Creffield and the Holy Rollers made page one headlines from 1903 to 1907. When I was researching Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon’s Love Cult I spent months transcribing hundreds of articles. I’m not sure why I was so obsessive. Maybe it was my way of immersing my self into a cult without joining one. Anyway, I’m posting them all for those who are really interested in the story, or are interested the history of journalism, or are interested in how a scandalous story played out in the "media" in a by gone era. Since I no doubt made typos and unconsciously corrected papers' typos, these web pages should not be cited in anything serious (e.g. your dissertation). For such projects they should only be used as starting points and you should refer to the original sources. If you want a shorter version of the story, buy my book. Enjoy.
November 6, 1903: Rollers
Take On New Life
Evening Telegram (Portland) 11/6/1903 p1
Rollers
Take On New Life
Return of the Leaders Give
Added Vim to Corvallis Strange Sect.
Say They Only “Roll” When
They Are Communing With Heaven.
[Telegram
Coast Special]
CORVALLIS,
Or., Nov. 6 -- The return of Apostle Creffield to Corvallis has inspired new
life in the “Holy Rollers” and meetings are being held regularly in the
mornings and evenings. The Hurt home, where meetings are held, is practically
closed to the public and it is difficult to obtain audience with the leader.
Members of
the sect complain of exaggerated reports through the press, although they admit
that occasionally “the saves” in their communion with God do indulge in
“rolling.”
Two of the
apostle’s subordinates, S. Levins and Lee Campbell, have established headquarters in a yard
near the depot and there devote their time to the study of scripture when not
at meetings at the Hurt home.
Mr. Levins is a very ordinary man of the working
class, as is also his partner, Mr. Campbell. The former says he hails from
Portland, and recently fell in with Mr. Creffield and his followers. He worked
in the Dalles and Rainer prior to coming here.
When seen
this afternoon, he occupied a small cot in the tent, while Mr. Campbell, seated
on a box, was preparing excerpts from the Holy Book, and was in deep study. Reticent
at first, Levins finally explained
that the “Holy Rollers” were known as the Church of God, and laughed at the
idea of being spoken as “Rollers.”
THE TRUE
RELIGION
“We take
the bible in its entirety,” he said, “and do not, like other churches, admit a
member because he pays the membership fee. In order to become a member of the
Church of God, as we are known, one must be saved. That is all there is to it. It
is not for us to judge whether one has the spirit of God. The one seeking
admittance will have to feel sure of that.”
When asked
how it would be possible for him to distinguish “saved” persons from
curiosity-seekers, he replied that the leaders would receive the spirit from
Christ, and if not, the candidate would not be eligible.
“It is our
intention to establish a church some time,” Levins continued, “in fact, we have already established a church at
the Hurt home, and our membership will eventually spread for we have the pure
religion. It is the old religion from the time when Christ was on earth.
“Creffield
is an apostle endowed with the power of the apostles of Christ.”
The Hurt
home in the south part of tow, across the river, presents a sorry appearance. The
ground is charred and barren and heaps of ashes mark the spots where some of
the furnishings a few days ago were sent up in smoke. All the windows have been
smashed and suspended sheets cut out a view of the interior. When Corvallis was
at a fever-heat because of the doings of the “Rollers” a crowd of boys stoned
the building with the above result.
When paid a
call today, Mr. Hurt would not be seen. Mrs. Hurt, who appeared at the door,
said that the husband was not at home. She also “guessed” that Creffield and
Brooks were out.
Meetings
for the present being held at 6 o’clock a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Testimony is
presented by the members and the apostle leads in prayer. It is possible that
the meetings will again become public, but not until permanent headquarters
have been established, of which the members seem to entertain hopes.
Mr. Hurt yesterday replaces some of the furniture destroyed at the first outbreak. He has resigned his position and declares that henceforth, despite the adverse view of the public, he will devote his time to the cause of the Church of God.

