The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
NEW THING in RELIGION
AGENTS OF QUEER KANSAS SECT
WORKING IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Convert of the Sire Baptized Assoc
citation" Branded on the Back
with q Red-HOt Iron.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa, Sept 12-Kansas
missionaries Of the queer sect known as the
Fire Baptized Association keep up their
work in Franklin county, and Juror in re-
ligious circles has been stirred up by them
in certain districts These people do not
believe in the baptism by water, but in the
latter method-by fire-as set forth by St
Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. This they
regard as a personal privilege granted only
to those who connect themselves with their
association. They also believe that one man
should not have more of earthly possessions
than another, but that all should share In
common. In fact, they go a little further
than this, and take the thirty-second verse
OF the fourth chapter of The Acts literally,
and say that their possessions are not their
own, but are given to them by Divine Be-
ing merely temporarily. They are seceders
from the River Brethren denomination, and
during the first few weeks of their stay
here the missionaries concentrated their at
tacks almost entirely upon that church
Recently, however. they have turned their
guns upon all religious sects, and declare at
their public meetings that their faith is the
only one which guarantees absolute safety
in the life to come.
The Fire Baptized have located In Leh-
mans grove, about six miles from this
place. They hold two meetings a day-one
in the afternoon and another In the even
ing. On account of the novelty of the at
fair, 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
evangelists have been making their home
with him. There are now about a dozen
here from Kansas. Musser was baptized
last Sunday, red-hot iron being used to
brand him on the back. So earnest is he In
MS belief that while attempting to fly from
a loft In his barn he fell to the floor. sus-
tanning. however, but slight injuries. He
mas also disposed Of large herd of hogs
believing the assertion OF the evangelist
that hogs are unclean. A few days ago he
was willed farm, but he declined to accept
1T on account of neither said any of them
that aught of that which he possessed was
his own. Musser, however has not given
an equal share in the magnificent farm
upon which he resides to his brother evan
gelists.
The evangelists profess to be able tn cure
diseases. and tell their hearers that any
thing can be accomplished by faith but this
doctrine was given terrific shock a few
demonstrate their power, prayed that q
neighbor would bring them a supply of but
termilk at once. which did not come All
sorts OF attempts are made to prove their
omnipotence, but, like the buttermilk the
things asked for have failed TO material.ze.
As the camp is established in close prox-
unity TO the Air Hill River Brethren
Church. their opposition to that particular
denomination Is made more apparent. The
converts SO far obtained are former MEM
bers or the River Brethren Church. That
the latter body is determined TO present a
hostile front TO the seceders is shown by
the expulsion OF number OF the members
OF the mother church who greeted the Sc
ceders with the molly kiss There is a tacit
understanding that the members of the old
denomination are TO have nothing to do
with the new sect. For this offense several
members OF Bishop Martin w. Overholtzer' s
church were deprived OF their membership.
Were not the River Brethren an exceed
ingly law-abiding people. IL is questionable
IL the seceders would progress very far with
their work. Should they continue their
TRADES against other denominations trouble
will likely follow, for already there is talk
OF driving them from the community In
which they are located.