Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-15

nal an account of conference at
Canandaigua, ~ Y, OF peculiar
religious body, and the dedlca-
tlon Of what is called the first
"Holy Roller" church In America, We
suspect that name Is given them by
outsiders, as they otherwise are re-
ferred 10 as Saints" They are said TO
have come to the conference from
many states, and to have been present
In large numbers. Their leader is said
TO be a Bishop Eastman, who ten years
ago was country school teacher He
was suddenly seized with religious fer
vor and organized a small band Of wor-
clippers, whose methods and beliefs
were unlike those Of any other sect.
Their meetings were held out of doors,
on hllltops preferably, and the services
were continuous, with relay Of lead
ers. and only a few hours allowed for
rest between midnight and daylight.
What the doctrnal pecullarltles Of
the sect are, Is not stated, but 1t Is
claimed that during their services they
often fall into eostacy and roll on the
ground, after which they sometimes
become apparently dead. In this state
their bodies are rigid and insensible.
Their services are also marked by
shouting, praying aloud, embracing ana
kissing. Suddenly they leap from their
seats and jump about the alsles, Ut
tering incoherent cries.
They also believe In healing by means
Of prayer aud amounting, and 1t Is
claimed they have effected apparently
wonderful cures. The account Of the
conference goes on TO say
1.-THE climax OF the day was when
Bishop Eastman arose ana said
1--WE are now about TO administer the
divine ceremony Of healing by laying
on of hands and sacred amounting
Those who are clean, pure and whole
i'm spirit. and such only, are requested
to step forward and lay their hands
upon Brother Francis Waldron.
"Then a paralytic leaning on a
crutch, lmped TO the platform He was
Joined there by Eastman and ten 9TH
ers The paralytlc knelt. with the 9TH
ers In circle around him, their hands
upon his head.
"Bishop Eastman advanced and
prayed that power from heaven should
descend. After an impressive pause he
lifted M his eyes, and with the muscles
Of his face str6ining until the blue
veins showed through and persplration
dripped down his temples, he called out
three times, in Increasing volume'
"'Come OUT Come out, Ye evil
spirits. ] command ye Come outv
Excitement in the congregation at
this point was intense. and the para
lytlc sprang to his feet, shouting:
81 am healed am heaed' He ran
TO the nearest window and, crying
Here goes the crutchl he threw II out.
Everybody went mad. The women
wept and screamed and men embraced,
heat their breasts and cried 'Hallelu-
iahr They crowded about the altar,
Rugged each other and could not be
ouieted. The healed man was sur
rounded and there was a continuous
praying aloud.
THE scene was repeated in the heal
Ing Of Harrison futile, who had sur
fered from acute rheumatism for years.
and who. after the ceremony, declared,
that ne was cured and free from pain
Later on four "apostles" were or
dained and sent out TO preach the new
gospel It Is expected they Will be
heard from, as converts have already
flowed to the ranks Of the Rollers
until they have adherents In nearly
every state Of the Union,
There are several distinct religious
currents in the ecclesiastical world at
the present time, all truly remarkable.
One IL toward Romanism in all Its
medieval pomp and splendor. This was
shown recently when the Rt Rev A. +.
Warrington Ingham was enthroned at
ST. Paurs cathedral as bishop Of Lon
don, with the most imposing ceremon-
les. without any protest from the
clergy. There were pealing OF bells,
professions, copes and mitres, scarlet
robes and TIE Deums, and other things
foreign to plain Professionalism,
Another current Is strong in the d.
rection of what may be called religious
burlesque, such as that performed by
the Chicago Dowieites and the Holy
Rollers" II accounts are true. These
are but two OF many similar phenom-
ena Of later years, all Of which have
held attention for q moment and then
faded out OF view, as the schwen-
furt deluslon, FOR instance, which is still
In fresh memory.
Another current Is toward licentious-
ness and a belef-lf It can be so termed
in the non-exlstence Of God. We no.
tlced recently the formation in Cincin-
natl Of an agnostic sect with an ag-
nostlc marriage ritual, the dedication
of infants to agnosticism, and the con-
Armation of children In agnosticlsm. We
have also noticed a class OF marriage
contracts which really amount to no
more than a temporary union, union
until a new affinity" is discovered
All these signs show clearly whittier
the religious world is drifting What Is
needed is the Gospel OF the Redeemer,
preached in the power Of the Holy
Spirit. with accompanying results, in
the publication OF private live, the re-
generation Of society the clearing away
OF clouds Of darkness and error. The
blind must be made to see. the deaf to
hear, and the lame TO walk speaking
iguratively, as well as literally. For
mans spiritual nature needs COM
plete restoration TO sound Judgment
and righteous Ife such as can only be
effected through the divine Spirit And
that is what should be looked for. The
divine promise is for an outpourlng Of
the Spirit in the last days. as never
before in the worlds history. The very
counterfeits that appear may be taken
10 signify, that the day for the fulfill
ment Of the promises is drawing near.
And thus they are among the signs OF
the times"