New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
THOMAS LAKE HARRIS.
LAURENCE ELEPHANTS PROPHET" Be
GINS A NEW BOOM
From The Anti-JacObin.

From The AntiJacobin.
1t ours TO that the Harris cult is amazing
IN on tie increase and that the cult Is likely to take
the proportions of boom. Since Mr. Harris was lasI
In England nany years ago. he has pereSehty IT, IT,
fused TO allow any propaganda to be carried on III
his name until within the last few weeks. Perhaps
he was not too well content with the results Pf his
visit perhaps the converts he then made dld not tur
out satisfactorily enough to Inspire him with wish
for more lie this as 1t may, he suddenly ceased
what he had already written to be read About three
years ago he shut himself up In what he calls MS
would not exchange . word even with his own most
devoted followers. The few inquIers VINO Ihadc their
way to Fountangrovc met with but scant encourage
ment to remain in those days II was easier to gain an
audience with the Car OF all the RiSslas ths VIII ~,
Thomas Lake Harris We have no evidence uae ms
that efforts were not being made 10 win the world
to their side. On the contrary, their confidence
Prophet chose to hold himself aloof from his fellows,
it was they said. because he had more important
his doc rines. lie was seeking solution OF the World
Problem. When that was found the grand propagahda
would begin propaganda which would rival III
fervor, in zeal and in success, that OF Mahomet =,
At length the suspicious moment has arrived. Mr
notce to the faithful informing them OF the fact The
following is extract from. this document 1.-THE
final access to the solution Of the World Problem was
won in the early autumn OF last year. Since then
Mr.. HarriS"the Prophet habituaily speaks Of himself
In the third person." passing gradually from the
state OF internal concentration required for the former
es f y Be- d sr faGnf wv WeSn gGa Tie
creative truth into practical adaptation TO the I'M
manent social problems that agllate and appal soei-
ing he took up the problem Of social reorganization
In America, and hence abroad, from the high ground
The divine evolution; adapting it, far possible,
to the limited faculties of geformers minds oper-
ate merely in the natural degree"
Mr.. Harris has not yet revealed, at least not to tho
profane the precise nature OF this World Problem
solution Of which is fraught with Importance to man
kind From time to time however, he drops hint
to the effect that neither physically nor mentally Is
he now as other men that, In fact since he solved
this problem he has been raised to higher plane than
hat nj Wh MI
things made clear and death Is unknown. II Is
the knowledge that he has gained upon these heights
as recuse and step forth into The world as the re-
acdsro OF Fb: & is h at an e06
and to whose best interests my life Is pledged and
consecrated, will now hear from me, and find me. as
OF supreme vital laws and OF verified facts Of largest
value When e9 applied either to the individual or The
certain final demonstrations might be at hand wait
Ing also till the state Of growing anxiety In the public
from the industrial situation should require be met"
The day Of waiting however, is now past. and Mr..
Harris and his followers are prepared to take the field
in earnest For which may not be uncOnneced
with the wide advertisement Of Mr.. Harris which the
England. 1t is our country that has been fixed upon
the field of operation. Mr.. Harrs's works being
be published immediately-whe constant stream Of
letters, pamphlets, lyrics. Battle songs Verse
California. An English department OF the Brother
hood Of the New Life has already been established.
and the direct superintendent Of the most beloved Of
his disciples. Here, slowly but surely. In twOs and
threes mt first but unless read amiss the signs Of
the tmesl before long in greater numbers, will make
its way that motley crowd Of zeots who revel in the
new and strange, and who as often as not have every
good quality except cOmmon-sense For all such
the Harris cult rresstiby attractive The halo Of
mystery the Prophet has contrved to cast around him
self has for them certain fascination Of its own. and
have OF the weird traditions that have gathered
around his name. The very brutality with which he
rules blhs followers adds to the somewhat morbid in
tereSt he exces. map who in day can exact
from men and women UNNECESSARILY his superOrs an
obedience more complete than even Ignatus Loyola
dreamed OF eyactng from his disciples is phe-
nomenOn. Oddly enough, too. his influence on those
around him seems nearly always permanent, they who
are subject TO his never able quite to
cover their balance. More than one illustration Of
that fact could be given. But of all that has come 10
light during the recent controversy this subject the
most ghastly thing Is an incident which personal
friend Of Mr. Laurence ELEPHANTS relates. This friend
asked Mr.. Oliphant, few days before his death.
whether he connected his rather curious Illness with
threat Mr.. Harris had once uttered. "Oh | have
no donbt that Mr.. IIarrss devils have been at me "
was the reply. Yet at that time Mr.. Olphant had
been for wears fierce opponent Of the Prophets, and
was firmly convinced that he had detected him in acts
of extremely dubious morality.