The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-14
THE HOLY ROLLERS"

A Queer Religious Sect in ontari
 County, N. Y.-Hell- l-Fire of the Old
 Fashioned Sort is the Staple of Thei
 Preaching@The Story of a Bo
 Preacher.
 John Bradley is the f1fteen-year- ol
 son of Mrs. Alice Bradley, a writer O
 some prominence in Rochester. unde
 an influence which resembled hypno
 tism Tn It's most powerful form, tn
 boy left home and friends to join ;
 pand of religious enthusiasts styled thu
 Holy Rollers. He preached and reused
 ms hearers to frenzy. His mother
 eHorts to induce her son to return wert
 futile. At last the aid of the law wa:
 necessary. The boy is now with rela
 1lves at South Dansville, many miles
 from the Holy Rollers camp.
 save Tor occasional breeding, he lee
 life such as most boys lead out ir
 the open air, free and careless. Ther
 There came Into the neighborhood two
 persons who were destined to exert
 upon him an influence stronger than
 that of friends or home or mother
 These persons were N. L. A. Eastman
 and Emma Chase, leaders of a religious
 sect known as the Holy Rollers.
 They spoke to Bradley of their be-
 lief and urged him to be saved. In a
 few days camp-meeting was organ ized and the exercises begun systemat- 1cally. Bradley attended The infiu- ence of the meetings was great upon hfm. He learned to abhor the acts of fis past life and to live in frightful Fear of damnation and the tortures of a burning hell. Two weeks ago he joined the Holy Rollers, convinced that God had called him to preach to his fellow-men
 Then Eastman and the woman moved their camp to Bristol Springs, two miles from Seneca Point on Canan- andaigua Lake. Here Bradley also took up his abode. Ewing for a few days with family in the hamlet and then staying with Eastman at Mill Village. a mile or so away. It cost him nothing TOT board. He had a few dollars with him when he left South Dansville. but money was nothing to him in his spir- ttual exaltation, and he gladly put 1t in the. Holy Roller collections
 Then he preached. It seemed as if the boy were outside and above him. self when he harangued the awestruck audiences which crowded the tent. The people heard him in wonder. They listened to- his denunciation of the Wfckedness and selfishness of the life they were leading, and trembled at his picture of the hell to which they drift ed Many who had entered the tent doubting on the night the boy preached were converted by his words. Yet all agreed that 1t was not so much what he said as a mysterious something which was in his manner and his ges- tures and the tones of his voice. All the Holy Rollers believed that the how, was dfvinely called and inspired Prayers of thankfulness were continu- ally offered that he had been reclaimed from the evil of the world to be inc shining light and exponent of the Holy Rollers faith.
 Week before last Mrs. Bradley in R,- chester learned of what her son was doing. She was also informed that the relatives with whom he had lived at south Dansville had already made one ineffectual attempt to have him return Mrs Bradley ascertained where the Holy Rollers were in camp, and wrote | a letter to John. Whether he received 1t or not she does not know. There was no reply.
 She wrote to N. A. L. Eastman leader of the band. She asked thai | her son be sent to her at once.
 Your boy is saved" wrote Eastman m 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 appeal 10 the law, and she placed the facts In the hands of justice of the peace, Whc wrote a letter to Eastman nlmselt, stating that if young Bradley was not sent away there would be trouple The boy did not make his ap- pearance, and it was decided to send an officer with Mrs. Bradley to Bristol springs and take the young enthusiast away by force. Eastman himself claims that after he received Mrs. Bradleys first letter | ne advised the boy to leave. However It was not until the news that po]ce oHacers would take a hand in the af- l ,air reached Bristol that he did leave l Nhlch was one week ago yesterday. f Young Bradley is now with his rela- - " NA4 Souhu DduSVlIiG. HIS health is I 'hattered from the excitement and tbe mental strain under which he has been C or so many weeks. S learning of the facts as given above union" representative visited Bris- q oi on Sunday last. The Holy Rollers t lad announced an all-day meeting t was to be the last one of the series VI md of especial value Incidentally if V vas communion Sunday, which these o trange people observe by passing bits lt f bread among the eongregation In he fingers All drink wine from tba ii anne pitcher ., The meeting was well attendsa n .ong before the hour for service ar. a lved Holy Rollers rolled up in .wae- 4 ns and carts. They flitched tbair e, orses to trees near the tent and nneda ', separations for twelve-hour reli- n, ious feast. The tent in which tba :, leetings are held is about forty bv Af- r, 7 feet. Rude benches are lai6 m -. .raw, which covers the ground Al ne end of the inclosure is a platform, o; lised perhaps two feet, on which are N laced chairs for those who are to peak. The Bible, which is the onIv il, ater.al adjunct to worship used. Is e laced on a stand made of board laid VI