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.
Showing posts with label cults. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cults. Show all posts
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Cult Has Christ in Rockford with Holy Ghost Children
Rockford, Illinois, 1889
Note: The first article mentions Rock Island but the actual place should have been Rockford. And the minister said to be the Son of God's name is missing an "i" that should be there, making it Schweinfurth. And I left the capitalization on "holy ghost" as published.
Something New for Rock Island
Of all the cranks that ever lived on the face of the earth Minneapolis has the worst, according to dispatches from there. His name is C. C. Whitney and he has a crazy idea in his head that Christ is on earth again in the flesh. He says that he lives in Rock Island and is a minister there by the name of Rev. G. J. Schwenfurth. Now we do not know whether there is such a man in Rock Island or not nor do we know anything further for or against him but Rock Island seems to be a queer place to select for the residence of the Christ. It is said that this man Whitney has succeeded in converting a number of people to his way of thinking.
—Davenport Morning Tribune, Davenport, IA, Feb. 16, 1889, p. 3.
MISS WELDON'S "HOLY CHILD"
Apostle Whitney Talks About the Latest Addition to Schweinfurth's Family
C. C. Whitney, the Minneapolis apostle of George J. Schweinfurth, has been seen and asked to explain the recent occurrence in Schweinfurth's household in Rockford, "the child born to Mary Weldon."
In reply Mr. Whitney said, "It was conceived by the holy ghost and born without sin. Miss Weldon is one of the redeemed."
"But did the holy ghost act through Mr. Schweinfurth?"
"That I am not prepared to say. The ways of God are inscrutable, but what I do say is we are no freelovers. We believe that absolute chastity should be the attribute of both sexes. We live perfectly pure, chaste lives."
"But how about man and wife, don't the members of your church who are married live together and raise children?"
"No, they do not. Any married couple bringing forth children would be considered guilty of adultery."
"But how about Miss Weldon?"
"That is different. She is one of the redeemed. The 'sanctified,' as St. Paul put it. None but the redeemed can bear children. These children are pure because they are conceived by the holy ghost, just as Jesus Christ was nearly 1,900 years ago."
"But how do you know Miss Weldon is redeemed or sanctified?"
"Because the spirit has announced that fact. It told her so three years ago when Mr. Schweinfurth was in Alpena, Mich."
"How many members of your church are redeemed?"
"I could not state positively, perhaps twelve or fifteen."
"Are any of them men?"
"None except Mr. Schweinfurth. Of course he is, as he is the son of God. The same spirit dwells in him that dwelt in Jesus Christ."
"Then do you claim that Mary Weldon was not approached by Mr. Schweinfurth and that he is not the physical father of her child?"
"I don't claim anything about which I don't know, but I know that child was conceived by the holy ghost."
"Do you think Miss Weldon would have borne that child if she had not seen a man for a year or two previous?"
"I do. I believe Miss Weldon to be, as she says she is, perfectly chaste."
"How, then, will the race be perpetuated?"
"By the holy ghost."
"The holy ghost will beget all the children when everybody is redeemed?"
"Yes, most certainly."
"What will man's function be? Wouldn't such an arrangement be considered rather partial?"
"I can't say as to that. All this is very mysterious. We can't divine God's purpose."
—Sioux Valley News, Correctionville, Iowa, Aug. 28, 1890, p. 1.
Note: In this article online, the writer says there was a cultish commune known as "Heaven," headed by George Jacob Schweinfurth, in Rockford. Some other interesting details are given there, including the cult eventually fading away and Schweinfurth moving to Chicago to sell real estate.
Note: The first article mentions Rock Island but the actual place should have been Rockford. And the minister said to be the Son of God's name is missing an "i" that should be there, making it Schweinfurth. And I left the capitalization on "holy ghost" as published.
Something New for Rock Island
Of all the cranks that ever lived on the face of the earth Minneapolis has the worst, according to dispatches from there. His name is C. C. Whitney and he has a crazy idea in his head that Christ is on earth again in the flesh. He says that he lives in Rock Island and is a minister there by the name of Rev. G. J. Schwenfurth. Now we do not know whether there is such a man in Rock Island or not nor do we know anything further for or against him but Rock Island seems to be a queer place to select for the residence of the Christ. It is said that this man Whitney has succeeded in converting a number of people to his way of thinking.
—Davenport Morning Tribune, Davenport, IA, Feb. 16, 1889, p. 3.
MISS WELDON'S "HOLY CHILD"
Apostle Whitney Talks About the Latest Addition to Schweinfurth's Family
C. C. Whitney, the Minneapolis apostle of George J. Schweinfurth, has been seen and asked to explain the recent occurrence in Schweinfurth's household in Rockford, "the child born to Mary Weldon."
In reply Mr. Whitney said, "It was conceived by the holy ghost and born without sin. Miss Weldon is one of the redeemed."
"But did the holy ghost act through Mr. Schweinfurth?"
"That I am not prepared to say. The ways of God are inscrutable, but what I do say is we are no freelovers. We believe that absolute chastity should be the attribute of both sexes. We live perfectly pure, chaste lives."
