The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-09
End Of A Strange Sect.

A man named Peacock recently com.
mitted suicide by cutting his throat
with razor, ,at q place called the "hoysi
Manger," in Walworth, England.
This man was connected with q family
and sect who nearly q century ago,
went under the name Of Sottthcotttd
and who numbered, believers and all,
about 100, 900 persons. The founder OF
this sect was Joanna Southcote. She
was born in Gettisham, Deyonshire,
about 1850, and died in London Dec. 27,
1914. Until nearly forty years she was
o servant, and was for some years o
member OF the Established Church, but,
shortly before promulgating her pecu-
liar notions, united with the Wesley
ans. In 1872 she began 10 attract atten-
tion by claiming supernatural powers,
narrating remarkable revelations made
TO her in dreams, and making prophe-
cies. She found many followers over
whom her influence appears to have
been almost supreme. In the ordinary
course OF events, 1t was natural that q
portion OF the many predictions she
made should be verified, and these in.
stances were speedily noised abroad
and magnifed by herself and follow.
ers, and contributed TO her notoriety
and power over those who adhered TO
her ideas. She published number
OF prophecies and warnings in ex.
trayagant prose and rude doggercl,
and challenged the clergy 10 inyesti-
cation and discussion. When over
sixty, she announced that she would
shortly give birth TO q second Shiloh,
but this never occurred, and previous
TO her death she expressed the conyic.
ton that, "if she was deceived, she
had, at atall events, been misled by some
spirit, good or evil" A post-mortem
examination disclosed the fact that
dropsy had caused her 10 expect o child
would be born, and this was the cause
OF her death; but even her physician
had been deceived, and he, as well as
others, wrote yoluminous treatises on
the case.
Shortly before this extraordinary
woman diod, she constituted q woman
named Wood her successor and Priest
ess OF the "Royal Manger," and such
she has remained, being now over nine.
ty.six years Of age. In 1S4S, Mrs. Wood
was q widow with an only daughter,
and then married young cooper
named Peacock, then in his oath year.
By this time the believers" had for.
saken their faith, and the inhabitants
OF the Royal Manger" came to be
the only ones Of the sect, Then IN old
soldier from Ireland came to England
and married the daughter. Thus they
lived quietly for many Years. Pea.
cock was fifty years Of age in 1873, and
fer some time things had not advanced
as we'll as they hoped for. The priest
ess prophesied that Satan was to be in.
dicted, and Jury Of twelve saints were
ready 10 "set on him." But Peacock
began to think that Satan had the better
OF him and was watching every oppor-
tunity 10 carry him of TO the internal
regions, and In this way be became in.
sane, and several times attempted SUI
eide. The last attempt was q success I;
for one day he rushed down stairs and
met his step-dauehter. Thinking she
was the Satan Of whom be was in mortal
terror, he seized her and attempted to
kill her. She fell stunned on the
floor and he ran into closet and cut
his throat with q razor. The step
daughter and her husband no longer
believed In such second Shilohs, and
have renowned the faith once given To
Joanna Southeote, and the last Of the
sect Is the lonely old woman, priestess,
and successor OF Joanna, who cannot
live many years. Thus the curtain falls
on the last act Of strange delusion,