The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-01-10

ceremony Sonei6I6 0S IoH8 TSTIO0S VI
Quiet and Lifting Of Right Hand
Over ConsreoatIor-"Goo Father"
Passes Hours In Electric Lighted
Garden In Belgium.
Antotnism, the new religion founded
in Belgium by an examiner named An
tome, is attracting considerable atten-
ton in Europe.
Antoine, the good father" or the
parent one" as his followers call him,
is a man Of sixty-hve, with flowing
white locks and a patriarchal beard.
His followers now number 100, 600, Of
whom 800, including his wife, "tha
good mother" are adopts.
Antoanes home Is at Tsmeppslez-
Liege. Hidden in a block Of similar
small houses, the prophets dwelling is
only conspicuous by the spire Of his
church, which ad1oins 1t. The door Of
the church IL also the door Of the house
and bears notice, Ring bell at night
for NJ. Antoine"
For three years Antoine has not left
his house or garden. He lives entire
~ ON vegetables, which he prepares
himself. He sleeps little; resting only
for two hours during the night, the
greater part of which he spends walk
| ing In his little garden, which has cleo
trie lamps fitted up all around the
walls. he never reads anything, he
will not see newspaper msn and only
holds communication with the outside
world by means Of the telephone.
Ceremonies Are Simple.
He confines his healing to ceremonies
In the church, where the services are
of the simplest description. They take
place at 10 o'clock a. m. on Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
At 8 o'clock a. N. the congregation
assemblies, and an adept, NJ. bergman
court, the publisher OF the sects htera-
ture, takes his place at desk under
raised platform. There is complete
silence for half an hours then n. Dereg-
nancourt announces that operations
will take place at certain hours on GER
tain days and that all who wish to be
cured must have perfect faith.
He then continues sitting perfectly
still, not muscle moving and his eyes
fixed IN an unblinking stare straight
before him. At the stroke Of 10 every
one rises, and the parent one" enters
by side door and slowly walks up the
steps to the rostrum
Wearing black cassoek and with his
gray hair falling around bis shoulders,
Antoine faces the congregation FOR O
full minute without moving or uttering
sound. He then lifts his right hand
toward them and holds 1t thus extend
ed for another minute. That ig all.
Those two minutes make the service.
The good father walks slowly out,
the adept remarks, Every one whose
faith is strong enough must be cured, !"
and the church emptiss silently. No
collection is made, bu& subscriptions
are taken for the maintenance Of the
church, which Antoine built himself
with legacy OF $4,000.
Silent For Six Months.
EoE six months Antoine has not
spoken a word to any one. People
come at eli hours with all sorts OF all
ments and appeals. Antoine effects his
cures now by deputy. His wife or
some other adept stands IN front Of the
applicant, and, turning her eyes up
ward, slowly waves her hand in the
air, which means that she Is invoking
Antoine 'fhe healer
The patient or the patients deputy
then departs The cure % effected, or
If It Is not then there has been a lack
Of faith. There Is nothing to pay. The
badge Of the sect ID ''the tree OF the
knowledge Of the sight OF evil" repre-
scented by a white tree ON black back
ground
One Of Antoine's chief disciples il an
American woman, Mrs Guillaume, who
came over to be treated by him for
chalky rheumatism, which compelled
her 10 walk on crutches She says she
Is now practically cured and has her
self become an adept with power to
heal by faith.