New York Daily Tribune

WITCHCRAFT IN SWEDEN.

The famous province of Dalecarlia in Sweden has achieved new fame. Throughout the province, but more especially in Mokfjord and Gagnef, the old belief in witchcraft has been revived. An unlucky Pastor of that region, having so far acknowledged its existence as to attempt to protect his flock by exorcism from the direful effect of broom-stick locomotion, has been suspended by the ecclesiastical authorities, who have made an investigation of the matter on the spot. This examination was announced on the 31st of August at the parsonage in Gagnef. The suspended Parson Blomenberg, when asked if he believed in the witch-journeys of the women and children affected, answered that he did not accept the possibility of such a thing, but that he thought they were enchantments imposed by Satan upon the senses of the children, permitted by God in order to show the diabolical wickedness of the times and to bring back parents through the affliction of their children to a regard for God's word and to assiduous prayer. He saw in these Satanic incantations the means of leading the world to a purer and more perfect Christianity than the present. Prayer and the laying on of hands were the weapons which he used to free the bondsmen of Satan, and at the same time bring them to the more perfect Christianity. The Blankaula, the blue mountain, was the scene of the Sabbats. Eight children, called from different places, stoutly adhered to the common declaration that in the night time, ordinarily on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights, they were taken to this enchanted mountain by women, some of whom they knew, and that the journey was accomplished riding on sticks or brooms. A serpent which was tied about their necks by the witches changed them into magpies and regaled them with beef or bacon and also with snakes and toads. After the supper there was a dance in which Satan participated, sometimes in the form of a fine gentleman dressed in blue, and sometimes in his normal form, and he always enjoined upon them at parting that they must not tell what they had seen when they got home.

Two old women, who were present, were identified by the children as among the witches who had taken them to the Sabbat; they sadly declared that it was not a malicious lie. The spiritual examiners closed their first session with an admonition to the multitude of people who were present, but with so little success that the people shouted: "Pastor Blomenberg is our only real Saviour;" and some went so far as to say: "It's of no use to believe on Christ; Pastor Blomenberg is a better Helper."

On the next day, when the examination was resumed in the church, two sisters recounted their witch-journeys and their delivery from the power of Satan by Pastor Blumenberg. The people repeated their demand for Pastor Blumenberg, at least that he might be given back to them at New Years.

At the last accounts the church authorities had come to no resolution on the matter, although they deeply lamented the demoralization which it is working among the people. The Swedish criminal code did punish witchcraft by the wheel or the stake, but this clause was long ago repealed by a royal ordinance. What with the rapid increase of the Mormons, the extensive schism of the "Readers," who demand for the laity the right to read the Bible for themselves, and who seal their converts by baptism, Catholicism, which flourishes the more the more it is fanned by persecution, and the still strong faith in the gods of the old Scandinavian Valhalla, the Lutheranism of Sweden does not seem to be in a very promising way.