Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-03-04

street. At the same time, however, her
husband came in with his lawyer and two
clergymen and moved that the application
DO denied.
Almost simultaneously Mr.. and Mrs
Wentworth began to talk in low tones about
their religion, but owing to their excite
ment and the confusion of sounds the judge
and spectators were unable to understand
what peculiar form Of religion was ad.
hered to by the parties to the suit. Judge
Tuley cut the Gordian knot, however, very
quickly and effectually by refusing to listen
TO this preaching" telling the couple
in severe terms to confne themselves to
the matters properly before the court and
TO simply answer his questions. The facts
having been brought to light that Mr. and
Mrs. Wentworth were made one on March
81, 1882, and that since August Of last
year complete separation had taken place,
that she charges him not only with deser-
ton but also with numerous cruelties and
with infidelitics with one Mary Grandy,
and the further fact being stated that the
husband meant to contest the suit, and,
having offered TO file his answer immediate
ly, the court appointed 1880 as the time to
try the case.
The wife, good-looking young lady with
large brown eyes and wavy dark hair, took
a seat in the courtroom, and the husband,
hanked by the aforementioned personages,
sat down at table and began TO prepare
his answer. lie denied each and every one
of the charges. The curious features OF
this case are best given in the words form
ing the substance of interviews had with
the parties 10 il. The wife said:
"The sect to which my husband belongs
is called variously Church of the First
Born Church of TRUTH and also The
Beekmanites.' They are the followers OF
Mrs. Dora Beekman, of Ohio, and there
are congregations and meeting houses es-
tablished in Alpena, Michigan; st. Charles,
Minnesota in this city (Chicago), and in
various places in Ohio, Indiana, and else
where. They claim to be following the
bible exclusively, and recognize no other
authority. There is no law with them, but
there is community of goods, of all property,
women included. They will not take an
oath, but in their jargon grace abounds and
the spirit prevails. The sect, in its private
life, is one closely resembling the Oneida
community. There are about one hum
dred in this city Chicago, all practicing
free love. They meet in private houses,
and have semi-annual meetings, at which
officers are elected, the affairs of the church
regulated, and their peculiar social views
exemplifed. My maiden name was Blair.
l did not know anything of this sect, nor
that my husband held such tenets, when /
married him. Justice Fisher tied the knot.
He is AZ, and has been divorced once be-
fore. think he is bordering on lunacy.
So when / came TO know about these queer
goings on and he wanted me to join this
sect refused. He, however, chung to this
sect, and that is why want to get di-
vorce from him. Last September, when
The sect had their last half-yearly meeting
at Byron, ILL.,, saw things that make me
,hudder even now. But you'll understand
that it is very embarrassing for woman to
any more" The young woman alleged
much more than is here related in regard
10 the inner life of the sect.
The husband, Sidney T. Wentworth, a
man looking even older than his years, de-
MED the various charges. Asked about the
peculiar tenets of his church, he would
only say this: "The Church of the First
Born is composed of followers of Mrs.
Dora Beekman. We believe in the bible
truths, and especially in the incarnation of
God in man as il is said in the book. We
have been living on Oakley avenue, and !
have been residing in this city for ten
years. The sect is made up of quiet, in
offensive people. One clergyman in this
,ity is the Rev. Mr.. Baldwin"
The Rev. George J. Schweinfurth, who
Is the superintendent of the various churches
Of this sect and its visible head, was also
present in court and took lively interest
N the case. He as well as Mr.. Wentworth
'aid the wife was crazy and very violent.
Her charges did not amount to anything,
hey maintained. On the other hand, the
vife's lawyer, Mr.. William Blacock, said
hat the husband had not denied the truth
If the wife's charges when the declaration
N the suit was drawn up.
At noon the answer of defendant,
lcnying all the charges, was filed, and
hereupon Judge Tuley took up the
natter. Mrs. Wentworth took the stand
md was subjected to long cross ques-
ioning by Mr.. Schweinfurth, the head
# the sect. The lady testified that last
when she and her husband went
o the meeting at Byron, she was informed
" the committee that she and her husband
ould not occupy the same apartments du-
ing the night. She insisted on it, though.
Ter husband, however, used to leave her
Turing the night very frequently. She par
icularized acts of infdelity on his part. |
The witness gave her evidence in very
erky, disconnected manner, which was all
he more startling, and often amusing, OH
hat account, keeping the whole court room
n roar. Speaking of visit of five
weeks that Mr.. and Mrs. Grandy, Mr.. and
IRIS. Whitney, and three children, made at
Ter own house-her property-she describ-
d the licentious and disorderly manner in
which everybody lived. Everybody took
nouthfuls of food whenever they chose,
lndressed at all times, and became intimate
ogethcr. Addressing her questioncr she
allied to his remembrance the conversion"
" him of girl called Annie, who had
,ecome one Of the afiinites of her own hus-
,and, with the free consent Of Mr.. Sch
veinfurth. "The principal thing in this
community, your honor" said Mrs. Went
worth, "is that the wife of congregational
minister named Beekman, in Byron, ILL.,,
bought she was going to give birth to a
hid which was to be the second Jesus.
The child was not born, though, and then
he woman herself was believed to be Jesus
y the sect.
"Do you not believe that Mrs. Beekman
S Jesus ?" she inquired of her ross-ques-
Toner. He did not deny it. The witness
Ietailed some very disgusting occurrences
t her house during the stay Of the Grundys
nd Whitncys.
The Detroit Times published the
blowing, which was taken from the
chicago Evening Mail:
1--WE believe that Christ came the second
ime in the person of Mrs. Dora +. Beck
nan, who died about two years ago. What
he other churches are waiting and hoping
or we are enjoying" This is the explana-
ion the Rev. George Schwcinfurth, minis
or of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Of the
)hurch of the First-Born, Of the Redeemed |
n Heaven and Glorifed Upon Earth, which
) the full ecclesiastical title of this sect,
which now number about SO. The occasion
or bringing this sect into the public gaze
5 the suit of Mrs. Laura M. Wentworth |