Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-16
Heaven Has Been Closed Against the
World for 1850 Years.

The heading commands attention to
low, and the reader finds that it is a
PRONUNCIATION of communistic ideas,
founded on passages from the bible.
Quotations from the bible are printed to
prove the assertion that the end of the
world is at hand. He is not positive of
the date-it may be this year or hun
dred years hence, but he believes 1t Is
near.
THE AMERICAN was curious, on behalf
OF Its readers, to learn something about
the man who makes This startling proc
lamation, and arranged an interview
with him. His name Is Alfred II. A bell,
and though he gives Ellsworth as his adj
dress, he is here but temporarily, his
home being in st. John, n. b. THE
AMERICANS interview with him had to
be carried on by pencil and paper, for Mr..
Abel is deaf and dumb. So also is his
wife who is with him.
Mr.. bel has been in Maine about a
year In Bar Harbor last summer he SAW
so many rich people and realized so forci-
bly, the unequal distribution OF this
worlds goods, that it set him thinking.
He remem bered that Chris; told the rich
TO sell all they had and distribute 1t to
the poor. He resolved to search further
to see what the bible said about i, and
the paper which he is now distributing is
the result. He says he has just found out
what the bible said, and then warned the
people.
Ellsworth WAS selected by Mr.. Abel as
a good place to begin the work. lie
printed 5000 of the circulars or papers,
and has mailed them to 800 colleges III the
United States, and to eighty newspapers,
besides dstri buting them here. He be-
lieves the news which he proclaims will
be spread all over the world from the cir
culars thus distributed
MIR. Abel says his exposure, as he
calls it, Will cause the greatest trouble i'll
Europe. 1t Will turn all the ministers
out OF job, for there VIII be nothing for
them to preach He believes he Is in
spired to this work. He says the Jews
had prophecy years ago that deaf man
was to restore their Kingdom to them,
and that Is hat he is nov doing.
volumes. mostly religious works. He be-
lieves the preaching OF sermons by minis
tiers to-day il waste of religious food.
Instead OF preaching they should read
The bible.
MIR. Abel refers to passages in the bible
with a readiness that Is remarkable. tie
can open the book almost Instantly to
ANY psa,apa suppe.ted TO him He Onens
the book without a moments hesitation,
and with the turn OF three or four pages
one way or the other, his finger is on The
verse sought for. He says he does not
know all the words perfectly, but does
know the understanding and believes he
is especially gifted to understand many
OF the dark sayings in the bible
SOME INTERESTING LETTERS.
While Mr.. Abel decres war, and
welcomes communism as the harbinger
OF universal peace, With strange opposite
ness he has turned his mind to instru-
ments OF warfare He has submitted to
the official heads OF he war and navy
departments in this country and England
plans for carrying on war. He planned
campaign for England against Turkey.
He sent Secretary Long twenty-five
suggestions Tor the defense OF warships
against torpedoes; he suggested TO the
war department the Porto Rlcan
expedition. As result OF these commu-
nicatons Mr.. Abel has an interesting
collection of letters, which he showed
THE AMERICAN representative.
lie has a number OF autograph letters
from John d. Long, secretary OF the navy,
and from j. A. Porter, President Mckin-
leys private secretary. He also has an
autograph letter from Gen. Nelson a.
Miles, and Vice president Hobart. From
England he has letters from the comman-
der in chief Of the army, and the Marquis
of Salisbury. But perhaps the most in
terestng letter OF all is an unsigned MEM
orandum in the handwriting OF the Prince
OF Wales, instructng his amanuensis
how to reply to Mr.. Abell's letter.