New-York tribune., 1909-09-25
WORLDS END DEFERRED
ELECT" STILL AWAIT 1T.
Methodist Minister Thinks "Ir1une
/ Immersionists" Are Hypnotized.

West sOuxbury Mass Sept. 2.-Quieied by the
convfction that to-day would bring the end OF the
world after a night of torrentfal rains. the three
hundred and members Of the Latter heish
OF the Apostolic Church. Triune Immersonists'
as they prefer 10 be called. assembled about their
place OF worship early in the forenoon 10 await
the destruction and publication OF the "orio oy
fire in fulnlment Of their town prophecy. In con-
srsst with recent proceedings. when noisy revival
services have been carried on far into the Night
last night passed almost in silence. as the ram
fen on the tents in which those VINO nave come
here from far and We're sheltered In facts py
so,e the gathering OF heavy clouds at sunset last
night was declared 10 be a sign ana the heaNy
downpour OF the night an omen consistent Win
their expectations
AS the appointed time drew near the believers
filed the chapel and sang hymns. Shortly before
20 O'Clock the skies darkenea in portentous man.
ner and those who had been watching for sign
appeared convinced that the millennium was at
hand one hymn followed another as the believers
waited for the final purihcation. Ten o'clock came
but the sky frightened, and the millennium in the
opinion of the believers. was apparently postponed
] for a brief period OF time.
II was then explained that revelation. which
was made 10 OF their number last night. indi-
Gated that The destruction TO be deferred until
some time in the twenty-four hours beginning az
O'Clock this evening. The faithful stin continued
confident that their prophecies would be fulfilled
and they spent the remainder of the forenoon in
prayer and singing hymns. number OF residents
OF the neighborh0od among the assembly AT
the chapel. curious TO observe the conduct OF the
Immersionists. There was little comment among
them, however. when the hour designated Tor the
fnality OF earthly things passed. Others. who con-
sidered the proceedings the extreme OF fanatlcsrn
remained at their homes. manifesting no interest
h LITTLE EFFECT ON THE ELECT"
The delay In the overwhelming event and the re-
Sfsed prophecy fixing Il within the next twenty
four hours had little apparent effect on the elect
as the Imersonists style themselves in sharp dis
rya1fa ai IN a
who do not believe the fateful prediction. As the
forenoon passed the devout company decided, for
reasons not announced 10 close the chapel and
move across the road 20 the Bethel, large frame
efructure belonging 10 the society. there 10 await
the end. Accordingly. the praying and preaching
ended suddenly the Bible was closed. and the pull
pit pushed into corner Then. with the announce
nent that the time for argument, controversy ana
preaching had passed. and that repentance was no
longer possible faithful fled out Of the chapel
and solerlrly entered the Bethel" All except
believers carefully excluded the doors were
closed and the curtains in the windows lowered
One OF the leaders was overheard TO say that II
the ''purlhcstion" end OF the world did not oc-
cur before ?. m tomorrow, II would, in his
opinion be postponed for fifty years. Many OF the
believers expressed dissent from this statement.
II IS understood here that most OF the persons
who are confidently awaiting the millennium have
disposed OF all their worldly goods some OF the
men, who traders in small way. having sold
out their businesses. All are said 10 have contrib
uted berally the Immersonists. for, despite the
belief that after the expected dissolution material
things would be OF value, the contribution box
was passed openly and frequently al all services
!. EXCITEMENT oyERCoMEs CHILD.
During the night a little child overcome by the
excitement began TO talk incoherently and make
unlntelligble noises. and one who claimed TO have
the 'igift OF tongues" translated the childs NUT
1erings 10 the effect that the end was at hand
Practically none except believers were allowed 10
enter the Bethel this afternoon. An exception
was made In the case OF the Rev. Dr. Dillon Bron-
son OF Brookline OF the best known Methodist
olergyrnen in the state. who was admitted 10 the
Bethel and observed the proceedings for some time
When he came out he said that the participants
evidently earnest in their beliefs. but that
much Of their talk unintelligibe. Women.
with their eyes closed and bodies trembling from
excitement made strange, incoherent utterances.
which Others claiming the gift OF tongues,
translated into religious prophecies DIR. Bronson
said that II evident that there was much per-
sonal hypnotism in the air. and that he even felt
the influence of this hypnotism somewhat himself.
Tonight the 's1rtunists' declare the end will
come before O'Clock Tomorrow night. They held
"a long watch meeting this evening in the Bethel.
while hundreds of curious persons from the neigh
ibortng villages fingered outside the structure
.note the progress OF affairs. The curtains at the
little Of what took place within evident TO out
.siders. Apparently there praise service and
and occasionally voice pitched high
ran prayer. heard exclaiming: 'rOh. Lord. come
4Soon Don't dsappoint u.s."