The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-11
GO TO JERUSALEM
KANSAS PEOPLE SAIL FOR THEIR
NEW HOME IN THE HOLY LAND.

Are Mostly scandinavians and 1t is Their
Relief That by Living in the City of Bib
I,caI History and Existing by a Cooper
atixe Method They Can Do Much Good
for Themselves and for Others-Sailed
From Philadelphia Yesterday-Win Do
Missionary Work Quietly and Try to
overthrow Mohammedanism.
Philadelphia, March 10.-When the
American liner Waesland departed from
the Washington avenue pier yesterday
afternoon she carried with her a most
remarkable band of pilgrims. bound for
Jerusalem, who sailed to augment a
religious colony founded in the Holy
Land many years ago. The story or
the colorists is a story Of faith, pure
and simple, and their principle is ex-
pressed in the Scriptural admonition:
Love thy neighbor as thysef."
Over fifteen years ago the pioneers
who paved the way for the present ex-
pedition, less than score in number,
founded a Christian colony in Jeru-
salem. Among them were a Mr.. and
Mrs. Stafford, and William H. Rudy.
Mr.. Stafford died and his wife, who
was a leader in the movement has since
returned to this country, as did Mr.
Rudy The latter and Mrs. Spafford
organized the religious society which
yesterday emigrated in a body to join
the pioneers.
The newly-formed society was at first
very small and held religious meetings
~, Ill
as its ultimate object It grew, how
ever, until n members had signified
their willingness to follow Manager
Rudy and Mrs. Spafford to the new
haven Accordingly, they disposed OF
their property at the best terms posi-
bic, and, leaving Chicago on March 5,
arrived here yesterday morning to take
passage on the Waesland. They ex-
pect TO reach Liverpool on March II,
and will resail on the 23rd, on a special
" chartered steamer for Jaffa. From
Jaffa the pilgims journey to Jerusalem
by rail, arriving on April z.
Though the immigrants style them
selves 'SThe Americans" after the name
of the pioneer colony, they are nearly
all Scandinavians of the middle class,
Well-educated and intelligent. 1.-The
Americans" already established in Je-
rusalem live in three houses, built as
one, in a cooperative body. Additional
quarters will be built for the auxiliary
party, and the entire society, number
ing nearly 100 will live as cooperative
colony. They have no rules for govern
ment, but will live as one family, in one
faith, and worshiping God in unity.
in fact, they propose that faith shall
not only be their mental, but their
nh Pudu
yesterday that the members of his party
would follow no individual pursuits for
a livelihood, but would live together in
religious worship, trusting that God
would provide for them as His chill
6ren. They have but little money or
property and consequently do not de-
pend upon their present means for
support.
The experiment" said Mr.. Rudy,
has been tried for fifteen years, and
1t has been successful. We shall not
try 10 convert others to our belief in
any way but by our example. We are
unsectarian and undenominational, and
simply pin our faith upon the Bible and
upon its teachings as we understand
them.
I'VE have been much misrepresented
In the newspapers, and have been looked
we re lOath to talk about our projects.
However. we have no set form of re-
ligious worship; we think that such
forms would be out of place, just as
any fo~mality would be inconsistent in
giving expression to our love for one
another"
The natives of Jerusalem, principally
Jews and MOhammedans, look kindly
upon the beliefs and principles of 1.-The
Americans" and some of them are fire.
luent visitors az the three houses n6xr
the Dana sous Gate. 1t is through 81
lent contact with these people that 1.-The
Americans" expect to receive converts
to their faith.
There still remain in Chicago, and in
some Of the towns Of Kansas, about 20
members of the society, who were I'M
able to accompany the emigrants. They
will organize a third party during the
remaining months of the winter and it
Is expected that by the latter part OF
the spring they viii have 100 recruits
ready TO join the main body at Jerusa-
lem.