The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-17

vicar" to which exception could be tax
en-. He seemed well b-ed: he wes nei+I,ar
hlgh-mettled nor condeseending. Thu
committee was most eonsfderate. It Was
sunday morning. AS Schweinfurth leo
the way to the home of angels one saw
coming In from various directions teams
IN punches and procession. They were
not the wagons of ordinary farmers. They
were buggies, family carriages. light We
hicles drawn by horses which had COM
peted for premiums at the Winnebago
county fair. The occupants of these eout-
pages were the followers of Schwein-
Iurth They We're taxpayers and promi-
nent in their respective localities. More
than one hundred were present
The service began in the cottage at
noon. The interior arrangement was such
that the first floor was converted INFO
one room The members and others oclu-
pied chairs. The choir was composed of
the angels of the home, one of which was
at the keys of a cottage organ. The
service was simple throughout; there was
no suggestion or form of ceremony.
Schweinfurth had changed his smoking
jacket for a plain frock coat that was
not even clerical in cut. He spoke from
an uncovered table. The sermon was de-
livered without reference to notes or
had few gestures. but every indicat on of
earnestness. Not once during the dis
course did he deYate from the Orthoiox
path.
SET A BOUNTIFUL TABLE.
After the service Schweinfurth showed
the committee over the cottage. Then one
of his men piloted them to the great
barn, in which were blooded horses, We
hicles, modern appliances of husbandry,
and grain, all the property of the vicar"
most of it presented by his followers. It
was understood then that the 500 acres
had been decided to Schweinfurth by
family who had become infatuated with
his preaching. Since Schweinfurth's re-
nouncement, however he has denied this.
Before leaving the committee sat down
to dinner in the home. The table was
that of any man of means who liked good
things. 1t was bountifuI and we'll served.
The vicar explained that every arti-
Gle on the table was a home product.
The committee made no report adverse
to the home. No grand jury ever found
an indictment. When strangers came TO
Rockford and said the town ought to
be ashamed of Itself for permitting
Schweinfurth to live in the county, Rock
ford merchants turned to his accounts
and showed them. He was big buyer
and paid cash He bought the b st
of everything. The churches sometimes
reviled him, but their assaults were spas
modic. A Chicago newspaper sent an
angel to the home and paid her literally
to put to q test the Wears claim and
obtain the secrets of the angelry She Re-
manned several months. She succeeded
in satisfying the vicar" of her sincerity
in the belief of his teaching. But that
was all. The newspaper printed two
pages of the story, and before doing so
submitted It to the supervision Of law
yers, but there was not line In it on
which to hang an Indictment. And yet
over every portal in the cottage hung the
Scriptural motto, "They shall neither mar
ry nor be given In marriage. but be as the
angels of God fl heaven"
VICAR" TAKES A WIFE.
Three years ago Schweinfurth broke
away from these notices and married in
Minnesota. The headquarters of the
Church Triumphant are closed. But the
model farm and all its accessories remain.
Some of the whilom angels have tluttered
into matrimony. A few Of the wrinkled
ones remain as employees.
When asked how he explained his infu-
ence over his followers, the other day.
Schweinfurth said he could not explain it.
But he insisted that 1t was not hypnotic
He expressed his firm belief In Mrs. Eddy
and hoped to obtain her favor and nave
sta n6ing In her sect. Rockford Is inter-
ested in the result. The effect OF Schweln-
furth's remuneration on trade Is awaited
with anxiety. Angel business always paid
in Rockford.