Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-01
FAKE LETTERS FROM HEAVEN
Missives Believed I'm and Treasured
by the Pennsy1vania
Dutch.

Letters believed by many TO have been
originally written IN heaven, and by GOD
Himself, and which are treasured as
charm against everything evil. are peddled
daily in the rural districts Of Fork. Leb-
anon and Berks counties, where the Penn
syivania Dutch are numerically strong.
These arrange writings are called him
melsbrief, meaning a letter from heaven.
Throughout the counties mentioned and in
other parts of Pennsylvania, but particu-
larry in Fork county, they are framed and
hung on the walls and are guarded with
jealous care.
The vendors Of these letters are persons
Of good repute, but as superstitious as
those who purchase them. The writings
had 6 wide circulation In Germany more
than a century ago.
Deiuded persons believe that after the
letter was written by God II was dropped
from heaven at three places. One OF the
letters fell on the top OF the Hartz noun
| tains in Germany. Another was dropped on
top Of the Pyrenees mountains In Spain.
| Another was said to have fallen into the
city OF Nagdeburg. Germany,
| 1t Is for the most part, this letter that
is treasured most by the Dutch IN Pennsyl-
vania..
| Here is a copy OF the MRgdeburg letter:
"The man who works on Sunday IL
cursed. command that ye DO not work
| on Sunday. but go TO church. Do not prImr
! your hair, nor wear false hair. And you
should not be proud from your riches. Givt
to the poor. and fully believe that this was
1 written IN my own hand and was sent By
! Christ. and that you VIII not do Ike cattle
"You have six days in the week wherein
1 you shall DO your work, but the seventh
/ day namely. Sunday you shall keep holy
II you won't I viii send war, hunger and
pestiience and much trouble and punish
ment command that II be your way
young and old. rich and poor, that you
never work on Sunday.
''You should confess your sins that they
be forgiven YOU.
wish not for silver and gold. Rsmem
Der that made you. Do not be happy \
your neighbor is poor and needs help.
Honor your father and mother so thai
you shall live long on earth.
WHO does not believe this Is damned
IT have written this with my own hand
''The person who speaks evil Of men shal
not expect help from me. He who has
this letter and does not give II to hii
ueiEhbors is cursed from the holy church
I
your heart your sins shall be forgiven
Who shall not believe shall die and b
thrown into purgatory.
In the last days shall call for you
sins and you must answer
Every person that carries this letter Of
has II In his house shall not be struck b.
I lightning, and he will surely have abun
dance Of water 20 drink. He who teaches
this letter to his children will receive hi
| reward
Hold this. nay letter which have writ
| ten, until the end Of thy days"
II Is difhcuit to believe that such super
stition exists a few miles from the iegis
lativs halls OF Harrisburg and less thar
100 miles from Philadelphia, but such, how
ever. Is a fact. The number OF RESIDENT
Of York who believe the letter emanats,
from Providence and who recount the won
ders II has worked IN the way Of stavinI
] on lawsuits. sickness and death is 70
I marlxhble
I Only recently II was discoveries that
farmer Involved IN a lawsuit carried On,
I Of these letters over his heart while m tn,
YoFk county eOurt house. under the In
preston THAI be could not ioss his case
Wheeling Register.