New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
THE WORLD TO BE HIS PARISH.
Elk PROPHET JOHN MCPHERSON, OF MAINE, HAS
MISSION TO PERFORM.

4 MISSION TO PERFORM
Dexter. Me-. Nov. 4.-Ex-Prophet John NiclSerson is
one Of the best known men in this part OF tile state
His parents were deyout Methodists ana urough'
him up In the same faith but he soon let thst oe-
nomination and became an eminent 'iihcf.o
such he INDUCED in some detailed preoico''' IN fes
to the end Of the world, ana he Is = HAL ~
great natural ability and force Oh cna,a' no
established reputation rs remarRanie pophc''
AT figured outn he says, from DaniePs prophecies
that the end of the world would come somewhere be-
tween April 20 and May 2. You iet lou Oh isho-
ramuscs get together and harp on those thnes III e
Bible that related to the end OF the JEWISH career ana
by misapplication. put such thhgs GOWN nero
in orr day. and no wonder they become
fanatics when the -four barrel Is low, and
the dear wife beats funeral march on the tacnd OF
IL and Won have been foolng your time In run
ming around instead of earning an honest DOLLAR
credit low clothes growing thin, children ncedinehcw
shoes IL is enough to make one sign for the happy
land OF Canaan I've had quite siege at H.
preached. exhorted: prayed and believed In ID.
1 gave away my last hoe and my last dollar. IL that
isn't believing in your own prophecy ana theory "n"o
is? Well the second day OF May came and the world
waroed right on-wasn't even joggle Then soured.
knew when / had enough Some hung on ana hopeo'
but wasn't among Them found that rs prophet
7 was a dismal failure. So i stopped. I'm the little
Grange Hall in Dexter came out and declared my
error, and swore OF on prophesymg.
After that John who is q man Of original IDEAS and
who ALWAYS believes that he has mission of some
kind became sort Of 60 syoupcase preacher some
times beginning the services by selection on tho
guitar His homely sermons Pleased the people, but the
Orthodox Church, OF which he was member, promptly
expelled him. Since then he has been supporting
himself BY shoemaking, calling, by the way, which
seems in an especial degree to foster independence OF
thoueht and between whites he has been working out
I,nb he tc N
carry out any real work. he says "begins from
now think that at last have found the true faith
and work. 1t is TO go pilgrim from Maine to
California and if life is spared me- to the OLD country.
win 60 with my guitar over my shoulder ready 10
s,ro IN the children and the older children, to tell
trutbs sbout the secret OF our living to men and
women When i any one In trouble VIII heip
Them with the half Of what have In my pocket.
The world is nv country and all men are my brothers
Nv mission ia to do good TO whomsOever can among
the poor and unfortunate. Wherever can gain an
audience will gather men and women about me. and
tell them such truths 1 have discovered With my
shoemakers apron and my sleeves rolled up WIN
thread and wax will show them that am one among
the workers, and twist thread ana sew q shoo
am not going for money, for my talks VIII be free 10
whomsoever will listen. have little business mat
will support as 20, and perhaps give 'c d uoi'a
TO spend among the poor
Those who Know Nickerson best say that he is
not crank and certainly no selfseeker On the
contrary he is thoroughly unselsh, ana burns Win inc
entbnS,asm of humanity He is seheducated man
and has read nearly all the classics Of me hgaggs
His magnetism "a speaker is remarkaple, "Iiie iis
modesty of is as pleasing as 1t Is rare NE
remarkable example Of man who has ans
fhonSh there is something bizarre in his proposed
journey through the world 1t is far from being tine acs
ri a weakminded or crazy man. On the contrary, nc
viii douhtlcss make good impression in many places
and by his earnestness, simplicity and disnerestea
ness will suggest the humble preaching ass n.y. t H'