Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-07
PLENTY OF CHRISTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY IN The
LAST THREE YEARS.
Curious Instances of Deiusion and Isnpost-
ure--rntenigcnt Men and Women ~
Well as Ignorant Negroes Duped.
Now York rlnnoAl

New York TlrncAl
The Indian is not alone in his expecta
zion OF an early appearance Of ne'
Messiah, as numerous instances are o.
record where. within tho last two o
three years. the more civilized and bel
tcr-educatod white men and black mel
OF America have protested TO have re
ceivod revelations, and in some cases l.
be the Christ Himself.
II was only in the simmer of 1888 tina
one Patterson, OF Tennessee, wen
around preaching that wonderful thinJ
was to happen aud when he though
The times we're ripe he declared that th,
second advent OF Christ had come in tn
person % 4. j. Brown, who had serve,
as paiterson's assistant. These two ia
naiics secured large following as the,
went forth preaching their new doctrine
promising 80 forgive sins and heal nj
diseases 10 was finally announced tina
Brown must go up into the mountains
Gnd fast for forty days and nights IL
order that he might be fittingly pre-
pared for the mission intrusted 10 hl'
hands. H0 suddenly disappeared. anc
nothing was seen OF him for many days
When The prescribed period had passed
on a Sabbath morning in June, his FOL
lowers went out toward the bills, and
enddcnly he appeared before then
clothed in white, with his hands up
lifted A great shout went mp, and
ahe people rushed toward him, fall
yng upon their knees and kissing his
feet Many who we're i'll declared
themselves healed by his touch. Sc
great was the fan8ticism OF these people
chat one girl declared she was ready to
die 10 prove her faith. and the non-be-
levers around the town of Soddy, where
these things happened, became 80 fear
ful that human life would be sacrificed
Shat thew sent for the Sheriff at Chatta-
nooga. and it required all bis power 10
compel Patterson and Brown to leave
che neighborhood, that quiet might be
Egstored.
IN TIE SOUTH.
wear later, in 1899, occurred that re-
markablo series OF impositions upon the
credulty Of the colored people, where
ono man after another proclaimed him
self MS the Christ, promised miracles,
drew crowds Of excited men and wo-
men from their labors. and created con-
sicrnation 10 those portions of the South
where their performances are carried on.
in one case man nearly white, who
gave his name "a Ben, went among the
negroes who lived along the Savannah
river and proclaimed himself as the
returned Christ. CRYING out that those
who hopcl to Doe saved must give up
everything and follow him. Hundreds
believed him. LEFT the cOtton-fields. saw
mills. and the turpentiue stills. and fol-
lowed Bell, obeyng his liphtest word
and ready 90 fail down at his feet in
worship. So great was the disturbance
that theautbOritics we're led TO arrest Bell,
and when he was taken his followers
would have torn his captor3 10 pieces
Rui rescued him had he given the word.
Tie told them to be patient, declaring
that an angel would come TO him and
lrcak his prison doors by night, and
that he could not ne harmed. Ashe had
some money in his possession he wasnot
held for vagrancy, and although thought
not TO 10 in right mind was soon dis
charged from custody. He then con-
tinued his preaching, followed by even
greater crowds than before announced
that the world would come to an end on
August 18th that all white men would
turn black and all black men white, and
that be co1ld supply all who wished to
ascend on the last day with wings at s.
a pair.
When Bell was finally sent 70 hrs
proper plece-an insane asylum-Ed-
ward james, a colored justice of the
peace in the same neighborhood. an
uounccd himself as the Messiah and pro-
coeded to put forward claims rs extrava-
CANT as those Of Bell. he repeated the
declaration of Bell that the end of the
world was coming August 10th. preach
al that money was no longer OF any use
in the world, and prevented the employ
Crs Of labor in that section from obtain
lup needed help. James was finally
arrested and sent TO the State insane
asylum al MilledQeville. Yet another
negro appeared in Cherokee county with
be same pretensions another in Cam
den. and "a woman in Brunswick attempt
81 tlepes'ormance Of'miracles. In each
oi tlos. cases the excitement was short
h,el, but fanstical ignorance was pro-
viiel in sufficient portions to make
trouble while it lasted.
BLIND CREDUL1TY.
8 very marked example of imposition
upon the one side and blind credulity
upou the other. the basis being a claim
Of the visible Christbood in tho flesh, is
furnished in the career of George j.
Schweiniurth 1T Rockford, I'll. In the
cases above cited the claimants were OBJ
s'ure aud ignorant men, while the dupes
were OF the lowliest among the freedmen,
WHO were guided only by their emotions
and had no help from culture and educa-
ton either in themselves or in the
community around Thorn. Vastly
different was the Rockford de-
fusion, springing up il the most
intelligent section Of the West, at the
behest OF the wife Of Congregational
minister, who preached that in her own
person were the attributes Of the risen
Lord. 1t is some sixteen years since
Mrs. Dora Beokman advanced this claim
and her followers were at first few in
number. but they were strong in faith,
aud they located their church at Bryan,
near Rockford, and went zealously to
work. Mr.. Beekman, not believing in
the new doctrine, was torn by conflicting
doctrines until finally he found relief In
insanity aud an asylum.
Among the converts finally came
Schweinfurth, a young Methodist minis
ter of pleasing address and appearance
and OF some mental power. He was soon
installed as bishop and sent forth upon
mission labor. After O time, as in the
case of Ann Lee, tho founder of Shaker
lam, Mrs. Beokmsn's claim of immortal
life was disproved by her death, and the
.lro,.1 p,oho, stannad into the breach