Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-10
THE LAST OF a FAMOUS SECT.
Tragic End of n Remarkable Religious
DeIusiOn.
From the New York Times.

The name of Joanna Southcott, seventy
years ago, was an exceedingly familiar one IN
London. By some the bearer OF IL was called
maniac, by no less than 100000 Others she was
looked upon as a prophecies and priest. Born
in 1850, this woman, until her 10th year wa
domestic servant and then suddenly burst upon
the world as the herald OF a new Christian be-
LEI. She claimed supernatural powers, issued
marvellous prophecies which had been revealed
to her in dreams, and for over twenty years was
the leader of a sect known As the SOuthcOttians,
which excited the laughter of the most increiu
lOus and the Amusement of the more impress
siOnable. The prophecies beguiled her followers
Nv the assurance OF the advent of a second
Shiloh. Shortly before her death, which Oc-
CURED in 1915, she announced that she herself
would give birth to the object OF all her believ-
ers' hopes. Her death without any such result
was, of course, great disappointment to her
100000 followers, who rapidly disappeared, per
haps to seek other means of relieving themselves
OF their superabundantlv religious enthusiasm.
The cause OF JOsnna's death was proved TO be
drOpEy, AMI to such an extent had the uDcOn-
sciOus humbug imposed upon the warld that
medical treaties from the most eminent phys-
clans Of the time were written upon the subject
of the demise OF the ''dropsical maniac of Gill
lingham."
A few weeks ago a tragedy occurred at the
house called the Royal Manager" in Wal
worth, London. man had committed suicide
after attempting TO murder his step-daughter.
IL was found that the Royal Manger was the
home of the last of the SoUthcOttanS, and that
the death of the suidide left only one believer in
the famous second birth theory. When joan
ma Southcett died. she had either bequeathed
her mantle to, or il had been assumed BY wO-
man named Wood, who at the death of the
prophecies was IS years OF age. This woman,
now, at the age of 90, is the prieStess of the
Royal Manger. Not alone ls she the inheritress
of the gifts of Joanna SOuthcott, whatever
these may be, but she claims the gift Of special
functions to herself. In 1913, Mrs. Woods, be-
ing then a widow with daughter, married
again. She was over 20 years Of age at the time,
but the bridegroom WAS a cooper named Pea
cock and only about p. Peacock was a South
cOtti an, and doubtless considered il An honor to
be welded TO the Elisha OfJoanna. In the lapse
of years the sect dwIndled away until the dwell
ers in the Royal Manager came to be its only pro-
fe-sOrs. Indeed, Mrs. PeacOck's daughter, by
her hrst marriage, was at least, partly skep-
tic; in her words, she ''could not quite ia Se
/ II all in But there came a disciple in the
/ shape of an old soldier from Ireland, who h al
been converted by dream, and who Joined tue
Peacock menage, and assisted Mr.. Peacock in
/ the CoOperage. These three-the OLD crone. her
husband, who might have been her grand sou,
| and the eS warrior, turned cooper and disciple
I lived on their quiet lite in Walworth waiting
and hoping. Mrs. Peace K daily protested that
: the demolition OF ttan's power would soon ar
rive, and the triumph of the saints imme-
dIately ensue. Under all other systems, which
we're soon in their degrees, the prisstess averred
Satan had been allowed to go up and down in
the earth. She had his ''Indictment" ready,
AMI jury OF twelve saints would literally ''sit
upon him" The poor old creature never gave
W her belief, bat has been expecting the CON
summation every hour.
The remnant OF the SouthcottIans hal no
hiEOtTy in them. They attended the parish
church or the meeting places OF any demon ia
tons, only claiming 10 themselves a front place
IN the future contest with Satan. About twelve
months ago things began to 60 wrong with this
tOTlOrn little band of believers In the Ian
guage Of the Unbelieving dau ghter, "the visions
( dropped on and poor Peacock became IN
pressed with the conviction that, spite of the
trenchant indictment" Satan had got the
I better of him, and was watching without inter-
! mission to carry him of. The unfortunate
mans mind was clearly upset; but, instead OF
sending him to a lunatic asylum, his wife and
Step-daughter determined to keep him among
them. For ten long months they watched lest
he should lay violent hands on himself. On G
| night he eyaded their vigilance at last. Left
alone for moment, he sprang out OF bed, and
was rushing down stairs when he met his step
daughter. Wildly apOstrOphizjng her as the
Satan he dreaded, he seized and attempted TO
kill her. As she, stunned, fell to the ground
/ he daTted to a closet, and there cut his throat
; with a razor. OF this self-inhicted wound tn {
/ hapless believer in the second birth died the
[ next morning. The daughter of the priestess
/ since her recovery, has become more skeptcal
I than ever. The soldier is now a confirmed here
I tic, and the successor of Joanna SOuthcOtt re-
[ mains the solitary believer in her own prophe-
4 cieS. and the representative of one of the most
, remarkable religious" delusions of the age.