RELIGIOUS MANIA AT GEELONG.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 3

RELIGIOUS MANIA AT GEELONG.

A few days ago it was mentioned that a young woman, named Fanny Robinson, had been brought in from Portarlington, suffering, it was supposed, from religious mania, and was committed by the Bench to the Alfred ward of the Hospital, in order that she might be subjected to the conventional medical examination before being permanently committed to the Kew Asylum. It was then stated that the girl's mother was in a condition even worse than the afflicted one, whose youthful appearance caused so much sympathy. The accuracy of this statement was too truly verified by the appearance of the mother on Saturday, in charge of mounted-constable Mulcahy. She had been driven into town accompanied by her son, a respectable looking young man, and her remaining daughter. Painful as have been the details already supplied respecting the supposed cause of the affliction with which the unhappy family has been visited, the story related by the son almost transcends anything that has yet transpired regarding the extent to which religious infatuation is carried in the Colony. Without disparaging the efforts of any sect or denomination, it is our duty to recite the story. The girl's brother states that his sister was not exactly the victim of the Yorkshire evangelist's enthusiastic method of preach ing. Her heart and affections had been won by a young man named Dredge, a local preacher connected with the Wesleyan body, and it was generally understood that they were about to be married, when

suddenly, about last Christmas, without assigning any candid reasons, he withdrew from his promise. The result was what might under the circumstances have been anticipated. The young girl, whose best days had been spent in the enjoyment of such fond anticipations, finding her aims suddenly thwarted, and her future prospects irremediably blighted, became saddened and careworn, and, according to her brother's opinion, it only wanted the assistance of such an enthusiast as Mr Matthew Burnett to completely unsettle her reason. She became dull and dejected and gave herself up to fasting and praying. During the revival meetings for about a week she was in the habit of going to the Wesleyan chapel at six o'clock every morning, calling home once a day to get something to eat, and continuing her devotions till within an hour of midnight. The mother attended with her, and both were publicly exhibited on the "stool of repentance " —a form placed apart, in front of the audience. From that time she became perfectly imbecile, and the mother, # although anxiously tended by her family, was attacked with paralysis, the result of disease of the spine and brain. The Bench heard the stcry of the poor old woman on Saturday, but did not require her presence in Court. She was remanded for medical inquiry till Wednesday, when she will be brought up along with her daughter. It has been elicited that the father has been so fatigued and disconcerted by the calamity that has overtaken his family, that a dangerous illness has been induced.— Geelong Advertiser.