Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-05-05
Strange Beliefs of a Fanatieal Sect
In Kentucky.
Saturuny Ii Observed m Their HRb-
bath and They Spend tho Entire
Day In Violent Cere-
monies.

One Of the most interesting trials
ever occurring in this county was ter
minated at. the court house recently. 1t
was prosecution against Henry
Brown. Granvil Brown. James Withrow
and harles Bard. charged with dis
turbing religious worship. The story
brought out al the I. III is most in
t%res."ng lecital OF the extent 10 which
religious ianaticisul may easily lead
community Of people.
The defendants. with certain of their
ne.2hboEs. some years ago left the
Methodist and Baptist churches in their
community and organized u church of
their own. teaching many doctrines
not countenanced as orr hodoX by either
of the denominations 10 which they
formerly belonged. Sanct;ication was
among the least of the differences be-
tween them anIJt he ir OF mer church as
sociates. AS time went on they be-
came more and more engrossed with
their peculiar meth cd OF worship. They
gave up association with the rest of
mankind. refraining from going TO
town or anywhere else except uTon the
most urgent necessity. Gevotirg al
most all their time 10 attending upon
the exercises of their church. They
built house OF worship and employed
preacher from among their own num-
beT. They neglected their farms until
within the Fast few months they have
come almost 10 utter want. What was
Few years ago one OF the richest sec
tions Of the country came 10 Icok like
a waste. The fences rot1ed down and
were oveTgrown with Eriars. while the
men were singing their weld songs
and repeating over and over aE ain their
peculiar forms OF worship. The wom-
on joined in vii i. he movement. and as
part of their creed they did net use
any kind Of jewe!ry or give any but the
most m9ager attention 10 lheir FER
sonal appearance. The women allowed
their hair 10 grow ut vii! w!,LOut coil
ing ii upon the head as others co. The
men did not shave. aid their Fer
sonal appearance soon came 10 rartake
Of the general look of GilapidGtion sur
rounding the community. They OBJ
serve Saturday as their Sabbath. and
go TO church early in the E3orE."y and
spend the entire day in the mist gro-
1esque Performance ever seen in tie
form Of religious ceremonies in n civ
iliZed land. They sing and dance and
shout and pray and jump until the
very hills resound with the noisre of the
gathering. They join hands and march
round and round until they grow into
perfect frenzy Of nervous ecstasy.
To all of this and much that was new
in the doctrines taught some of the
Issen1ers did not agree. The result
was THAT part Of those who aided in
organizing the church withdrew and
bought farm and erected house for
worship. All went we'll for few months
until the more enthusiastic and loudest
shouting party undertook TO forcibly
evangelize the other crowd. rhen he
trouble began. The quiet. sanctified
brethren who did not approve Of the
new-fangled methods objected TO be-
ing captured by the new crusaders. The
enthusiasts then proceeded 10 90 by
force whar they had been unable to
do by persuasive means. Then the
quiet congregation. or. as they are
called in conIradistinction from the
others. the "Swine-eaters" las they eat
meat. while the others are vegetarians),
demonstrated and undertook 10 con-
CRct their own service. Their meet
ing was overrun. however. and their
minister was unable to preach. Then
they had the intruders arrested. Alter
trial they were acquitted, perhaps
upon the theory that it is hard 10 traw
TIE line AT which the law may interfere
with ones religious exercises.
he parties all live in what is known
as tie Equality neighborhood. which
Is one Of the best parts Of the county,.
Many Of the best people in The locally
are Still true 10 the older doctrines
CT the churches 10 which these t.is-
sen''rs formerly belonged. and are. CT
course. much Gisgustcd with this Whole
business. The law seeming 10 afford
no relief. II Is whispered, that certain
OF the more sensible people in the com,
mnnity will try moral sdasion with a
cluh the next time their congregation
is broken up by an onslattpht of tbee.o