Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-02-04
sAesArAl sEyrs CAREER.
history OF tho False Messiah OF the Jews
of Asia Minor.

of Asia Minor.
Sabbath Savi was u Smyrnint" jew.
born in 1925. and the son OF n broker
in that city; no was q clever youth and
so we'll versed in tho Cabala and other
Jewish books that at the ago Of eight
cen he was made rabbi. ID 'ubtless
some accounts Of the fifth-mouarchy
men, and the then much accredited re-
port that the Messiah was to reap
pear In 1869 reached Smyrna and
worked upon his imagination so much
that he decided to make himself out
to DO that Messiah. and to assist his
object he secretly caused reports to be
promulgated TO the effect that q proph-
ct would shortly appear who would
rob the Sultan Of his crown and restore
again the kingdom of Israel. When
no thought that the right time had
come, to the dismay of the Smyrniote
rabbits he pronounced the namo
Jehovah" aloud in open conclave.
for which offense he was sum-
moned before q tribunal and con.
demned to die, but doubtless he had
been prepared for this and had ar
rangements made for his escape from
Smyrna, and, with ono object in view.
he went as pilgrim to Egypt and
Jerusalem, where no chose as his Elijah
one Nathan Benjamin. a man of as
celtic life. who professed tn see visions.
Before returning to Smyrna he sent
his attendant Nathan before him to
prepare the way. and in the capacity
Of o second 81. John the Baptist to an
nounce that he was coming to deliver
men from the oppression Of the Turks
and to lead back the Jews Ia Palestine.
Nathan did his work well, writing a
circular letter addressed to the REM
nant of the Israelitcs. peace without
end" the result being that intense
and mad excitement seized upon the
Jews Of that place. They nearly
killed themselves with penances; they
administered to one another thirty
nine lashcs and fortunes of all kinds;
and an influential jew. Pennia by
name. whose daughter prophesied and
wrought miracles. assisted Nathan In
his work of preparation. q. a1Au
In due time Sabbntai Sevi landed at
Smyrna, styling himself the liking Of
kings" and so carried away were the
people with his adroit eloquence that
a throne was set up for him in the
synagogue. and from Smyrna proph-
cts were sent all over the Turkish
dominions to all the Jewish colonies
to preach that "thc true Messiah of
the race of David was come, and that
to him the crown and the kingdom
was given" Az this juncture Sew
ventured to elect from among his
trusted followers twelve princes, who
were to act rs generals to the twelve
tribes on their journey back to their
country, and. as we know from En-
glish records, the report reached even
rs far as to our shores. and that there
was some talk of sending English
ships 10 assist in the transport, and
, even the skeptic Spinnza from all he
heard. was at one time inclined
to waver in his dish lief The
scenes of frenzied excitement in
Smyrna were intense; business was
entirely suspended and gave place &c
eager, fanatical worship of Sew
presents poured in to him from all
parts, until OF length the Sultan was
| reused to action and summoned him
to Adrianople, The story of Sevi's
interview with the Sultan is well
known. and how "the holy, noble and
divine Messiah" was ordered by tha
potentate to choose between three
things-either to work a miracle ant
thereby prove his identity. or to have
three poisoned arrows shot at him BY
| the Sultan himself or to become ;
| Mohammedan. II am follower O
Mohammedan." replied Sevi to thi'
, test, and. turning to his followers,
who were dismayed beyond Aneasur,
.. at the collapse of their hero, he added
land he was numbered among tn,
I transgressors. - Loaqnian'S Maya
: zine.