Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1907 — “Holy Rollers” to Leave Michigan. [ARTICLE]

“Holy Rollers” to Leave Michigan.

Rensselaer has frequently been visited by men from Benton Harbor, Mich., who called them selves “Saints from the House of David,” and who have been nicknamed “Holy Rollers” and Flying Rollers.” The representatives that came here were horse buyers, and always wore their long hair pinned in a roll on the top of their heads and kept their hats on. They have just been ordered out of the state of Michigan, the edict being based upon proof of their moral depravity and of their destroying the property rights of the individual by their com munity plan of living. Benjamin Purnell was the founder of the socalled religion, the chief aim and practice of which is said to have been tree love. Official notices from the state of Michigan that the alleged Purnell system of alluring men and women and absorbing their property rights would no longer be tolerated within confines of the commonwealth was served upon the long-haired apostle of Purnellism by Deputy Attorney General Henry E. Chase of Lansing, and assistant Secretary of State Clarence Mears. With them when the official verdict was delivered to the head of the “House of David” was Thomas Erskine, the British vice council of Chicago, whose govern ment was interested in rectifying alleged wrongs done to about 100 of its subjects.