THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1905.

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1356, 19 June 1905, Page 2

THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER

MONDAY, JUNE 19, 1905.

Here Bhall the I'tein tUs People's Risfht nmmtam Unawod bj lufluoiioo kid unbrlbod by K»iu j Here patriot Trufci' lio glorious p:uo"pts cinw riedyod to Kolifion Liborty, »ml Law

ON Friday last it was mentioned in this paper that a peculiar sect) called the Holy Ghost and United States Society, wore commencing a novel religious crusade. The sect, it appears, has two schooner yachts, and thirty mis.missionera will be placed on board each of the vessels to scatter their peculiar teachings all over the world. The society prohibits medi- . cineß, tobacco and alcolioi, and . advocates flogging for the sinful, Freak religions are ' getting plentiful, and the vagaries of some of them are a travesty of Christianity and its real and exalting principles, We gather from Home exchanges that a month or two ago a strange religious body, calling themselves members of the Churches of the Burning Bash and Pillar of Piro, were attracting attention in England. They had recently arrived from America, and on account of their remarkable actions soon gained notoriety. Their creed seems to consist o£ dancing, the "cake walk" being the particular form adopted. The services held by these people are extraordinary. After a rambling discourse by the leader, who exhorts his hearers to observe the Biblical commandment to " praise God in dance," one of the disciples—the dancers are young women—begins to dance tho cake walk. Others follow, and, as they warm to their taßlr, seem to lose themselves in their enthusiasm. Not a word is said with regard to clean living or just dealing, no one is urged to seek forgiveness for their sins, and the meeting concludes without a collection, Tho presence of the Apostles of the Burning Bash onco more draws attention to the extraordinary developments of religious enthusiasm that arise from time to time in America, There is evidently something in the air of tho United States that encourages this kind of hysteria, There are still in America thousands of" Shaker?," a body of quiet, celibate communists, and their worship consists 'of music, " dancing and making merry," Bilent communion, and sermons. The involuntary spasmodic movements of the limbs are very often accompanied by acute spiritual emotion. "Jumpers" and "Jorkers" are included among the nomenclature of American sects, which, by the way, also includes "Angel Dancers" and "Holy Kollets." The "Angel Dancers" claim to bo possessed by the spirit of John tho Baptist, and are Vegetarians. The "Holy Rollers" earned their name by their habit of rolling on Ihegronud during their religions ecstacy. A very different religion is Mormouism, which is the opposite of Shakeristn. Tho doctrines of Mormonism are largely based on the New Testament, with the addition of polygamy, which, despite the natural prejudice of the American laws, is Baid to bo practised very largely still. There are nearly i 'IOO,OOO Mormons in tho United States, and small numbers in Eng- j land and Germany. Many of the i -American sects are unknown on this i sido of the Atlantic. Among them 1 are the "Dunkards," or "harmless ' people," a sect of German extract, ' and Quakers in dress and habits, and i maintain the ancient customs of th« j

ceremonial washing of feet and anointina: the siolc 1 with oil. Then there are tho "Coglers," who are toetolalers, and believe themselves incapable of committing sin; the Perfectionists, a peculiar sect who profeßß to have attained holiness ; and the Anpelic Brothers.