The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-13
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Rev. George Jacob sChweiniurth, Of
Rockford, ILL.,, having proclaimed him
self the new Messiah, many Western
churches are suffering an attack Of here
sy in consequence, and the disease has
become an epidemic. tits stated that
the number Of the alleged Chrlst's fol-
lowers is daily increasing, and the focks
Of many churches have been broken up.
Among the converts are many Promi-
pent and influential citizens, WEIGH is a
surprising fact, such crazes usually ex-
isting among the more ignorant classes.
One or two notable instances, will serve
to show the effects Of sChweiniurth's
blasphemous claims;
Most Of the converts who believe that
Schweiniurth Is thelMeasiah are women.
Foremost among these women Is Mrs.
l.. A. Ward, who Is still a member Of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
More than year ago she became inter-
ested In the Beekmanites, and in Janu-
airy last she made q pilgrimage, with
about twenty-five others, TO the Rock
ford Mecca,
She was completely won by the new
plan Of salvation there uniolded to her,
and she returned some weeks later,
pledged 10 devote herself 10 the spread
Of the new gospel, She has kept her
pledge most zealously, She and others
have gone from house to house, plead
ing the new faith. Then she went
step further, and attempted 10 proclaim
her ideas In the prayer meetings OF her
own and other churches, There was no
doubt OF her honesty, and the methods
abe adopted, while persistent, were gem
Tie and refined.
Butthe crusade grew and the hereh'
cal ideas were accepted 10 such an alarm
ing extent that the churches found that
something must be done, Last week
at the session OF the Cumberland Pres,
byterian Church, charges were preferred
against Mrs, Ward, and she was ordered
10 appear to show cause why she should
not be expelled for blasphemy, apostacy
and heresy.
Last week Mrs. Medora Kinnehan, Of
Rockford, was expelled from the West
minister Presbyterian Church OF that
place for blasphemy In expounding the
new theology, and it is not all peace in
the "heaven" Of the new city, A re-
cent disturbing element has been the
attempt OF a Chicago physician, ]. 3
Wilkins, to secure satisfaction from the
Rev. George Jacob on account OF his al
legged alienation Of the Doctors wife
Mrs. Wilkins, 1t Is said, made pilgrim
age To Rockford and became so infatu
ated with the king Of the new heaven
that her husband was Obliged to take
her abroad in order to restore her men
tai balance.
On bis return the doctor learned thai
the Rev. Mr.. SChweinfurth was possess
cd Of considerable property, bestowed
upon him by enthusiastic followers
Dr.. wilkins thereupon sought for evi
dence ION which to base q suit for dam
ages. He sent smart female detective
to the "Home" In the role OF q seeker
after truth. They not only welcomed
her as such, but they speedily accom-
plished her conversion, and she Is now
among the most earnest Of schwein
iurth's defenders,
The new Messiah became aware BY
divine intuition, he says. that a suit FOL
$4,000 damages was TO DO sprung upon
him, and he speedily covered all hii
property with mortgages.
The schweiniurth case is similar tc
another that exists In Cincinnati, where
the spirit Of the Messiah is alleged tc
exist in the person Of a woman about
whose sacred form many converts have
gathered, who firmly believe in the
truth Of her claims. The demoralizinl
effect Of these peculiarly bold frauds or
q community canntbe estimated. Peace
full citizens, as rule, do not SympathiSt
with the methods Of the White Gaps
and will discourage such organizations
wherever they exist, but in the Rock
ford case, where White Caps have threat
ened the alleged Messiah with tar and
feathers il he does not evacuate his 80
called heavenly abode" the public will
have little sympathy for the victim il the
threat Is carried into execution.