The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-15

unclean beasts, and he was obeyed.
score of farmers took their swine to
market at great loss He also attempt
ed to cure by laying on ofs-hands, and
found some patients who thought they
were helped. One man declared he was
cured of sort OIL 5ls:zy. but he was as
bad as ever the next day. One farmer
believed and was pronounced cured OF
consumDtion, but he died in few
months. ~-eSas~
Irwin returned last fall with a big tent
and two assistant preachers, and opened
meetings with greater zeal than before
The excitement drew people from score
of miles distant,s and on Sunday thou
sands gathered. The service consisted OF
sermons shouting and exhibitions of the
power" Communicates jumped up and
down for half hour at a time, scream
ing praises to Coo. Some went into
frances These Irwin allowed none to
touch In his address he abused the
river brethren, their form of dress and
customs, pointing them out in the con-
gregation and calling them by name.
Never in the history of this county has
there been so strange and wild preaching
as that, and the people wondered how 1t
would eud if the excitement continued
to grow. They speedily found out.
A party of young farmers, whose par
ents, friends and sweethearts had been
maligned by Irwin and his associates,
Suddenly they cut the ropes ana rushed
for the preachers. They caught tive, of
them, but Irwin amid the confusion
darkness and fright of the congregation,
escaped. The captiveS were taken to
stock tank near by. The windmill, driv-
Ell by the prairie breeze, had filled 1t
with clear, cold water
IN with EN-, boys cried a stalwart
youth.
"one-two-th three" SPLASH Splash H.,
times and then allowed to go Irwin had
already secured horse and was far
away The others followed, and no more
Irwin went to Colorado and no more has
been heard of him. The others went to
Pennsylvania and attacked in a series
of addresses the river brethren near
ell out of that section. One youth, Har-
ry Solonberger, went to Philadelphia and
started an orphanage, wherein healing
was to be by faith and laying on or
hands alone. One or two children died,
and he was arrested
y girl, Martha Zook, entered the home
of an uncle in Illinois, also a healer of
this faith. ana died of diphtheria in spite
of the efforts of the brethren through
prayer.
Two weeks ago another company of
evangelists came back to this county and
began series of meetings in the old
place. Their preaching waXed louder anu
louder, and one night number of young
nen gathered with eggs and prepared for
an attack They were arrested and
brought here to Jail, but released later.
Then others in the neighborhood were
aroused, and they served notice on the
'Tirebrands'' to quit, and they did
1t is a popularity of the sect that its
members believe that they are incapable
of any sin. and hence are absolutely re-
moved from all the temptations of the
world. Many wear Scripture texts on
their hatbands, and they make pretense
of following the established rules of the
old river brethren sect as to dress.
one of the notable converts is Mrs.
Annie Brechhll, a wealthy woman who
mas given her property and strength to
the cause. She believes in the new faith
implicitly, and claims that she has been
cured of consumption by means of faith
Gus as farmer and gives literally to
spreading the new gospel.
Some of the river brethren are alarmed
at the growth of the "Firebrands," as
they think the more sensational doc
trine will win the young people and will
radical element with much ldisfavor, and
nave formally renowned all connection
Herewith as a matter of church policy
The persecution, however, does not dis
hearten the local enthusiasts, and they
hold their meetings in the private resi-
houses built when the adherents were
firm in the old falkland will doubtless
continue to do so. Their outdoor meet
ings are sometimes held in the streets,
and on Saturday afternoons on the street
in this city a little group of praying
and singing men. and women attempts
to hold the attention Of the busy farm
ers who are in on shopping expeditions.
They get small audiences then however
but are not discouraged, and keep up
their efforts regardless of the unfavor-
able surroundings