The Portland daily press., 1895-12-09


Career-Was Once the Victim of Reli-
gious Mania of Her Mother.
A few years ago there arrived in
Windham Centre q woman about 35 years
old named Cynthia Carter. just where
she came from or who had known her
or of her, could not be learned, but it is
said by some of the town folk that she
had been holding meetings in other
towns. She had come to Windham for
purpose, however, and that purpose was
soon made manifest By the announce
mont Of a series of meetings to be held
in tho Baptist church to be conducted by
Miss Carter.
Ths meetings we're rather novelty TO
the people of Windham and were we'll at
tended for awhile. 1t is said that some
of the members of the church took excep-
tions to the way the meetings were run
and protested vigorously to their being
held in the Baptist church. just how
true this is, don't know, but any rate
Miss Carter and her meetings evacuated
the church.
This did not disconcert her, however,
for during her stay she had succeeded in
Of disciples and by their efforts a small
building was erected for her use. In
this building. assisted by her faithful
few, she held meetings for some time.
From what I hear should judge that
these meetings were strange mixture of
yoI ioiop cpiritr1alicp, an1 faith cure
The members of the flock who real ~ at
tanned it's highest functions claimed to
be in such state of holiness and peace
that they could never be sick, and some,
go SO far as to think they could new
er die. Having attained this state of per-
fection the faithful devoted their time
and attention to saving others.
Among the most ardent supporters Of
Miss Carter were Joe Hussey, Joseph Par
fridge, VIM. Hall, Elmer Hussey, Georgia
Hall and Alfred Hall. Mrs. Ebenezer
Dolly and her daughter Rose, a girl OF, 10
there were among the constant atten-
dants, Mrs. Dolly, I believe, being
a ull -fedged member. Having saved the
mother, Miss Carter and her assistants
gave their attention to the daughter.
The latter was girl of nervous tempera-
ment and very impressionable. 1t was
not long after they commenced operations
before the young girls nerves would be-
come so weak that she would relapse in
sort of a trance and remain that way
some time. This, Miss Carter claimed, was
the Lord working g on her. This thing
was repeated quite frequently.
| The news that "Rose Dolly was going
into frances brought many outsiders to
the meeting. One night at the meeting
they got Rose into one of these frances
and she remained in it till nearly mid
night. The news of this extended trance
only served to still further increase the
attendance of curious ones. The climax
was soon reached. One Saturday night
| Rose and her mother. went to the meeting
as usual and in a very short time they
had again succeeded in getting the girl
| in this unnatural state. She was laid out
unconscious on a wooden settee and over
her the leaders prayed and exhorted and
sung for hours, while large number OF
curious spectators looked on.
Eleven, 12 l o'clock came, and still the
girl did not come to. Matters began to
| look serious and some of the more timid
members of the audience went away,
while others stayed to see the thing out
To make long story short, the poor
girl remained in that state all that night
and the next day till 10 o'clock Sunday
night. She would have been so, no one
knows how long, had it not been for the
fact that her brother, a young man, on
returning home from out of town and
on being told of the situation, proceeded
at ones to the church and took his sister
home in spite of the objections and
wrath of Miss Carter and her flock, who
said it was the 'tdevils work. in taking
her away, and that the Lord would pun
ish the brother for it.
Once at home DR.. 1. L. Harper was
summoned and succeeded, by the use OF
rostoratives, in bringing the girl to.
DR.. Harper at that time, expressed his
| opinion that had the girl remained in
that state much longer she would never
have come out in her right mind
1 Ctok