THE LATEST GRAZE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4844, 15 May 1890, Page 4

THE LATEST GRAZE.

Hie fieuplo of Oakland, tlie suburban city of Sun i^rancUco aaroas tho biy, have been going through v finiilical religious excitement ciuriiig March, the equal of which hu» uot been witnessed io America since the Millerito excitement of fifty years ago. Somo of its features ars probably unparalleled m tho history of emotional ' insanity. .Some months ago a Mrs Woodworth appeared m Oakland B 6 an evangelist. Bho erected a great., tout, and preached " The Wrath to Come." At first her andiencc was small, but she soon had an immense following among tbo Scandinavian population, and not a few amongst the lower class of Americana. Her meetings were finally attended by thousand), and tho BCenctthat woro witnessed would have done credit to a well-stocked insane asylum. People went into trances lasting for hours, Mrs Woodworth had visions, and her zealous followers had them also, and at one time, it teemed that all the weak-minded people m tho plica woald go mad. In tbo midst of tint excitement Mrs Woodworth had a special vision, end prophesiod tho destruction of Ban FrancUcbaud Oakland by an earthquake and tidal wave, flholeft tho cityeoon afterwards, but her followers wero not discouraged. Ono of them, - Hwodo named Hrickson, turned Itrcet preacher, liud a vision, and fixed Apri

•14th »» the day of jJopm:^ His- propheoyt «• accepted aa gospol, anci, though jl.ie himßelf was sent to the insane'|asylum soon afterwards, the "Dooms'ealers^" <M 3 his "adherents are known, were" not shaken irr thoir faith.. Another" crank, named Bennett, took to- a bicyolb and rode - wildly through tho Btroets^calling on the people-to 11 flee to the mouritams" and escape the flood. The Doomaealers m Oakland number 1,000 or more. They have'implicit faith m ■Briokson's prophecy, though by' the time tins is read m the colonies the Mfota of San FtanoißOo and Oakland " will be known;' Hundreds of them havo gone ; to the: 'country, -"more are camping on the mountains at the baok ot Oakland; many have sold <their,.home» and personal proporty and have left. The bubble will burst, of oourse. after the 14th j but if we were to got a little ahook of oarthquake, such a3 we often have, before that time, there would be thousands of frightened people m Oakland who will not conf es9 to a belief m tho dvy of doom.— San Ftfa'rioißOO correspondent of New Zealand Sordid. .