"Burning Bush" Sect

1905

Why Indiana Followers of New Religion Insist on Going to Jail

The "Burning Bush" is the title of a new religion which has reached Muncie, Ind., and since it appeals to the fanatics it seems to be spreading at an alarming rate, says a Muncie correspondent of the Chicago Chronicle. Men, women and girls have been arrested and fined for disturbing the progress of other religious meetings and they insist upon going to jail, claiming that God ordered them to do so.

The efforts of the followers to break up meetings of other denominations have resulted disastrously in several places. In Randolph county the operations of the "Burning Bush" followers have become so bold that they attempted upon various occasions to stop meetings of the Methodist churches. They believe that they are the elect and that all disbelievers will go to eternal punishment.

Miss Bessie Ford, a pretty young woman, is one of the leaders, and she was recently convicted, having been charged with disturbing religious meetings. She, together with Mrs. Mary Painter and a man named Hamilton Pursley, who have been introducing the faith in Randolph county, is being held at Winchester for her actions in various churches where regular services were being held. They all claim that they will go to prison and suffer punishment, since it has been the will of the Lord.

The work of the new religious sect has wrought up many localities, and the promoters have many followers. Not until now have they invaded the churches of the towns, and every effort is being made to confine their work to the rural districts, but this, it seems, is impossible.