Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-07

oup now IL ID ReueIhily pelleVeu tnhb
they are in use at the Satanists'
"Black Mass" where the altar is
draped with obscene notices and pic
lures, where the Maggi wears his
priestly robes with the cross upside
' down, where figures the goat with
human head and whence the blood of
infants is supposed to be drunk by the
faithful. The Satanists frankly avow
that the devil is the prince ofevil, and
they worship him on that very ac-
count, the neophyte taking this horri-
BILE oath: 81 abjure baptism aud the
Christian faith. | repudiate obedience
! to God. | swear fidelity and vassalage
to the Prince of Darkness. | will do as
the other Satanists do, aud / will en-
deavor to bring Others to this belief.
l promise to make pleasing sacrifices
to thee. [ will STAY magically each
month and every fortnight | will go
as far as even to drink the blood of
young "child." Then the candidate is
rebaptised in the name of the devil,
and his dark majesty is given piece
of clothing as n pledge of possession.
All this sounds farcical enough but
those who know the Satanists declare
that they are in fearful earnest, and
that their rites are of the most horri-
bic solemnity. 1t remains to be seen
how such sect will flourish in New
York. The city is broad enough in its
religious tolerance, but when it comes
to stealing church property and drink
ing infants blood, the police will be
apt to take an active hand in the mat
ter.
The jaunty quickstep of civiliza-
ton received additional significance
through the recent death of the aged |
Chief Bum, the last full blooded In
dian of the famous Shnnecock tribe
on Long Island. For years his an
cestors had roamed over the hills that
bear the name of the red men, and
even now the half.breed descendants
of the once powerful tribe, have u
reservation that is of great value to
the speculative pale faces. Bum was
almost deitiei by his people, and his
word was rs good law as the edict of
political boss. He had more than the
usual ability found in men of his race
and was we'll informed on all public
questions. He had several times been
to the national capital and consulted
the Great Father on tribal affairs OF
late years the old fellow brooded
great deal on the fallen estate of his
red brethren, and expressed some
bitterness towards the whites. Bum
was Il Christian and worshipped regu-
larly at the Adventist church on
the Shinnccock reservation, where his
funeral Was held. 1t was an elaborate
ceremonial. The burial was in true
Indian style, and IL great throng of
admirers gathered Mt the grave. A
noteworthy figure there was the old
half breed named Wickhum Cuffee,
upon whom now falls the mantle of
adviser to the tribe But his services
will probably not be needed long, rs
the reservation is likely to be broken
up and sold to the white men, now
that no pure redskin is among the
jewellers there. 1t is said that many
of the residents are themselves in favor
of selling if the government will per-
nit them. Atany rate several big
land firms stand ready to take the
lovely territory off their hands and
pay them good round price for it.
So in II few years at least the SHINE
cocks will be but memory and
name.
The lamentable news comes from !
Newport that John Hill, Mrs. Willie
X. Vnnderbilt's confidential gatekeep-
er, is dead. Hill was noted as the
man who kept at bny, society, news
paper reporters and the general pub
lie in their united effort to get past
the iron gates of Marble House and
penetrate the wonders, the glories, the
Injuries and the mysteries of that |
mansion. As Il Cerberus Hill was as
uncompromising rs he was famous.
he uepuTlcN Wis llle ~ NcNpO ~ |
and the cause of his departure,
it is reported was heart failure. In
view of all the happenings at Mar
BILE House, it may be said that |
Hills heart did wonderfully we'll
in never having failed before. 1t may
be that Mrs. Willie X. Vanderbilt's |
decision to remove the iron gates
which he had guarded 50 long and so
well had something to do with his de-
mise. But, whether it had or not, no.
body who ever stood on the outside of
the gates of Marble House and watched
Hill on the inside will say this is not
fitting epitaph: "Wcl done, thou
good and faithful servant" If, by
any chance in the heavenly happen.
ings of the hereafter, St Peter should
need an uuderstudy or tirst-class as
sistant, he could not possibly do bet
ter than to take Hill into considera-
ton. Without doubt Mrs. Vanderbilt
would give him good character.