David Poland as O.V. Hurt
Corvallis Gazette 11/6/1903 p2
We learn
that the ringleader of the Holy Rollers, Parson Creffield, who recently left
this city in a hurry, has mustered up courage enough to return and is now at
his old quarters. It is now up to the county officers to see that no further
disturbances of the peace are allowed, and that the threatened mobbing of these
fanatics is prevented. Much as this treatment is deserved, we hope for the good
of our city, it will be prevented. It is but right, however, to warn these
people that a single overt act on their part will be the signal for prompt and
effective measures to rid Corvallis of a nuisance, and that will be a lesson to
future Rollers and howlers, as they will do well to note. We trust the county
officers will see their way to perform their duty in the premises.
Yamhill County Reporter (McMinnville) 11/6/1903 p8
The “Holly
Rollers” operating at Corvallis derive their name from the supposed fact that
when a people become completely sanctified their names are written on a holy
roll in heaven and they are thence “Holy Rollers.” This is one of the most
peculiar organizations ever heard of in Oregon, and so far as is known their
strange ceremonies and sacrifices of cats and dogs are unequaled in this state
for absurdity, foolishness and absolute idiocy.
Chapters of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 2: Creffield's Preachings
Chapter 5: A Sacrificial Bonfire
***
November 5, 1903: Once-Esteemed Family No
Longer Has the Sympathy of the Community
November 7, 1903: Is Creffield Back?
***
Newspaper Articles about Creffield & the Holy Rollers
1897-1903: B.C. (Before Creffield)
October to December 1903:Holy Rollers Burn Furniture & Pets
January to March, 1904: Holy Rollers Tarred and Feathered
April to June 1904: Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum
July 1904: Creffield is Found & Arrested
September 1904: Creffield's Trial
April 1906: Men are Gunning For Creffield
May 1906: Creffield is Murdered, Murderer is Considered a Hero
May 1906: Holy Rollers Found Starving Near Heceta Head
June 1906: George Mitchell's Trial Begins
July 1906: Hurt Testifies of Debauched Wife and Debased Sisters
July 1906: Esther Mitchell Kills Her Brother
August to October 1906: Seattle Prepares for another Big Trial
November 1906: Maud Hurt Creffield Commits Suicide
April 1909-August 1914: Esther Leaves the Asylum
1953 Stewart Holbrook's Murder Without Tears
1951Startling Detective Magazine, Nemesis of the Nudist High Priest
***
Chapters from
Holy Rollers: Murder & Madness in Oregon's Love Cult
Part 1: The Seduction
Chapter 1: Trust Me, Brothers And Sisters
(Life Before Creffield [B.C.])
Chapter 2: God, Save Us From Compromising Preachers
(Creffield's Preachings)
Chapter 3: The Flock
(Profiles of the Holy Rollers Were)
Chapter 4: The Holy Rollers
(Things Start to Get Wild on on Kiger Island)
Chapter 5: Housecleaning
(There's a Sacrificial Bonfire)
Chapter 6: Community Concerns
(Officers Visit)
Chapter 7: Esther, The Chosen One
(Creffield Plans to Marry 16-Year- Old)
Chapter 8: Tar and Feathers
(The Men of Corvallis Act)
Chapter 9: Sane People Don’t Go Bareheaded
(Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum)
Chapter 10: More Beast Than Man
( Creffield is Arrested)
Chapter 11: God Will Plead Creffield's Case
(Creffield in Court)
Chapter 12: Scandal
(Shocking Testimony at the Trial)
Chapter 13: Calm Before the Storm
(The Holy Rollers Resume their Lives)
Chapter 14: Giving Up The Ghost
(Men are Gunning for Creffield)
Part Two: The People V. Creffield
Chapter 16: The Widow Creffield
Chapter 19: An Inherited Streak of Insanity
Part Three: The Madness
Chapter 23: Seeking Reconciliation
Chapter 24: Another Holy Roller Page One Murder
Chapter 25: What Can Papa Do For You?
Chapter 26: Human Life is Too Cheap In This Community
Chapter 30: The Final Chapter
(What Happened to Everyone Afterwards)
The Epilogue
(Heaven's Gate)