The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-05-05
WEIRD THINGS
ARE TOLD ABOUT THE DOINGs OF
SOME FANATICS.
Two Followers of unknown Tongue"
Will Be Arraigned on Charge of
Lunacy in Pike County, Ga.

Lunacy in Pike County, Ga.
There have been some sensational
developments in Pike County, Ca, re-
Gently with reference to a religious
sect which has been operating for the
past several years through that sec
ton, Vega, in Pike county being the
central points of operations. A lot Of
these people have been acting so
strangely that they have been severe
ly criticised, and in fact, in a num-
ber of instances their conduct has
been such, it is claimed that it has
become Objectionable to the commun-
ity.
Last summer they ran a camp
meeting at Vega, which became so no.
torius that people from the entire
surrouuling country focked there to
witness the performances. The lead
ers claimed to have received miracu-
lous power, and to have a special
favor called the unknown tongue"
which consisted of such an alleged
jabbering as was probably never be-
fore witnessed, unitelligible to ordi-
nary begins but. clearly understood as
they claimed by all the followers Of
the new religion.
Some times various individuals
would go off into francs like state,
in which condition they would remain
for hours and days, and at times
weeks. Some times some of them
would tramp the fields and woods,
shouting and moaning, until the
would become alarmed
and the women and children much
frightened. In the meantime repre-
sentatives of the new sect were tray
cling the country, begging funds with
which to establish an orphans homo
at Vega and large framed building
had been erected, where several chill
dren had been collected.
This condition continued until the
Pike County grand jury met two
weeks ago, when certain citizens OF
the county went before the body and
asked relief at its hands. 1t seems
that the grand jury, in its efforts to
aid the people Of that section. re-
turned two bills against two victims
of the new religious order and the
of the alleged home
resi- lied in two children from the
home appearing before the body in
Zebulon and from there sent to their
former home in Columbus, Ga.
The citizens of Vega then took q
hand and after public meetings noti-
fled Manager Stafford that he was net
a proper person to be in charge of the
place and that proper man would
have TO be put in charge or the place
closed. All children there were i'm
mediately sent to their former homes
and it is probable that the orphanage
Is out of business. Interesting de-
velopmtnts have been going on, how
ever, III IuS ldlho VI IhO hoiiiiS"s
followers. When the sheriff OF the
county went to arrest the young man
and young woman, charged with va
grancy, wonderful state of affairs
was discussed.
From the information obtained
these two people went into trance
at the camp meeting last summer, In
which they fingered many days.o They
then went to the home Of the young
mans father where they have since
been, actually refusing to do single
thing, not even bathing or changing
wearing apparel. The food on which
they have subsisted had to be carried
TO their rooms and fed to them. They
are sights to look upon.
Strange as it may seem, the father
of this young man is Respectable
citizen and the family esteemed In
the community and they stoutly main
tain that there is nothing the matter
with the young man and the young
woman except that they had the
power of the Holy Ghost" In the
discharge cf his duty the sheriff car
ried the two to Zebulon and placed
them in Jail. The friends of the fam
ily at once made bond for their re-
lease, but when the sheriff opened the
doors and told them to walk out they
declined, saying that the Lord hao
nut them in jail and when He order
ed them out they would obey.