Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-03
EAST CORINTH IS
WROUGHT UP over
RELIGIOUS turn
Participants Lapse into State of
Coma in Which They See
Visions of Wonders

Bangor Me, April 1.-The little farm
ing town of East Corinth, IS miles out,
is all wrought up over a religious re-
vival, with the so-called Holy Roller
methods and effects, although the evan
gelsts disclaim any such allegiance,
and the meetings are sanctioned by the
local Baptist church, with some men,
bers of the church dissenting. Hardy
people Of all ages are having the most
astonishing experiences, lapsing into
state Of coma, in which they see Won
derful visions. Meetings last nearly all
night and religious fervor is wrought to
hysterical point.
Some Of the people are for ordering
the evangelists out of town, while 9TH
-ers say it is the greatest blessing that
ever happened to the community. The
Selectmen have been appealed to, but
they can find nothing in their law books
which gives them authority to take any
action. One man died, his physician
said, of apoplexy. induced by the excite
ment, although the mans condition was
such that death might have occurred
from any excitement, SO the physician
said, SO this result could not be laid al
together to the evangelists.
OId.Fashioned Preachers
The surprising phase of 1t all is that
the evangelists, there are three of Them
do not use especially spectacular or
what may be called hypnotic methods
In their exhortations they are far less
vigorous than many old-time preachers
and BILLY" Sunday uses more actual
personal appeal dynamics in 10 minutes
that these people do in week. They
preach along one line. mostly. They ex-
hort against dancing, cardplaying. the
theatre and the sins Of the world gen.
orally, with eternal damnation if one
goes astray-not much different from
the "Hell-fre and birthstone" preaching
of highly eminent old-time preachers.
But the unexplained phase of it all,
that which puzzles the Indifferent and
analytical laymen, is the strange state
of coma which comes over many of the
people who attend the meetings.
A typical case is that of Lloyd
Palmer, rs years old, a husky farmer,
Of more than average physique, normal
in every way. He says he was sitting
among the congregation only mildly
interested in the service, when lie felt
shock like that Of a galvanic bat
terry. He lapsed into something like a
dream, when he heard people singing.
He was impelled by some influence to
pray, as he never had before. then he
saw q vision Of the Crucifixion, with
the Savior upon the cross, tortured by
the Roman soldiers and with the
spear thrusts, it seemed as if it was
his own flesh that was pierced.
Then there was a vision of the New
Jerusalem, the most beautiful Of all,
with many Of his friends walking
about the golden streets. When
Palmer came out Of the coma, trance
or whatever it might have been, he
was 50 weak 1t was an hour before he
could make his way to the pulpit to
tell the people what he had seen.
Miss Lillian Chapman, a normal and
intelligent young woman. tells Of
vision Of Heaven and seeing her moth
er there.
Fern Everett, II years old, daughter
of Deacon Everett, was stretched out
rigid upon the floor for more than two
hours and told Of wonderful visions
and messages from the great white
throne to her friends.