Female Cult Leaders
JOANNA SOUTHCOTT
The Southcottians were a 19th century British Christian sect that grew around Joanna Southcott. A deeply religious woman, she had a vision that she would give birth to the new Messiah, whom she named Shiloh. Dying in 1814, disciples waited for days by her dead body for the birth. When the smell became too bad, a doctor opened her up but found no child. Hence, it must have been spiritually born in heaven.
The Panacea Society was then formed, still waiting Shiloh (some believe he is now here in the personage of Prince William), and also keeping a box containing Southcott’s wisdom. This box can only be opened in the presence of twenty four Anglican bishops. So far, the bishops have declined to attend the opening of the box.
(c) Anthony North, Feb 2007
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ANN LEE
Ann Lee from Manchester was a female cult leader. She was a Quaker who, after all four of her children died whilst young, rejected sex. Forming the Shakers, so named for their ecstatic dancing which led to hysteria and hallucination, she became known as Mother Ann for reflecting the feminine aspects of God.
Moving to America in 1774, the Shakers grew to six thousand, but her rejection of sex led to persecution, Ann being branded a witch. Dying in 1784, she began to appear in Shaker meetings and headed a number of spiritual entities who appeared to the sect. Today, only one tiny Shaker community remains.
(c) Anthony North, Feb 2007
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MARGARET PETER
Cults could be extremely violent, such as the cult organized by Margaret Peter in the German border town of Wildisbuch in 1823. The group included most of her family, but things came to a head when Margaret was convinced the Devil lived in her loft and they needed a sacrifice.
A sister immediately hit herself with a mallet. Six members then battered her to death. The Devil still there, Margaret decided to be crucified, to be resurrected in three days.
The group crucified her and battered her to death. She didn’t come back to life, but the police did come to the house and throw them all in prison.
(c) Anthony North, Feb 2007
