The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-27
IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.
Horrible Goings on of the spafordites
in Jerusalem.

T. J. Alley. an American citizen in
Jerusalem, has issued a circular to the
people of the United States directing
their attention to SpaffOrdism, a new
religion, which he declares is a fraud
and little less than robbery of the vic
tins who accept the peculiar theories
of these teachings.
The Spaffordites assert that they
have been by special dispensation- of
Providence selected to people and re-
build Jerusalem for the second coming
of Christ. Presumably to aid in build
ing up the city the managers of the
scheme require all persons who accept
the faith to dispose of their goods and
chattels, placing the money in their
hands.
A colony of ten people was raised in
Smith county few years ago among
the number being David Yantis whose
relatives are now disposing of their
property in order to raise money to
defray the expenses of trip to Jer-
usalem for the purpose of rescuing him
from the hands of these religious fanat-
les. A brother and brother-in-law are
now on their way to Jerusalem to bring
YantiS home
According to Mr.. Alley free love ex-
lists in the colony and the young girls
belonging to families who go there are
subjected to the most vile debauchery.
Yet with such a record and such an
ambition the agents of this belief travel
through the United States and are con-
stantly securing new converts. Mr..
Alley exposes the fraud by saying in
his letter to the president of the United
States:
This community which dignifes it
self and at the same time disgraces all
others of the name, by calling itself
American, lives by preying upon the
innocence of the unSuSpecting. 1t does
this by a show of goodness, and a claim
to possessing special holiness, and IA
vors from above: Their deluded ones
are required to sell all their possessions,
and had every dollar of the proceeds
over to the head ones of the scheme,
and hence on arrival they have no
means of getting away, or even of writ
ing to friends for assistance, and thus
exposing the dark affair.
THE marriage plight between hus-
band and wife is ruthlessly broken, and,
as has been abundantly shown by those
who have left the vile esta blishment by
strategy, or desperation, and as some
have declared, at the risk of their lives,
and by other circumstances and evil
denceS, the community embraces the
principle of free-lOVe.
Some of those lured into the snare
it is impossible to ascertain what pro-
pOrtion-arS soon broken in spirit, dis
couraged and cowed down beneath the
strong hypnotic power of Mrs. SpaffOrd,
the head, and absolute ruler of the
house, while those who are seen to
brave the conditions, and hope for es-
cape, are closely watched, and kept
from communication with any upon the
outside, and all the while intimidated
with terrible stories of the fate of those
who dare to lift up the heel against
them. The strange parsonage, the head,
"a rather small, bIue-eyed, cranped
featured woman of Norwegian birth,
and determined bearing in measured,
rather trembling voice, promulgates her
messages from her beautiful god de-
claring them to set aside any Bible
teaching that stands in disconsonance,
and her faithful devOtees more than
willingly bow down in obedience to the
divine revelation and beheSt.
''She-and that includes her VOtaries
work chiefly upon the Norwegians
and Swedes of America, but some
Americans have embraced the scheme,
and some of them now constitute her
chief supporqt in the dark crime.
VIII not the friends of the ignorant
and weak, towards whom their efforts
are mainly directed, make diligent use
of this statement and witnesses of
standing, by wide circulation and pub
LEGATION in the papers, and save the peO-
pie from their greedy ta1Ons-
IF the department will but take the
pains of official inquiry, that estab-
standing in honor, truth, or common de-
cency among the worthy people of
Jerusalem.
Il would not trouble the department
by particularizing here, but hope that
their representations there may open
the way for an official investigation of
that troublous affair, so annoying to
the consulate, and opposed to all good,
that will not fail to elicit facts which,
spread before the people of America, in
so proper and forcfble way, will
guard them against their dark machina-
lions, and save the homeland the shame
with which they, by their assumed
name, The Americans would stigma
tie it.'
The communication is signed by the
following persons of high standing in
Jerusalem:
A. Hastings Kelk, minister of Christ
Church. and head of the English mis-
sion to the Jews; J. Gregory D'Arbela,
director of Meyer Rothschilds hospital;
z. G. Hinsman, NJ. z. Hinsman, Olivet
House, proprietors; Rev. G.. E. Wood
house and NJ. A. BIyth, Bishops House,
Jerusalem; z. c. F'itzjohn, J. E. Smed-
ley, and r. Datzi, the Jewesses' Insti-
tuition, Jerusalem; Louisa Barlee, L. J.
S. Mission, Jerusalem; Melville T.Barg-
helm, proprietor the New Mill, JeruS-
alem.
900 Passengers for Alaska.
Tacoma, Wn., Jan. 27.-The steamer