The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-04-09
MAY PROBE LOVE CULT.

Canton, O., April "a grand jur.
investigation is expected to begin
here today of the love cult at Allianc,
Ohio, which was exposed with all it!
unique details when Miss Amy Tan
ner, a member of the cult of the
Kingdom of God" died mysteriously
on March "a.
Apostle" Percy A. George, head Of
the cult, who has been spending a few
days in Jail awaiting the investiga
ton of the medical authorities into
the causes of the girls death, has re,
Healed to the authorities the strange
remedy for the alienation of depres-
sed spirits of women members, and the
unique ideas of the cult, which in.
clude the theory that virtue and vice
are contrary to the principles of real
life"
When Miss Tanner died at the
Brotherhood Home" of the cult near
Alliance, the police got busy and ar
rested Apostle" George and ten other
members who were living at the in
dustrial center established by the
colony. Five of those arrested were
women. The members were later re-
leased, but the Apostle" was held. in
Jail until the girls remains were ex-
amined for poison.
George came to Alliance about a
year ago, and the cult was founded
last fall. A large, luxurious house was
the melting place. Amy Tanner join
ed the love cult during the winter. Ac-
cording to the Apostle" she was run
down spiritually ''She told me she
had trouble at home" said George,
1--WE have established this home to
build up Christian life, so she came
to us to be built up spiritually"
According to the father of the Tan
ner girl, her parents believed she had
gone to a boarding house and the
girls there were her friends.
Brother" Phipps, who was one OF
of the cult members, has testified that
he went to the Kingdom" to do little
literary work. He admitted the In
mates kissed each other at the call
of the spirit" but said the sect does
not practice immortality. That the lo-
cal sect is similar in rites to the Holy
Roller cult was developed by Phipps' |
testimony Men and women get down |
on the floor and turn over once or
twice." to use his phrase, when the
spirit is upon them. If the clothing
of the women becomes disarranged |
during this ceremony, it is uninten- !
tional and is done by God, he said.
Apostle" George has made sworn
statement to the authorities, in which |
he has outlined some of the unique
beliefs. He declares that the world
is neither round nor fiat, that virtue,
as well as vice, is contrary to the |
principles of real life, and that
thoughts emanate from a spiritual
self located in the stomach.
Another member of the cult has
made a statement to the police, In |
which the Apostle" is thus described: |
"He was recognized as the final au-
thority and the only perfect man. His
wife was to become the mother OF all
living. He was commonly called pa
and his wife ma. They together were
to guide the first perfect home and
were to be the chief rulers during the
millennium"
That a spirit marriage had been
arranged between a young woman in
Berlin Heights, Ohio, and w. b.
Phfpps, the John the Baptist of the
cult. was the assertion of the person
making this statement. This young
woman was referred to as the special
spirit daughter" of the Apostle and
his spouse. She is said to be an at
tractive but deeply religious young
woman. While she was supposed "a
place explicit confidence in George
and to obey his every command. she
was, however, hard to manage and
would not come to the cult headQuar'
tiers. She did not like Phipps. II was
stated. and continued to refuse the