Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-01-10
FALSE CHRISTS.
There Have Been Very Many of Them
in the Last Three Years.
from no Naw York Timp4

DectatlOn OF an early appearances III
new Messiah, as numerous instances are
on record where. within the last two or
three years, the more civilized and bet
ter-educated white men and black men
of America have protested TO have re-
ceived revelations and in some cases to
be the Christ Himself
1t was only in the summer of 1883 that
one Patterson, of Tennessee, went
around preaching that d wonderful thing
was to happen; and when he thought the
times were ripe he declared that the
second advent of Christ had come, in
the person of A. J. Brown, who had
served as Pattersen'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 an
nounced that Brown must 60 up into the
mountains and fast for forty days and
nights in order that he might be fitting
" prepared for the mission entrusted to
his hands He suddenly disappeared,
and nothing WAS seen of him for many
days. When the prescribed period had
passed, on Sabbath morning in June,
his followers went out toward the hills,
and suddenly he appeared before them
clothed in white, with his hands up
lifted A great shout went up and the
people rushed toward him, falling upon
their knees and kissing his feet. Many
who were i'll declared themselves healed
by his touch. So great was the ianati
csm of these people that one girl de-
clared She was ready to die to prove her
faith and the non-bclieYers around the
town of SOddy, where these things hap
pened, became SO fearful that human
life would be sacrificed that they sent
for the sheriff, at Chattanooga, and it
required all his power to compel l'atter-
son and Brown to leave the neighbor-
hood, that quiet might be restored,
\ year later, in 1889, occurred that re-
markabIc series of impositions upon the
crcduity of the colorcd people, where
one man after another proclaimed him
self as the Christ, promised miracles,
drew crowds of excited men and women
from their iabors, and created cOnster
nation in those portions of the South
where their performances were carried
on. In one ease Il man nearly white,
who gave his name rs Bell, went among
the negroes who lived along the Savan-
nah River and proclaimed himself ais the
returned Christ, crying out that those
who hoped to be saved must give up
everything and follow him. Hundreds
believed him, left the cotton fields, the
saWmills and the turpentinc stills, and
followed Bell, obeying his slightest word
and ready to fall down at his feet in
worship. So great was the disturbance
that the authorities were led to arrest
Bell, and when he was taken his fol-
lowers would have torn his captOrs 10
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 possession
he WAS not held Tor Va9ranry, and al
though thought not to be IN his right
mind was soon discharged from custody.
He then continued his preaching. fol-
lowed by even a greater crowd than be
fore; announced that the world would
come to an end on August 10th; that all
white men would then turn black and
and all black men white, and that he
could supply all who wished 10 ascend
on the last day with wings ut s. pair
When Bell was finally sent to his
proper plaCe-an INSANE asylum I'D
ward James, a ColOred justice of the
peace in the same nclgnhorhOOd, an
nounccd himself as the Messiah, and
proceeded to put forward claims as eN-
travagant as those of Bell. He repeated
the declaration of Bell that the end of
lIc NoElt WIS tttulllS August 10
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 same pre-
tentions: another in Camden. and Il
woman III Brunswick attempted the
performance of miracles. In each
of these cases the excitement was short
lived, but fanatical ignorance was pro-
vided in sufficient proportions to make
trouble while it lasted.
\ very marked example Oflmposition
upon the one side and blind credulity
upon the other. the basis being claim of
the visible Christhood in the flesh, is
furnished in the career of George J.
Schweiniurth of Rockford, III. In the
eases above cited the claimants were
obscure and ignorant men, while the
dupes were of the lowiieSt among the
freemen, who were guided only by their
emotions, and had no help from culture
and education either III themselves or
in the community around them. Vastly
different was the Rockford delusion,
springinr up in 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.
II Is some sixteen years since Mrs. Dora
Beekman advanced this claim, and her
followers were At best few in number
but they were strong in faith and the>