In Merra Metals
service l shall always labor. When my
mother died she clasped my arm, told me
that l should never leave her service, and
babe me promise at her dying moment that
L would always work in the cause | prom
ised. When my husband died, he said: L
see it all. Merra Meta is divine. Stay by
her. | confirmed my previous promise
being requested % do so with his dying
breath.
STORY OF MERRA META
''Merra Meta was born in a Swiss farm
house. She was not we'll learned in book
knowledge, so You see what she professed
was true and not the invention of a bril-
liant mind. She was well versed in sDir-
itual things, however. She came to this
country and obtained employment as a
dressmaker. That was good many wears
ago. Yes, should say it was more than
forty years ago. You know dressmakers
received poor pay then, and Anna Meister,
as she was then known, was worked almost
to death to gain livelihood. Still she
always found time for prayer and for the
study of the Bible
''One day ii friend of my mother, who
was also dressm; ker called to see Anna
at her lodgings. She lived with a family
named Burke near Ninth and Callowhill
or Race streets. l really forget which of
the two streets it was. She went to Annals
room and finding the door open was about
to enter. She heard Anna communicating
with some one about religion. She didn't
want to obtrude so she peeped in. She saw
Anna sitting with her back to the door
Her sewing lay con used before her. Annals
hands were rigidly extended from her, the
palms were turned outward. Anna still
kept on mumbling, but now and then the
listener could catch some words from
which she learned hat the talk was on re-
ligion. The caller coughed to attract at
tention, but did not get it, and Merra Meta
still kept on talking.
After awhile the visitor entered. Then
Anna broke out into tears and repeated
story about her angelic visitors who told
her never to work any more, but to preach
what was told her. You know in the book
of John, in chapters Is and 10, it says that
the Holy Ghost should recount what was
! revealed from above. The visitor became
| convinced of Anna Meister's divine calling
She said: Yes, ! see it all. | believe in
you. But come, viii take you to Il friend
! of mine who is versod in such Matters
HER DIV NE POWER
1.-THE friend to whom Anna was then
taken was my mother.
when mother saw her she closed her
eyes and said: 4 see train of golden
angels of marvellous beauty streaming be-
hind you. But in front stand three of
most transcending beauty, beautiful be-
yond compare. OH have never seen such
DeduJilul duSelS. ana on Jnelf lar DrOWS
see written, on the one Raphael" on the
other Michael" and on the third Ga
briel." Michael bears an opened book,
printed in golden letters. On his brow
are written characters of gold, j. Elinor
Merra Meta, which means, Sent by God, :"
and on your brows, my dear Anna, | see
the same words, u. Elinor Merra Meta"
You shall afterward be called j. Elinor
Merra Metta"'
''Merra Metals divine attributes were
often shown, She cured the lame, the sick
and the blind. When n lame person came
she would pass her hand over the manned
part and say, Walk When particular
herb would be required for the sick she
would tell me to go down certain street,
up another, and throu Oh third and fourth
and more. Then she would describe par
ticular spot and tell me, There you will
find an herb! | don't know its name, but
it will cure this sick person. / always
found it, and it always cured
"Her revelations wtuld be made in this