New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
4 RELIGIOUS PRETENDER.
THE CAREER OF THE FOUNDER of iiiN
CHILDREN OF ZION.

CHILDREN OF ZION.
,,r.nd Rand. Mich. Nov. l9-About mon'h ago
nisbop David d. Paterson Of this city, iounue' GU.
head OF the religious sect known as inc onu. 49,
Zion died In Southern Franco whio U" us c,.
PALESTINE to Scotland. His body was 'a"o. ~ O.,
cow where he had large congregation al" '.,ms,
In this CITY went into the deepest mo"rh'ns' Ns 80
,.11,sson,h has nassed since death summoned away
the leader Of the church. the weeping disciples III 'n
eity have wiped away their tears ana IN 'no pa.o "
grief their hearts filed with fish'oo"S n' 80,
tton and tho memory Of the Bishop Is no ions n.y.
sacred scandalous stories have come IRON o'or '"'
ocean regarding the Ubiquitous practices that oharac
-. ~ 80 mart Of the life OF the Bishop, and
no, or,v do his parshioners dscounenance the evhs
cha, bs Was guilty Of but the church leaders, WIN
E,dar Jobn Paterson their head have como out pun
licly and denounced the infsmy.
p,shon Paterson was born In Scotland, and WIN MS
parents At an early age came to America, se''ins "
C.r,d. Originally he believer in the doctrines
Of the seven.Day Advensts, but when upon one mem
.h,e occasion tho world failed to como to an end as
redicted his faith wavered, and he began the s'uu!
of the Scriptures on his own account ABOUT ni'een
years ago no came to this city and amotousy starleo
= congregation and religious BELIEF OF his own ho
preached the personal and early coming OF Christ VINO
would carry the elect, among whom he was the cei,
STRAIGHT 70 glory and eternal bliss; the virtue OF
faith, Of prayer and the laying on OF his hahas as
remedies against all human ills, and even hacturoo
bones. .
He practised immersion in the river or lake' resa,u
loss OF the weather season or the cohuiuon VI o
victims health Secret meetings OF the memo0'o
we're held, to which those who did not beneSe VIZ
not admitted and at which mysterious cercmomes
,vsre performed one Of them the washing OF Iee''
The Bishop. who at that time called himself an eiuei'
soon won small body Of believers, over "noih Ho
ercised an almost absolute sway. Meeuhss "eio "0~
at first I'm the houses OF his followers, put as INC '
rregation increased, hall was secured anu 'nch
church was erected addition to his woPK here' no
.s,ahsbed churches in Iowa and Canada, his brother
In the former State and cousin In the queens 10
main taking charge Of the spirituai laDors. Iisn'
wears ago. at meeting held In this city, OF the nan
dozen elders most of whom were his relatives anu oil
Of whom he had ordained. he was elected Bishop 10
preside over the entire denomination and to carry MS
ovqr gospel into the land OF the enemy. FROM ING
moment Of his elevation the new religion began "
develop and take on new features. He announced
himself as without sin, and adopted the title Vi to
Eve of jehovah New rites were introduced ihlo Iie
secret meeting cercmOnials. His wife with soffo"
saw the now departures could not consistently vi oo
sclentously comply with the Innovations anu d. .ne
bishops instance was expelled from the society win
her went her children three and two daughters
This did not disturb tho family harmony as the Bishop
and his wife continued living together but she Wa
never permitted TO accompany him on his travels
Miss Mary Hawley, the pretty daughter of one OF
the church members, soon AFTER Inc DlsnoP WV"
ton became his prime favorte. She wiote pious
noetrv and religious stories for children for the paper
he started TO aid in spreading the gospel and she was
active I'm that work. AT last the Bishop crealeu al
office for her In the church, designating her the
Handmade of Christi and she played conspicuous
mart In the secret meetings. About two years ago
ugly stories we're afoat regarding the relations that
existed between Eye of Jehovah and the Handmald
of Christ. He solemnly assured his congregation OF
his innocence, and after started for scotland,
and from journeyed 10 the land made sacred py
Biblical associations About the same time the Hand
maid Christ disappeared ostensbly to WISH iriehds
in Canada. Neither she nor the Bishop nave Since IT,
turned and while his people here freely told that he
was I'm Europe her friends either protested ignorance
Of her whereabouts declared she still in Canada
Last summer Elder Charles Spencer, who acted as
vicar over the congregation IN this city during the
Bishops absence summoned TO Scotland to have
conference with and to receive instructions from the
head of the church. When he arrived he found that
the Eve of Jehovah and the Handmade OF Christ were
together, and he marvelled when he learned that
child had boon born to them, healthy babe more
than a wear old. The Bishop went into a rage over
the remarks that were made regarding the cllcuil
stance cursed his vicar and sent him nome strppe9
of his clerical authority The deposed elder retired
no his farm a few miles FROM the city, maintained a
discreet silence and gave no explanation vi his ap-
from the pulpit.
since the Bishops death the stories ana' "o he
before he left here Two years ago nave again pecn
circulating and al last they became 50 strong that
The church was Obliged TO take some acton Inc
elders carefully investigated the iumois, heard Inc
story that Elder Spencer had kept secret, and then
gave a verdict that the Bishop had erred, and hnding
The stories true, they clear themselves OF it, and
wish the public to know that they Will uphold no
evil, but will avoid every appearance OF IT, III Is
ssa Announced that the meetings will all be open to
the public hereafter The Bishops brother, who is
now practically at the head OF the church, ID The nist
10 sign the condemnatory address.