Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-03-31
FANATICISM RUN WITD.
". Geo. W. Coleman in Methodist Advocate.
Journal

journal
Published by request.
About six years ago three or four
families who had formerly been con-
nected with some branch of Methodism
and, for cause unknown to the writer,
severed their connection, or become
detached from the church, settled
in Cleveland, Tenn. The leader of the
little band was Rev. A. j. TOmlinson,
who preached in the country churches
adjacent to the town whenever an OPP
portunity offered; but being violent
and offensive in the criticisms and CEN
sure Of other denominations, the
church doors were soon closed against
him.
The almost universal theme of the
preacher was Christian holiness. The
claim was that the Methodist churches
had abandoned the doctrine, and that
the modern Methodism knew nothing
about Bible holiness. For about one
year Mr.. Tomlinson Published little
monthly sheet called 1.-The Way" con-
| tanning a defense of their doctrine and
practices.
Finding themselves shut out of the
church houses, and having gained a
few more members they began the
| erection of church building in
North Cleveland which, with the aid of
a number of sympathizing friends. was
completed over two years since.
| With the erection of their church
building they began an aggressive
campaign against sin and formality in
the churches, holding up the standard
of sinless perfection as the right and
privilege of every believer. Their nm
bounded zeal, sensational methods,
loud and impassioned appeals, together
| with their old-time revival songs APP
pealed to the illiterate, to the emotion
al and non-church going classes, and
as a result, their church would be
crowded at almost every service.
Finally Mr.. Tomlinson procured a
gospel tent which he would set up in
the suburbs of the city, changing the
locality as the demand seemed to indi-
cate. Not satisfied, however, with
working in the outskirts, last fall they
erected their tent in the very heart of
the city within block of the court
house square. Their boisterous meet
ings, continuing frequently until near
midnight, together with the ungovern-
able crowds of loafers, smoking, talk
ing. laughing and otherwise demean-
ing themselves outside the tent, raised
an earnest, but faithful protest from
the citizens of the community, especi'
ally those who unfortunately resided
in the immediate vicinity of the tent.
No attention being paid to this polite
remonstrance, the leaders were arrest
ed and tried before the city recorder
on a warrant for boisterous and disor
erly conduct and the court accordingl.
fined the leaders. No appeal was TAX
en- from the decision and the meeting
continued. In few days, however
several of the citizens gathered at tn
tent and cut it down. This ended tn
meetings.
About three years ago at Los Angel
I ca, California, new phase of fanati
r cism broke out. Several persons be
lieved that they had received the mir
] aculous gift of tongues, the powe
, from God to heal diseases and cast on
. devils. This new manifestation 9
t fanaticism soon extended to the Eas
b and especially spread over the South
g TN To this time there was little to crit
u icise in the doctrines or management
9 of the meetings conducted by this OF
u papization aside from the boisteror
o behavior and extreme emotionaiisl
}, manifested. But they were ripe Il
IS almost any kind of illusion, or extraN
r aoant belief. So soon therefore as tn
a wave of wild fanaticsim from the We
IS reached the South, 'The Church
: God caught the fame and to whi
extreme and foolish excesses the men
n hers were carried is best told by job
It B. Coins one of their own ministers
y This preacher came to Clevelar
= from Florence. Ala. last fall. He wi
: not in harmony with the extren
y views of Mr.. Tomlinson and very SOC
j the church was divided. and war
9 the two factions was inaugurate
70 The contention was SO fierce tn
chairs, knives and guns were introdu
ed to settle the dispute, resulting fina
" in an appeal to the courts. An il
junction was applied for by Mr.. Tor
linson in chancery court to restra
Mr.. Coins and his faction from &
p use Of the church building. Judge M
r. Connell in his decision granted ca
IN faction the use of the building half
IN the time, so for the present the leg
d. status of the trouble is settled.
is In an article published in the Cley
m land Herald Mr.. Coins thus graphic'
a. " describes some of the outwa
al manifestations of this wild, fanatic
oi cult:
re NOW. the first saw was VIII
Ii these people would pray for the SIC
" they would go through awful manif'
~ tations as if they were casting out g
spirits. have seen them go as far
oy 70 fall backwards over chairs and ca
p other. and yowl and stamp and nal
Ike and mil the devil out. as they sa
| i..-.-- ~ -, ,x,n,,1d chase the de