The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-02-06
CORVALLIS ABROAD
HOW THEY TELL THE HOLY
ROLLER STORY IN FAR
OFF SCOTLAND.
S,me Things True and Some Not
The M .iden at the Sacrificial
Fire-Burning Musical To-
struments on the Flat
Stone.

struments on the Flat
Stone.
The news of Holy Rollerism as
lately practiced at Corvallis has
penetrst ID far off Scotland. A copy
of the Scotch man, published at Ed
inburgh, and containing att)ry of
the doings of the Corvallis HOLY
Rollers has reached the Times"
Office. The article appears under,
the head, "The Holy Rollers-Fren-
zied Acts of New Religious Sect"
In full, the story is as follows:
''B. i, as God directs"
With these words on their lips
the fanatical men, women, and chill
dren who constitute the strange re-
ligious sect of "Holy Rollers"
whose extraordinaryjpractices have
awed the state of Oregon ior the
last two months, throw upon the
flames hous ehold goods, and even
sacrifice their PIT dogs and cat,.
BE i. as God dir cts" they als o
answer to the grave charge that
their propl ct. John the B .ptiet."
reincarnaled. is preparing to offer
to tae alters flames one Of his m ost
devoted followers, young girl, Miss
Matilda johnson. And the girl,
WHEN officers of the law asked her
ifit were true that she was to be
sacrificed, answered with bowed
head:
''Bs it as God Directs"
The prophet aud his foremost fol.
lowers have been taken into court
IN he charge of insanity, but have
easily cl ared themselv of that
charge and gone free. Their weird
rites continue. and near the house
in which the ordinary services are
held, behind barred doors, the
prop ret has built a ,eat, into
which noue dare to enter but HIM
self, fer in this tent is the sacred
recepf acle cor tanning the "holy
rolls" upon which God has directed
to be written the names of the elect.
Among the members of this sect
are people who have always bsen
known as sound of mind and of
good business sagacity.
ALL TO THE FLAMES.
I After t0e dismissal of the insaui-
ty case, the citizens threatened vic.
flence, and some Of the leaders fed,
habut only 10 remain away for few
days. Their return was the occa-
sion for grand jubilee by the ad
hsrents of the new religion, whose
faith and z-al were reinforced when
the leaders, with great solemnity,
declared
"God bade US return. Human
beiL g canrot HARM"
The eff ct of this declaration was
electrical. All the flithful Assem-.
b1sd in the evening before fat
rock near their temple, which the
prophet had proclaimed an altar for
epecial sacrifice. A fire was built
upon the altar, and behind it stood
prophet With rapt countenancs and
arm upIaised, alternately praying
and exhorting his followers.
These fanatical followers had
brought before the altar what re-
manned of their furniture and cher
ished personal effects. As the
flames rose the prophet spoke
"Suhjugate all lustfol desires.
All that has price contaminates the
spirit and hinders communion with
God"
"Bs it as God directsw chanted
the followers.
A young and handsome woman
threw upon the flames the mark ol
her vanitv--a mirror In a carved
frame. Mn, and women followed
her with all manner of household
fixtures and goods-even the beds
upon which they were accustomed
to sleep.
"All, all to the hames!" exhorteG
the prophet. "To the flames with
all these agencies of evil"
''Be it as God directs" answ erel
his disciples, whnse excitement hae
become intense.
The blazing altar was heapes
with furniture and clothing. 1
young girl fed the fire with her dear
est possession, mandolin. A youn
man sacrificed his guitar. Two pill
lars OF the church came with
small melodian which the fame
destroyed amid prayers and shouts
OVERCOME WITH EMoTI pN.
At this stage the emotion | of sey
eral women had overcome then
They fell upon the groun id, an
then began detail of the ssct's ri