Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-28
rE,on, The Nsw York Mercantile 1e

Many of our readers have seen. or heard OF,
man who has been providing about our streets
for some months past, with . long black beard. q
sanctimoniOus face, and stent0rian voice. ms
man. whose name is Robert Matthiaa, has been
preaching new doctrine, and making converts
to his creed. 1t is said, he once was an lndus'
trious mechanic 10 the western part ct the state
He has shrewd. cunning look. and an 'ntelii'
gent face. Having lately, it is said, become 100
lazy to work, he determined to seek his fortune
in new calling, and for that purpose came 10
this city. For time he wandered ihroasn our
streets. preaching his religion, and living IN tne
best manner his wits could afford. lie proclaim
ed himself to be commissioned from Heaven
that he was the "trumpet OF instrument through
which God spoke to sinful man. AS he gained DIS
cipes, he assumed bolder tone: he said he was
sent from God Almghty-he was cur Saviour
prophet, and lastly God himself. Alter time,
he became acquainted with some OF our mer-
chants, and on two Of them he played too fatal
ly for them He turned their brains; made them
believe all that he said: lived in the house OF one,
ON the fat of the land: was well clothed; and, we
are informed. filled his purse from their bounty.
We learn from the Post, that one of his follow.
ers, person Of wealth md liability it is said,
began to fancy himself to be John the Baptist,
the herald Of this second coming. and accordingly
suffered his beard to grow. that he might more
aptly represent his part. 4 kind of festival was
instituted, called the Lords Supper, but admi-
nlstereJ in different manner from that ceremo-
nv in any known church. At the head OF Ia
bic loaded sith good things for the sustenance Of
the body, sat the heresiarch among his disciples,
with gold watch in his pocket, and dressed in a
frock coat embroidered with gold lace, furnished
by. the muni6cence Of his new friends. Here
with great dignity of manner he dispensed both
material and spiritual food, conversing rather in
coherent!y on religious topics, for the doctrines
OF this sect do not appear to have taken any very
definite form. A religion Of which one Ut the
essential ceremonies is good supper, offered gra-
! tis to all who chose to partake, must OF course
| find some adherents who would at least 90 the
length of the supper, even if they did not assent
| TO the rest of the doctrines Matthias therefore
had generally, besides the few who so generous.
| y patronized him, little knot Of guests and
listeners at the inspired colloqnies which ne held
during these repasts.
These proceedings at last attracted the notice
Of some Of our sane and intelligent cltiZens.-
| The consequence was, that Matthias and one OF
his disciples "a merchant) were taken up-as the
warrant ran '.by reason OF lunacy or otherwise,
they were so far disordered in their senses as to
endanger their own persons, or the persons and
property Of others, it permitted to 90 at large"
On the warrant, issued BY his honor the Record
er and Mr.. Justice Lownds. they were arrested
on Thursday last. Matthias was sent to the I.u-
natic Hospital at Bellevue and his disciple (whose
name we forbear to menton) was sent to the
Bloomingdale Asylum, quite out Of his mind.
| The brother Of Matthias, a respectable boot
maker in the city, hearing Of the arrest, brought
the prisoner by a writ Of Habeas Corpus, before
the Recorder, yesterday. ID. w. Bucklin, Esq.
appeared as counsel for the prisoner, and Robert
| Sedgwick for his accusers. After the grounds
on which the arrest took place, were stated, and
the law explained by both counsel, MIR. Bucklin
called two witnesses to prove that Matthias was
not insane, or if insane, he was not so in the
meaning Of the act. The first witness called
was Walter Hunt. He testified that he had
known the prisoner five or six weeks-had con-
versed with hlm-supposed at first that he was IN.
sane--and after hearing him speak, thought he
was deranged-but when he explained his mean
ing, aud eYpounded his doctrines, he changed his
l.mind-is convinced that his first impressions
arose from the prisoners interpretations Of the
| scrptures-is not a medical man-has seen no.
thing to convince him that Matthias is derarged
considered him perfectly harmless, conscien.
iiously so-heard that he professed to be the Ho-
| ly Ghost-the trumpet or instrument through
which God spoke to man-believes him to be an
enthusiast, though less excited and less violent
than many Methodists are-had seen nothing in
Matthias that would lead him to the'opinion he
would harm any one.
Col Fsao,rs. was the next witness called
He first saw Matthias about four weeks ago-din.
ed with him at Mr.. Mills house-has heard him
lecture-one Sunday for three hours--he is very
enthusiastic and sincere--has converscd with him
and believes him to be perfectly harmless-there
is much hypocricy in the world it is difficult to
say who is sincere. Heard him say that he was
God in the judgment seat, where he would re-
main till 1886, when the world would be destroy
ed-that one Of his disciples was John the Bap-
list The prisoner here explained. This was
merly hsure-am as prophet-am as trum-
pet merely, aud the spirit makes use Of my per.
son to speak through: l say, am merely an in
stfument or atrumpet-for it is as necessary to
speak against evil, a. in favor of goodness-have
spoke more against evil. as intemperance, &c.
not the opinion Of men did he speak-but Of God.
Col. Fsliops resumed Matthias had not the
appearance Of a maniac-but there was devia-
eion in him from, a so,,nd vrind-thsnLa he 10