Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-08
FALSE cRRIsfs.
CsrIs.s Instances Of Delssisa al
Inpesturs. =

Curisus Instances Of Delasisa al
Inposture.
We take the following summary
ofssligious deceptions which have
occurred during the past three yean
from the columns Of the New York
Ssn. These decisions have led awsy
not only the unlearned and simple
but many educated aud experienced
men and women. They should
stand - warnings to the world:
ssTbe Indian In not alone In his
expectation of an early appearance
Of . new messiah, rs numerous In
stances arc on record where, within
the last two or three years, the more
civilized and better-educated white
men and black men Of America have
professed to have received reveal
tious, aud In some cases tc be the
Christ Himself.
SIT was only in the summer Of
1883 that one Patterson Of Tennessee
went around preaching that . won
derful thing was 10 happen; and
when he thought the times were
rips he declared tina: the second adj
vent Of Christ had come In the per-
son Of A. J. Brown. who had servei
40 Paftenon's assistant. These two
fanatics secured large following as
they went forth preaching their
new doctrine, promising TO forgive
sins and heal all diseases. 1t was
finally announced that Brown must
go up into the mountains and fast
for forty days and nights in order
that he might be fittingly pre-
pared for the mission intrusted to
his hands. He suddenly dis
appeared, ami nothing was seen OF
him for many days. When the
prescribed period had passed, on a
Sabbath morning in June, his
followers went out toward the hills
and suddenly he appeared before
them clothed in white, with his
hands uplifted. A gra, shout went
up and the people rushed toward
him, falling upon their knees and
kissing his feet. Many who were
Ill declared themselves healed by
his touch. 30 great was the fanati-
cism Of these people that one girl
declared she was ready to die to
prove her faith, and the non.
believers around the town Of Soddy,
where these things happened, be-
came so fearful that human life
would be sacrificed that they sent
for the Sheriff, at Chattanooga, and
1t required all his power to compel
Patterson and Brown to leave the
neighborhood, that quiet might be
restored.
A year later, in 1859, occurred
that remarkable series Of impositioni
upon the credulity Of the colored
people, where one man after an-
other proclaimed himself as the
Christ, promised miracles, drew
crowds of excited men and women
from their labors and created con-
sternation in those portions Of the
South where their performances
were carried on. In one case q
man nearly white, who gave ~hii
name as Bell, went among the ne
groes who lived along the Savannah
river aud proclaimed himself as the
returned Christ, crying out thai
those who hoped to be saved must
give up everything and follow him
Hundreds believed him, left the
cotton fields, the sawmills, and the
turpeutine stills, and followed Bell,
obeying his lightest word and ready
to fall down at his feet in won-hip
do great was the disturbance that
the authorities were led &c
arrest Bell, and when he was takeu
his followers would have torn his
captors to pieces and rescued him
had he given the word. He told
them to be patient, declaring that
an angel would come to him and
break his prison doors by night, and
that he could not be harmed. As
he had some money In his posses
sion he was not held for vagrancy,
and although thought not to be in
his right mind was soon discharged
from custody. He then continued
his preaching, followed by even
greater crowds than before; an
nounced that the world would come
to an end on Aug. 10; that all white
men would then turn black and all
black men white, and that he could
supply all who wished to ascend
on the last day with wings at S. a
pair.
"when Bell was finally sent to
his proper place-aa insane asylum
Edward James, a colorei justice
Of the peace in the same neighbor'
hood, announced himself rs the
Messiah and proceeded to put for
ward claims as extravagant 81
those Of Bell. He repeated
the declaration Of Bell that the
end Of the world was coming Aug.
Is, preached that money was no
longer Of any use In the world, and
prevented the employers Of labor In
that section from obtaining needed
help. James was finally arrested
and sent to the State insane asylum
at Milledgeville. Yet another negro
appeared In Cherokee county with
the sanie pretensions; another In
Camden, and q woman in Bruins
wick attempted the performance o!
miracles. In each Of these clses
the excitement was short-lived, but
fanatical ignorance was provided In
sufficient portions TO make trouble
while 1t lasted.
"a very marked example OF Inn
position upon the one side and
blind credulity upon the other, the
basis being n claim Of the visible
Christhood In the flesh, IL furnished
In the career Of George J. Schwein-
furth at Rockford, III. In the cases
above cited the claimants were OBJ
scure and ignorant men, while
the dupes were Of the lowest
among the freedmen, who were
guided only by their emotions
and had no help from culture
and education either in themselves
or in the community around them.
Vastly different was the Rockford
delusion, springing up in the moet
intelligent section of the Wet, at
the behest Of the wife of q Congrega.
tional minister, who preached that
In her own person were the attri-
butes of the risen Lord. 1t Is some
sixteen years since Mrs. Dora Beck
man advanced this claim. and her
followers were ut frst few in mum.
Der, but they were strong in faith,
and they located their church at
Bryan, near Rockford, and went
zealously 10 work. Mr.. Beekmap,
not believing In the new doctrine,
WAS torn by conflicting doctrines
until he found relief in insanity and
an asylum.
"Among the converts finally
came Schweinfurtb, q young Meth
oiist minister 0f pls.asiuv address