The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-09
ITALY ENTERS FAMILY LIFE

V. valued at about s65,ooo. were left her by her mother
 ITALY ENTERS FAMILY LIFE :
 Fealy first came into their life when they lived in Georgia. He (Obearl used to take his wife to Carnegie Hall in Att lanta to hear Fealy lecture on his new cult. He sad once was enough for him. he heard Fealy and believed him to be 8 fake so thereafter he would leave his wife and call for her after the lectures. Fealy was called in when one of the children was sick, having temperature of IDA degrees and after the laying on of hands by Fealy the child recovered.
 The abnormal temperature waning over night. Thereafter when Mrs. Obear was sick she would send for Fealy to cure her or even telephone him and ''he cured by phone message
 Obear said he never believed in any of these so-caied miracles, so he prohibited Fealy from coming to his home any more. He did not do so until the Obears came to live in Birmingham. Howere, Fealy lived for a year rent free in the old palatial home of Mrs. Obear's grand father, but not until s20oo had been spent on it by Mrs Obear to fix 1t up for him, however.
 Fealy next broke in on their domestic happiness in May, 1919, when he was sent for to attend Mrs. Obear when she was sick at ther home on Cliff Road. He did not come. but sent a deputy, Mrs. Grace Smith, Obear "shunned her like he would smallpox he said, as he wouldn't as- sociate with that gang"
 He overheard the cure" however, which consisted of laughing and telling | jokes, he said
 l Obear stated that his wife had tried | the ''cure" on him once or twice and
 that it did not do him any good. It was of | the "backbone rubbing variety" together with a lot of mystic signs and passes and similar bunk" he said.
 1 The ao-called bishop was the sole head | and leader of this cult stated Obear, the disciples consisting of some men and d great many women. The attention re- ceivd by tho members was in proportion to their, wealth, the rich ones receiving most of the attention. The men were not much bothered he said. The leader was known by various names such as August Dean," Doctor "Bishop.' Lawrie,' his name being Lawrence bug Mrs. Obear styled him "The Master
 ssDEGREES" OF RELIGION | There were several degrees in this 1 type of religion, Major Obear testified. I The first degree was known as the 1 ring. the second as the "black cross" !" l the third as the white cross" but the 1 master wore the white cross set with | a diamond.
 l Part of the course of teaching in 1 eluded hypnotism. The whole course was advertised at rates up to s25O, The | disciples had to study the course but I had to pay for it. It was stated that | FeaIy could read minds and make peo- | pie obey his mental suggestions. giving | an instance of how he got rid or a | woman in crowd he was in by this | method He wished she would go away, | she received the suggestion and went. He warned persons to beware what they thought as he would read 1t in their minds
 Mrs. Obear had told her husband that she believed in re-incarnation and that 7 she "had previously been an Egyptian oueen. she had sense of having worn a girdle."
 He said his wife had several times expressed her willingness for him to indulge in an affinity. She said she
 "w ouldn't mind' if he had one and sug-
 gested he acquire one.
 SPENT s17,00O ON FEALY
 Asked if he had any doubts as to his wife's fidelity and honor, Obear replied:
 'sDoctor Fealy is here yet, sir. If had he wouldn't be here" At this tire doc tor opened his eyes in surprise and | shifted in his chair. Obear said that
 the only attitude of his wife was that of a disciple to "great religious healer and teacher" He said that his
 wife had spent about s17,o0o on Fealy and his society, and had given him checks for amounts from $20 to s4200 T She had purchased farm in Bloun' | county. the deed being in the name ol the Altrurian Society This was foi
 rest cures, but Fealy was the most ire Iment user of the cure and he liVec
 there a great deal said the witness
 1 Obear then stated that he did not llk'
 l to have Mrs Obear and the childrer : visit the farm as the boys had to mis with some other boys there ana tnis would give them bad habits.
 The farm was in the society's nam' ' in order to avoid state taxes, Obeal l said. He said he didn't think much o' . religion that would conspire tq bea : inc state out of it's just taxes by'usins
 the name of Christ
 Mrs Obear had also given Feais } s1oOo for the privilege of writing the ' nreface to his book of doctrine, thu' , making it appear that she was lts
 author. She could not use the opeal name for such a purpose, so she had tt sign herself 'Legare Bowles, hel , maiden name. Obear further told of visit he pale +o his wife's home on Cliff road. Ht y fContinued on Page Thfrteen)
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