St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-19
TOPICAL TALK.

my name is I am that 1 am.'" was the
reply of ScHwEIETURTH, the Rockford i'm
poster. to newspaper reporter who recently
asked his correct title. A member of the
"Churc Triumphant at st. Charles, in the
southern part of the state, when asked
about this new religion, said: 'Christ lives.
He has come to earth the second time.
ScHwEINFuRrH is the Savior. He is the pure
one, the perfect one. He has no guile. He
is God become man, 1t is remarkable
fact that the ScHwE1NFURTH community IS
rapidly growing, and the singular part of it
is he is gaining converts among the educated
orthodox Christians. Among his recent con-
verts are Rev. DR.. FUTILE and wife. formerly
of the Congregational church. DIR. TUTTLR
is graduate of Yale and Of Andover theo-
logical seminary, but is now the pastor of the
ScHwEIN FURTH church in Chicago. A Bap-
fist minister in Pennsylvania is also num-
bered among the recent converts, and Con-
gregationalist clergyman in Maine has
written to ScHwE1NFURTH in the last
few days confessing him as the Christ.
Less than six years ago GEORGE j. ScHwEM-
FuRTH. then a travelling Methodist circuit
rider in Michigan, renowned Methodism and
Joined the Beekmanites. When Mother
BEEkMAN died he proclaimed her as the mod
ern MARY who had given spiritual birth to
him, the modern Messiah, and then set him
self up as the head of '"The Church Tri-
umphant." He established the sect of the
New Jerusalem at Rockford, ILL.,, and from
that point directs the movements of his dis
ciples and evangelists, who are being sent
into all parts of the country to gain acces-
sions to the new church. The growth of
membership has been astonishingiy rapid
within the last five years, and organized
churches of the sect have been established in
Chicago, Kansas City, Leayenworth, Louis
vile, Minneapolis, Paw Paw, ST. Charles,
and other Western and Southwestern towns.
The members set apart tenth of their earn
iDgs as tithes for Lord SCHwENFURTH, but he
always takes good care to put these offerings
to his private account. which now shows
balance in his favor Of over 100000.
TIT
There is one thing remarked upon by all
who have seen ScHwENFURrH and that is
his close resemblance to the popular pictures
of the Savior. His eyes, beard and hair are
of the same color, and the contour Of his
face follows the lines of the paintings Of the
real Christ with great accuracy. There is
also a sweetness in his manner and win
some light in his eye that attracts every one
who comes in contact with him. The Rev.
DR.. CoNDE, pastor Of the Presbyterian church
at Rockford. when asked his opinion of the
impostor, said: .SCHwEINFURTH is danger
Gus man. He hardly ever fails to convert
those who go there to listen to his teachings.
His sophistries are hard for any one to meet
unless thoroughly familiar with the teach
ings Of Scripture on the second coming OF
Christ. There is not a particle Of insanity
about him, and am convinced that he is
perfectly free from any lust of the flesh, for
/ know of the most thorough tests. ! have
been told by women whom he has had under
his sway that there is some magnetic
power i'll his eyes which forces them
to do his bidding. and speak OF belief in
him when their whole nature was antago-
nfstic to it. OutwaTdly no nleeker, more pa
tent, perfect man has ever come under my
notice. honestly believe that he is pos
sessed Of the devil, coming to the world in
the garb of an angel of life.' ScHwEINFURTH
is entirely unlike the original Christ in the
style of his living. In fact, he lives In the
style expected of prince of the house of
DAVID. His temple at Rockford is a grand
establishment, with most expensive furnish
ings. The modern Messiah dresses in tailor
made clothes Of the finest material, and on
recent visit the representative of the New
York Herald found his feet encased in silk
velvet slippers embroidered with gold. in
stead of sandals like the Savior used TO wear
A heavy gold fob chain hung from the watch
pocket. and brilliant blue and gold tie sur
rounded his neck. The newspaper repre-
sentative was received in commodious and
elegantly furnished par,or. Hiss feet
sank into velvet carpets, and leopard