The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-11-27
Francis SchIatter.

OllOlO OOlllOUUOls
What is the Secret of His
Wonderful Success as a
Healer ?
New York Tribuae.
1t is not easy to form an intelligent
idea Of the apparent power over
disease possessed by Francis Schlat-
ter, the healer. Perhaps we should
say undoubted, rather than apparent,
power; for it seems to be established
by numerous reputable witnesses
that he has effected a large number
of remarkable cures. But what is
the secret of his power, whether due
to the unique personal magnetism of
the man or some abnormal gift, it is
impossible to say. The whole SUBJ
ject is involved in obscurity, which
has been, if anything, increased by
the Widespread vogue that has come
to him.
The facts as to the man himself, so
far as they appear to be established,
are substantially as follows: He is
an Alsasian peasant. fairly well edu-
Gated and intelligent, who came to
this country few years ago and set
tied in Jamesport, Long Island. as a
shoemaker. His record in Jamesport
was good He was addicted to no
bad habits, made excellent shoes,
paid his way and saved money He
was in love with young woman,
who, however, refused to marry him.
In the society Of TIE village he was
sized up as good fellow, with
queer views, who could "talk like q
book" He had "visions" also, and
had much to say about the great
questions Of life and destiny But
at this time he made no pretensions
to the possession of any unusual
power.
Last year he went to New Mexico,
and was next heard of as a wonder.
ful "New Messiah =" with an extra
ordinary power of curing diseases
He at once became locally famous,
but we believe he was finally im-
prisoned in that territory for falsely
claiming divine powers However
that may be, he went to Denver a
few months ago and since then his
career has been closely followed by
the public 1t is easy to say that he
is Charlatan, who is deceiving the
public, or that he is half enthusiast,
who is deceiving himself; but either
of these theories involves difficulties
that are most insuperable. For, as
we have observed, there is satisfac,
tory evidence that he has effected
remarkable cures Had these cures
been wought under the auspices OF
the Roman church, which claims still
to exercise the power Of miracle con-
ferred on the Apostles by Jesus, we
should be able to classify them with
such phenomena as Lourdes and
other shrines Or had Schlatter
gained a following Of ignorant and
superstitious people, the whole mat
ter might be dismissed as unworthy
of notice But the healer appears to
be working independently of any
religious denomination, and, if the
accounts of him are trustworthy, he
claims some mysterious missions
from "the Father" presumably God,
by virtue of which, he says, he is
able to do what he does. Moreover,
he has been exercising his vocation
in city whose citizens are perhaps
less given to credulity and super.
stitious Illusions than any other com
munity in the world.
Not only that, but the people who
testify to the reality of his cures,
giving names and dates capable OF
verltication, are hard-healed men of
affairs, whose veracity cannot be
impeached, and many of whom at
first looked upon Schlatter as an
ordinary bumbug These men are
loud in asserting that the healer
posses remarkable powers, however
they may be explained. The fact,
! indeed, need not be questioned
he Tunique scenes that have been
witnessed in Denver during the last
few weeks, when so many thousands
have stood patiently in line waiting
to be healed, can only be explained
by admitting that Schlatter exercises
some influence not possessed by ordi.
nary people. What is it, and
whence does he derive it He
takes no money for his cures, and