PREACHER DIES FROM SNAKE BITE
New York, Sept. 4. Lewis Ford, aged 32, a lay-preacher of “the Dolly Pond Church of God,” Chattanooga, Tennessee, died within one hour of being bitten by a rattlesnake he was holding as part of the religious service. Snake handling as part of the “faith rites” was revived in the northern part of Tennessee several weeks ago. Ford told a reporter before the meeting: “I may be bitten, may even die. but if I do it will be because the Lord wanted to show unbelievers that snakes are poisonous.” Ilis widow said later she would request members of the faith to conduct snake rites at Ford’s funeral service.
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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 5
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113PREACHER DIES FROM SNAKE BITE Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 212, 7 September 1945, Page 5
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