STRANGE CULTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22213, 16 March 1934, Page 12

STRANGE CULTS

AUSTRALIAN REVELATIONS CENSUS CURIOSITIES. (Feom Oue Own Cokkespondent.) SYDNEY, March 6. The Australian behsus, taken lastyear, has revealed this existence in the Commonwealth of some strange religious cults such as the Abrogenetists, the Posphynes and the Rpckbound Lillies. Adherents to these and other odd religious beliefs seem to, be scattered all over the country, and it seem# safe to- say that some of the ' cult* are individual inventions. For instance, there is only one man recorded as being a member of the Grace Walking Brethren. What his particular belief i» no one seems to know. In Victoria there are seven “ Relations of ..Jesus,” hut in the same State there is only one member of “ The Faith Once Delivered to the Saints.” A single follower of Ruskin ha# made his appearance and there are three Advocates of the Golden Rule. If the census enumerators have time to smile they must get many a smile out of the “religious column,” ■ It 1 was tha one column which-it was not compulsory to fill in, but few people took advantage of that. So far no one has come, forward with particulars of the cult which is known as the Rockbound Lillies, and it would certainly be interesting- if someone were to do so. There is one member of the cult known as “ The Pure and Undefiled Religion,” and one member of the Peace and Holy Love, but there are several Latitudinarians, and Mennonitcs. There is only one Bi-Diest, one Electric, one Student of Truth, and one Believer in God Absolute. The authorities are convinced that many of the entries in the religious column were made in jest, for these include Anything, Chukite, Callithumpian, a Free Dietanion, a Loquodist, a Mixed, and a gentleman who described himself as “Worshipper of Bacchus and Mammon.” There is a long list of sceptics, including some who frankly, describe themselves as infidels and disbeliever#. There are many non-Christian religion# represented in Australia, and these include Buddhist, Confucian, Hebrew, Hindu, Mohammedan, Shinto and Sikh faiths as well as those who come under the general category of “ pagans.” It is believed that most of the “ strange religion ” entries were made in perfectly good faith. Authorities say that many religions are, practised- ia private in Australia. In Sydney, for instance, the members of many cult# meet in private" homes in the suburbs. Such cults are sometimes, started by- a foreigner, and before very long he has a large following. -He opens his house, as it were, to visitors, and it.is not long before many people in his neighbourhood accept his hospitality;- Meetings are held regularly, are usually noted for their solemn character and for the earnestness of the worshipper#