, 1874-01-03
THE LAST OF A FAMOUS SECT.
Tragic End of u Remarkable Religious
Dclu&xon.

Tragic End of 4 Remarkable IL eligious
Delu&xon.
From the 4fc1r York Times.
The name OF Joanna Bouthc0tt, seventy years
ago, was an exceedingly familiar ono iu London.
By some the bearer OF it WAS called maniac: by
no less than lou, 600 others abe WAS looked upon
as prophecies and priest. Born in 1850, this
woman, until her 10th year, was q domestic ser
want. and then suddenly burst upon the world
an the herald Of m Christian belief. She
claimed supernatural powers, issued marvellous
prophecies which had been revealed to her in
dreams, and for over twenty yeara Was tue leader.
OF a sect known. az the Southcottians, which ex-
cited the laughter OF the most incrcdu1ous aud
the amnzoment of the moro impressiouable.
The prophecies beguiled her followers By the
assurance of the advent Of q second Shiloh
Shortly before her death. which occurred in
1914, slle announced that size herself would
give birth to the object OF all her believers
hopes. Her doath without any such result was,
of coursc, great disappointment to bc1 100, ,ooO
followers. who rapidly disappointed, perhaps to
seek other means OF relieving themselves OF
their superabuncant religious enthusiasm. The
cause Of Joanna's death WAS proved to 10
dropsy. and to such an extent had thus uucon-
6cious lumbug imposed upoa tho world that
medical treaties IRON the most eminent physi-
cans of the time we're written upon the subject
of the demise Of the b" tiropsical maniac of Gil
lishnm.''
4 few weeks ego tragedy occurred at a house
called the Royal Aanger, i'll Walworth. Lou
lo1,. 4 man had committed suicide after at
tempting to murder his step-daughter. It was
found thet the s'Royal Manager" was The home
OF the Inst Of the Southcottians, and that the
death Of the suicide left only ono believer III the
famous second birth theory. When Joanna
Southcott died, she had either bequeathed her
mantle to, or it had beon assumed by, d woman
,iamcd Wood, who ut the death Of the prophecies
was 50 years of age. This woman, nov at the
age OF 90. is tho priestess Of the Royal
Manger." Not alone is she the lnhcF1tress
II, -:f tterff
ever the5e may DO, but she CLAIMS the
gift Of special functions to herself. in 1s4s,
Mrs. Wood, being t1en widow with adaushtor,
married again. She WAS ove- 70 years OF age at
the time, but the bridegroom was cooper
named Peacock aud ouly about 25. Peacock WAS
Sou.hcottian, aud DOUBTLESS considered it an
honor to bo welded to tho Elisha Of Joanna.
In tho lapse Of years tho sect dwlndled away
until the dwelleIs in the Royal Manager" came
to be its only professors. Indeed, Ara. Pea-
least, partly skeptic; in her own words. she
"could not quito take it all in." But there
came disciple in tie shape Of m old soldier
from Ireland who ,na had uno been ocoa tSa
Peacock menaso, and assisted Mr.. Peacock in
the coopcrase. These three-tha old crone. her
husband who might have been her grandson.
and the ex-warrior, turned cooper and disciple
lived on their quiet Life IN WalTorth waiting Il!
and hoping. Mis-. Peacock daily protested that
the demolition Of Satau's power would soon ar-
rive, and the triumph OF tho saints Immediately
eusue. Under all other systems, which were
good in their degree, the old priostess averred
Satan had been allowed to go up and down IN
the earth Sue had Li4 "indic.mcnt" ready,
and q jury of twelve saints would literally "sls
upon him" The poor old creature never gave
up her belief, but has been expecting Its cou-
summation every hour.
Tho remnant Of the Southcottians had no big
otry in them, They attended tue parish church
or the meeting places Of any Denominations,
only claiming TO themselves e front place III the
future contest with Satan. About twelve months
aso things began to 20 wrong with this forior1l
little baud OF believers. In the language Of the
unbelieving daughter, "tho visions dropped
off," aud poor Peacock became impressed with
the conviction that, spite Of tho trenchant in
dictmcnt," Satan had got the better Of him,
aud was watching without intcrm'ssion to
was clearly upset; but, instead OF sending
linn to lunatic asylum, his wife and step-
daughter determined on keeping him among
them For ten long mouths they watched lest
he should lay violent hands on himself. One
night ho evadcd their vigilance at last. Left
alone for moment, he sprang out Of bed, and
was rushing down stairs when he mot his step
daughter. Wildly apostrophiziug her US the sa-
tan he dreaded. he seized and attempted to kill
her. As she. stunned. fell to the ground. he
darted 10 closet, and there cut his throat with
believer in the second birth died the next morn
ing The daughter Of the priestess, since her
recovery, has become more skeptical than ever.
Tho soldier is now . confirmed hereto, sud the
successor OF JOHANNA Southcott remains the
solitary believer in her own prophecies, and the
representative OF one OF the most remarkable
Religious p" delusious OF the age.