Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-09
SAYS HE IS CHRIST.
A Strange Visitor Startles the Con-
gregation of Zion Church.
BOLDLY ANNOUNCES HIS MISSION.
Surrounded and Catechised by the Fol-
lowers of Russell.
HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

The congregation of the Church of Zion,
which meets on Federal street every Sunday
afternoon, was favored by a remarkable
visitor yesterday afternoon. While Rev.
Mr.. Russell, the leader of that little sect,
was expounding to fairly good audience
the true Interpretation of the Scripture, a
man about 40 years old, with black hair and
beard, wearing a faded brown overcoat,
slipped quietly into the hall and sat down
upon a chair in the rear. He was unob-
trusive and quiet, and few noticed him ex-
cept to glance at him as a stranger. There
was no peculiar LOOK about his eyes. He
might have been any ordinary man from
the country or even from an unpretentious
part of the city. he listened to the services
and said nothing until Rev. Mr.. Russell
had said the good words of parting blessing.
When the people arose to leave the hall
he also arose, tall and solemn, and looked
over the gathering. Brethren" >" he said, Il
ask you to listen to me little while. have
been sent by the Father to speak to you and
to all men. I am the Lord Jesus, sent to
warn the world to depart from its sins. The
time is drawing near"
HE AMAZED THEM.
The startled men and women paused and
listened in amazement. A few smiled and
wagged their heads. Then the stranger
burst forth with hymn, which he sang,
those who heard him say, with good voice.
He then took up again his exhortation and
declared himself to be the Messiah, come
again to earth to teach men and prepare
them for the end. A number of the men
and few of the women crowded around the
stranger and put to him many questions.
To every query he had an answer. either
evasive or direct. Some asked him his
name and whence he came. His only reply
was that he was the Lord Jesus, and that
he came from the Father; that God spoke
through him.
The man was evidently sincere. His face
showed his earnestness and solemnity of feel
ing. Nor did his countenance reveal to the
uninitiated any indication of insanity. His
features were not strong ones, however, and
did not reveal a keen or powerful mind.
But he was very much in earnest. "Do
not reject me-" he said, holding out his
hands. 81 am sent to you to save you.
Believe in me-"
Some one said to him: ''How is it that
you told us that you would not come again
in the body?" Such is the way In which
the followers of Russell interpret the Scrip
ture, The stranger answered only, Tam
the Messiah, and the Father has sent me.
Cursed shall he be who does not believe in
me-"
THEY ASKED QUESTIONS.
Others poked at him different questions
and began to make sport of him. At that
most of those who were in the hall began to
leave, and finally every one had gone out,
leaving the strange prophet alone with the
empty benches.
A short time after that the individual
was seen stopping people on the street, de-
claring his mission and urging them to be-
lieve in him. Then he disappeared, and
no one could be found who could tell where
he had gone. though the general notion was
that he had gone home, through the back
alleys, for his supper.
One of the most jealous of the members of
the Church of Zion said: "His appearance
serves to add strength to Mr.. Russell's in
of the prophecies, that the end
is near, for Christ himself said that when
the time was drawing nigh false Chrlsts
should appear, deceiving many. Many
He said, shall come in my name This is
but one of the many signs of this time,
showing that the contamination is at
hand"