Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12
HIGH PRIESTS
Of COD AMAZE
MOUNTA|NFO
"HoIy Rollers" Writhe in Pit, Talk
in "Tongues" and Submit
to Snake Bites.

GADSDENs OCI. IL ne law may
be invoked to stop strange and dan
gerous practices of a religious sect
known as the Holiness People" or
Holy Rollers" Fanatical leaders
have stirred the ignorant mountain
people into a state of frenzy in Eto-
wah, DeKalb, Marshall Cherokee,
Jackson and adjoining counties, and
the conditions have reached such a
stage in some sections that the more
sober minded citizens are seriously
considering taking steps to interfere
and protect the weak and ignorant
from the Holy High Priests of God, "
whose practices border on the black
arts.
From lonely mountain settlements
reports are sitting in of acts of cruel
ty and almost unheard-of frenzy on
the part of the leaders and the lay
men. To impress their followers, the
eXhorters have gone SO far as to try
TO raise the dead and perform other
miracles, even to permitting snakes
to bite them while telling their people
that they are possessed of the Holy
Ghost and therefore immune from
earthly harm.
How the spirit" Works.
The followers of the strange cult
are taught that when once they be-
leve in the doctrine they, too, will be
possessed of all the power of the
teacher.
Following every sermon a pit is dug
in the ground, and when a subject
comes under the influence Of the
power he is placed in the pit. where
he rolls about, muttering a strange
gibberish. The preacher tells the con-
gregation that the subject is possessed
of the Holy Spirit and is talking in d
strange tongue, which can only bt
translated by one who has received
divine sanctiflcation. Frequently the
preacher translates the words the sub
ject utters, or which he claims he ut
tiers.
At some of the meetings as many
as 800 people have Joined and from 81
| to so persons have been writing in
the pit at the same time.
Men, women and children become
| possessed" of the spirit" Some sill
on the ground. their bodies swayins
backward and forward; some roll
about in the dirt, while others jumI
| up and down, always with the eyes
closed and the lips pronouncine
strange syllables.
Some of the victims have become
utterly exhausted and have remained
in a stupor for hours after their en-
feebled bodies refused to permit then
10 continue their wild contortions.
A court stenographer, visiting one
of the meetings traced the words ut.
| tered by a woman. "Yibbrie yibbrle
| yako, yako, pomba yamha chataka
| yekeddi chakoa, chakoa," and hun
| dreds. of other meaningless sound
were made,
Fanatics Undergo Torture.
| That these people are in deadly ear,
nest there can be little doubt, will
/ the exception of some of the leaders
who are educated and who are TO al
| indications preying upon the weak
nesses of their followers. Some say
that the teacher has the true be
| lever" under a hypnotic spell.
| The followers of the cult do not be-
lieve in physicians, and when thei
| children fall sick they are permitted
to die.
One subject. a youth of DeKall
| County. permitted a rattlesnake L
bite him to show his people 1t coulC
not hurt him. He died a few hour
| later
| A Rev" Holsap, holding a series o
meetings at Boaz, an enlightened com
munity in Marshall County, failed t.
make the proper impression on III
audience, and to convince at leas
some of the people that his teaching
were correct, he let a RATHER bite him
He suffered untold agony, but recov
cred.
Think They viii Never Die.
Followers Of the Holy Role
! preachers have been taught that tn,
end of the world is near at hand, tina
on the resurrection morn, after tn
earth has been destroyed, they will b,
conveyed to heaven by white robe,
angels, and viii never know the suf
| fering of death.
| The simplicity of some of these un
educated people Of the mountains Il
pathetic. They become angered whei
one differs Nth them or makes an eff
| fort to convince them their religion
| is wrong. Anyone who attempts t.
interfere is considered an enemy I,
God and righteousness and a subjec
| for destruction. All fear of the law
| Of man is lost. The world sinks int
| insiFnificance, and only the teachinI
OF the Holy High Priest Of God" Il
| taken into account.
| The Holy Rollers invaded this sec
ton of the State almost two year
! ago.