SUN WORSHIPPERS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 145, 18 December 1908, Page 2

SUN WORSHIPPERS.

; EXTRAORDINARY CULT. In Boston, Massachusetts, legal proceedings have' revjealed the existence of an extraordinary American cult called the Mazdaznans, or sun worshippers. This denomination does not appear in the official list of religions practised in the United States, but the omission means nothing, because "strange creeds," to quote a recent Church, periodical pub-lished-there, flourish in this enterprising land. They spring up like a mushroom in the night, and they disappear like a falsehood before the truth." Mrs Dutton, of Dorchester' petitioned the Court for the appointment of a receiver for the estate of her aunt, Mrs Ellen Shaw, of Lowell, and the object admittedly was to prevent Mrs Shaw from giving her pro- ' perty, valued at £20,000, to, the Maz- .. daznans. A man named Hammisli, formerly a compositor, in Chicago, was described by witness as the leader of the Mazdaznans. Hammisb. had peculiar notions about hygiene, such as taking dew baths and w.ea-ring as little clothing as practicable. Hg talked volubly about culture, and spiritual -strength, and he founded tlie'sun worshippers several years i ago in Chicago, and to promote his ideals he built a temple. Mrs Ditman, formerly a member of the Ham- i mish household, gave evidence on behalf of Mrs Dutton, from which it appeared that as a trade concern the Mazdaznans flourished exceedingly. I bought olive oil in bulk," deposed Mrs Ditman, "which was put in bottles and labelled 'sunshine oil.' " Hammish, represented this oil as {•oming from Assyria, and he said it possessed great curative properties-. It was sold in his store for ten times as much as it cost. Witness said that charcoal was put up as Ma^daznan incense, its pur-' pose being to v cloud the brains of those who were- taking exercise in tliQ temple. Hammish drank and ate everything. He drank beer and coffee, and Ate meat, but all these things were probihited by him in his ! teachings. He asserted that Christ's birthday was May 23rd, and liis own December 19th. On these two days each person attending the service con- ! tributed 25 cents as a thanksgiving ' offering- Mrs Ditman testified that there were three different classes in the cult, each huvzng different times for exercise. ( People in the advaiic-: ed class never wore corsets, and the treatment consisted of fasting, massaging, bathing in the sun, andstudying. . ' / Other evidence was that Hammish, without, scandalising the sun worshippers, embraced and kissed his lieutenant, Mrs Hilton' in the middle of- the service in the Mazdaznan temple at Lowell. During her evidence, Mrs Ditman complained that Mrs Hilton, who was in court, was trying to hypnotise her by the "left eye line of vision." Judge Maclntire adjourned the hearing.