The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-10-10
From the .NelU York Gazette.
A SINGULAR CHARACTER


A man by the name of RoBERT MATrHI-
as, who has attracted the attention of every
one whom he passed, by his old dress and
long beard, was brought before the Recor-
der on Monday, on IL writ OF ha6eas corpus,
having been arrested as lunatic on the
Thursday preceding, and sent TO the Hos
ptal at Bellevue. Matthias was formerly IL
respectable mechanic in the country, but
being too lazy to ,cork, set up preaching. Ho
proclaimed himself to he commissioned from
Heaven-that lie was the trumpet through
which God spoke to man. AS he gained
disciples, he assumed holder tonc-he
said he was sent from God--he was our Sa-
viour-a prophet, and lastly God himself
Alter time, he became acquainted with
some of our merchants, and on two of them,
he played too fatally. lie 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 filled his
purse from their bounty. One of his follow
ers began to fancy himself 10 be John the
Baptist, and accordingly suffered his beard
TO grow, that he might more APPLY represent
his part. A kind of festival was instituted,
called the Lords Supper, but administered
in IA different manner from that ceremony in
! any known church. At the head of a table
loaded with good things for the sustenance
of the body, sat the hierarch among his
disciples, with gold watch in his pocket,
and dressed in trock coat embroidered
with gold lace, furnished by the munif-
cence OF his friends. Here with great dig
nifty of manner he dispensed both material
and spiritual food, conversing rather inco-
herently on religious topics, for his doc
trines 10 not appear to have taken definite
| form. A religion Of which one of the es-
sentlal ceremonies is good supper, offer
ed gratis TO all who choose to partake,
must of course find some adherents who
wonl,, at least 90 the length of the supper
Matthias therefore had generally, besides
the few who patronized him, a little knet of
guests and listeners at the inspired COLO
quies which he held during these repasts.
One OF the witnesses, called for the prs-
oner, stated that he knew and conversed
with him for the last six weeks-supposed
at first he was insane-but when he ex-
I planned his meaning, and expounded his
doctrines, he changed his minds con-
vlnced that his first impressions arose from
the prisoners interpretations of the scrip
tures-is not medical man, but considered
Matthias perfectly harmless-heard that he
protested to be the Holy Ghost-the trump
ct or instrument through which God spoke
to man-believes him TO be an enthusiast,
though less excited and less violent than
many others of different religions sects.
Another witness testified that he had din
ell with him at the house of one of his cor
verts-heard him lecture, ono Sunday, for
three hours-he is very enthusiastic and
slncere-haS conversed with him, and be-
lleved him to be perfectly harmless-there
is so much hypocrisy in the world, if is diff
cult to tell who is really sincere. Knows
nothing about Matthias's origin or history.
( Heard him say that he was God in the
Judgment Seat, where he would remain till
1886, when the world would be DESTROYED
-that one of his disciples was John the
Baptist.
The prisoner here explained. This was
merely fgure-am us a trumpet merely,
and the spirit makes use of my person to
speak through-for it is necessary 10 speak
against evil, as in favor of goodness-have
spoke more against evil, as lntemperance,
&c..-not the opinion of men do speak
but of God.
| The witness continued. Matthias had
not the appearance of maniac-but there
was deviation in him from sound mind
thinks he is partially deranged He said
that all merchant tailors who made poor
women work for them at As. per dozen,
would be told on the judgment day, 10 de-
part-they are not of the holy.
The prisoner said, if he were known from
" first to the end, they would not think him
mad" "My words were used fguratively
am an instrument of the spirit-he makes
my tongue 10 speak. my hands and feet to
move-as boat on the water is guided by
oars"
After hearing all the testimony, the pris-
oner was discharged by the Recorder.
AS soon as he became at liberty, he was
a second time arrested and taken before
Justice Lowndes on the affidavit of two re-
spectacle citizens, under charge of bias
phemy, who allege "that the language
which the said Robert Matthias is in the
habit of using, under the pretence of being
IA Messenger of God, is profane in the ex-
IRENE. These Opponents verify believe,
and such is the opinion of many respectable
persons, from the general course Of conduct
of the said Matthias, that he is an imposlor
and not fanatic, or in any wise mentally
deranged. And these Opponents velily be-
lieve that the said Matthias has assumed
the character of Messenger from God il,
and for some time past has practised a syS-
TEN Of pretenson and hypocrisy for the pur-
pose OF defraudlng, and that the said Mat
thas has for several months procured his
subsistence thereby" He was admitted to
bail in the sum of $500.