New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25

himself to this strain or yOutnIul IOi4o"VAS 90 $3.50
Messianic redeeuer
He was confirmed in his belief by preacher at
Constantinople. who soIemnly gave him a parch-
rnent containing these words in ancient characters
which probably he had written himself recognizing
Sabbatafs credulousaess at this period
81. Abraham. was shut up for forty years IN a
and wondered that the time Of miracles dld
not make it's appearance Then a voice replied 10
me. A son shall be born in the year OF the worid
$3.50 dS25 A. d. and be called Sabbath He shall
quel the great dragon: he IS the true Messiah and
shall wage war without weapors.'"
Zev who was born In 1876. seemed to think this
genuine and reference to himself Other incidents
in his early life further increased his belief 1ncIuo-
ing the appearance of a beautiful young Je"ess'
who had declared that she had learned from dreams
that she TO be the bride OF the Messiah anc
whom Sabbatai married.
The story of how Sabbath augmented the i'm
preston that he the Messiah IS a long one On
his return to Jerusalem with his funds he made .
convert. who was promoter. Now propneuc
revelations followed close one another Nathan
BENJAMIN Levi the new convert professed to be the
risen Elijah who to pave the pathway Tor the
Messiah. His paving proved to De a fantastic pro-
gramrne. He gave out that he had received call
on a certain day; that in a year and few months
the Messiah would show himself IN his glory and
would take the Sultan captive without arms By
means of music--which possibly would have solved
many present day problemS-and establish the do
minon OF Israel over all the nations OF the earth
Holy Land and to ride upon lion with seven
headed dragon in his Jaws. The more exaggerated
and absurd these prophetic vaporings were, the
more eredence people seemed to give them veri-
table lit Of intoxication took possession OF nearly
all the Jews Of Jerusalem and the neighboring COM
munities There was some opposition. however, on
the part Of the rabbinical heads and it was con-
veniently declared by Nathan that Jerusalem was
no longer the sacred city. and Sabbatai with MS
following retired TO his native city, Smyrna His
campaign here had been properly promoted" and.
the relief funds having been distributed in such a
way TO secure the best results he created 2
great Juror in short time
He declared himself publicly tn the syuagogus
with the blowing Of horns. and the rauItituds
shouted. Long live our King our Messiah" The
madness Of the Jews Of Smyrna knew no bounds
The deliriurn seized both great and small. Women
girls and children fell into raptures and declared
in the language OF the ''Zohar" that SabbataI was
the redeemer. All prepared for speedy exodus
and a return to the Holy Land. Workrnen neg
lected their work, and the Jews sought 10 merit
share in this time of grace by sUbecting themselves
to all sorts Of chastisernent They tasted for sew
eral days in succession; they watched through
whole nights in order that by Kabalistic forms Of
prayer at midnight they might wipe away the sins
they had committed, and bathed in piercing cold
water, even while the snow covered the ground.
Some took the BACK TO nature cure by burying
themselves up 70 the neck in the soil and remaining
In these damp graves until their limbs were stiff
adherents OF Sabbatai In Smyrna and also else
where married their children of ten and twelve
years. and even younger. 20 one a1other-o couples
in all-in order that. according 20 kabalistc ideas
they might cause the remainder of souls not yet
born TO enter into life and thereby remove the last
obstacle to the commencement OF the time Of grace
Most eminent Jews everywhere in Europe caught
the disease and danced ard hoped in their syna-
sosues with copies OF the Law in their arms. II
was said in London. where the believers in English
Ia off vas
that Sabbata would be anointed king in Jerusalem,
within two years. and had drawn formal bills O.
exchange upon the issue. that in the north OF
Scotland ship had appeared with siIken sails and
ropes. worked by sailors who spoke in the Hebrew
tongue. The ensign bore the legend The Twelve
Tribes or Families OF Israel"
Sabbatais career terminated IN n fasco Y
divided the world into twenty-six kingdoms au-
pointed rulers over them. and then set out fer Con
stantinOple to heard the Sultan in his den When Ia
landed at place some distance from Constan+i
nope. he found soldiers OF the Sultan awaiting his
landing. They not there TO receive him in
his official capacity however. but To arrest him
When he reached COnstantinople. the crowd of adj
derents was so great that troops required TO
assist in the landing. The under-pacha boxed one
cheek and he turned the other. gracefully trans
forming himself from triumphant Messiah 20 a
suffering one. When taken into the Turkish court
he declared that he was nothing more than a lew
ish Chacham come from Jerusalem 10 the capital
for
the devoted actions OF the Jews. He thereupou
sent TO the prison where Jewish debtors were con-
fined His followers still believed In him and fol-
lowed him TO the different prisons 20 which he was
taken, but where he had a certain amount OF
freedom. At last the Sultan. learning OF his fam
tastic and reasonable schemes. decided to stop
them IN way To kill the handsome but veal,
Sabbatai would be TO make a martyr OF him and
raise up another troublesome sect. so he decioed
to use the customary methods OF making converts
to Mahometanism and bring him within the fold OF
the faithful" He told that IL he did not ac-
cept the MoSlem faith he would be bound and
scourged through the streets with burning torches
He decided accept the Sultans suggestion, and
September H. 1866. he taken before the i'm
peFial Commander OF the Faithful" where he
Immediately cast of his Jewish headsear. a sign
OF contempt. a page offered him n white turban
and a green mantle instead Of the black one he had
worn. and his conversion to MahOmetanism was
supposed be complete. While his dress was being
changed 1t Is said that several pounds Of biscuits
were found In his loose Turkish trousers-which
suggests that he sometimes careless while eat
Ing. The Sultan pleased 20 bestow upon him
the name OF Mehmed Enendi ard he appointed
a doorkeeper In the Sultan's household.
stn the Jews were Ioath 20 give up faith in him.
and his closer followers continued TO foster his
claims. Although for a long time he stil held
to be the coming Messiah when he died In 1870
he had been forsaken by those who knew him best
II seems almost incredible that persons willing 10
believe In forged revelations could be found In
the nineteenth century within hundred miles OF
New York. 1t Is true. however. and even the ex-
position OF the forgery could not drive the ad-
herents from the false prophet Many recall how
N IN. Joseph Smith. native Of ysSmont and thsn