Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-01-23

world and Advocated suicide by starva-
tion-A Mad Band-The Jumpers =
Lsss Harmful sect.
Not all the fanaticism OF Russia goes into
political and nihilistic agitation, IL the state
nents made in q recent article in an English
review by NJ. N. Tsakni have a reasonable
foundation IN TRUTH
In the province OF Perm, beyond the Kama
twenty years ago, he says, there was in tho
depths OF the forests AN educated peasant
Khodkine, passionately addicted TO reading
and spending most OF his time over religious
books, which he expounded in his own fash
ion. He soon convinced himself that the end
of the world was at hand, and persuaded
himself and band of followers that the only
way To save tEeir souls was to leave the
world 10 hide in the forest, and TO make an
end Of ths life of lgn0miny and sin In which
they were involved. His first disciples were
bis mother, brother, sister-in-law and uncle.
"Anti-Christ is already come," he declared,
land goes TO and fro in the earth. The end
OF the world is at hand let MS fly to the
forests, bury ourselves alive, and die Of
hunger and the half insane converts fol-
lowed his example, large congregation
going with him into the woods, where the
men set out TO dig actual catacombs and tho
women made grave clothes. Three days
were thus consumed, and then all the disci-
pies, dressed IN these clothes three several
times rcnounced satan and all hts works
This ceremony over, Khodkine said:
snow that you have renounccd satan, you
must die OF hunger. II you take no nourish-
ment and drink no water for twelve DAYS,
| you will enter into the kingdom OF heaven"
Blindly they set themselves to follow his
command. Days Of intolerable agony fol-
lowed, and at last the tortured women and
children began to cry aloud for water
Touched by the ptifui wailing Of the chill
dren, some OF the fanatics knelt TO their chief
and besought him for mercy for the little
ones but he was immovable and refused the
petition, while the children writhed in agony
sucking grass, chewing fern fronds, and
swallowing sand. Two of the band, able TO
endure no longer, slipped away in the night,
and Khodkine, fearful that aid might be
summoned, determined TO hasten matters
The hour is come. Are you readyr' he
said.
I I'VE are ready they exclaimed.
Then, ut his command. they began q mas
sacre. The children were first killed and the
bodies OF the victims buried Then the sur
vivors decided TO resume the fast, but the two
fugitives having warned the police, about
this time body of officers was seen approach
ing. The madness of the fanatics reached it's
height, and, swearing TO shed their blood for
Christ, they began an indiscriminate self
slaughter. The women, and then the weakest
OF the men, were killed with hntchets, until
finally khodkine and three others were the
sole survivors. They attempted TO escape
into the forest, but were captured and turned
over to justice.
A few years ago. NJ. Tsakni says, the monk
Falare enjoyed great popularity ON the banks
of the Volga, and taught that the solo mode
of salvation for man was voluntary death
"lt Is impossible he said, ito continue q
live in this world immersed In sin ard false
hood We must seek safety in death; We
must die for Christi Large numbers Of
disciples attached themselves to this prophet
of death, and one night eighty four persons
met in cavern prepared beforehand near
river. Straw and faggots were at hand, tha
they might hasten death II the police shoule
. interfere. They began 10 fast and pray, hu
one woman became skeptiral as TO the efficac,
of death a means to salvation, and in tn
darkness slipped away 10 neighboring vii
lage. where she gave the alarm TO the author
itics. The inhabitants turned out en- mass.
, and went toward the river. Their comins
was seen by a sentinel of the fanatics, VIII,
shouted:
"Anti-christ is coming. Flyi Let US no
give ourselves UP living into the hands O
our enemies
The mad band set fire TO the straw, aud til.
peasant villagers endeavored To extinguisl
the flames. A terrible struggle followed
The police and the villagers tried 10 snatch
the victims from the Are; but they defendes
themselves, wrestling with their would b,
saviors, throwing them aside and KILN.
themselves with hatchets, shouting all tn.
time, I'VE die for Christin Many of then
. were saved in spite OF themselves, however
After these had been tried and convicted
one of the condemned, Toushkotf, escape.
} from prison, and himself began TO propagate
, the religion OF suicide. More than SIXTY per
sons in that same locality decided 10 Civ
| themselves up 10 voluntary death. Who'll
families-fathers, mothers and children-
were included In the number. On a da,
: fixed beforehand they met for mutual mas
j sacre Ia the house Of ono OF their number
Peasant p. entered the house Of his neighboF
and, after killing him, with his wife an
children, went to the barn where the othe
fanatics were waiting for him with thei
wives, and these calmly put their heads o.
n block, while p. played tho part Of execu
TONER Then he went Co the barn OF an
other peasant woman, killed her and he
kinswomen, while an accomplice killed Tn
children. Then the accompliee put his heas
on the block and begged r. to cut il OF,
himself being subsequently killed by anothe
OF the band, ~ that In all thirty-ave person
met their death In this way before q peasan
woman. CHANGING TO pass in the neighbor
hood was terrified by the spectacle and RAJ
% give the alarm.
A less harmful sect existing in the Cauca
sus and nelghboring countries are called Pra
goony, or the jumpers" They have car
ried religious ecstasy 20 the highest point
Their principal apostle calls himself God
and teaches chiefly that, since the end OF th.
world Is at hand. all must prepare for Il b.
repentance and pnriication from past SIN b
confession 10 the elect Of God. The enthasi
asm of the disciples h such that they iesvl
their work and devote all their time ..
prayer and TO listening % sermonsL Tn
principal dogma OF the sect il belief In th,
: descent of the Holy Spirit upon believers
This takes place only upon the elect during
religious mseaings, and continually oni.
upon two or three persons in each meeting
HMbitually it occurs only AZ the end Of tn
meeting, when all have been suitably pro
pared by prayer. The signs OF the presence
are usually palioT OF the face, qnickenes
\ breath. then a swaying OF the whole body,
!. rhythmic tapping with the feet, violent con
|, tortions and Jumping and in the end
heavy fall upon the ground. Some OF tn
!, believers sway, aud then, springing On tn
\ benches, begin to jump. Others fail frou
o the benches 10 the aoor and there remaii
, stretched out for an hour on more Other
y march around the table with theatrica
stride shaken by hysterical sols, and, Will
twirling IN their places, throwing themsalye