The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-12

The man Schweinfurth, who has
made an accidental resemblance in iea-
lures to the pictures OF Christ serve his
most blasphemous purposes, was born
in Marion county, Ohio, in 1850. His
early years were passed in company of
mere mortals, and he acted as one until
he evolved his grand, wool.pulling
scheme that has blinded the eyes OF his
deluded followers. Now he acts worse
than ordinary mortals. In his youth
lie gave indication that his lie would
be consecrated to God, and his avowed
aim was to lake the life OF Jesus Christ
as q model for his own career. He
came, he declares, to believe than man
gould be delivered from the power OF
sin and attain to perfection and one
ness with God in this life. When 4
young man he entered the ministry OF
tho Methodist church on probation. He
gradually became conscious, he says,
that neither the orthodox churches nor
their mins'."s could satisfy his
aspirations. lille stationed at
Athena, Michig IL. he became nc.
quainted with woman named
Dora Bcekman, who was conducting a
mission there Her permanent homo
was at Byron. III where she ministercd
to 4 congregation who aimed, or said
they did, ut n life OF actual holiness--a
religion that was not acceptable to the
popular churches OF that town. Even
tually no went to Byron and became
associated with her in her pastorate.
This connection continued until her
death i'll 1882. For the last ten years
his place OF abode has been the Weldon
farm, which is only nine miles north OF
Byron. Schweinfurth claims that Mrs.
Becknan was made to know by an inner
illumination that she was tho woman
clothed in white described in the reye-
lations, tho spiritual mother OF Christ
in his second coming, and when she
found that he was partal,ins OF her
spirit and showing tho characteristics
OF the Christ she was further assured
that he wss indeed tho Messiah" She
announced tho fact to her people, and
at her death in 1882 no succeeded to her
pastorate and has since continued to fill
the throne.
A correspondent of tho Chicago Eren-
ing Post, who has rocontly paid visit
to the Schweinfurth heaven, writes as
follows: "The first Impression an OBJ.
server OF the Schwoinfurth experiences
is ono OF surprise, even astonishment.
Ho bears remarkable resemblance to
the generally accepted picture of til o
Saviour, and, for tho time being, one
imnGines he is gazing upon q life.sizo
production OF some OF the old masters.
His eyes arc brown, his complexion is
freshly tinted. lilo wears q flowing au-
burn beard, similar to that ascribed to
tho divine ono he pretends to person.
ate. His hair is brushed back from a
forehead indicating intellectual force.
lilo wore q frock coat OF black cloth OF
light texture, and light colored tic,
such as are Worn by the gildcd youth OF
fashion. His trousers, which were OF
blue-checkcd goods and OF tho latest
cut, fitted him to nicely. In fact, al.
most any bright afternoon finds him on
tho streets of-Rockford dressed like a
fashion plate, his hands daintilv gloyed
in tho fashionable color, and 4 glossy
silk hat on his golden locks. He is
driven to- town by coachman who
draws the reins over rs fine team rs
can be found in the county. Frequently
some OF his favorite "angels" accom-.
pany him. His fad in summer is a dol
icatc hucd silk shirt, sirdled by n hand.
some sash.
"His residence in the summer is com.
pletcly shaded by the spreading oak
and elm trees which surround it and
arc now Just budding. Each year the
building is newly painted aud frequent.
ly changed at the order Of the iastidious
Schwoinfurth. This year tho color is
maroon, relieved by medium shade oil
green. Tho house is capacious, we'll
provided with comfortable porches, and
is surrounded by vcrdant, slipping lawns
with just enough shrubbery to chow
them 10 the best advantage. An inspec.