New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-31
Il PROPHET OF NEWPORT.
tie Preached the Second COMING of
George WdshingfOn.

newport, r J., Oct. % CspeciaD.-Whh Neyy-Yorls
enjoying the vituperation OF her latest prophet
,ie to"nspeople Of the City by the Sea are recall
ing thelr own apostle. the Prophet OF George
washington who spent the greater mart NJ his
NE trying 10 convince an unbellcving world that
the Father OF his Country was the real Messiah at
whose second coming the evil Of the world should
oe made pure and whole
Frederick w Spracue WAS Tho rro,ba... mama
W he explained. standing for Washington He
was born on Block Island when that isolated COM
HuhltE was one OF the most primitive in New
'and. caught up in the frenzy OF the 'Millerite
- "~e' ne with his countless companions all over
Sne country, awaited in clean white garments
second Advent, which did not arrive The shock
u disappointment was too much for his reason
fa, Wnen be came to himself his Second Advent
vbi S pauIotlc spirit to form the peculiar belief
"I IN ne spent his life trying mpart.
IA support OF his peculiar doctrine he cited his
Tory %s he knew it, and the Bible as he construed
-, ~ me latter his favortte part the Book OF
ITSSeNeiatlon from which he would quote at length
on tho Vbi fpeSl4i comfort IN the mysterious figure
not Death but the immortal George His writings,
LOT ne was prolific author of broadsides abounded
II references 20 the last book Of the New Testa-
~. hHS anu 10 the prophets OF the old. and copy Of
s oe @sed 10 send home a telling point or confUte
New-Englander bonn and bred. the prophet
SouII not bear 10 live on open charity and sold
subsistence in an imperfect world. At the head of
each leahet ne had printed such phrases i have
often among his customers the Is cents "a" was
4NA ne uNeu IN j DOXcd-i0 wagon uttCd
St'l peu ana stove ana gOrgeOusly adorned, which
ne named the Blazing Star. Those who passed
by the vacant lot where The chariot was left be
tween Its annual professionals on February %
USED 70 say that every time the Blazing Star
painted II was to rain.
on George Washingtons birthday Sprague. the
+. or q. w (Prophet of George Washington, as
ne termed himself. would appear in cooked hat
ms white hair tied up in queue his beard long
toT. like other prophets" razor and soap alb
horrent 10 him), driving before his chariot u white
horse, faithful reminder OF the great patriots
steed. divine chart" a picture OF his hero.
formed part o. hts equipment this great day
when he would expound his teachings to all who
would listen.
On one day. memorable to the prophet" he went
TO the old Colonial State House where the egis-
lature OF the State was holding its annual pleasure
Trip at what then the summer capital OF
Rhode Island The Speaker OF the House called q
few scattered members together and they listened
TO the old gray haired enthusiast. Then ambition
fred him to Join the legislature himself and he ran
as an Independent candidate on nomination papers
When the men who had signed his petition saw
their names published in the papers not even they
voted for the old
Cnofficially, however he mixed in the politics OF
the day Somehow In his added brain there
Cisms OF the public of his town were often
those truths that save a fool would dare to
tell and none without wit could know. To such
Caustc comment, said some, he owed his perma-
nent departure from the life OF his chosen town.
At any rate after he had gravely paraded up and
down the sidewalk IN front OF the Mayors private
Office bearing q placard around his neck on which
were words seriously rejecting the dignity Of
that high official he was judged dangerously insane
and sent 70 asylum. The true cause may, how
ever, have been a pair OF pistols which he had
begun TO wear. hung about his neck by 4 cord that
he might be guilty % carrying concealed Weap-
he died in few years, leaving no disciple 10 carry
his teaching.