The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
BAPTIZED By FIRE.
A Religious Sect That Brands Its Converts
With a Hot Iron.
From he Philadelphia Record.

| From the Philadelphia Record.
| CHAMBERspURG, Pa, Sept 10.--Kansas mis-
stonares OF the queer sect known as tho Fire Bap-
tzed Association keep up their work in Franklin
| county. and Juror in religious circles has been
| stirred up by them in certain districts These
people do not believe in the baptism by water,
but in the later method-~by fire-as set forth by
| St Paul in the Acts OF the Apostles This they
regard as a personal pivil ge granted only 10
those who Join their associations
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 little further than this and take the
thirty second verse Of the fourth chapter of The
Acts literally, and say that their possessions arc
not their own. but are given 10 them by Divine
Being merely temporarily. They are seoeders
from the River Brethren denomination and dur
ing the first few weeks OF their stay here the mis-
sonaries concentrated their alta cks almost entire
ly 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 10 come
The Fire Baptized have located in Lehman's
Grove, about six miles from this place. They
hold two meetings q day ono In the afternoon
and another in tho evening. On account of tho
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 evan
gelists have been making their homo with him.
There arc now about a dozen here from Kansas
Musser was baptized last Sunday, a red hot
iron being used TO brand him on the back So
earnest Is he in his belief that while attempting
70 lily from loft In his barn no fell TO the floor
sustaining. however. but slight injuries He
mas also disposed OF large herd Of hogs believing
the assertion of the evangelist that hogs are I'M
clean few days ago he was willcd farm
Dun he declined TO accept II 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 evangelista
The cvangclists profess 10 be able 10 cure dise.s.
and tell their hearers that anything can be accom-
plished by faith but this doctrine was given a
'crrlhc shock few evenings ago when one Of the |
NUMBER TO demonstrate their power, prayed that A |
neighbor would bring them supply OF buttermtIL |
at once. which did not come All sorts OF attemp,a
are made TO prove their omnipotenca but. like |
the buttermilk, the things asked for have failed 10
matehlli2e.
AS tho camp Is established in close proxinjtv
TO the Air Hi River Brethren Church, their on
position to that particular denomination is rood.
more apparent, The converts so far obtained 49,.
former members Of tho River Brethren Church
That the latter body is determined TO presen, A
hostile front to the seceders is shown by tho ex
puision OF a number OF the members of the mother
,, nufch VINO greeted the seceders with tho holy
KISS There is tact understanding that IN.
members OF the old denomination are 10 have
nothing 10 do with the new sect For this offenso
several members OF Bishop Marinw Overholtzer's
church were deprived of their membership
Wero not the River Brethren an exceedingly
law abiding people 1t is II the secodor.
would progress very far with their work Should
lhey continue their Trades against other denom-
nations trouble will likely follow for already thor.
Is talk Of driving them from the community in
which they are located