Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1893 — TO EXORCISE THE DEVIL. [ARTICLE]

TO EXORCISE THE DEVIL.

Horrible Ceremonies of a Peculiar Religious Sect in Michigan. The Carterites at Coloma, Mich., n new religious sect, are continuing their inhuman seances, and a supreme effort will be made to have the leader arrested and the new heaven disbanded. Recently Carter and some of his followers held what they called a “routing the devil’s meeting," and slammed things around the house, broke furniture, etc., and when the devil, as they put it, would get into one of their number that one was treated something in the manner that a sheaf of wheat is treated when run through a separator. But his satanio majesty has* not bothered the Carterites for some time. The other day Carter was in the barn milking a cow, and during the operation the cow kicked him and he immediately cbncluded that the cow had that peculiar disease “the devil.” He tied her up in a stall and twisted her tail until the “lowing of the kine” was heard in the land. The neighbors came in to see what had happened to their leader, and then Carter, in a solemn speech, made it known that the devil had taken possession of his cow, but he ha t twisted her tail until she had given him up like the whale gave up Jonah. But he at the same time insisted that their enemy had lodged in the hayloft. So the little assembiy proceeded to drive him out after the manner they had followed in the hou=e some time before. The hay was turned upside down and the barn doors slammed, and all maneuvers imaginable were gone through, and finally an old lady in some manner hurt herself and declared the nevil had paralyzed her left side. She was jolted on the floor and dragged around in a very ungentlernanly manner until she declared that she was once more free, and then over their success a “hallelujah” was held, to the gratification of all present. One of these “chosen ones,” upon hearing her old mother groan, went down-stairs to find her enveloped in flames; and coolly took her child and crossed over to a neighbor’s house, several rods away, and awoke and sent them to put out the fire. When they reached the house the poor old creature was outdoors clinging.to the clothesline post. The post was all charred and her flesh was hanging to it in bits. She lived a few minutes only. Other things not exactly fit for publication have transpired.