New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-17
THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
A CURIOUS RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY.
London. August I

fair, on the contrary, To have permanent and
most important effect upon the strange commit
nifty of which be was a member. His death was
an event of no interest to the London world.
The press ignored it largely. Parliament never
beard of it. And as for society," member Of its
mystic circle probably is aware of the existence
even of The New and Latter House of Israel"
Among the masses Of the English people, however,
the sad story has been widely circulated and 1t
it rot likely that among those who have heard it
any more recruits for the Ingathering of IsraeP
will ever be found. Around Chatham pubic IN
dgnation has risen TO a serious pitch, and it is
reported that the Jezrcelites have been armine
themselves and keeping watch day and night,
fearing an attack by mob
This Noah Drew was years ago wcll-todo
farmer in Michigan lie had there fine farm
of 100 acres, well stocked and a snug sum Of
money laid by in bank. In evil day he fell
in with Jczrcel and his wife, who making
n prOscyting tour through the States. Their
glib arguments and fcrvid celebrations turned
his brain, and he became their victim. They
induced him to sell all his property and placc
his entire fortune in their hands TO do with as
they pleased, while he and his wife came to
England and entered tie community at Chatham.
They devoted a portion OF the spoil TO grand
tour through America and when they returned
TO England put the remainder into the Treasury
of Israel" which practically their private
purse. At any rate Drew never saw dollar OF
it again. AS Drew grew old and inirm he was
treated with marked neglect and abuse, and when
at last he vcnturcd to demonstrate against some
exceptional brutalitics he turned out of house
and home howell in the outskirts of Chatham
was assigned to him and his wife, and daily
ration of bread and pototoes was served TO them.
flor nj traot - fla nj ma
died. The Jczreei people then refused to bury
his body, and his widow had to apply to the local
authorities for pauper's funeral. She was
herself pauper, too but the clcrgymen Of
Brompton and Chatham raised fund for her
relief and to send her back to her friends in
America.
This strange religious sect, the New and
Latter House OF Israel is comparatively new
thing, its origin dating only about fifteen years
back. Its existence shows that England has no
reason to reproaCh America with being tho
favorite home of outlandsh sects, and it is de"
plorabc example of the gulibility of human
nature even when its most exalted sentiments
are made the object Of appeal. The founder OF
it, who called himself Jczreel, was really named
| James White, and he was private soldier in the
British Army in India. lie was distinguished
neither for his piety nor for his intelligence, bu6
rather for lack Of both those qualities. lie had
! however, fertile fancy and a natural bent toward
mysticism, which cultivated and developed
by his association with fanatical fallirs and der
wishes. After time, getting hold of some OF
the writings OF johanna Souhcote, John Wroe
and Others he compiled thcrefrom book which
he called the Flying Roll This is strange
tumble of sense and nonsense, surprising in con-
| tcmptibr qualities even the Book Of Mormon.
But he intended it as the Bible OF a new religion,
| and such it ultimately became. lie at first trled
TO organize his "Church' among his comrades
| in the army inviting only the most dissolute and
immoral to Join him. This plan failed, however.
| and he left the army and returned 10 England.
| His next attempt was at Wrcnthorpe, where he
| tried to persuade the disciples Of John Wroe thau
he had been sent from Heaven as Wroes success
| sor, and even limited that he was Wroe himseit
arisen from the dead. But they rejected him and
| lie went to Chatham There he addressed hlinseit
! with better success to the followers Of Johanna
| Southcote. Indeed, they accepted him as her
| " spirtual child and successor After time,
however. he put forward such extreme claims or
authority that they rebellcd and expelled HIM.
| About u score OF their members went out WIN
7 him, and with them for nucleus he Iouhucu o'.o
| New and Latter House of Israel" lie at this
time began TO call himself James Jershom Jezree,
and declared that his initials j. j. D., sgnliled tho
| embodiment in himself of three persons, James
| lNlutc, John (WrOel, and Johanna koOu ~'otel.
! he was "A fine broad shOuldored man, nearly SIN
| feet in height, with long beard ana mar moving
! upon his shoulders. Ills followers soon louht
| mat 1r was a thorough man OF DuslnesS, BHtSu
! with untiring energy and tyrannlcai III lls ruies
| ana they began To be little AFRAID Oh nun, ior
whei the Spirit was supposed to pe upon MN nis
eyes seemed 10 start IRON their sOcAelS anu pIciSc
| his audience with magnetic power Before max
| inc n final settlement he took a caravan tour
.hponrh tine United States, and then through
|
| Inst before his expulsion from the SOuthcolc
| communion he was married 10 Clara Rogers,
gil OF fifteen or sixteen years tIc o, sbe
! poor but respectable people at chatham ohe
| tyros both beautiful and clever, and taxing eho
name of Esther Jezreel, she entered INTO MS pro-
pagandsm with great energy, DouosieS' non, ,a',r
| now remember her remarkable preaching touI
! through the United States Dozen years ago.
| Indeed she was more Jealous and more ehectlNe
| than her husband. She was reserved IN her man
nor and endcavored to cnshrond herself win an
| air of mystery The Servant OF the House OF
Israel was what she called herself Dut wheh
her husband died from the bursting ct o,oooI
vessel about five years ago, she quickly blossoEet l
OUT as Queen Esther and to0A the ieauers.i =
| Of the community. She dresse! herseh IN royal
fashion, and used to nde rchS E'p" tiS'do
! bnrsc or drive in a magnificent coach, attende
! hv Gvrricd servants Her rule over her followers
was much more arbitrary than her husband lad
! been. but by her tact and shrc"dhess r sue nelt
! tho peope together and made the House Oh
| israel much stronger than ever. 1t was inc
| firm belief of her followers that she would never
! die hut NOuld i've 10 WltnesS 'bic Gnu u. tn"
world which they believe is to occur IN When
| M tiod in Inre lSSs. This catastrophe did mob
wreck the inst Ition, however, and its work 10
still vigorously ,arried On by new leaders. ~.
The form OF worship of these peculiar ioiK was
for some years kept profound secret Even
now outsiders are vigorously excluded; But ITO
secrecy has been betrayed by 1niaithial men ,hc
beers. The first thing is TO comb ana orush .h az,
| hair Jezrcclites never cut Their mar !.
~ man have long hair il is shame
nrto him" wrote st. Paul, so they we1r long haIr
| S,li ggracefully upon their shoulders Only nc the
nr ri services. They prefer to avoid ridlcule
In pupc, so it is gathered mp neatly and fastened
IN tbr ron of their heads by an elastic band, an
H.. nrrnle velvet polo cap usually worn by them
rtndcrs the popularity scarcely noticeable. Mr..
rzreel used to appear at the private services IN q
ri can and mass!ye slsl ornalneIleu WHY