The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-15

stages of hysteria at the conclusion of al
Holy Roller revival meeting The leaders
OF the faith are a Mrs. Mary Mcintyre. a.
MISS Emma Chase, Prof. ~ L. Eastman
ana Elder James Woodwork of Syra--
cuse, N. Y. Regeneration is effected i'm
several ways the course of treatment in-
cludlng prayer, bathing, rubbing and bap-
usm by immersion. When these renee
dies prove futile in cleansing the soul off
the sinner the penitent is obliged to per-
form what the believers call the "holy
roll. The unregenerate lies upon the floor
at one end of the building and rolls over
ana over, like a log, until every one pres4
ent is satisfied that the devil has BEEN
shaken out. Sometimes the ceremony lasts
a quarter of an hour, but if the convert
has been an unusually tough customer
he may be compelled to roll for four or
five hours-a most heroic method of see
curing salvation. AS the subject rolls hy
the kneeling audience every person has
the privilege to ask such questions as ha
sees fit, and the convert must make sat-
factory answers before he is allowed
to rise. The sins of a lifetime must ba
confessed in detail and the innermost se~
crets of the soul made public. The Holy
Rollers on Canandaigua lake have made
many converts, but on the list the writer
has failed to find the name of an alderman
or any other politician. The test Of thu
holy rolf is too severe.
The Holy Rollers have operated exten~
sively in Central and Western New York;
and the country is in a state of religious
excitement not unlike that which marked
the beginning of A2ormonism. Perhaps the
strangest feature OF this frenzy is the es-
adjustment recently of a series of relig~
ious principles, the ;adherents of which calL
themselves Knee Blenders.
The Knee Blenders are a very small sect
and live along the eastern shore of Seneca
a f,,saerf r,,f e.I oh No
months ago. At that time a Swedish far
mer named Burson, a man of considerable
education, commenced to act in a strange
manner. He claimed that he had visions
and refused to assist in work, and spent
most Of his time on a knoll near the lake.
HI remained on his knees, and, in answer
to all inquiries, he said that the Great Je-
hovah had commanded him to spend the
rest of his life in that position. Shortly
after rendering this revelation he began 10
preach his themes being on socialisuc
lines. Gradually his relatives began to be-
imbued with the sincerity of his preach
ings and espOused the strange religion. The
entire family soon commenced to remain
on their knees. The enthusiasts now num-
Der about twenty.
The Knee Benders deny the existence OF
punishment in the hereafter, declaring
that he'll will come on earth In the shape
of some great sorrow for the Wrongdoer.
Prayers are not made 20 the Supreme Be-
ing, but to nature which Is held account
able for all changes in the elements ana
all accidents caused by fire, wind and wa
ter. Socialism is a primary principle. Ins
farms OF the enthusiasts are worked IN
common, and IL is claimed that the weed
ing, planting and hoeing was done on an
fours by the Knee Blenders this spring.
They held knee bending services hVs
times a day on the knoll where Burson
was inspired. ana in the worship their
faces are turned always toward the suns
Each week a revival meeting Is held, and
ridiculous as the thing is, the Knee Bend
ers keep gaining converts. Such story
as this belongs 20 a hundred years ago,
but as an Illustration Of religious frenzy
dominating the human mind IL Is an lh-
teresting psycholOgical study.