The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-24
NORTH SIDE NEWS.
"HOIy Rollers" Take No COllec-
tiOn at Meetings.
Sing and Shout in Barn-Like
Tabernacle"
JUMP UP AND DOWN.
Much Swaying of Bodies and
Clapping of Hands.
Both Men and Women EXhOrt
and Pray.
81 sit all night a'listun'.
81 sit all night a'listun',
81 sit all night a'Hstun',
ITO hear some sinner pray"

So sang the Holy Rollers" Or holy
sanctified people" last night at their
big barn-like frame Tabernacle" at the
northeast corner of Kistler street and
Kansas avenue. The building was
packed to suffocation. Every bench
was crowded and many people stood
wedged in the narrow aisles or throng-
ed about the doors. No collection was
taken-wonder of wonders.
The chief worshippers through all of
the service stood or knelt at the front
end of the tabernacle. Their worship
including preaching and fervid hymns,
with much repetition of words accom-
panied by clapping of hands and sway
ing of the body while the singers with
half closed eyes, gradually rose on their
tip toes and down, slowly at first, and
then faster until they would jump up
and down. The songs were usually
followed by prayers. The Holy Roll
ers'' would all kneel and one of them
would start a petition in loud sing
song. Then the others would begin; one
after another until the entire band
would be praying each saying different
words so that the meaning was unin-
telligible. The pleas would be accom-
panied by slaps on the back on the
part of the prayers friends.
Mean while the crying of babies, the
half whispered admonitions of their
mothers and the subdued talk and
laughter of some in the audience, added
to the medley of sounds.
However, it was seriously taken by
many present. A young colored girl,
while the emotionalism was at its
height. knelt down, flung her head on
the bench in front of her and remained
thus without a motion for several min
utes.
Finally the praying up front died
down. The kneelerS arose. One young
girl and boy among them smiled at
each other and talked after the man.
ner of all young people, religion not
withstanding.
Then a large gray haired man began
to talk. You must be sanctifed,'' he
shouted. You can't expect to go to
heaven without. And would you" he
continued. turning to the Rollers"
would you be willing to leave mother,
father. children and family?'
Yes. oh yes,' came the half wills
pered replies from all sides. One large
woman began to clap her hands as she
walked up and down. saying yes to
all of the mans questions and asser-
tions.
II tell you" the exhorter went on 'if
you think you can get to heaven after
you are sanctified by sitting back in a
rocking chair, and going to sleep you
are going to wake up in hell. Neither
are these preachers who draw big pay
agoun. to get to heaven" Such was
the nature of the discourse, when both
men and women talked.
And yet in justice to them. perhaps
they do some good. They reach a GER
tain class of people that others do not
Last night one or two people went for
ward to the mourners' bench when the
Invitation was given.
The Holy Rollers support them
selves by working at different trades in
the day. They live four and five fam
lilies in a house but seem to dwell in
peace and harmony, They call them
selves travelling religious band" who
teach the gospel according to the Bible
and stay in place until 1t is sanctified
then move elsewhere. Their meetings
are held nearly every night, lasting un-
til after IL o'clock.
Dependency at his failure to effect a
reconciliation with his wife after she
had applied for a divorce is supposed to
be the cause OF the suicide of David
Hughes, section foreman at Carbonate.
who was found dead Saturday noon at
the home Of his sister Mrs. Brennan, of
SS4 North Madison street An empty
carbolic acid bottle in one of the dead
mans hands and a revolver which had
not been fired in the other seemed
such strong evidence of suicide to DIR.
Keith who was called that he decided
no inquest was necessary.
Hughes had been staying with Mrs.
Brennan for bout a week while look
ing for work. According to her he had
been trying to straighten out matters
with his wife but had failed and ap-
peared very downcast. Saturday morn
ing he said he felt i'll and Went to his
room. There he was found dead after
he failed to come down to dinner.
After having been delayed six weeks
on account of the stormy weather. work
was started today on the rebuilding of
the Kuehne Preserving works which
were destroyed by fire several. months
ago. II is thought that the factory
viii be completed within six weeks il
the weather continues fair About 80