The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-29
RELIGIOUS MANIA IN GERMANY.
Fanaticism Regarding the End OF
the World.
Berlin Letter in London News.

Berlin Letter in London News.
Some years ago when the story reached
western Europe of the sect at TlraspoL'
in Russia, who buried their relatives alive,
an cutlery Of horror arose. Now we have
here, two hours journey from Berlin, a
case which is hardly less astounding. At
the village of Datten, near Forst, in the
selves Brethren of the Lord, who regard
the second coming of Christ as imme-
diately impending. The chief of the sect
is a peasant named Kaschke, who, with
his wife. his daughter, one of his sons
and some other persons. altogether num-
bering about twenty souls. are in the habit
of practicing fanatical rites. Last week
the clock in their house stopped, and this
was regarded as a sign that he last
DAY was impending. From that time
that is to say. for a peasant, his
family and three other married women
tasted. Suddenly, in the evening, a fear
full tumult was heard proceeding from the
dark parlor. Out of curiosity a crowd OF
persons of both sexes hurried in the direc-
ton of the house. By the light of a lam
tern they saw the daughter, the son and
another girl. completely nude, holding each
other and dancing in the village street i'm
front of the yard gate. They were singing
hymns and shouting and leaping with joy.
The peasant himself and the four women
were dancing about in the house in the
same state. The b-urgomaster entered the
yard with the intention of putting a stop
TO the orgy, but he was driven off with
clubs, and the whole party then started to
go through the village as they We're. When
the indignant villagers energetically pro-
tested they replied: I'VE are flying up
ward; we wear trailing robes of clouds and
mist" These ~lunaticS now attacked the
villagers and tried to drag them into the
yard. "You also must be angels they
cried. Finally the -burgomaster got to-
gether a number of men in front Of the
house, and when the fanatics again at
tempted TO leave they were received with a
deluge of icy water which had been held
I'm readiness in buckets.
This religious madness had already
claimed one victim. On the place being en-
tered the peasants wife was found lying
dead on the floor in her chemise. The other
inmates of the house lay around her, gaZ-
ing at the corpse. Everybody in the vii
man had been killed, and the members of
asked her daughter, what have you done
to your good MOTHER" she answered, "The
devil did it, but mother will soon wake up
again. She is smiling already The son.
on being asked why he had killed his
mother, referred to a tract in which the
following passage occurs: God is light;
thus He has nothing in common with the
sinner. God is love; thus He offers sin
ners atonement and stretches out His arms
to them. God is light: therefore without
shedding of blood is no remission He
added: Mother was possessed with the
devil, and to drive out the devil blood must
flow. Without shedding of blood is no re-
mission. Without remission no bliss. God
called Us. Now the devil has gone from
us. We have atoned and are now going TO
heaven" The whole party was at last
bound and taken off to the lunatic asylum.