The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
IN THE NAME OF sANCTIFIcATION
Shocking DOings of black and White
Religious Fanatics.
From the Phiiadelphia Press.


Bridgeville, Del, Dec. 17.-This town,
like Chincoteague, Va, about one year
ago, has a "sanctified band" the men,
bers of which believe they cannot commit
sin. They also believe in exchanging hus-
bands and wives. After the "sanctified
band" had left Chincoteague. it was learn
ed that the colored people of that section
had organized a band with the same be-
lief and same practises as those of the
white band. Previous to the disappear
ance of Leader Lynch and his followers
from the island, the colored folks were
free in expressing their belief in sane
tification and held meetings frequently.
With the disappearance of the band also
went all the sympathizers they had, and
they were then not free to express sane
tiffcation.
Early this summer there began a grad
ual exodus of the colored people looking
for a section where they could organize
and advocate sanctification. A few came
here and began the work. Meetings were
| held and much interest shown. This was
! all the encouragement needed and now
| the entire band that was on Chincoteague
| Island is here. 1t contains about 100 men,
bers, being increased by the twenty-six
| who came from Ocean City, Md, the past
week. They are securing colored people
| who have been connected for life with
| the Methodist church.
| Trinity African Methodist Episcopal
church, distance of nearly two miles,
singing and shouting as they marched.
| Reaching the church they were refused
entrance for the purpose of advocating
| sanctificahon; they likewise refused the
! invitation of the pastor to attend the reg
| ular service. The members of the band
| then fell on their knees in the church
| yard and sent up prayer in the inter-
est of sanctifcation. Then they returned
! to their homes.
Last Sunday the band held an all-day
meeting at the home of one of its mem
| bers. The service began early in the
morning, and at 10 o'clock one of the
woman members preached. This was fol-
| lowed by a season of singing and shout
| ing, which continued until nearly night
| There was no cessation for dinner. Within
| a mile of the house the shouts of the
| band could be plainly heard. The small
house was crowded to suffocation, while
| about a dozen members of the band were
| in the yard singing, shouting, and pro-
| claiming sanctification. Crowded about
the doors and windows were many per-
sons attracted by curiosity and trying to
obtain admission. Inside the house men
and women were singing, shouting and
| praying. Occasionally one would faint
| heat of the room. Kneeling at a chair
was a girl of possibly 10 years, seeking
sanctification. Under the chair was a
Bible, ths inference being that it was ex-
| pected sanctihcation would ascend from
! the sacred book. Crowded about the
kneeling child, were men and women
also cried and Rugged each other. while
near the chair stood little girl of pos
sibly years of age clapping her hands,
! Occasionally someone would command
| silence for few minutes so that every
| wicked thought should disappear from
| the room. Then the singing and shout
'sanctified" and there was general re-
| joicing. The Bible was placed on a chair
| Men and women danced and shouted
! around it, each endeavoring to place the
right hand upon the sacred book as
| though taking an oath. Shortly after
ward there was another silent period and
| each person raised both hands over the
new convert and the meeting was at an
| end.
The members of the band believe in ex-
changing husbands and wives They claim
| the Bible allows them from one to seven
| wives, according to choice, but no woman n
| can have more than one husband. These
/ husbands or wives are secured in very
! peculiar way, and every member of the
! band readily agrees to any exchange that
| may be-made. Should a woman desire an
! other husband she seeks some spot where
| she can be alone, and then begins PRAYING.
| at the same time concentrating her
| thought on the man she desires as a bus
! band. The members of the band say these
! prayers are always answered in a short
! while. Then the proposed husband is
\ notified of the selection. and begins liv-
| ing with the new woman. Occasionally
! this man has two or three other wives.
| but this makes no apparent difference.
| A story is told in connection with seek
| ing a husband One of the "sanctifed"
| women desired another husband and
/ prayed Tor g man not a member OF the
1 band. The woman claims her prayer was
! slnsw cred and a few days later she ap-
| preached the man, telling him that "the
! Lord had chosen him for her husband -
| This man was surprised and enraged, and
| would probably have done the woman in
! Jury had not other members of the band
| interfered.
: few days ago one of the band took
| unto himself another wife, and when the
! wife lawfully married became aware of
| this addition to the family, she left her
| husband and returned to the home of her
! father One of the women connected with
/ the band has also denounced sanctification
! She was instrumental in organizing the
! hand in Maryland and everything is be-
/ ing done to get her to continue her mode
of worship and belief, but to no avail The
| members refuse to attend any other SER
! vice than their own. and will not allow
! regularly ordained ministers to adminis-
ter any rites
A few days ago small child whose pa
rents were of the sanctiied band died
/ The day of the funeral Methodist min
/ lister offered his service at the grave, but
4 II was declined. The grave service WIS
/ novel First there was singing, follow
/ "a by silent prayer. Then each person
/ made numerous gestures with the hands,
1 and when the body was lowered hands