The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-26
MOUNTAIN STATES
WASH FEET, KISS, CHEW
Members of New Idaho Sect
Have Queer Belief.
IGNORANCE A VIRTUE
BROTHER CHARLEY REACHING
FOR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.

About one month ago, Brother Charley.
Follower of Christ and vice regent of
God, returned to Silver creek, an. i'm
mediately the dormant religious com
munity sprang into renewed activity. and
meetings were more frequent than before
his departure last spring, says q HALEY
special to- the Boise Statesman
For a proper Introduction of Charley
and those VINO believe with him. a brief
resume is necessary: Last December
two WayfaTerS from Oklahoma drifted
INTO the Silver creek valley. One was
tall and dark, about so years of age and
wore par OF greasy OYeralls, black,
baggy sweater, and fiaring yellow mack
NAV coat. His partner was apparently
about 40 years old, short and Stocky and
OF sandy complexion. He was attired in
Overalls, black shirt, weIl-WOrn gray coat
and vest, and was too humble TO wear a
neCktie.
They soon impressed the people with
their evident religious tendencies and in
formed those who would listen that they
were the disciples of a new religion; that
they had revelations from God and that
they mad come to Blaine county to preach
and spread the new gospel. About a
week after their arrival meeting was
held IN one of the district school houses
ana three converts made Although de-
cldedIy llllterate, Brother Charley's
knowledge of the Bible was surprising.
he could Teclte whole books from mem
ory. Other meetings were held, and
within a month the Followers of Christ
in Silver creek valley numbered over
thirty Although attempts have been
made to propagate the faith in other
parts of the county, they have proved
All the meetings were well attended.
many being drawn to them by curiosity.
At one meeting Brother Charley 0he
taller of the two and principal exhorter)
in the midst of hurting epithets at the
Mormon church, took a plug of tobacco
from his pocket and bit off a good sized
chew to show, as he said, that he wasn't
a Mormon. A Mormon in the cOngrega-
ton promptly arose, and, taking a plug
from MS pocket, took "A chew to show
that he was a Mormon. This theological
difference having been settled. Brother
Charley proceeded TO inVeigh against ed
ucation- He said: Education haint nee
eSSary-yu don't wan edicatiOn; il makes
you prOud-ChTiSt want edicated: edica-
ton came to him, and it'll come to you If
you Jest nave talth enough 1t was EVIL
dent that in this matter, at least, he Ger
! taiqly practiced what he preached.
Dodges Test of Snake Charming.
That God tempers the wind to the
shoTn lamb is accepted literally and
; Internationally by the Followers. Brother
1 Charley once told his congregation that
he had left his wife over in Lost river,
with some spring water and 3 sack of
flour, and he felt in his heart that she
was getting along all right-GOd was TAX
inc care of her. He also asserted that
any Follower could handle a dangerous
reptile without danger to himself He,
however, dlsdaIned to accept the offer of
a SkeptiC in the congregation mot a Fol
lower) 10 furnish a live rattlesnake for
the next meeting.
Kiss and Wash Feet.
To kiss one another whenever and
wherever they meet is one of the injunc-
tionS of the church that all Followers
must obey. As Brother Charley eN-
pressed it: ''All brothers and sisters
ought to kiss each other when they meet;
it is the proper way for brothers to greet
each otheT-didnt Christ greet the apOs-
8 ties that way?' Another of the church
commandments is that all Followers
must prove their humbleness by washing
the feet of one another, and, following
this injunction. the Followers of Silver
creek cOnETegate at each others houses
and induSJriOuSIy wash each others feet
/ Their leader felt called upon at meet
/ ing to inform them that this practice OF
/ feet washing was not carried out because
! the feet We're not clean perish the
. thought, but to show that Followers
/ We're not proud
/ The work of preaching and converting
4 still goes on.