The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-21
THE HOLY ROLLERS
Thew have Invaded Pittsburg anc
Create a Profound Sensation-No
More Confusion of Tongues


The Holy Rollers" who campeu
around and about so many Fioriua
towns for so long a time ana VINO
prophesied the destruction of Tampa
are now encamped at Homestead
Park near Pittsburg. A newspaper
special from there last Sunday says;
Religious hysteria was rampant at
Homestead Park today. Now and 1or
the next two weeks this is the cen
ter of at least one of the world
spectacular creeds. Thousands Oh
spectators focked to see the demon
strations.
Screaming, raving, rolling, jumping
contortionstic men and women pur-
sued the communion in a canvas TAD
ernacle. They are members OF the
Gift of Tongues" cult, who no longer
believe that the curse incident to the
building of the Tower of Babel holds
sway.
Hundreds of delegates to the con-
vention of "Pentecostal prlmltlves
shouted their belief in little tented
city of their own on the outskirts OF
Homestead. They come from all
parts of the world.
Huddled about in tabernacle, III
the midst of tiers of smaller tents,
used for sleeping, along the sloped
ground of the hillside, these dele
gates and believers of the strange
teachings are gathering each AFTER
noon at 2 o'clock and continuing their
sessions until midnight.
Coma and Hysteria
Concentration of thought is the
main principle of the BELIEF, from
what can be learned from statements
made by the spectators. But the
methods of showing the result OF the
practice are submission to. the powers
of officials of the sect and remaining
in a state of coma or hysteria.
The attitude of sixty to one hun
dred persons stretched out on the
ground in an apparently unconscious
condition, or some of them tossing
about-writhing screaming and tear
ing their clothes as if in the great
est of pain-was one form of showing
their devotion to the belief as wit
messed today.
"The gifted ones,' headed by
Brother Float went about the aud
fence and, working in pairs, assist
ed in bringing on the primitive pen
tecostal attitude" Meanwhile many
others were crying, screaming, throw
ing themselves about on platforms,
tearing away their outer clothing, ~
ing on the ground and kicking their
feet into the air and helping to bring
on the frenzied state of mind of those
being converted
At one time thirty-nine women
were counted lying on the ground,
either unconscious or kicking and
working on other subjects.
Piled four or five deep on a plat
form were eighteen writhing men,
Taking off coats and collars and dis
carding all extra clothing, these men
would stand on their tiptoes and, rails
ing their hands into the air, scream
in a hysterical manner, then cast
themselves on the platform and roll
out among the PROSTATE women.
Accompanied by Weird Chant.
Weird chant led by the choir and
elders is kept up at all times, while
men and women roll about in a way
resembling the Malayan form of war
dance
The religion was founded by Levi
P. Lupton of Alliance, O., he of man
child" fame, whose case a year ago at
tracted world wide attention. 1t was
charged he was the father of a child
the mother being a convert
born as a result of the suggestion
from heaven for the creating of a new
race.
Several persons connected with the
convention denied today that Lupton
was in Homestead, stating he had
been deposed as leader of the sect.