Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-24
DUPE OF HYPNOTIST
LAWRENCE OLIPHIETS SLAVERY TO THE
sPR0PSEIn HARRIS,
dow Fe and Els Delicate Mother and Wife Were
Maze to Perform Ssrvils Drudgs'y-Ihs
O1ly One Who Ever Forced ina
MUmaria % Dsgarga

SAN Francisco, CAL, June "a
The life Of Lawrence Oiphant aud his
wife, written by Margaret Oliphant'
the English novelist, and just published,
omits many interesting facts in regard
TO the control Of Prophet Thomas Lake
Harris over the brilliant EugliShman
and his wife.
Some ex-members Of Harris Broctou
colony In western New York, who are
now living in san Francisco, throw q
strong light on the way Harris gained
power over the ELEPHANTS and the hui
mutations he heaped upon them under
the guise OF u novitiate into the Broth
erhood Of the New Life.
The first question that any ono inter
ested in ELEPHANTS life will ask Is;
Chow did this brilliant EngliShman
come under the spell which changed his
whole life and made him FOR years the
bond slave OF atyrsnnical maSter?' The
answer 10 this question, which Marga-
ret Oliphant fails TO give in her book, Is
furnished by old member OF Brocton
community, who was more intimate than
any one else with Oilphant. This man
says:
1T was ELEPHANTS mother who
brought him under Harris influence.
She first heard Harris preach in London,
and she induced her son, who was then
emaciated by fast life in London, and
underline influence ola depraved woman,
to cross the ocean with her and begin
new life in Harris colony at the Was
sale. New York. When they reached
the community Harris soon gained com
plete control over both son and mother.
He turned over to the prophet all hiS
fortune. Oiphant was told he mad
lived so bac q life that he must keep
apart from others until he was regen-
Grated. He was forced 70 live In IN
old mill, do all his own cooking. make
his bed and do wOOd-chOpp ~, shovel
ing and all kinds of rude farm labor
His delicate hands were b!!SJereG, but
he never complained He cleaned out
Harris stables, while his mO'her darn
ed the prophets socks. Soon the com
muuitv removed 10 BrOctOn, on Lake
Erie, where ELEPHANTS money was used
10 buy land and establish 4 big vine
yard.
after Oliphant had spent five years
IN the community, Harris told him ne
needed change, and must 20 abroad 10
labor. Oiplaut. whose name In tue
community was WoOdiiue, went 20 Lon
don and paid 500 and learned the ta.l-
or'S trade. The primate frowuec Cn
this. and soon Ohphant became Paris
CORRESPONDENT for the London Tones.
In Paris Oiphaut met Alice le Stral 20,
whom he married.
"Harris. before he had seen Alice.
wrote Co Ollphaut telling him she was a
serpent. Oiphan- weekly agreed. and
begged to be Bowed fr retarn O B-oc-
ton with his wife. THIS was permitted,
aud Harris first act was % ORDER this
refined, delicate woman % be placed up
70 her neck in new made earth. This
unique bath was actually administered
several times, Harris declaring 10 was
the only way 20 draw the evil from her.
Husband and wife We're separated, au6
She was forced 60 perform the same
household drudgery as Lady Oiphant.
These gently bred women would
actually have been glad 10 blacken
Harris shoes, II be had asked them TO
do SO.
C"After Harris came out to Santa
Rosa, Cal. aud established his COM
munity there, his influence over Oil
plant waned.
Il know that ELEPHANTS final trip TO
California was made for the purpose Of
dethroning Harris, and securing control
Of the community rs regent. When,
however, Oliphant met Harris, the pro-
phet charged him with being traitor,
and so great was his influence over his
former apostle that Oliphant abandoned
the fight. His mother died, and after
forcing Harris 10 diSgorge $40. 900,
OHphant returned to England. After
he left Harris cursed him in fine pro-
phetic fashion, and declared he was
doomed. He concluded, saying: Let
this be the test. He who dies first is
wrong, and has no divine power by
this test Oliphant was ia the wrong.
There is no question that Prophet
Harris is hyDnOtiSt of greater power
than any one who has ever made "a spec
ialty of meSmeriSm, for he controls in
telligent and ignorant with the same
skill. He has q magnificent vineyard
and orchard in SOnoma county OF over
1900 acres, and he has the finest private
library and collection of paintings on
the coast, with the single exception of
Senator Stanford. All this represents
the labor of his dupeS for thirty years.
Oliphant was the only one who ever
a.. l.. .trafr,