"But how about man and wife, don't the members of your church who are married live together and raise children?"
"No, they do not. Any married couple bringing forth children would be considered guilty of adultery."
"But how about Miss Weldon?"
"That is different. She is one of the redeemed. The 'sanctified,' as St. Paul put it. None but the redeemed can bear children. These children are pure because they are conceived by the holy ghost, just as Jesus Christ was nearly 1,900 years ago."
"But how do you know Miss Weldon is redeemed or sanctified?"
"Because the spirit has announced that fact. It told her so three years ago when Mr. Schweinfurth was in Alpena, Mich."
"How many members of your church are redeemed?"
"I could not state positively, perhaps twelve or fifteen."
"Are any of them men?"
"None except Mr. Schweinfurth. Of course he is, as he is the son of God. The same spirit dwells in him that dwelt in Jesus Christ."
"Then do you claim that Mary Weldon was not approached by Mr. Schweinfurth and that he is not the physical father of her child?"
"I don't claim anything about which I don't know, but I know that child was conceived by the holy ghost."
"Do you think Miss Weldon would have borne that child if she had not seen a man for a year or two previous?"
"I do. I believe Miss Weldon to be, as she says she is, perfectly chaste."
"How, then, will the race be perpetuated?"
"By the holy ghost."
"The holy ghost will beget all the children when everybody is redeemed?"
"Yes, most certainly."
"What will man's function be? Wouldn't such an arrangement be considered rather partial?"
"I can't say as to that. All this is very mysterious. We can't divine God's purpose."
—Sioux Valley News, Correctionville, Iowa, Aug. 28, 1890, p. 1.
Note: In this article online, the writer says there was a cultish commune known as "Heaven," headed by George Jacob Schweinfurth, in Rockford. Some other interesting details are given there, including the cult eventually fading away and Schweinfurth moving to Chicago to sell real estate.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Religious Sect Sought Tranformation to Animals, Birds
1903
A Curious Religious Colony
Queer City Near Headwaters of the Rio Pecos, New Mexico
Of all the queer cities ever built, the queerest was undoubtedly that erected near the headwater of the Rio Pecos, in New Mexico, by Julian Ericson and his followers in the middle of the last century, says the Sioux Falls, S. D., Leader.
Ericson was an American of Norwegian descent, and inherited some money, together with a taste for occult mysticism, from his father, a Swedenborgian carpenter and contractor.
He early came under the influence of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, but quarreled with his leader and started to found an entirely new sect of his own, the cardinal principle of which was the transmigration of the souls of the faithful while yet on earth. That, is to say, he promised that his disciples should, at an early date, be changed into doves, eagles, lions, or, in fact, into whatever beast or bird they chose.
It seems scarcely credible that such an absurd, not to say nauseous, doctrine, should have succeeded, even for a time, in attracting converts; but there would seem to be no limit to human credulity and gullibility in such matters. Some hundreds of enthusiasts threw in their lot with him, and, following the example of the Mormons, marched westward from the settled states into the great Western wilds.
They finally brought up in what is now San Miguel county, and built a town of frame houses, at the back of each of which was a cage or den suitable to the needs of the particular animal or bird they expected shortly to become.
Of course, the promises of Ericson came to nothing, and in the end he and a number of his disappointed disciples were lulled in battle with Apaches. The others scattered to various parts, the majority going to California to die for gold; and the stronger of the cages, those erected for the would-be tiger men and lion women, were afterward utilized for a brief period as places of confinement for refractory converts.
A Curious Religious Colony
Queer City Near Headwaters of the Rio Pecos, New Mexico
Of all the queer cities ever built, the queerest was undoubtedly that erected near the headwater of the Rio Pecos, in New Mexico, by Julian Ericson and his followers in the middle of the last century, says the Sioux Falls, S. D., Leader.
Ericson was an American of Norwegian descent, and inherited some money, together with a taste for occult mysticism, from his father, a Swedenborgian carpenter and contractor.
He early came under the influence of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, but quarreled with his leader and started to found an entirely new sect of his own, the cardinal principle of which was the transmigration of the souls of the faithful while yet on earth. That, is to say, he promised that his disciples should, at an early date, be changed into doves, eagles, lions, or, in fact, into whatever beast or bird they chose.
It seems scarcely credible that such an absurd, not to say nauseous, doctrine, should have succeeded, even for a time, in attracting converts; but there would seem to be no limit to human credulity and gullibility in such matters. Some hundreds of enthusiasts threw in their lot with him, and, following the example of the Mormons, marched westward from the settled states into the great Western wilds.
They finally brought up in what is now San Miguel county, and built a town of frame houses, at the back of each of which was a cage or den suitable to the needs of the particular animal or bird they expected shortly to become.
Of course, the promises of Ericson came to nothing, and in the end he and a number of his disappointed disciples were lulled in battle with Apaches. The others scattered to various parts, the majority going to California to die for gold; and the stronger of the cages, those erected for the would-be tiger men and lion women, were afterward utilized for a brief period as places of confinement for refractory converts.
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