The New York herald., 1870-05-09

Nv the Europeap mail at this port we have the fol-
lowinu special correspondence from Palestine,
daied at jana on April 10, describing the re.
suits of an American scheme TO colonize that por-
ton or the Holy Land from the United States. Th3
history is numiating both TO our national dignity
ana edacalion, ss showing how easily very many OF
the people are duped by impostors coming In the
garb OF religion-"w0lves IA sheep's ciothing-
among them. The communication proves however,
how natural 1t Is that the eye OF humanity should
turn nope the cradle land OF the Saviour, and
that Christians should Journey person thltherward
under any lead, aiser the lapse OF eighteen nun
dred years.
The Last Days of the JaAn American Colo
nists-Slketch Of the Life OF the Rev. q. j.
Adams-Strnnge Inintuafion--Sfnrs Large
us Cart-wheels In Paicstne--icise, Decline
aud Fall Of the Colony-Exciting Scenes--
Cry Of sslIurdcr'' Heard Repeatedly i'm MIR.
Adams Homse--Mrs. Albums Threatening To
shoos C0Ionist-COiony Passing Into the
Hands Of Gerpans-A New Sect--"fIoGmnn.
hes.o
JAFFA, April 10, 1870.
: Some persons have read with incredulity, others
with O contemptnons smile, the articles occasionally
appearing, during the years 1866 and 1885, about the
American colony at JANA, or, as II has been styled
by an English journal. ''the extraordinary emigra-
ton which, reversing the ordinary now Of the tide
the state Of Name to down east In PALESTINE"
TO enter fully into the details Of this lamentable
enterprise would require a volume; but for clear
understanding OF the present state OF affairs, and the
Of its utter failure, 1t will be sufficient to give
Q brief sketch OF tue life and character Of q. J.
Adams. the leader or president OF the Churcn OF
the Messiah, ana reviver Of the faith once deiiv-
cred to the saints" the rise Of the colony and its
objects.
a. 4
W. Adams alias Dr. G. ]. w. Adams, was born III Liv
erpo0L OF jewish parentage. AT an early age he WAS
apprenticed TO q shoemaker. When he was seven
teen or eighteen years old he emigrased to America
and obtained employment In q tailor's establish
ment at New York and afterwards In New Jersey.
During this period he became noted as an exempa-
ry, pous Methodist class leader, and is said to have
shone with great briancy at love feasts and prayer
meetings.
He often alluded In his discourses, addressed to
the members of the Church OF the Messiah, to these
early experiences, and related spicy anecdotes, de-
picting the emotion occasionally exhibited at Metho
dist meetings.
The following story s given III his own words:-
An old lady, remarkable for her piety and exclta-
bility, during a love feast at which was present..
arose, and exclaimed in shrl tones. "Oh, Lord oh,
Lord how good l ieel Oh Pm SO happy oh
feel as II greasy dlshwater was running right down
The good old deacon at the other end OF the house.
ha.f asleep, responded In deep devotional tones.
"OhsLord make us all fee, as II greasy dish wat er
was a running down backs. Praise the Lord.
Amen" "Amen," soiemnls echoed Inc congrega
ton.
Unfortunately Adams had discovered a fondness
for strong drink and the theatre, which soon
qlired such power MIN that he yielded their
Influence ana became astrolling player to great
scandal of his friends. An interval elapses and he
Is next heard OF as Mormon elder; later he reap
pears on the stage and becomes popularity known
as the "Playlng Preacher" This epithet he earned
by his practice of announcing at the end Of play
that he would preach sermon, giving out the text,
the following Sunday ut such hall or chapel, nam
Ing the place. AT the conclusion Of his dis-
course he would call the attention of
his audience to the fact tnat he would play Richard
Ill william Tell or some orner character at the
theatre, and request their attendance. BY this
wee he drew crowds OF certain class to hear min.
At this period OF his little earlier he
ried Mrs. L. ]. L. Adams, who often assisted him at
the theatre. The circumstances attending their
marriage are obscure There were rumors ahoat. a
year or two ago, that Adams. after his marriage,
nad Ito fee from certain pist0i,' Or, In other
words he had seduced Mrs. Adams, whose
former husband Is, 1t Is alleged, still living
as well as Mr.. Adams former wife. Though
Nj. and Mrs. Adams were legally married
they were probably mutually deceived the one
declaring himself wdower, ami the other. Mrs.
Adams, stating she was widow. Finding his avo-
cation as an actor ''about played out,r and his
habits uniting him FOR any respectable situation,
Ia 1861 as last resort he developed his scheme Of
the Church OF the Messiah, and began going from
village to village preaching on Prophecy" and
eventually reached Maine, where. under the guild
ance OF "dvine reveIatlons,'' he preached .'the
doctrines once delivered to the saints" and un
folded his project for tle gathering to Palestine
QrA 1iepa fiou nf Tho f,n snftf
THE NEW CREED.
Among other doctrines he advocated the entire
sufilcency OF baptism by immersion to wash
away all sln declaring the reign or Christ upon
earth was at hand, that Palestine would soon
he restored to her pristine fertility, that the Amer
eau people were the strangers that were to come
from aiar, as foretod In Scripture, and build the
waste places or the Holy Land, aud Inherit all the
wonderful blessings connected with the restoration
OF that country.u
THE MISSION.
Amid much opposition he gathered, Outing four
years. ministry, several churches. as they We're
called, over whom he ordained bishops and elders
10 preside To be certain that the restoration OF The
Holy Land had really begun 1t was decided by the
members OF the Church Of the Messiah to send
Adams and Abraham Mckenzie, OF Jonesport,
Me-, church member, following the example
OF Joshua OF old, to spy out the land, and,
returning report whether the mountains or Judea
really dropped oil and wine &c. Adams and his
companions arrived during the cholera seasca.
and were quarantined forty days at Beirut; .n,s
over, they proceeded TO Jerusalem and spent few
weeks IN that city. Adams, drunk nearly all the
time, was IN raptures about the country, the
climate the people and especially the fertility OF
the soil. Writing to the s,cord OF Truth ana Ifar
b,nger OF Peace, small paper edited and published
BY him and Mckenzie, the organ OF the Church,
ne calls every squalid and filthy collection OF hnts
"a charming and most delightfully."- situated
village"
THE PROMISED LAND.
on their return Adams declared before an
assembly OF his followers that "words were In.
capable OF describing what his eyes had
Scen.n 'Why, to let alone other things the air was
clear thai the very stars appeared as large
wheeis The soft was so fruitful that four crops Of