Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-26
ANOTHER SECT.

The appearance Of new and strange
forms OF religious manifestations Ia
hardly noticed In this country. Stiil,
they prove that even in this age of
reason" and boosted enlightenment,
there is n deep-rooted desire In human
nature for communication with the
Maker Of the universe. II the light Of
true revelation Is lost. there Is an earn
est search in every direction for some
rays whereby to be guided toward the
shore Of eternity.
The last peculiar people to attract
attention to their religious observances,
has appeared in Brooklyn, where they
are known by their neghborq as the
Far Offers" because they shout as II
the Lord was far away Their leader
is said to be one Brother Wilson"
formerly connected with the Pentecost
tabernacle, Bedford avenue. He has
gathered around him, II seems, about
a hundred persons, or more,
In an account Of the services Of these
enthusiasts. which appears In the
New York World. Il is stated that they
believe that physical pain is necessary
to a thorough baptism, The reporter
witnessed such a rite, and gives a
graphical description Of it, A little
woman. he says, was sitting In
straight backed chair, with her eyes
shut, her head pressed back over the
top Of the chair, two mem bearing down
on her forehead Great beads OF per-
piratlon stood out on her face, The
men were shouting. The crowd were
crying HISTORICALLY, and outside num-
Der OF people were listening curiously
TO the noise within.
The woman In the chair was fast los
ing consciousness, but she was still
heard to mutter: Come. o Lord
Break I'M Cleanse mel Cleanse mel" At
last she ceased to move and was lifted
TO a corner beside the organ. where SHE
was left, Her head hung losely on one
side, and she showed signs Of life only
by her breathing.
After this baptism" Brother Wilson
preached. He closed his eyes and whls-
pered:
Bless, you. brothersl Bless you.
sistersl | wish that ! could share this
with you. The Lord Il speaking 20 mel
| wish He would talk TO you all. lie Is
blessed!"
Then he opened his eyes. The wo-
man who had been baptized" came TO
and looked at him. lie said;
"The Lord will be here In a minute.
iHe Il on the way Glory be- He Is
on the wayl Is there a sinner here?
Has the Devil tempted yog2 An the
Devil Is here. He Is In the heart Of
woman IN this rooml"
At this announcement a woman In
the audience came forward fell upon
her knees and groaned. An present
kneeled by their chairs. or Frustrated
themselves upon the floor. whereupon
one Of the brethren" commenced to
pray as follows:
Lord Lord Don't yer know that
the devil f. among us? He has dared
10 come into this sacred place. he has
dared to talk "a YOU. Why don't yer
KIN him? Why don't yer cast him out?
You can't believe him. Lord. Hes
foolln you, Lord We don't care what
he say but II Is to You he has said
IT,"
We need not follow the description
Of the meeting any further. This gives
sufficiently clear idea Of the fanatl-
cism, Ignorance and superstition that
are the leading characteristics % the
Far Offers" II Is almost sad 10 con.
template that such exercises can take
place IN this country that boasts Of be-
Ing a Christian" country par excel.
hence and sends missionaries to pagan
lands.
But the fact proves that people need
the lleht of revelation more than any.
thing else. Sciences and arts are mo-
substitutes Tor the Gospel Biologists
may read The history NJ the earth in
its mysterious pages ~ different strata.
astronomers may count the stars IN the
Milky Uat ana measure the boundaries
Of the universe philosophers may dis
course upon the origin Of man and the