Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-16
ANTICS OF A NEW CULT
CONVERTS CLAIM THEY SUFFER
WHILE UNDER SPELL.

DIES MONIES, Iowa, July l6.-Gettns
celestial guidance in their Iowa affairs-a
ritual marriage in heavens the latest
addition to the many strange things in the
cult that Mrs Scott NJ. Ladd wife of Chief
Justice Ladd, of the Iowa supreme court,
heads and fosters. A power so odd and
mysterious as to battle the best experts of
the city yields its influence over the desti-
MES of a sect thath as no equal in the
United States.
Suddenly jumping up in the midst of a
stirring meeting John Brewer exclaimed:
90 Lord, lead me to Mrs. Clyde Miller
whom the spirit tells me to marry"
'Glory!' shouted Mrs Miller. My heart
has left my body, and it tells me to become
the wife of John Brewer
Within six hours a license procured
and within the sacred precincts of the mis-
sion house the couple were married. while
the congregation stood and shouted their
blessings as the ceremony proceeded. Mrs
Miller is, incidentally, the possessor of
twelve different languages, gained through
the power she received in meetings and
at various other times and ways. But her
experiences are no different than those Of
the thirty other disciples of the religious
body.
Moaning and rolling on the floor. going
into frances that last for hours and being
able to speak with no apparent training the
langua ges of foreign races, these. in brief,
are some of the manifestations" that come
to the followers of Mrs. Ladd's queer mis-
sion.
Unmoved by Arrest.
Her converts do not see anything I'M
natural in their departure from the ordi-
nary methods of religious awakening and
are utterly Indifferent to the charges of
cruelty that are being preferred against
them. Even the arrest of Mrs. Laid on the
charge of disturbing the public peace did
not serve to break up the work OF the en-
thusiasts. In fact, when she returned from
her inforced leave of absence scores OF her
people met her at the depot and escorted
her through the streets Of Des Molnes to
the mission homa. shouting and praying.
When Lieut.. George Ellyson, her chief
aid, attempted to prevent ten-year-o,d
Willie Miller from rolling in a faint on the
floor, Mrs. Laid ordered him to desist. Hot
and angry words passed between them but
when the leader looked him sternly in the
eye and muttered an unintelligible word,
he seemed to cover before her and during
the rest of the session was strangely quiet.
What influence she uses has puzzled more
than one Des Mones doctor.
In a room with low ceiling, "a by 30
feet, and containing three windows, these
curious worshipers gather. When 200 peo-
pie are crowded in the place the heat makes
it intolerable to remain. Not with the
converts. PerSpiration pouring from every
part of their skin, these relision-crazed
men, women and children work themselves
IlIlU lItuLS
Forbids Relief to Suffering Boy.
Near the center of the room few nights
ago lay Willie Miller, aged ten years. His
eyes were staring and bloodshot. He
moaned necessarily. His features were con-
torted and, his face pa.e death, he
tossed and mumbled incoherenty. From
char in the rear of the hall his mother APP
peared and attempted to fan and bolster up
the child.
Leave him alone." CURLY ordered Mrs.
Ladd and the woman sile:. Gly returned TO
her place.
To the left. in a corner near the platform,
stood Thomas Mcfarland. His feet beat
continuous, monotonous tattoo on the bare
pine floor. No one needed him nor noticed
the noise. His teeth We're c,enched, his
eyes closed. His body twitched spasmod
ically. Finally Lieut. Ellyson took heavy
rug, walked over to him and tenderly
swathed the mans feet in the folds of the
carpet But his antics still went on. He
was in the power"
Miss Prudence Van Glider, a pretty music
teacher, lay in a trance for thirty days.
She was unable to speak in all that time.
Food was forced through her locked teeth
by a tube. Hundreds of people Wis ted her.
At the end of the month she arose from her
cot. But when she spoke it was in an I'M
known tongue. No one could understand 1t.
Two weeks later, while attending a meet
ing, she was again stricken. Her body was
quired the efforts of six strong men to
carry her slight form to Eer home.
Married While in Trance.
Mrs Lila Miller while in a trance became
the wife of George Sturges When she re-
covered she ran two blocks to the river
bridge nearby and back, then sank faint
ing to the floor, inuttering, 20 God de-
liver me from this Soon after she fell
into trance lasting three days. When
she became herself she was able to speak
the African language. and with her hus-
band will go to the dark continent to do
missionary work.
Pretty Ethel Wallace lay all night in the
mission house, which was silent and de-
serted When the meetings were resumed
the following evening she was still there.
Her skirts were awry. The shirt waist
was open in front. In the rear of the build
ing snickering youths made indecent re-
marks about the sprdwling figure.
Without warning she sprang to her feet.
Her hands twitched convulsively and her
face worked terribly in it's shroud-like pal
lor. Then she began to dance. She scream
ed and dug her nails into her flesh until
the blood came. With a Shrek she sprang
toward Dr. w. A. Guile, who had attended
the meeting in an effort to prevent the ter
rible work, and would have scratched out
his eyes had she not teen prevented. Then
with sigh she sank to the floor in utter
collapse.
Leaders Husband Ignorant.
All efforts to stop the meetings proved
futile. Finally Harry Gael swore out a
warrant for the arrest of Mrs. Ladd Oh
the charge of disturbing the peace. When
an officer went to her palatial home in the
fashionable part of the city to serve it she
was to be found out.
Then the matter was brought to the at
tention of Judge Ladd. He protested ig-
norance of the whole affair, and said it was
not his intention to interfere with any one s
religious beliefs When the accounts of the
proceedings were given him he demanded
proofs and went white to the lips when they
were supplied. In carefully worded
statement he said he would thoroughly in
vestigate the matter. If his wife was
guilty of wrongdong she would be punished
to the limit of the law. Should a medical
examination show her mind to be deranged
he would send her to the hospital. But
should she appear IN sound mind and still
persist in her course, divorce, he de-
clared was the only conclusion.
woMAN'S PATHETIC STORY.