New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-19
THE ANCIENT SECT or DORRILITES.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS CONCERNING A FA-
NAUTICAL BODY THAT HELD FORTH IN
GUuFORD VT.
From Tnc Springfield Republican
An article recently published in THE Repub-
licdn" concerning certain fanatcal sect IN
Connecticut brought to the minds Of some OF the
older residents In this vicinity another sect Oh
religious. or better. irrcligiOus. fanatics, VINO
once existed in the adjoining town OF Guiiiord
and in Leyden. Mass. the descendants OF whoh
members OF respectable families IN those
towns and in Brattleboro and other towns near
by The followers OF the sect in question were
called Dorrilites. from the name OF their leader
William DorriI. and their conduct during Inc
few years that the sect existed forms an inde-
pendent chapter in the history of local organi-
cations
william DorrlI was an EnGlishman. and Is
said to have been born In Yorkshire England.
March II. 1T52, although some Of his grand
children fix the date of his birth from four to six
years earlier. He enlisted in the British Army
under General Burgoyne. but deserted In the
march across country. ana. AFTER spending a
number Of years in various places. he went to
Ieydcn about 1874, where he got possession OF
the farm known the Dorril farm on Frzzle
Hill This farm Is now owned hy the widow OF
James Shattuck. and Is situated just south or
the Guilforl line. Dorrii was powerfully built
and was a iucnt speaker. and although he could
neither read write. he had wonderful
memory. and after hearing his VIE read the
Bible he could quote Scripture by the yard"
soon after going 10 Lcyden he began preach
Ing the doctrine that man should not eat or ilesh
and should not cause the death Of any living
creature nr make use Of anything procured at
the cXp"ns, Of life. He proclaimed himself 10
be the Messiah " his generation and set AT
naught al the doctrines Of the Bible. lie pre-
tended 10 be Possessed Of supernatural power,
and that ~ h. Was armed with attributes or
ia" Deity. II was beyond the power OF human
arm 20 do him injury He gained followers from
the start and soon numbered among them re-
spectacle people from all sections oi the coun-
try round about They put of their leather shoes,
which contrary - Dorrls teaching we're mace
Al the cxnrns. Of life and had others made OF
wood or cloth. Dorrls shoes. made from solid
blocks Of wood. ar EoW on exhibition AT the
museum It Dr"rtcld.
Meetings were held once n week. ut which
worship consisted IN eating drinking. singing.
,iancinG and Kidding and listening to the pro
rnulratIon ~ Dorrii's confession Of faith" The
DorrliteS' property was common stock ana was
placed in the hands OF the treasurer Amos Bur-
rouchs Mr. burroughs was father OF The late
Jarvis burroughs. who built IN" vernon House,
now owned and conducted by 7. J.. Johnson.
Concerning the meSncrC power Of this arch i'm
poster the interesting story Is told that at ono
Of the meetings Dorril proncred to one of his FOL
lowers to br able To- crawl through solid log
from one end 10 the other Having mcsmeriZed
his victim ne proceeded 10 crawl along the top
Of the log. when his victim. seized with suddea
desire t. strike the log presumably To watch the
effrc, of tho sound upon the man inside. grabbed
A club which lay at hard and brought II down
with terrific force upon DOrrifs back. Dorrii
never repeated tiP OIlriHllpl ~ 'Ih"ii'R NHi'uS"
4 log The adherents To Dorri's doctrine were.
a. = result scantiIy clad. .and when. upon one
nccason "A march through several towns was
MANNED the citizens. who had by tins time
i.rorc thoroughly Disguised. armed themselves
wi,h beech yithr5 and the march was speedily
Abandoned
The influence Of DOrr over the more respect
Able Of hiI followers began 20 wanc about li9S,
plinc,ually because OF h,s IntrUp'rat" habits.
and the LAST meeting Of The scot took place dur
ing that year Dorril opened with music. and
AT length bean 10 proclaim his immunity from
bodily weakness stating tllt no arm could hurt
his 1-sh y hat point IN" Of his hearers. cap
tain Ezekiel Foster. - massive frame. rose in
Of his fist knocked DOr;il 10 the ground and
repeated "a" operation As often ~ the bias
phrm"r arose Dorr begged for mercy. and At
The command If Captain Foster h" rrnounccd
his tioctru,. before his lstunishcd followers
Ch1grincI AMI ashamed To be- thus dUprd. the
Latter Departed 10 their homes and Dorm prom
Used upon penalty II his life meyer again 10 I'M
pose upon them.
For nearly nfy years aftcrward Dorfil con-
tintcd - 1--we in I.cyd"n. but n" drank liquor
Enidiually winch 80 increased his nirmitics
that for many years he was one OF the towns
paurrrs At regular intervals he would go to
the middle town Of I"ydrn and procure \ guam
tity of liquor. become intoxicated on the way
home and crawl into n hole in the side Of the
mountain and so ia sleep 50 often was he seen
there. by paaSrrsby that the place was called
|. rril's r.tv" and II is known such 20 tho
prrsrui dlv The wooden bottle of one Gallon
capacity IN which he carried his liquor IS stu
valued relic owned 10y of his ErandChldren.
Dnlril died August ~. 1916. of starvation. havs
ing tasted within a few hours If Forty days