Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-07-31

The STORY or CHICAGO CHARAcTKR.-
There died few days ago a man who for
nearly forty years had been one of the char
acters OF Chicago; and man of great ener-
gy, intensely DESTROYS of doing good, and a
friend of humanity, who was tbs easy re-
cipient of every ism that came along. Seth
Paine was born in Vermont-the birth place
of 20 Smith, Brigham Young, Brother Noyes,
and the authors of varioGs other religions,
which were doomed to be temporary and
unsuccessful. After clerking here for some
time, be started wildcat bank, but was
sold ont almost Immediately, and the sheets
Of notes went into the hands of tobac-
conist, who used them to wrap up his goods.
1t was an anticipation of the fate of confed-
crate currency and bonds. Colonel Paine
was strong abolitionist, friend of Lovejoy,
and an active underground railroad man.
When spiritualism and vegetarianism were
discovered, he became a Jealous believer in
both, so much so that when, in lS4o, he
again stan ted a bank, a female medium was
always in the private Office, and was always
consulted concerning deposits. Since 1t was
intended TO do business only with those who
were pure in flesh and spirit, no accOmmO-
dations could be obtained by those who were
given to the use of tobacco or liquor. 1t
was understood that person given TO such
practices could not be relied on take up his
notes, even though as rich as Cresus. Still
this was not as lunatc as the Celestial bank,
organized a year or two ago, where the
treas urer lived in heaven, and kept the de-
pJsts there, and where the notes were to
be paid when the millennium came and earth
and heaven were as one. These notes OBJ
tanned no extensive circulation, however,
though one firm was paid in them for some
job printing.
Col. Paine also started the Christian Bank
er as his organ, and attacked social and pOlit~
zeal evils IN 1t until he was again sold out
and sent to Jail, when he concentrated him
self upon the abuse of his new residence, and
became more of master there than the sheriff
himself 1t was a day of general rejoicing
when this prisoner, who set all rulers at de-
tinace, and who had a paper to back him,
was liberated and turned loose upon the city.
His release was followed by one of the most
curious suits which ever occurred here. lie
and few Of his associates IN sprltuaIsm
were proceeded against under a provision
in the city charter, regulating and prohib-
ting dIsorderly houses. His counsel claimed
that spiritualism was as much creed as
MetbOdism or EpiscopacY, while the other
side wanted TO prove that it had not single
element of religion about 1t. All the min
listers in the vicinity were called upon TO
testify. The court was overwhelmed with
dissertations on sectarisn creeds, in this case
and also IN the proceedings for a commission
In lunacy against another prominent splr-
itualist. Finally, spiritualism was decided
not to be disorderly-not TO be proof of mad
ness-and its adherents have not since then
been troubled by legal prosecution.
After this matter was disposed ct, Mr..
Paine shook off the dust of the city and re-
tired TO Cook county, where he started a
cooperative store, and " stable OF human
ity as he called it, where all lovers Of man
kind might take refuge. lie also continued
the publication Of his fearful paper. This
lasted only year, and then, after some
years spent in other failures, be devoted
himself to the cause of the - woman 5 home,
an institution to furnish cheap food and
lodgings TO the working women. Grown
more practical with years he worked for it
with sober energy, succeeded in establishing
1t on a firm basis, aud when he died gave it
all his operty.-Lstter iron, Chicago.