The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-07-09
A HEATED CONTROVERSY.
Divine Healers in Wilkes, N. c.
Daughter Does Trance
Feature.

''You ought to be in the state of
Wilkes,' said a travelling man to an
Observer reporter, yesterday.
"What's doing in that neck of
the woods?'
"They are entertaining the divine
healers. Yes, sir, over at Moravian
Falls, where R. Don Laws edits his
Yellow jacket, they have had warm
times: A Rev. Mr.. and a Rev. Mrs.
Etter and their adopted daughter, at
least that is what they say she is, are
dividing the people of that country
into hostile camps, the divine healers
and their disciples and the ants, who
are led by Rev. Perdue. the Baptist
Of Moravian Falls Mr.. and Mrs. Et-
ter. especially the latter, do the
preaching and Miss Etter is the
trance artist. They have just closed
a three weeks meeting at Moravian
Falls and will begin a protraoted
preaching at NVilkesboIo this week.
Heals the Sick, the Halt and the Blind
''The girl is the most interes is
one Of the trio. She heals the sick,
the halt and the blind. One man,
who had not seen out ef rne eye fo.'
years, came from away back in The
mountains and the youoS woman me:42
him see. u, came ;:.ic Maravian
Falls with an I'VE band*ce!! and shad-
ed by blue glass but before he left
after consulting the girl. he threw
away his cloths and hi3 glasses and
went his wav rejoicing. , man who
had been III f,c monte Vas cured A
lumberman who had bs.2 caught IN
der log and mashed wa. made sornd
again. He csLe On crut, hes but wen
away using =: legs.
"These ,'::lgs have stirred the
mountain dive ters as nothing has dvae
for years. Treat crowis flocked to
hear and see and consult the divine
healers. Those that 60 and are 2ot
cured are dismissed as nsen and wn-
men Of no faith. Que fellow, VINO
has suffered for years with rheuma-
tism, was told to cast aside his sticks
and walk. He obeyed, but before he
had gone far he was taken with .
pain in The small Of tle back al
cried for his crutches. This case, Tie
young wou:2 said, vas hopeless be-
cause the :nea had but r'tle faith.
Women 60 Into frances.
"Why, man I wish you c>'-4d have
been there when the meeting was in
full blast. A number Of girls went
into trance there one night and fel!
upon the stand where they remained
till morning. The healers stayed
With them until they came to and were
able to return to their homes. These
young people, it was claimed, had
seen the spirit through the medium Of
the adopted daughter.
II was there that evening for the
service and saw a good part of what
took place.
s'Mrs. Etter did the preaching. She
is a woman of considerable size, and
sense. She reminds me Of some fat,
portly inn keeper that I have seen
on my rounds. Her voice is sharp
and strong and her tongue Timber.
There is no hesitancy in her speech.
She rattles right along.
"On this particular night, when in
the midst Of her sermon, she was in
terrupted by her husband, who sat
by and as she turned, the girl-Miss
Etter, I guess they call her, rose and
began to wall her eyes and twitch her
fingers. A. deathlike silence fell on
the congregation. AS the girl straight
ened to her full height her face be-
came pale and sad looking. While
the crowd held it's breath she began
to speak and it is said that she used
seven different languages. How true
this claim is I cannot say, but Don
Laws, who is man Of learning and
wisdom, thinks that that particular
claim has been exaggerated little as
he listened closely one night when it
was claimed that she gave tongue to
four Of the seven and he was unable
to distinguish but two.'
"What seven does she pretend to
use? was asked.
81 don't know, but one Of them is
African; know Of no such language.
I have heard Of the Afghanistan ton
cue but Of no down right African
speech. The negroes in this country
use the same language that the whites