The weird religious sects below were named in a newspaper article published in 1895. Each of them are rather interesting. The only sect around today is “devil worshippers,” aka Satanists.
Odd Religious Sects Rampant
A wave of religious fanaticism seems to be sweeping over the country. Nearly every day brings to light the existence of some new, odd band of worshippers with a form of devotion as strange as it is senseless. While the rural communities seem to offer the most fertile fields for absurd religious sects the large cities of the country have not escaped.
Devil Worshippers
Already it is rumored that a branch organization of the Devil Worshippers of Paris has been formed in New York. If this be true, the police of the metropolis will doubtless be called upon to squelch the growth of this shocking form of fanaticism before it reaches the proportion it has attained in Paris.
The main objects of this band are to apply homage to the devil, and to desecrate and insult every phase of true divinity. Tributes are offered to Satan. Every form of real religious worship is reversed, the result being a collection of horribly fantastic rites. These are so at variance to the beliefs of ordinary people that a detailed description of them can well be spared.
While the tendency of the various bands of fanatics originating in the large cities seems to lean toward the blasphemous, those of recent date in the country districts are without these objectionable features. Perverted religious enthusiasm appears to be the foundation, and ignorant superstition the corner stone of these manifold sects.
Missouri Trance Angels
Bollinger county, in the southwester corner of Missouri, is now suffering from the antics of a trance angel. She is a young girl, Ida Decker by name, and not yet 17 years of age. She is blue eyed and light haired, but not particularly pretty, and with an education of limited calibre. This girl has a following of about eighty people, including two ministers.
She possesses the faculty of falling into a real or assumed trance which sometimes lasts days at a time. While in this condition she claims to journey at will to heaven and hell, and what her spirit sees in these expeditions she subsequently described with considerable eloquence to her worshipping listeners. She claims to have communication with God, and transmits to her flock the imaginary commands given to her from above. Some of her misguided followers assert that when she is in a trance a heavenly halo appears above her head. They know then that her spirit is visiting paradise. Her doctrines are harmless, as, beyond the deception, nothing malicious has resulted from her trance trips.
Sanctificationists
Texas is in possession of a queer sect, which, if its beliefs were adopted generally the end of the world would soon be in sight. This sect is made up of thirty odd women who call themselves “Sanctificationists.” Th e little town of Belton, in the Lone Star state can claim the glory of sheltering this worthy band.
Recently its three leading spirits made a journey to New York for the purpose of drumming up recruits, but as the fundamental law of the organization absolutely abolishes and obliterates man, the trip was not a success. Mrs. Martha McWhirter is the founder of the order, and Mrs. Gertrude Schedule is the secretary and treasurer. Both of these ladies had husbands and raised families of children.
That their doctrine will never be popular is shown by the fact that it has taken fifteen years to build up an organization of the 32 members.
Mrs. McWhirter explained the doctrines of the sect in this way: “It is based upon Christian principles. We believe in Christ and that He Promulgated celibacy, and taught that a common property interest was right. On this cooperative system a band of women fifteen years ago pooled their assets and started a fund with which to inaugurate an independent and self supporting movement among women. We have 32 members now, and all of us live in the hotel, which has been recently completed. We share alike our labors and profits. We do not gain recruits rapidly, for people do not understand our views. Women who join us pledge themselves to lead a life of celibacy, to put their earnings into a common fund to work and to obey the rules of the order.”
The sect is conducted on sound business principles. It now owns $100,000 worth of property and is largely interested in the commercial affairs of Belton. Some of the women who joined were penniless, but they were cared for by the others. Many left husbands and families when they became members. In a few instances the deserted husbands contributed to the support of their wives. The latter are permitted to be on friendly terms with their husbands, but nothing more. If there have been any backsliders the facts have been kept secret. All the members are ardent suffragists and believe that women will eventually govern the country.
Healer of New Mexico
An Alsatian named Francis Schlader is rapidly building up a great following in New Mexico. This man is entirely different from all of his kind. He makes no claims, seeks neither money nor fame, and apparently has but one desire – that of healing afflicted humanity. He is certainly in possession of some rare power. Some have attributed it to animal magnetism, the more enthusiastic to a direct gift from heaven.
When he first appeared in and about the town of Albuquerque the educated people declared him to be a sharper and imposter, or a lunatic, and he was threatened with bodily harm. Cures of the miraculous kind are credited to him. He is but 39 years old, stands about six feet in height and weighs in the neighborhood of 170 pounds. He wears neither hat nor shoes no matter how hot the sun or inclement the weather. His hair falls upon his shoulders and he wears a full golden brown beard. His strange resemblance to the pictures of Christ, his quiet manner of living and his power as a healer have a strong effect upon all who have met him.
He is called “The Healer.” It is asserted by people who say they have witnessed the miracle that he held the hands of a blind man for five minutes and sight was restored; that he gently rubbed the hands of an old woman who had been paralyzed for years and she left a few minutes later as strong as she was in youth. Hundreds of cases of the kind are cited. The healer takes no money or gifts for his work.
The Perfectionists
Cincinnati has a curious sect in a band calling themselves “Perfectionists.” Mrs. Hannah E. Martin the leader of the Perfectionists, died last spring and since May 25 her grave in the Cincinnati cemetery has been watched by disciples, who expect to witness her resurrection and flight to heaven in a chariot of fire.
In her life Mrs. Martin claimed to be the daughter of God and she was reverenced as the Messiah by her followers. The ardor of the latter has been considerably dampened by the failure of the resurrection which Mrs. Martin promised just before her death would surely take place. Her sister, Mrs. John C. Brooks, is now the leader.
Both sisters were abundant supplied with means. Mrs. Brooks, like her predecessor, has a room in her house fixed up magnificently. The leader is supposed to have constant communication with heaven and to hold the fate of mankind in her power. The beliefs of the sect are a combination of theosophy and Christian Science. The members have adopted a language so veiled in mysticism that to the outsider it is incomprehensible.
Source: The herald. (Los Angeles [Calif.]), 06 Oct. 1895.
