The times., 1901-06-21
RELIGIOUS MANIA BLAMED
Fosters Death the Result of
Negro Secret Society.
The Records of the Church of the
Living God Led to the Shreveport
LynchinEs - Smith, the prophet"
Also "Ring', to His Followers.

Living God Led to the Shreveport
LynchingS Smith, the "Prophet,"
Also King to His Followers.
NEW ORLEANS. June 2O-The ex-
PLANTATION offered for the lynching Of
prophet" Smith and F. D. McLand, the
negroes who were lynched by the mob in
Bossier Parish, La, is that they were the
leaders of a negro Malta, fanatical, semi
religious society, which had in view the
murder of whites and that Foster, who
was killed by Prince Edwards was for
mally and officially selected by the So
ciety TO be murdered.
The name of the organization is the
Church Of the Living God, and it was
organized at Houston, Tex, with
prophet" Frank Smith at its head, un-
der the title of worthy shepherd Nc
Land was worthy treasurer and Edwards,
who killed Foster and for whom the mob
is still searching, with the intention OF
lyaching was worthy secretary
Nearly a year ago the negroes compris-
ing the Church OF the Living God, TO the
number of 100. moved from Texas to the
Foster plantation, in Bossier Parish, La.
The worthy shepherd did not go to the
Foster plantation at once, but remained
in Shreveport where he was very sue
cessfuI in securing converts, and the
Church of the Living God increased
greatly in numbers, both in Louisiana and
Texas He was finally ordered to leave
Shreveport 10y the chief of police of that
city on the ground that his sermons were
infammatory and tended 10 cause trouble
between negroes and whites and unsettle
the negroes, as the prophet pretended
TO see into the future and predicted that
Shreveport would be destroyed by fire
and water.
From Shreveport, the prophet" moved
TO the Foster plantation, where, being
surrounded by his congregation, he was
all powerfl !, and the trouble which cul
minated in his lynchine was precipitated.
An Investigation Of the prophets house
disclosed an ark of the covenant"
rtidely constructed box covered with cab
alastic signs, and held in great reverence
by the negroes, who believed that any
one who troubled il would be Immediate
ly destroyed.
The Shreveport police are in possession
of the records OF the Church of the Liy-
ing God, and there is no reason to doubt
that the negroes were religiously crazy,
and, as the whites believe, or claim, dan
eerous The following minute was large
Iy responsible for the lynchiug, the last
para graph was supposed to threaten the
life Of Foster the man murdered by
Prince Edwards. It was only after a
thorough investigation OF the record and
an examination OF the minutes and re-
ports of the Church of the Living Gcd
that the mob concluded that Smith and
McLand were equally guilty with Ed
wards and decided to lynch them The /
record reads:
Fosters Place, Bossier Parish,
1.-The ROYAL Archive OF the Kingdom of |
God met in supreme council. Sang Dark {
Mas the Night Opened by reading the 4
thirty-second chapter of Isaiah. After +. /
X Smith, the king, announced the meet T.
ing, stating that he was advised of God !
TO call the princes together in council to 1
decide what should be done with the chief /
of police and his force for interfering with /
the king of the Church of God in ShreYe- /
port Prince Webb being the first to /
arise and said he was in favor of de- {
manding six months afiiiction upon the /
chief Prince Hicks said he was in favor /
Of the same. Also Prince McLand- Also
Prince Johnson Also Prince Edwards.
All concurred demanding six months af-
Fiction on Chief Lake, of Shreveport. 1
After which Brother Johnson Miles was f,
appointed captain of the council and AL 1
bert Meaders appointed clerk of the coun- /
Gil Next case was the rockers OF the /
building The case was decided all that 4
rock the building must be punished with !
death within four days. \ complaint was /,
taken against J. NJ. Foster that he should {
be tormented until he give consent that I
All SdlIllS lte~hE the pace. " dEIaLIS were 3
issued for the arrest of all parties com 4
planned against
ALBERT AIEADERs. Clerk"
The religion preached by Prophet Smith 1
was a wild, fantastical one, based on the /
Book Of Revelations, as the following, the /
last warning, viii show:
Feeling myself moved by the Holy
Ghost TO write unto you this epjstle, to /
scquaint you with mystery that mas /
been kept secret since the days of Moses /
and was only made known to the Apostle /
Peter. For the prophet to be like Moses !
he must be meek and quiet man. born 4
a slave then set free, q leader of poor 4
and oppressed and rejected race Of ex- |
slaves. / have many other things TO /
say unto you, but ] am afraid the world /
cannot hear them now. The seven seals /
are being opened And the seven Yials 1
OF wrath are being poured out and the 1
seven trumpets are sounding. Sir, will /
YOU hear the first seal was opened in 1
the fourth Will open in 1901, the fifth in 4
1902 the sixth in 1903. the seventh in 1891 1
or 1906 Watch this prophecy, this year |
is a pale horse year. People are going /
70 be killed so fast with plaques, storms. |
foods. fsmiEes. and wars.
Albert Meaders, the secretary OF the I
meeting and Nathan Lewis and Moses 4
LittIeton. two princes" are now in the {
Caddo Parish jail, held for developments /
1t is not likely that anything viii be !
done with them, but the Church of the |
Living God is most likely to be closed |
permanently. as the whites believe that /
the race and religious excitement il rails
ed is dangerous to the community.
II is thought, however, that the lynch /
ing Of the prophet and Prince McLand |
and the disappearance of Prince Edwards
xa-f1I fffenerSQ the flock.