Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-03-15
The Fate ora prophet.

4 Our realers will remember sH account
published in these columns some months
ago ofa peculiar colony, origia nallly
from Massachusetts, now settled on
what is known as the ''Stearns Place."
in Columbia County, Georgia. The lea
der and lead of this colony is one Jo-
seph L. Curry, and lie assumes over his
followers the most autocralic authority
Not cont ent with styling himself their
king, he has lalterly proclaimed himset
the sovereign OF everybody else, and, ac-
cording TO the Augusta Chrovic!e. act
ually obliged the society to address him
as the "Prophet Yahyeh, the Great Ru-
Ter of the Universe" The career OF
this most preposterous and transparent
humbug adds another TO the numerous
instance of the amazing gullibllity of
of mankind. Curry has stripped his
| people of !teir whole possessions, com
pels them to treat him with abject def
erence, and even to pay him the honorss
ratification, aud still a portion at least
of their number have submitted, and
have positively hugged the chain of their
leaders, impos:ure. The delusion all
though on a smaller scale, is TAR worse
than that of the Mormons, and goes TO
men likely to be exempt from the accept
ance OF the widest conceivable religious
supeTstitions. ...,..l ..t.rs-
Those TO whom the praDks of tire
prophet Yuhveh" are .distasteful and
the creduity of his people offensive will
be glad 10 hear that the fellow IS safely
Gagged atlast in the Columbia Penitentia-
ry. Like most of his kidney, he has
gone little too far, aud happily there
haye not been wanting men OF public
spirit in the neighborhood to see the
enforcement of the outraged laws. 1t
seems that some time ago Curry's vile
came for the first time to the colony
from Massachusetts. She IS said to be
respectable woman, and the condition
of The society under the rule of her hus-
baud is said to have given her great dis
gust, and offence. Presently she went
away aud returned TO Massachusetts.
Upon her departure the Prophet issued a
proclamation declaring the institution
of marriage to be abolished, and imme-
dately proceeded 10 make himself the
, first to profit by the edict thus emitted.
1 Taking one of the unmarried members
of his flock, Mics Maria Clapp, he
pronounced her bis queen, and establish
ed her in a gorgeous tent, TO which all
but himself were thenceforth refused ad-
mittance. The girl is said to be young
handsome, and intelligent, and the snm-
mary proceeding of ''Yahveh" naturally
made noise. A snow-whiie flag hoal.
ed majestlcally from pole near tire tont
Announcing the abode of royalty, and
Curry was aceustomed 10 march about
in white robe, bound at the waist with
golden cord, while on his head he
wore mitre, with the inscription NHoli
ness TO Yahveh." The entire colony
waited upon his person, and there were
nightly ceremonies, dances upon the
green, iIlamira,ions, and other testivi'
ties in his honor. z lsi5 ,afaR
This pleasing mixture or regal and syi
van joys was, however, soon destined C
be rudeiy interrupted. Some citizens oi
Columbia County, averse TO HYahveh's'
tastes and pFincipes, and more especial
ly to their practical exeniplitioalion IL
defiance of the laws Of marriage, proeur
ed a Warrant charging him with nplaw
! fully living and icohabiung with Maria
Clapp, and ordering him to be brought
i. before the Superior Court OF Columois
County TO answer for the same. nn-
merous. possee went with the Sheriff
who made the arrest, and trouble wa
anticipated. : None occurred, however
the Prophet and llis queen, were supris
ed fast asleep, aud by a sort of coup d
ehsatre, the tent was dropped ) abou
!, them, all of sudden, so as to get tn
requisite clear proof that juslifsd tn
procedure. sYahvah" made no resist
anee and no remonst ratiee, He calni.
arrayed himself in his Shits robes, .hi
Igoldsa ,bsls, and his mitrs', and asav'
, himself into tho hands oin' the otiicert
To his people he quietly communicative