The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-04-19
A CURIOUS SECT.
A Sketch of the Chicago Enthusiasts Who
Went to Palestine to Await
Christ's Coming.
Chicago Dispatch.

Christ's Coming.
Chicago Dispatch.
Chicago people have almost forgot
ten the commotion caused some years
ago by an evangelist of the Moody type
who suddenly abandoned the orthodox
theories of heaven of gold and sap
phire and began to preach Christ's
reign upon earth. This man, Mr.. H.
G. Spafford, who lived at Lake View,
and who had been lawyer of some
standing, gathered about him con-
gregatien of theorits amounting 20 per-
haps forty or fifty, who subscribed to
his strange belief. In accordance with
their belief, Christ was to appear for
His final residence upon Mt. Calvary,
and in order to be there on hand at the
time of His second coming Mr.. Spaf-
ford and his little band converted all
their property into cash and sailed for
the promised land. A traveller who re-
Gently visited Jerusalem in the interest
OF one of the missionary societies in the
east states that she visited the house in
which the Lake View community lived,
and that she found them in good health
and spirits, still firm in belief, and wait
ing with hope and resignation for the
judgment day. This young woman,
sent out from Boston, returned to that
city few weeks ago, and has written
letters to friends in Chicago, describing
the way in which she was received,
having been sick for several weeks at
the house in which these people lived.
Their dwelling is described as large
and commodious-a neatly but not
elegantly furnished house-and fitted
out with all the conveniences which the
best civilization of the country can fur
nish. She says that about twenty per-
sons are living under the same roof, and
that all property is held in common.
The house itself is perched upon the
side of the mountain just without the
walls of the Holy City and presents
most strikingly picturesque appear
ance. Mr.. Spafford, the leader of the
community, is nearly 60 years of age,
but is still hale, hearty and happy.
The history of this strange belief, so
far as this immediate colony is con-
cerned, dates from the wreck of the
steamer Vile du Havre in the ocean
with a large number of Lake View peo-
pie, including all of Mr.. Spofford's
children. Up to the time of this calam-
ity Spofford had been regarded as an
evangelist of the orthodox order, but
very soon after he became the author of
a pamphlet on the subject of the mil
lennium, which was freely circulated
about the city ana even handed out at
the door of the Young Mems Christian
association. BY leading men in the
latter society it was pronounced the
work of an infidel, but it was, never
theless, read with great interest, and
threatened for time to create a wide
rupture within the association. Only
few, however, accepted Mr.. Spofford's
theories, and these subsequently form
ed congregation holding regular
meetings in Lake View. A few of
these believers are still to be found in
the city.
Mr.. G. II. Adams living at No. 1916
Wellington avenue, who has devoted
much time to the study of the Bible, is
one of these. Last evening, sitting in
the midst of his family, book in hand,
he outlined the whole theory upheld by
this class of thinkers, whose interests
are represented by two western Jour-
nails, The Rest, of Chicago, edited by
Rev. Thomas Wilson, and The Restitu-
ton, of Plymouth, Ind. Mr.. Adams
holds that when men die their spirits
will return to the winds and their bod
les to the sands and the dust, there to
abide the time of the resurrection.
But before the trumpet shall sound
for the grand reunion of the blessed,
4 battle shall be waged in the Vale of
Estralon, between the Euphrates and
he Nile, for the mastery of the world.
This battle, it is held, is to be waged
oy England against the Catholic
church. The latter will be backed by
he Great Bear, or the Russian empire,
whose bride she shall be, and the Rus
ians will send do wn into the contest
lumberless horde of warriors armed
With shield and buckler. AS all other
warriors shall have long discarded
hese implements of battle it is main
aimed that reference is had to the Tar
ars, who refuse to lay aside their bar
,aric arms. After Christ's coming,
abor and death, the two curses of man,
lre to be abolished and the favored of
men shall live, and love, and abide in
,eace through all time.
Using the symbols of the bible the
BELIEVERS of this class pretend to be
bile to trace within the prophecies all
he events that have since become a
art of the history of the world. But
he event which needs most to be
7atched is war which Russia is to
rage for the possession of India. Then
II the good people must of a surity
ny through tickets for the holy land,
)r soon thereafter comes the struggle
ear the two great African rivers, which
ill decide the fate of mankind and
bolish sin and suffering forever