The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-24
BAPTIZED BY FIRE.
\ Religious Sect That Brands It's Con-
yerts With n Hot Irons.

CHAAIBERsBURG PA. Sept. 10
Kansas missionaries Of the queer sect
known as the Fire Baptized Association
keep up their work 10 Franklin county.
and a Juror in religious circles has been
stirred I'D by them 80 certain districts.
These people do not believe in the baptism
by water. but In the later methOd-by fire
IS set forth By ST. Paul ia the Acts OF
the Apostles. This they regard as a yer
soual privilege granted only 10 those who
join their associations.
They also believe that one mar should
not have more Of earthly possessions tnan
another. but that all should share IN com
mon. IN fact they 20 q little further
than this and take the thirty secon-
verse Of the fourth chapter Of The Acts
literally. and say that their possessions
are not their own. but are given 10 them
by a Divine Be.ng merely temporarily.
They are secedeTs from the River Bretn-
rem denomination, and during the ArsL
few weeks OF their stay here the mis-
s~ionaries concentrated their attac6s al
most entirely upon the church. Recently
however. they have turned their guns up
on all religious sects. an declare az ther
public meetings that their faith is the OR
lg one WINCH rAaAaAtttta &.aNt~NN e~~~Ns
In the life 10 come.
The fire Baptized have located in Leh-
mans Grove, about six miles from this
place. They hold two meetings d day
one IN the afternoon and another In the
evening. on account Of the novelty Of
the affair, they attract large audiences,
but their converts have been very few.
one Of these Is Amos Musser, one Of the
most prominent farmers in that section
of the county. The eyangeiists have
been making their home with him. There
are now about a dozen here from Kansas.
Musser was baptized last Sunday. a
redhot iron being used TO brand him on the
back. So earnest Is he in his belief that
while attempting TO fly from a lot In his
barn he fell TO the floor, sustaining.
however, but slight injuries. lie has also
disposed OF q large herd Of hogs, be-
lieying the assertion OF the evangelist hat
hogs are unciean. A few days he
was willed a farm, but he declined 10
accept It on account OF neither sad any
Of them that aught OF that which he
roesesed was his own" Musser. however,
has not given an equal share IN the mag
nincent farm upon which he resides 10
his brother evangelists.
The e~vangelis,s profess 20 be able 70
cure disease. and tell their hearers that
anything can be accomplished by teith
but this doctrine Was gwen "
shock a few evenings ago. when one or a
number. to demonstrate their power
PRAYED that a neighbor would bring them
a suuplv OF huttermilk az once. Whlcn dld
not come. All sorts OF attempt are made
10 prove their omninotence. but. Ike the
buttermilb, tho things asked for have
failed 20 materlaI1e
As the camp o. established IN close
proxlmitv 10 the Air Hill Brcthen church
Nor op9ositlon 20 that particular de-
-nominatisu IS made more apparent. Tho
converts so far Obtained are former Nom
hers OF the River Brethren Church. That
the latter body is determined 20 present
"a hostile front 20 the scceders is shown by
The exclusion OF a number ~ the mother
church who greeted tho seceders win me
holy kiss. There IS a tacit understanding
mat the member of the old denomination
are 10 have nothing 20 do with the new
co.. For this cNense several memne-s
Of Pishop Martin ". Overholtzer's church
vyere derived of their membership.
Were not the River Brethren an exceed
ingiv law-abidirg peon'e II Is question:
able II the seceders would progress very
far With their work. Should they con-
time their Trades against other denom-
nations trouble will likely follow for
,ireadv there IS talk ~ DRIVING them from
The community in whicr they are To-
csted-Philadelnhia Record.