The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-08
May Probe
Ohio Love Cult

here today of the love cult at AL
lance Ohio, which was exposed
with all its unique details when Miss
Amy Tanner, a member of the cult
of the Kingdom of Cod died
mysteriously on March "a.
Apostle" Percy A. George. head
OF the cult, who has been spending
a few days in jail awaiting the in
yestigation Of the medical authori-
ties into the causes Of the girls
death, has revealed to the authori-
ties the strange remedy for the allie
Walton of depressed spirits of wom-
en- members. and the unique ideas of
the cult, which include 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 az
the industrial center established by
the colony Five of those arrested
were women. The members wre la
ter released, but the Apostle" was
held in Jail until the girls remains
were examined for poison.
George came to Alliance about a
wear ago. and the cult was founded
last fall. A large, luxurious house
was the meeting place. Amy Tan
ner Joined the love cult during the
winter. According to the Apostle. !"
she was run down spiritually.
"She told me she had trouble at
home" said George, eve have estab-
lished this home to build up Chris
tian life, so she came to us to be
built up spiritually"
According to the father of the
Tanner girl, her parents believed
shehad gone to boarding house and
the girls there were her friends.
Brother" Phipps, who was one
OF the cult members, has testihed
that he went to the Kingdom" to
do a little literary work. He admit
ted the inmates kissed each other
Eat the call of the spirit" but said
the sect does not practice immor-
tality. That the local sec. 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 one or twice,
to use his phrase, when the spirit
is upon them. II the clothing Of the
women becomes disarranged during
this ceremony, it is Inintentionai
and is done by God, he said.
Apostle" George has made q
sworn statement to the authorities
in which he has outlined some OF his
unique beliefs. He declares that the
world is neither round nor fiat, thai
virtue, a. we'll a. vice, is contrar!
to the principles Of real life, ant
that thoughts emanate from
spiritual self located in the stomach
Another member Of the cult ha'
made q statement to the police, II
which the Apostle" is thus de
scr,bed: "He was recognized as tn
final authority and the only perfec
man. His wife was to become thu
mother OF all living. He was com
monty called pa and his wife ma
~ney together were to guide tn
first perfect home and were to d
the chief rulers during the milien
inm."
That a "spirit marriage" ha
ham arranged between d youn
woman in Berlin heights, Ohio' an
w. B. Phipps, the John thebaptis'
Of the cult, was the assertion OF In
person making this statement I'M
Young woman was referred to as IN
special spirit daughter" OF Tn
"Anostle" and his spouse. she
sa,d to be an attractive but deepi
religious young woman. Whlie 81
was supposed to place explicit col
6dence in George and to obey n
every command. she was, howeVe
hard to manage and would not CON
TO the cult headquarters. she d
not like Phipps, it was stated, an
continued to refuse the propositio
of marriage.
1.-THE purpose of the brotherhood
continues the statement was
helm the members in the spiritu
development so that they might
At to be Georges associates wh'
Tho world falls at his feet. He
pected this soon. ;,
George lies around, often havii
grooming spells, which he ca
.bnrns.' and in which he claims
no suffering death and hell SO tn
his enemies may be finally conque
cd When under these burdens
often gets his revelations.
"He often said he could hear I
laughter of his spirit in his stoma
as distinctively as he could hear
laughter Of q person. He explain'
however, that 1t was with his spir
ual stomach and not his mater
stomach that he thought. From u
noint the words Of the spirit VIZ
To his head and out OF his mou'
George is immune fro disease q
death. A bullet hole would nave