Schartauans

Schartauans a recent sect in Sweden, named after Schartau, a clergyman, whom they profess to follow. When Schartau died, he left some skeletons of sermons and a large number of devoted followers. An idolatry of the man and his skeleton sermons commenced, and with it a new era of Christian development, especially in Southern Sweden. It is neither High-Church nor Low-Church nor Broad-Church, but a hard, stony stereotype form — a certain way of preaching, talking, looking, and moving. The Schartauans dislike all lay activity — will join in no missionary work, in no Bible society because that is to yoke with unbelievers; nor will they speak with anyone on religious subjects unless he is an exclusive Schartauan. Another distinguishing feature is a great horror of the Moravians, founded on some unpleasant experience of Schartau's own. Schartauism crept into Gothenburg about twenty years ago.