The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18
Religious Frauds
OF Various Kinds.
Some of the Ancient and Some of the
Modern Delusiens ard lmpostures.

1
German Reformation. The religious
enthusiasm of the times was so intense
as to induce on every side the most ex-
| travagant pretensions. Scores Of per-
! sons appeared. some honest fanatics,
| others impostors, who claimed the pow
er of working miracles, or the prophet
ic faculty, or both. William Simpson, a
disciple of Fox, acquired a wide repu-
tation by going about almost in a
state of nudity. having at most only a
breechclout, and preaching, prophesy-
| ing and healing the sick. He differed
| from some others In utterly refusing to
receive anything for his services, and
was probably only a lunatic. The most
| remarkable of the impostors of that
day was James Nayler, quartermas-
| ter in the army, who. after having
revelation on the subject, boldly de-
| clared to his followers that he was the
Almighty. Strange. to say. this claim
was received with credulity and ad-
mitted by his followers. When Nayler
went abroad, it was always on horse
! back, two women led his horse, while
| others preceded and surrounded him.
| casting their scarfs, shawls and other
| articles of clothing In the road to be
trampled. and singing as they went,
Holy. Holy, Holy, Lord God AL
| mighty" They called him 1.-The Lovely
! One. the Only Son of God. the Prophet
of Israel, the Eternal Son of Justice.
| the Prince of Peace, the Hope of the
World" One of his followers, Dorcas
Embury. cle med that. after she had
been dead for two days, he had come
to her house and hidden her to rise,
| and she obeyed him. The followers Of
Nayler increased SO largely that final
| ly the government felt compelled to in
terfere. Nayler was arrested and tried
on a charge Of blasphemy and profani-
ty. At the trial he professed to be the
Almighty and declared that only his
infinite love for the world prevented
the instant annihilatiop of all who op-
posed iiim. The court room was crowd
ed with his converts, who fell on their
knees before him and irnplored him to
| have mercy on his prosecutors and not
blot the world out OF existence because
Of their unbelief. He graclously con-
sented to spare the earth for the sake
of the believing few and such was the
infatuation of these poor creatures that
when his ears were cropped and he was
set in the pillory, they surrounded him
praying TO him and singing hymns
composed In his honor. Nayler disap-
peared after his experience with the
pillory, and few other sharp examples
did much to lessen the number of
prophets and miracle-workers.
| Tho COnvulsiOnists.
| The history of religious imposture
would not be complete without at least
q mention of the ConvulsiOniSts OF
Paris. In May. 1927, a pious priest
named Francois de Paris was buried In
| the cemetery of st. Medard. He was
man whose charities had made him
| greatly beloved among the common
| people, and within u week after his
burial his grave acquired the reputa-
ton of shrine. Women upon touching
| the stone which covered his remains ac-
| qured the gift of prophecy; cripples
We're, or professed to be- cured of their
| intrmities; paralytics were carried into
the cemetery and came running out.
All Paris was thrown into a furor, and
| q number of self constituted leaders
undertook the charge Of the devotees.
The cemetery i'm a few days bore more
the appearance of a fair than a place
of burial. for on every side were erect
ed booths, where rosaries, books of de-
vOtion. handkerchiefs and other arti-
cles, blessed by contact with the grave.
We're sold to the credulous mob. Men
and women fell into frances and had
commissions during which they claimed
to visit the other world, and, upon re-
cOvery, narrated what they had seen
there. The leaders encouraged these
manifestations for the sake OF the ex-
citement they caused and the addition
| al TeNchue tHey DTOuEnt, anu ualiy tne
number of devotees increased until 1t
seemed as though Paris had gone crazy.
The convulsionists claimed to suffer no
pain, even from severe .chastisement,
when in the trance state, and in order
to prove the truth of these statements
very severe tests were applied. The
devotees were beaten with whips and
sticks. boards were placed on their
bodies and weights applied, they were
branded with red hot irons, their flesh
was torn by pinchers. and in many
other ways they were subjected to cruel
treatment, but few, even by a change
of countenance, indicated that they per-
ceived any unpleasant sensation. At
last, however, several of them died un-
der the tortures inflicted on them, and
the Paris police interfered and closed
the cemetery. Forbidden to frequent
the holy place. the devotees met in pri-
vate houses and for time kept up their
performances but some were sent to
| prison, others were ordered to leave
Paris, and,as the leaders were removed,
the excitement died out.
| Joanna SOuthcott.
| AmOnr tba bopoctly la1rdod - .1an.