The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-11-02
FANATiclsM

1t seems impossible for one to meas
ure the height or sound the depth of
fanaticism either in politics or relig-
ion.
The hold it takes on people seems
altogether unaccountable.
1t makes men and women lose their
reason and become oblivious to the
most plain and practicable things of
every day life.
Within the week young woman.
just eighteen years of age, belonging
to a sect known as "Pentecosters.'
sometimes called holy rollers be-
came so thrilled with the belief that
one can become so righteous as to be-
come incarnate as was the Son of
Man, and that this righteousness will
act as a vertiable shield that will
ward off attacks of the world, the
flesh and the devil" so much so that
the gates of hell cannot prevail
against it.
So implicit anu sincere was this
young woman's faith that she seized
"a rattlesnake and wound it around
her neck and averred that it would
not bite her and if it did the bite would
prove harmless.
The reptile implanted its fangs in
one of her arms, the young woman,
still strong in her faith, refused medi-
cal attention and died in great ag-
ony.
Her case is not an usual one.
In all ages of the world we have
had instances of the same species of
fanaticism..
Many have held that the bread and
the wine" once it becomes consecrat-
ed Immediately is transformed into
the very body and blood of Christ
and although mixed with the most
deadly poison would become harmless
if drunk by true believer
We remember how it was with the
crusaders.
After Saladin had taken the holy
city of Jerusalem he successfully re-
sisted one crusader after another. The
mailed warriors of nearly the half of
Europe threw themselves against the
serried fronts only to stagger back
before the Paynim spears, whence
came Stephen of Cloyes. He possess
ed the same faith that nerved the !
young woman of the Holy Rollers"
to caress and hold to her throat the |
poisonous reptile.
In both cases reason had surrend-
cred to faith.
Stephen of Cloyes was to accom- /
plish by faith what six brave crusad- |
ers had failed to accomplish by the
sword.
He gathered together huge army
of innocent children. armed only
with white banners and singing an
thems, and with these he was to cap
ture the holy city"
We quote from recent article by
Mrs. Linton w. Bates:
"Over mountain, plain and rivers |
they marched south, ever south, seek
ing Palestine. They we're foodless, I'M
equipped, unorganized. but exalted to |
a pitch of purpose that knows no par.
allel. Night put the little ones to |
sleep where darkness overlook them
found them begging or buy
ing their scanty fare. Each day the
procession was again formed, the |
banners were unfurled, the crosses |
uplifted. Chanting their songs of faith |
each weary league was started. They
were seeking the sea where the wa
tiers were to divide, as for the child
rem of Israel. and give them passage
dryshod to Jerusalem. They did not
know how long was the way, or how
vast the water-wastes that lay be-
tween; they knew only that the war
riors would yield to their songs and
the world would be won by peace.
"Of twenty thousand German child
ren,seven thousand only lived to cross
the icy Alps. Hunger and disease left
a trail of little bodies all along the
way. The remnant got to Genoa. They
hastened to the sea and the miracle
that had bouyed them through their
dreadful pilgrimage. There were the
dancing waves, but, oh, the mockery.
The great illusion was gone. Five ship
loads of French. children were sold
into slavery along the Barbary coast,
even as far as Bagdad."
The age of miracles is past. The age
of reason is enthroned. Our nation
has even awakened to the fact that
faith and inefficiency are the most
unfailing masters that nation can