The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-22
CALLED A NUISANCE.
"People of God" Cause Lots OF Tr0u-
bic in Ohio
Church Members Victims-Under the
Lead Of Martha Surrels.

going TO such extremes Of late as 20 destroy
the peace OF the entire settlement The
members Of this sect call themselves 1.-THE
People of God" and have n peculiar aver
sion TO all who belong TO the various Chris
tian denominations, which they manifest
In every form Of petty and cowardly an
noyancc, and this has brought about a
situation where either the fanatics, who
number over 100, or the others, who num-
Der 500 and are the pick OF the miners OF
Ohio, must leave the settlement.
The population of the township Is less
than @ 600 and with few exceptions Is
made up OF respectable hardworking and
thrifty miners and their families Local
option prevails, and there is not saloon
| in the township.
Tho obnoxious sect was founded by Mar
tin Surrels, who, with his four brothers,
| Robert, Samuel, jackson and David, led
| the way in all of its extravagances till
| about week ago. when he was commit
| ted 20 the Athens Insane asylum. The
| Surrelses belong TO Athens county. The
brothers are large, powerfully built men.
Martin settled In Hooking county 12 years
ago, and for about five years was consid-
cred dangerous man. He was very often
drunk and always in trouble. Nearly SOW.
en- years ago he began To attend the Meth
odist church, aud soon afterward professcd
to be saved lie could not read or write Mt
that time, but at once started TO learn, de-
claring that 1T was now his duty to read
the Bible.
He put his newly acquired enowledge
into practice by disputing with the preach
er on various points of the dogmas of tho
| church. He would not allow his name to
| be placed on tho church roll, but contin-
| ued TO attend meetings and TO raise con-
| troverses. Some years ago he declared he
| had been sanctiled by God and could do
no sin, and from that time out In Offering
up prayer ut meetings Inc never asked for
| givencss for his own sins. But he led a
| good life, and everybody became his friend.
| During a protracted meeting held last
| February by the Methodist minister tho
1 Rev. T. Drum, Surrels would enter tho
| church and interrupting tho preacher de-
| clare that the churches were all wrong and
| call upon his listeners to leave the Metho-
| dist church. The preachers, he said, were
| out for money.
Surrels held meetings in his own and
| neighbors' houses and soon had about 80
men and women about him. He told them
that God revealed TO him that all churches
must fall; that people must be brought to
the new faith not by love, charity, peace
and such means rs taught by the New
Testament, but according to the Old Tcs-
lament dispensation, "by the sword of the
spirit !" Honccforth, he said, the Lord
had willed that people should be first re-
buked, then driven into the new belief by
force.
Surrcls became tho self Constituted
Nlo4 @ol- 10 liar
doctrine. Ee would enter the Methodist
church during services and call Mr.. Drum
king Of devils, murderer, liar and bypo-
crite and try 10 break up the meetings.
Some weeks after the foundation of the
sect Surrels was taken before the probate
judge at Logan and, upon the certificate OF
DIR. Campbell, placed In the Athens asy-
lum. His relatives got up an affidavit,
signed by largo number of the miners, 60
the effect that Surrols was perfectly sane,
and he was released. lie was now more
"sanctifed" than ever and went into his
"appointed' task Of breaking up the
churches with renewed vigor He declared
against education and riches and told his
people that the more ignorant they were
the better God would love them--that it
was only 90 ignorant people that he would
reveal his purposes. On the strength Of this
revelation" Surrels' four brothers and
nearly all of the followers became prophets
and received "rovclatons."
When Surrels was released from the asy-
lum, his followers applied TO individuals
I'm the street, in the stores, at work in tho
mines, in church and even in their homes
such epithets as ''liar, murderer, ""son
of tho devil" etc. Persons who do not
affiliate with any church are let alone, but
the others cannot leave their homes with
out receiving abuse from "Surrelite," or
perhaps n number of them.
This sort of thing went on until many
Of the best workmen in the mines threat
ened 10 leave unless stop was put to the
fenatics. II. 5. Meitzcll, superintendent
OF the three mines of tho camp" dis
charged Martin Surrcls and Charles Love,
one of his lieutenants, two months ago.
Tho men continued to stay in the village
and conducted the meetings and prosecuted
tho church members with more vigor than
ever.
Tho extravagances OF the Surrelites at
their meetings have gone beyond the ridic-
ulous. Charles Love, 10 show how the
power of God works in him, walks around
on his hands and feet and burrows with
his head in the ground. IL is not an un.
common sight to sec him doing this on
the highway
Three weeks ago Martin Surrels washed
the feet of 30 Inen, while Mrs Love did
like Office for half rs many women.
Amos Robertson aud W. Pierce, prom
incnt People OF Cod" were discharged
| from the works on last Saturday, John
son Bros, partners ia tho Now Pittsurg
Coal company, having determined to make
an example Cf thor.
As the discharged mon src in the Min.
ers' union, tic local grievance comrittcc
took their casc up Erd asked SuperintsEd-
ent Woltzeli 20 taSe the mon back until the
union shall have investigated tho cause CT
their discharge. Mr. Wcitzell llrmly dc.
clincd % take them back, md the commit
tee placed the case before Gao state officials
| Of the Miners union.
Meantime thcrc is much discomfort
among the other migcrs, who regard the
action Of the company as arbitrary, and a
| strike IS thrccicuoa. It II understood that
johnson Bros. arc prepared 90 shut down
| tI..tr 81 -. eH, Ir