The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11
THE "moLv ROLLERS
4 Qneer Religions Sect in Ontario
County n. Y.


of Mrs. Alice Bradley, a writer of some
prominence in Rochester. Under an in
fiuenee which resembled hypnotism in its
most powerful form, the boy left home
and friends to join band of religious en-
thusiasts styled the Holy Rollers. He
preached and reused his hearers TO
frenzy. His mothers efforts to induce her
son to return were futile. AT last the aid
of the law was necessary. The boy is now
with relatives at South DansviIle, many
miles from the Holy Rollers camp.
Save for occasional brooding, he led
life such as most boys lead out in the. open
air, free and careless. Then there came
into the neighborhood two persons who
were destined to exert upon him an IN
fiuence stronger than that of friends or
home or mother. These persons were N
L. A. Eastman and Emma Chase, leaders
CT religious sect known as the Holy
Rollers.
They spoke 10. Bradley of their belief
and urged him to be saved. In a few days
a camp-meeting was organized and the OK
ercises begun systematically. Bradley at
tended. The influence of the meetings
was great upon him. He learned to abhor
the acts of his past life and to live in
frightful fear of damnation and the tor
lures of a burning he'll. Two weeks ago
he joined the Holy Rollers, convinced that
God had called him to preach to his fell
low-men.
their camp to Bristol Springs, two miles
from Seneca Point on Canandaigua Lake.
Here Bradley also took up his abode, liv-
ing for few days with family in the
hamlet and then staying with Eastman
at Mill Village. a mile or so away. 1t
cost him nothing for board. He had
few dollars with him when he left South
Dansville, but money was nothing to him
in his spiritual exaltation, and he gladly
put it in the Holy Roller collections.
Then he preached. II seemed as If the
boy were outside and above himself when
he harangued the awestruck audiences
which crowded the tent The people heard
him in wonder They listened to his de-
nuEsIat ton of the wickedness and selfish
ness of the life they were leading, and
trembled at his picture of the hell to
which they drifted. Many who had enter
ed the tent doubling on the night the boy
preached were converted by his words.
Yet all agreed that it was not so much
what he said as mysterious something
which was in his manner and his gestures
and the tones of his voice. All the Holy
Rollers believed that the boy was divinely
called and inspired. Prayers of thankful
ness were continually offered that he had
been reclaimed from the evil of the world
to be the shining light and exponent of the
Holy Rollers faith.
Week before last Mrs Bradley in Ro-
chester learned of what her son was do
ing. She was also informed that the rela-
tives with whom he had lived at South
Dansville had already made one ineffect-
ual attempt to have him return. Mrs.
Bradley ascertained where the Holy Roll
ers were in camp, and wrote a letter to
John. Whether he received it or not she
does not know. There was no reply.
She wrote to N. A. l.. Eastman, leader
of the band She asked that her son be
sent to her at once.
your boy is saved" wrote Eastman in
reply. How can you ask that he leave
us? You yourself are doomed to hell for
trying to turn him from the holy path
Mrs. Bradley became desperate. She
could think of no other move than an APP
peal to the law, and she placed the facts
in the hands of justice of the peace, who
wrote letter to Eastman himself, stating
that if young Bradley was not sent away
there would be trouble. The boy did not
make his appearance, and il was decided
to send an officer with Mrs. Bradley to
Bristol Springs and take the young enthu-
siast away by force.
Eastman himself claims that after he
received Mrs. Bradley's first letter he ad-
vsed the boy to leave. However it was
not until the news that police officers
would take a hand in the affair reached
Bristol that he did leave. which was one
week ago yesterday Young Bradley is
now with his relatives in South Dansville.
His health is shattered from the excite
ment and the mental strain under which
he has been for so many weeks.
Learning of the facts given above a
Union" representative visited Bristol on
Sunday last. The Holy Rollers had an
nounced an al day meeting. 1t was to be
the last one of the series and of especial
value Incidentally it was communion
Sunday, which these strange people OBJ
serve by passing bits of bread among the
congregation in the fingers. All drink
wine from the same pitcher.
The meeting was well attended. Long
before the hour for service arrived Holy
Rollers rolled up in wagons and carts
They hitched their horses to trees near
the tent and made preparations for a
twelve-hour religious feast. The tent in
which the meetings are he'd is about 40x50
feet Rude benches are laid on straw
which covers the ground. At one end of
the Enclosure is platform, raised perhaps
two feet, on which are placed chairs for
those who are to speak. The Bible, which
is the only material adjunct to worship
used. is placed on a stand made of board
laid across two stakes. Besides the Bible
on another and higher stake, Is hung a
lantern. No other light is allowed, and
indeed, none is necessary, for no hymn
book or psalters are to be found.
The congregation which assembled was
a curious one. Old men dressed in the
rough garb of the farmland sat by the
side of the country "swells" from neigh
boring villages; stout girls and women
with babies were there. and on the back
row was a crowd Of tittering boys, who
hardly knew whether to take the whole
performance seriously or TO consider IL
huge joke.
Leader Eastman was the central figure
OF the meeting. He IL a man Of medium
hight, whose thin, pale face, lighted by
black eyes Of singular luster, would par
sllcl a description Of Savonarola, the Flor
entne monk His voice is strong, but
sympathetic. His gestures are earnest,
and, standing with his right arm raised
IN dcnunciaton, his whole bearing Is pc
cu.iarly impressive. He spoke vigorously
at Sundays meeting. What strikes one
most forcibiy is the wonderful intensity
OF the man and his personal magnetism.
H. held his hearers GREATNESS from the
beginning OF his address 10 the end ex-
cept when some allusion 20 things Of the
unseen world caused them TO break forth
with ordinations OF "Gloryw Glory
Thank heaven, we are savedr and the