The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-22

COLrAx. Feb. r-SpscIai--.A document
was fled sor record with the county audi
tor few days ago that testiiss 20 the sx-
tste1ce and recently rapid growth o. Few
religious sec. IA whitman county. Ine
document Is the articles OF incorporation
OF the Saints Home and School The
saints, or Evening Lights" as they also
call themselves are something Ike the
Shakers IN their fidelity 70 religious wor-
ship and belief in absolute plaanness In
dress. as they discard al ornaments or
finery. They believe II divine healing and
the laying on OF hands, and that the Lord
speaks 20 them today either directly or
through the officers OF the church. In this
respect they are Ike the Latter Day Saints
OF Utah. They greet each other, men.
women ard children, with the holy. s1sc-
tionate kiss. and their form OF salutation
IS, Praise the Lord" FeFvsnt religious
expressions are frequently used in their
most ordinary conversation, and al amuse-
ment or h!larity is frowned down upon
severely
Besides these traits there is an element
OF socialism running through their belief.
a. was evidenced by the way In which they
built and established their home and
school.
Just when the first members of the new
sect came to the county seems hard 10
determine, but IL was not more than four
or r1ye years ago, and they were very few
In number, nearly ali OF their members
having been converted here. Three years
ago the saints. led by minister pretend
ing to De blind, held a series OF protracted
meetings at AfcCroskey's grove, on Tenn
essee fat some ten miles north OF Colfax.
A number of converts were secured Fol-
lowing that a revival was held at Elber-
ton, then one az Penawawa, then At st.
John. Guy and a number Of other places
At these meetings the bind preacher per-
formed some feats OF divine healing that
gave him considerable notoriety and
gained him a considerable following. He
also performed number OF what seemed
TO be startling miracles, but the miracu-
lous element vanished completely when 1t
was learned that he could see al times,
though blind az others.
An unusually bright girl named Ethel
Gillian, living near Palouse, adopted the
religion, afterwards became sick, was re-
ported TO have died and been laid out for
burial, then partially recovered, claiming
to have the power of describing things
which were taking place at a distance. Her
feats attracted wide attention by public
and press before the fake was exposed.
The converts TO the church upon their con-
version frequently have fits OF uncon-
seriousness. and awake TO tell of beautiful
or horrible visions they have seen.
About two years ago the sect had grown
so large that a school was built on Union
fat. ten miles south OF town. and the
members in that vicinity commanded TO
send their children there TO keep them
from the communicating influence of the
common herd. The institution is run as a
boarding school, and there is no charge
TO pupils wishing TO attend, but the re-
quirements in worship and religious for
mality keep away ali but sympat hizers-
The school now has an attendance of over
loo. and five families OF teachers are en-
gagged. 1t Is supported on the cooperative
plan and Is fiourishing
II is this institution that comes under the
immediate care OF the articles OF incorpo-
ration, one clause in which states that Of
ficers and instructors In the school shall be
chosen by the Holy Ghost, acting in and
through the directors.