The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-12-05
A NEW WESTERN RELIGION.
rHu rrrrMo1s "PERFEorroNIsTs"
AND THEIR FEMALE APOSTLE.
mss. Reekman's Queer Inspiration -
Her Death Rud Failure 10 AtHsc
According 60 Promise.

Her Death ana Failure 10 Rise
According 60 Promise
The followers of "Dora of Byron
style themselves "Perfectionists, and
their headquarters are at Byron, Ogle
county, Ill. Byron is small village OF
about 700 inhabitants, eighty-nine miles
west of Chicago. Although first settled
about fifty years ago, the population of
theentire township does not exceed 600;
but nearly all the inhabitants are, if not
wealthy, exceedingly well-to-do.
The attention of the stranger is not
called to the Perfectionists, for the
greater part of the people of Byron look
upon them with aversion. While seated
in the Office of the Commercial house a
correspondent CT the New York Star was
given some information about this curl
ous sect by the proprietor Of the hotel,
Mr.. j. +. Spalding, who is also one OF
the village trustees.
Mr.. Spalding said: Ihave lived in By
ron for more than thirty years. Iknow all
about these people, and whatever ! tell
you, you may depend upon as being cor
rect. In 1876 the Rev. J. G. Haekman
came here and assumed the pastorate of
the Congregational church. He is an
able man, and his preaching gave salts
faction. So, at the end of the year, he
was invited to remain. During the
spring of 1877 his wife, Dora Beekman,
claimed to have received manifestations
from God that she was the true Christ,
and called upon all true Christians to be-
lieve in her. From the start q consider
able number of persons became her fol-
lowers. She went to Alpena, Mich, and
there made several more converts to her
belief, among them the Rev. George Jacob
Sweinforth, pastor of the Methodist
church at Alpena. Mr.. Sweinforth was
enthusiastic in his advocacy of Mrs.
Beekman's belief that she was the mani
festation of the coming of the second
Christ, and upon her return from Alpena
to Byron he accompanied her
"This could not fail to make trouble
for Mr.. Beekman among his church men,
bers. 1t was said, and 1 don't think
there's much doubt of it, that for a year
she dictated all his sermons. AT first
he fell in with her ideas, but she carried
them so far that at last he openly re-
volted. At the end of the second yeal
of his ministry the members of the
church held a meeting to determine
whether or not Mr.. Beekman should be
dismissed from his charge. Forty-tivc
members voted to dismiss him, and only
eight voted that he be retained. An
extra Quarters salary was voted him, and
he signified his intention of leaving
Byron, but his wife desired to remain
here, and he yielded to her wishes. Sh'
appeared to control him in all things ex
cept his belief, and, though opposed t.
her in this, he quietly let her go on IL
her own way.
SO Mrs. Beekman went on, eXhort
ing and preaching in various places anC
adding members to her following alway
assisted by Mr.. Sweinforth. There ar
in Byron about forty Perfectionists, anC
the total membership of the sect l d
not think exceeds 200. But now let m
tell you of the strangest part of th'
whole business;
"Mrs. Beekman died last April i
Ruena Vista, Col, where she had estat
lished company of her followers. He
husband was notified that she was i'll, bu
it was not until the day after her deaf
that he was telegraphed to that etfec
The Perfectionists, holding that she wa
Christ. insisted that she would rise agai
on the third day, and refused to emball
her remains until the fourth day ha
passed and modification had set in. Tht
then embalmed the body and started vii
it for Byron, coming by the way of Ka
sas City and Chicago, and arriving he
eight days after Mrs. Beekman's deaf
They placed the coffin in the yard,
front of Mr.. Beekman's residence, d
Ginning to carry it into the house. Th
also refused to permit the coffin to
opened Well, the coffin was final
opened and the body of Mrs. Beekm
was there, beyond a doubt. Then t
townsfolk were satisfied, and the ]
mains were inferred in the village cen
terry. The Perfectionists, having be
disappointed in that their Christ did II
rise again on the third days they bolc
asserted that she would dreappear on eal
ut the end of forty days, but in this, t.
they were left in the cold, and it
rather staggered them"
A visit was made to the house of
Beekman, but it was learned that he b
gone to Romeo, Mich, on a visit to
brother, who lives there. The house
a commodious one, and was given
Christ q. E., Mrs Beekman) by her
lowers. When she died it passed i
the hands of her husband. The Peri
tionists did not like this, and tried to
possession of it, But as they had fol
ally decided it to Mrs Beekman, upon
death it legally became the property
her husband.
OF Mr.. Beekman no one in Byron
anything but good to say, except
always the Perfectionists, who can
forgive him for opposing their belief
for retaining possession of the home
gave his wife He is one of the II
popular men in the town, and at pres
ills the Office of village clerk. He
regular attendant of the Congregatic
church, and frequently speaks in
church meetings lie is loved for
undoubted goodness, and is pitied for
L