The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-31
Sanctificationists' House of WOr
ship at Shoal Creek, n. c., De
stroyed by Citizens.
NEW FAITH WAS OBNOXIOUS.
Taught Healing by Laying on OF
Hands. Holy Dance and Bap-
tism by Fire-Methodist
Preacher Took Part.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Chattanooga, Tenn. July so.-The people
of Shoal Creek Cherokee County. In North
Carolina, six miles east OF Duckwortn.
Tenn, are in open rebellion against class
or sect that processes and breaches sancu-
fcation. or the second blessing. One num-
dred and ten Of the citizens Of that COM
Urnity met yesterday at this congrega-
,ion.s church demolished X and burned II
up.
The Reverend Gay Bryant Methodist
preacher. preached a sermon to the excited
and Infatuated crowd while the building
was being burned.
II appears that some three years ago
this doctrine OF sanctihcation was brought
to this community. and. within snort
time II had a considerable following ana
the converts erected a church in which 10
worship. as the other denominations re-
fused them the use Of their churches Inc
teaching and preaching of such doctrine
created a great deal Of excitement anu
confusion.
The new sect soon began to teach bap-
t,sm OF fire. the holy dance the dynamite
the lysdite. the exile, the settle. and many
other things never heard of before. They
claimed that God had revealed things TO
them in various ways. such as total alb
stjneuce from coffee meat. medicines. ETC.
About ten days ago the son OF Andy
Bryant. who is one of the members Of this
church. was taken down sick with typhoid
fever, and Doctors Kinsey and Pastelle
of Ducktown were called to treat him.
Henry Robinson. Pink Berrang and other
leaders OF this church went to the house
Of Mr. Bryant and induced the young man
to take no more medicine and to destroy
tho medicine that he had In his possession
claiming that they could cure him by LAY
lag on of the hands" They worked anu
prayed with the young man over night
In q few days the people and neighbors
began TO realize that Pink Berrang was
becoming insane. They arrested Berrans
and took him to Murphy. y. c., where ne
was adjudged insane by the proper autnor-
tiles, and is now confined In jail.
Young Bryant grew gradually worse and
received no medical attention for ten days
All this aroused the indignation OF the cit
liens. so on last Friday p. Z. Nelson. Rev
erend Gay Bryant and Haron Berrang sent
out a request for all the people to meet
them at this church on yesterday morning
for the purpose Of destroying 1t.
About 10 people met them there. or this
number six refused to assist in destroying
the church, claiming that every man has
right to worship God according to the die
tates of his own conscience. and that no
one has a right to destroy his property or
put him In fear.
The other l0i RACED and burned the church
and Reverend Mr.. Bryant delivered SER
mon while the building was burning. They
passed a resolution notifying the members
of this church not to build another church
anywhere IN that country.
Great excitement prevails throughout the
county and the members of the congrega-
ton whose church was DESTROYED are ieav-
ing the country in fear of their lives.