The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-11

I
shall inherit the earth If I keep the
faith I'll inherit all in this world / want,
and I'll never die"
"Have you inherited anything recently?
Why doesn't the Lord give you at least
enough to keep you from having to wash
those clothes for a living"
ooh, he's just trying me now-trying
my faith-bringing me up through trials
and tribulations. He'll give me all
want bimeby."
Such child-like faith and trustfulness,
if it is earnest and genuine, is worthy of
a better cause.
Il notice, Cornelia, that you have ac-
cuSed your son of being one of the men
who beat Jones the other night, would
you swear against him and send him to
the penitentiary if you could?"
Il would" she said, her eyes blazing;
1--WE overcome all my earthly loves. If
my son strikes the man of God he must
suffer for it,
Sanctification has been preached here
among the negroes for many years.
About twelve years ago man named
Green came here from Wilmington and
| began it. Then came an evangelist nam
ed Fields. He held a meeting at the
|
converts were George Smith, the pastor.
This gave great impetus to the new doc
| trine and it spread rapidly, numbering
its disciples among the membership of
all the churches. Nobody objected to
| it for the reason that it had not yet de-
veloped its Objectionable features. Nor
did it advocate a disregard Of the marri-
age tie for several years more.
! After Fields came band of Holiness
evangolsts, four men-Wheaton, Raper,
| White and Warner-and two women,
| Wheatons wife and Clara Hill They
preached that all sanctiied people ought
1 to come out from the rest of the church
and form an independent band. This
| they did and then came along an old
woman named FOote and young wo-
man, Lula Briggs, and organized the
band, going around preaching from house
to house. These We're the first ones to
speak of a spiritual marriage.
Then came a man named Loney. He
called on the married women to leave
their husbands, and young girls to leave
| their homes. Many of them did so, and
| followed Loney to Wilmington, the whole
| band living together. Some of the wo-
1 men have since come back, but others
i have never returned. This was about
four years ago. Jones' five disciples were
also followers of Loney, and part Of
them are among those who went away
with him.
There is in the eastern counties of
the State a similar band of white people.
i They live principally in ark-like boats on
the sounds and rivers. The following let
ter received yesterday by the Governor,
gives an insight into their doctrines and
!, practices. 1t is an anonymous letter,
but it is most pathetic appeal, evident
ly written by one who has experienced
the evils of which he complains, but who
does not want to publish his shame to
the world. The letter is addressed to
the Governor, and is as follows:
"There is band here among us in
the eastern part of the State, known
!. as Lynchites, going about on what they
call arks or floats, teaching people that
no matter what they do it is no sin. The
result is that they are parting men and
wives. They claim to become sanctfed,
and then whatever they do is no sin.
/ They are telling women that after they
are sanctihed they can be any mans
spiritual wife.
"They are thus demoralizing the whole
and bringing strife among the people.
They are going so far as to say that min
listers who have been preaching Gods
word for twenty and forty years ought
to be killed, and the newspapers from all
quarters are putting forth horrible crimes
that the people are committing, after
having joined them. The leaders are
said to be the meanest, most lOw-down
;, characters in the world. They were
driven out of Virginia for the way they
were carrying on and disturbing lie peo-
pie.
Believing you to be a man of honor
and fearing God, we ask you to issue a
proclamation for all those arks and
floats, and all that have joined the
Lynchite army or band to leave our
State, so that Gods people may not be
disturbed.
IF you wish to find out more about
them write to the sheriffs of Beaufort,
Carteret, Pamlico, or OnslOw counties.
We send this clipping to you out Of a
paper News and Observer, so that you
can see for yourself these things We sub
NIT to your honor, hoping that you will
give us immediate relief
.. ''If they are allowed to go on the asy-
lums will have to be made larger. We
pray you to give us relief. If you don't
!, do something, Governor, the people will;
but they are asking you for relief"
The letter has been referred to- Solici-
tor Leary, of the First district, with
instructions to thoroughly Investigate
and prosecute if the charges are found
to be true.