Smyrna times., 1881-07-06
A Peculiar People.
WAITING FOR THE RESTORATION or THE
KINGDOM OF ISRAEL.

WAITING FOR THE RESTORATION Of THE
KINGDOM OF ISRAEL.
Every Sunday morning when other peo-
pie are flocking to pretentious church edi-
fees to hear the gospel preached accord
ing to the generally accepted interpreta-
tions, little band of men and women as
semble in McCauley's hall on Capitol Hill
humble quarters occupied during the
week by temperance societies and secret
orders. This is the Society of Christadel-
phians, who read the Bible literally, hold
that the Biblical prophecies have not been
fulfilled, believe that the ancient kingdom
of Israel will be restored, and that the
city of Jerusalem will again become the
queen city of the world, the residence of
the Lord Jesus Christ who is to reappear
visibly, and the headquarters and metrop-
oils of the kingdom of God. About thirty
people assembled in the little hall last
Sunday morning. Most of these were
earnest believers i'll the Christadelphian
doctrine, while others were induced To at
tend either through curiosity or the pub
lished announcement that no collection
would be taken. All were apparently
/ in humble circumstances. When the hour
for opening arrived Mr.. Martin Picksler,
one of the three presiding members of the
society, read out a hymn, which was sung
by the gathering, music being furnished
by melodeon: Mr.. Bicksler then read
several verses from the revised New Tes-
lament. Closing the book, he said that
they assembled few in numbers, almost un
known to the world, to commemorate the
ratification of the Abrahamic covenant
of the death of Christ. This, he said, re
ferring to the ceremony that was to come
was an Israelish institution, but by taking
it up they become Israelites by adoption
The Bible is Jewish book, from Moses
to John, they were all Jews. Jesus Chris
was Jew. 1t was for them TO cherisl
this institution.
Mr.. Bicksler, rs master of ceremonies
then withdrew cloth from the stand be
fore him and exposed a bowl or sauce
filled with bits of bread and a goblet 0
wine. The members of the society ros,
to their feet and united in prayer. Whel
it was over Il brother passed the bowl anC
goblet around, and each member partOol
of the bread and wine, This simple cere
mOny constitutes the chief religious rit,
of the Christadelphians. That over, they
listen each Sunday to a sermon or dis
course by one of their own number-th'
speaker being designated week or NOR,
beforehand Mr.. William Crawford, III
elderly gentleman with beard as hOary
as patriarch of old, was the spealle
Sunday. His subject was, "What ma
ton shall rank highest in the future 2
He read long passages from various por
tiOns Of the Scriptures argued that Abra
hams nation-God's chosen people--whC
had been dispersed over the earth, anC
were prosecuted and despised, would b,
restored to Divine favor. The time would
come when they would be no longer turn
ed against Jesus Christ. When Mr. Craw
ford closed another hymn was read on
and sung, and the gathering was dismis
sed by the simple announcement tina
''next Sunday one of the brethren will
. address you from the Scriptures"
The Star reporter inquired of one of tn
leading members whether the changes il
the revised New Testament affected thei
doctrines in any way. NO." replied tn
brother; lit rather makes the trutl
palmer. The new version is good, bu
the clergymen of the Church of Englan
will never permit anything that woul
class with their views"
"Do you have ordained or licenses
preachers?"
"No: we have no orders. Our licens
is in the Scriptures. We have never bee
cursed with theological educations, bu
remain untrammeled. You see us here
We are all poor men--most of us are me
chanics-just as Christs apostle werC
We have in our little band Irishmel
Americans, Germans-you see the boo
says the gospel shall be spread among tn
people and the languages of the eartl
> We believe in no sky-heaven, but tn
kingdom of God to be established o
earth. '-H'dshinqtOn Star