Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-07
TAKE holy GHOST
CoIored ''Healer" Arrested
for Baltimore Police.
SAYS GODGIVES HIM POWER
Bishop Sturdivant Tells of Whip
ping One Of His Woman Follow.
ers With Strap.

Jonas Samuel Sturdivant, colored
thirty-six years old, who is known to his
religious followers as Bishop" Sturdi-
want and the Holy Ghost" was arrested
this morning by Detectives Pratt and
Hewlett for the Baltimore authorities
Marshal Farnan having stated that he
had a warrant for his arrest. The par
son of the Holy Church of the Living
God. pillar and ground of TRUTH" as he
puts it, was found at 4O5 Sd street south
west. With him were Nels Nelson, a
Swede, and four white and one colored
women.
Nels Nelson accompanied the colored
healer and the detectives to police head
quarters. where Detective Bradley Of Bal
un1ore was waiting. The colored bishop
did all the talking about his church and
its doctrines, and spoke freely of his
numerous troubles. 1t was his belief
that his arrest resulted from complain;
made by Mrs. Rosa Demmerd, said to
have been one of his followers.
Il spanked her and used a strap on
her." Sturdivant admitted, land l did it
In the presence Of her husband and with
his consent. When l saw the treatment
had done no good / stopped, and she got
knew she was complaining about me
when l left Baltimore"
1t is stated that Sturdivant is alleged
to have exercised q strange influence
over his followers. Nels Nelson proclaim
ing unhestatingly that the bishop had
the laying on of hands.
Heals Through God.
"rIo,o ,,a,, o,,.. A.,,.s -,
laying on of hands," the colored man
was asked.
II haven't" he answered, but the
Lord has. The Lord uses my hands rs
his instrument to do the healing. He has
fed me-"
Have all your callers been healed?"
''Not all. Some few Of them did not ga,
rid of their sins first, and none is cured
without first getting rid of his sins"
How did you hapnen to come here
from Baltimore at this timer"
"1t was about time for me to leave
there
You knew of the comnlaints?'
Certainly, but I was due to leave any,
how"
Asked why he happened to use the
strap on Mrs. Demrerd. Sturdivant SAID
she had prcfessed Christianity and she
hed wanted r"r own way to such an e.S-
tent that /. w"s deemed necessary to use
corrective means.
"I didn't heat her." protested the bishnn
and divine healer. IT onlv snanked ner
and whipned her with the stran and she
was perfectly willing for me to do it,
Says He Was Ordained.
In response to an inquiry as to how he
earned his living. the prisoner said he
preached the word Of God. Where the
ruth is preached. he added. the Lord viii
~erd peorle to assist in a financial wav.
Tomas said he was from Rrunsuick coun
~. Va. He was ordained bishop. he
stated. nv R'sho- J. W. Hinant. about te"
wears AGO. Since then he has nreached in
New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore and
other cities.
In Baltimore he said. he lived at 1920
Nay street. He left there four DAYS ago
NTH his several followers and came to
this city, he stated. and rented the house
N I'd street. His wife. who is white, Ruth
Peterson and Ada Coddng. also white
md Fredr'ka Nightingale colored. were
members Of his party in this city. Stur-
divant says he is n firm believer in d.
vorce. having been divorced from his first
wife because she would not become
member Of his sect.
Jonas had $2.5l and several letters in
Sarah Burton. 1O4 West 10th street. New
York city. signed herself your sister
and daughter in Christ she referred to
one of the workers as Big Lizzie and
made inquiries about Mrs. Demmerd, the
latter having gone to Baltimore from New
York with the band.
Inspector Boardman was anxious to