The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-15
4 MASSACHUSETTS HORROR !
Another Outcome of the Witch
Burning Spirit.

Il knife into the heart or MS little
daughter Edith on Thursday morning
last, became converted to the ultra
views of the Second Adventism about
a year ago. This sect. which has
made its appearance in the more
sparsely settled parts of Massachusetts
with more or less prominence at va
nous times during the last thirty years,
believed not only in the personal com
ing OF Christ, but quite as firmly IN the
continuance OF revelations, signs and
miracles. Its followers were led to
many acts of fanaticism, and by many
citizens were regarded as crazy on the
subject OF their religion. The fanati-
cisin reached its elimination in ills
most unnatural crime, which has
awakened a wide spread feeling Of hOf-
rOr.
1t seems incredible that so numerous
part Of Cape Cod known as Sandwich
that the crime is excused yet such IS
the fact, and the murderer OF his own
child is upheld, while God is charged
by some with having broken His
promise to a faithful servant in not re
storing the child alive to him.
Farmer Freeman became a leader
among the Second Adventists. lie be-
lieved in his mission to preach. and
was a Jealous cXhortcr. That great
things were in store for him as Il mis-
slonary among the faithless OF the
WorlG he did not doubt. As time
passed, he came 10 regard it as his du-
ty to make some great sacrifice, which
should result in Il miracle and fix the
attention Of mankind upon the new
faith. Some time ago he announced
this belief 10 several Of his fellow,
worshipers. Two weeks ago, as lie
says, the lOng-eXpcctcd revelation Of
the necessary sacrifice came to him in
the night. 1t was then Indicated to
h!m that a member Of his family must
die by his hand lie talked the matter
over with his wife, and persuaded her
not 70 stand in "the Lords way" as
they both considered il. They had two
daughtcrs-Bcesie, seven years old, and
EdIth, five years old. The latter was a
sGnny-haired child, the pet and idol OF
the household. The father prayed long
to know who WAS appointed as the
victim. He says he prayed that it
might be himself, but il was not 50 to
After patient waiting the second
revelation came, late in the night ofthe
murder. The pet Edith vas pointed
as the sacrifice The father was
taken aback, but dared not resist the
command OF God. He awoke his wife,
and told her what was demanded.
Then the mothers heart refused to
acGuiesce in the unnatural deed. She
begged hard for her darling's life, but
the husband was memorable. Working
upon his poor wile's fear OF displeasing
God, he at last gained her consent.
The scene that followed is horrible be
You'd precedent. After Freeman had
kneit and prayed that he might be
spared the test Of his fai-h. he neTyeI
himself FOR murder. lie fcIt that he
was another Abraham, and that God
either stay his hand or else raise
daughter from the dead, as a
reward tor his obedience. Then he
and his wife went into the bedroom,
where their two children lay sleeping,
side by side. The mother carried the
TO her own room. Freeman
down the bed-Clothes from the
form OF little Edith, raised the knife
which he had provided for the occasion
and waited to sec il God would not in
After 4 vain watch, be bent
forward over the child, and with great
are plunged the blade into Edith's
heart. There was an exclamation, and
Ill was over. The insane father clasps
his pet in his arms, and held her
i'll he was certain life was extinct.
Then he laid down and slept BY her
side, satisfied that he had done the
viii of God.
When the news Of the murder was
old to his felloW-belicvers, although
staggered by such Il proof Of faith, they
.oined Freeman III holding that Sod
would restore the child to life. There
this entire following, comprising
more than a score OF respectable peo-
de in Pocasset and its vicinity, that
hey did not look upon the action az a
and believed with the perpetra
or that it was done by Gods cons
Dana.
There was among tho Second Adycn
Isl band, therefore, deepest sur
chagrin and co.rasion to-day at
he failure of listle Edith TO rise IRON
he dead. Their faith did not waiver
II the least, and as an instance Of their
unparalleled credul;ty a Jurnat r.
,orter telegraphs that last night ho
alkcd with Mrs. Swift, the clild's
grandmother, who begged him not to
to Mildred, the other Child,
nything about the murder, saying
hat there was no need OF her knowing
nything about the affair, because
.dith would be alive again in the
loTning. Two or three OF these pecu-