Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18
"HOLY ROLLERS"
INVADE GERMANY
THOUSANDS OF PERSONS JOIN
MOVEMENT
"Gift Of Tongues" Is in Evidence and
Converts Act as Though
Seized by Acute
Mania

Special Cable to The Herald.
BERLIN. Aug. 1L-Thousands of per-
sons in the central Prussian provinces
have been suddenly seized with an acute
form of religious mania.
Detailed kilograms from Cassel state
that the outburst, which is manifesting
itself in all kinds of astonishing forms,
was started by two fanatics, who pro-
claimed themselves divine emissares,
specially sent by heaven to lead the in
habitants of the adjoining provinces to
salvation.
Their principal lieutenants are two
Swedish women, whose oratory exercises
a strange fascination over the populace.
Extraordinary scenes take place at meet
ings held nightly in Cassel and many sur
rounding towns and villages. The par
Elephants at these meetings emit inarticu-
late shrieks, throw themselves on the
ground roll on the floor, fling their arms
and legs wildly about beat their heads
against the wooden benches, and amazing
confessions of sin then pour from their
lips. After this they declare they see
visions of heaven, hell and other worlds.
Sometimes all those present at meet
ing PROSTATE themselves simultaneously
on the floor and groan in unison, with
wild gestures. Suddenly man springs up
and graphically describes some strange
vision which he sees before his eyes.
Loud shouts of "Hallelujah" greet the
speaker, and when the vision has been
described men and women arise from the
ground, embrace one another with ecstatic
fervor, and dance with many amazing
movements, all through the night till sun
rise.
Amazing Scenes
A spectator of one of these meetings
states that there were over 200 people
II ,,a1 OH oil oil "
intoxicated with religious ecstasy. He
says: II heard wild cries, loud confess
sions of sin, uncanny shrieks, groans and
other unearthly noises. l saw distorted
faces, men and women gesticulating like
lunatics.
81 saw them sink to the ground and
kick out in all directions. Suddenly
young man sprang up and uttered sounds
which the chairman described as being
the result of divine vision. No sooner
had the chairman uttered these words
than a great shout of triumph rose from
the assembly. They all looked as if hyp-
Noticed"
At another meeting, after a hymn had
been sung, a young man sprang to the
platform threw himself about with
extraordinary vigor, made indescribable
grimaces, and then shouted incoherently.
One of the founders of the movement in
formed the congregation that the youth
was divinely inspired and that his antics
and noises were a divine revelation. The
worshipers clapped their hands, knelt
down, gesticulated, shrieked, groaned and
groveled in the dust.
Several worshipers shouted, I'VE see
the blood of our Savior" Women en-
braced one another, saying, 1--WE. have
seen our Savior himself"
Strange Frenzy
The preacher then offered up the fol-
lowing prayer: 20 Lord let every one
here kneel down. Whoever refuses to
kneel, let him be thrown from our midst"
One man remained standing, whereupon
there were wild cries of out with him!
Out with Beelzebub!
When the unbelever left the hall the
worshpers shouted: 1.-The devil has now
gone The evil one has left our midst
At a meeting at Gross Almerode young
man Invested himself of his collar and
cuffs, declaring that he desired to re-
nounce luxury. Young women tore off
their hats, wells, ribbons, laces and other
finery for the same reason.
Night after night hundreds of deluded
enthusiasts are attending meetings of this
kind where eccentric doctrines are sys-
tematically preached by fanatical relig-
ious maniacs.
The congregations are principally com
posed of peasants from the agricultural
districts, but the intelligent classes of the
urban population are also strongly repre-
scented at the meetings.
Large numbers of peasants are pouring
in from the provinces of Upper Hesse and
Lower Hesse in the hope of seeing signs
and wonders worked by the leaders of this
misguided movement