Graham guardian., 1902-06-06
FOOLS IN A FRENZY,
Hypnotic Influence Of a Ranting Preacher.

HlVhuii1 iHiiuChte VI HahtiH6 fIgathGi'
Manchester, o., May 30.-There
is wave of religious excitement
sweeping over this town and the
adjoining villages in Brown county.
Thus far one man has become a
hopeless maniac, and several per-
sol minds are unbalanced as re-
suit of attending the Holy Ghost"
revival meetings conducted by
Evangelist John W. Harris, who
advocates the doctrine Of sanctifi.
cation.
For some time past Evangelist
Harris has been holding revivals
at Ellsberry and Bradyville, little
hamlets few miles from A bar
deem, Brown county. His pecu,
lar manner of eXhortion and unique
views drew the farming community
to his meetings. Within couple
of weeks from his advent into
Brown county farmers and their
wives within q radius of five miles
neglected their work to attend the
daily and nightly meetings of the
evangelist.
AS o result of Harris religious
gatherings at Ellsberry and Brady.
vile, John Teeters, a young farm.
er Of Ellsberry is now a hope ess
maniac at the Dayton State asy-
lum. Several others have been ex.
amined as to their sanity, while
many women of that nelghbor
hood are on the verge Of being
sent to the probate court for medi-
cal examination. Men and women
became so excited at these meet.
ings with religious fervor that they
were for the time being immune
to self.infiicted torture.
John Teeters surpassed the fan
atical religious fakirs of India in
inflicting tortue upon himself. At
one Of these meetings Teeters took
red-hot glass chimneys from the
lamps held them in his hands, rub
bed his face with them, and,
though the skin and flesh of his
hands and face clung to the hot
chimneys, the man sang and yell
ed "Glory to God," and his fanat-
ical companions shouted.
Teeters would rush at people in
the meeting and yell "You have
the devil" Then he would turn
somer,aults, land on his head
and spin like a top. He would
lay rigid for hours, as fin trance;
then at other times he would wave
and twirl his arms like windmill
Mrs. Teeters is also in very
critical condition mentally. She
does not believe her husband is
insane, saying that her John had
only gone little distance to con-
fer with the angels.
Evangelist Harris was made to
appear before the probate court at
Georgetown today. The Judge
asked him if it was true that he
hypnotized people. His reply
was.
IL am working by Gods grace.
How can l hypnotize any one with
only one eyer"
These revivals that are attract
ing the attention of the authorities
Of Adams and Brown counties were
inaugurated by A. P. Hurst, Of
Muses. Mill, Kentucky. This m n
would drop into supposed trance
for two or three hours, lying on
the floor with his hands outstretch-
ed and as motionless as lizard
summing itself, but all the time he
repeated to his audiences what he
claimed were mes ages from God.
Upon regaining consciousness
he would work himself into a
renzy. The effect Of this mans
exbortations was disasterous to
several week-minded people. Many
women became hysterical and fell
unconscious.
Evangelist Harris has set up his
revival tent in the old fair ground
of this town. He says he will
hold meetings daily and establish
a sect here.
1t is hard to state just exactly
the mans beliefs. They are SINH.
lar to those expounded by the
Knapp followers at Cincinnati.
He says that he copies after the
late Kentucky travelling evangelist
Loronzo Dow.