New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-22
LzURENCE OLIPHANT AND HARRIS
HOW THE ENGLIsHMAN CAME UNDER THE IN
FrUFNCE OF THE PROPHET his
TREATMENT AT BROCTON.

HOW THE ENGL1SHMAN GAME ONbIs ihH i-'
FLUENCE OF THE PROPHET THIS
TREATMENT AT BRocToN
San Francisco. June 81 GpecaD.-The life OF Iau,
rorc. OInhant and his wife, written by Margaret
onphant. the English novelist, and Just pubnsheo,
om.s many interesting facts in regard to the oonroi
NJ the prophet" Thomas Lake Harris. over the DILL
liant EnglIshman and his wife some members a.
Jarris,s Brocton colony, who are now nVlDg III oai
Francsco throw strong light on the way harriS
ro,ned power over the ELEPHANTS, and the humiauoh
he beaned upon them, under the guise OF a novuate
in the Brotherhood Of the New Lie" Inc MS.
ost,on that any one interested in ELEPHANTS life Will
as, is How did this brilliant Engllshman come under
the smell which changed his whole life and made MN
for wears the nd-slave of tyrannca masterl Inc
answer to this question, which Margaret Ophant Ias
N give in her hook Is furnished by an old memoer OIL
the Brockton community, who was more Intimate than
any one else with Ollphant. This man says
at was ELEPHANTS mother who brought him under
HAIRLESS influence She first heard Harris preach IN
London. and she induced her son, who was then
emaciated by a fast life in London, ana
under the influence OF a depraved woman, TO
cross the ocean with her and begin new Ire III
Harris's colony. When they reached the community
Harris soon gained complete control over both son
and mother Oliphant turned over to the prophet
all his fortune and after many pleas, was admitted
into what Harris called 'The Use.' Onphant was
told he had lived bad life that he must Keep apart
from others until he regeneraed He was iorceu
TO live i'm an old mill, do all his own COOKING maAc
his he'd and perform chores, woodchopping, shovci
Ing manure and all kinds OF rude farm labor. His
delicate hands were blsercd, but he never complained
He cleaned out Harriss stables while his mother
darned the prophets socks. Soon the community
removed to Brocton, on Lake Erie, where Oiiphants
money was used to buy land and establish a Dig
vineyard.
After olIphant had spent five years in the com
hi ha ed han
must 90 abroad 10 labor. Oliphant, whose name IN
the community was 'WoOdlive,' went to London ana
maid e1OO TO learn the tailOrs trade. Soon lie be
came Paris correspondent for "The London Times"
In Paris he met Alice lie Strange, whom he married
Harris before he had seen Alice wrote To ODphah''
telling him she a serpent. Onphant weakly
agreed and begged allowed to return to Brocon
with his wife This was permitted and Harris 5
first act was to order this refined, delicate woman 10
| he placed I'D to her neck in newmade EARTH IhiS
unIoue bath was actually administered several times
| Harris declaring II was the only way 10 ara" inc
evil from her. Husband and wife were Separated
and the latter forced TO perform the same house
| hold drdgery as Lady Olphant. These gently bred
| women would actually have been glad to blacken
| uarris,s shoes if lie had asked them TO do so.
After Harris out to Santa Rosa. Cal, and
| established his community there, his influence over
| Olphant waned / know that ELEPHANTS final trip
4arrIs and securing control Of the community a.
| regent When however. Oliphant met Harris. the
prophet charged him with being a traitor, and so
great was his influence over his former apostle that
| 6lphant abandoned the fight ELEPHANTS mother
| he returned TO England After he had gone. Harris
cursed him in fine prophetic fashion, and declared he
| was doomed lie concluded by saying: Let this he
The test he who dies first Is wrong and has divine
| power BY this test Olphant was in the, wrong.
"There is no question that Prophet Harris Is a
| lypnotist of greater power than any one who has
ever made speciality Of mesmeiism, for he controls
| has a magnificent vineyard and orchard in Sonoma
! County, OF over 1000 acres and he has the finest
| private library and collection Of paintings the
| Coast with the single exception Of Senator Stan
ford's All this represents the labor Of his dunes
| for thirty years. 0liphant the only one who
| ever made him return any COIN"