The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-01-28
Frank w sanford.

against Flank " Sandturd, The founder
OF -hiloh in Durham, Me for man
slaughter and cruelty to children, and
his arraignment on these indictments
and Admission to bail a brief account of
the man and his work appears to be
timely.
The Rev. Frank W. SANFORD was
graduated at Bates College, and after
wards studied theology While in col.
lege he was good student and dis
tinguished himself In athletics, being
one of the best baseball catchers ever on
Maine college team, and had he de-
sired he could have entered professional
basel easily.
After finishing his studies, he began
to preach, but later, as he says, he was
told by God that be should leave the
ministry and live life of faith in him,
and entire dependence upon the Holy
Ghost. He resigned his pastorate at
Great Falls, N. Il Jan /, 1893 AT
that time he was receiving eaary of
$500 year. and was very successful in
his work as a minister.
He now woi ked for several months in
Texas New York and New jersey, and
then returned to his native town, Bow
doinham, Me, where he began his evan
gelical work In an old schoolhouse. He
gathered about him a small number OF
followers and they drew up preamble
and constitution which each signed.
For while Mr.. Sandford held meet
iugs IN different places about the state
in tents, assisted by the members of the
organization, and some of his workers
were sent to India. During the first
year, according to his own statements,
the band covered 100 square miles OF
territory, holding meetings, and $1,000
was received by them in cash by con
tributions.
As time went on Sanford conceived
the idea of Bible school to be support
ed entirely by contributions, and began
| the work in little house at the top OF
a sand hill In the town of Durham. Az
he became more widely known the con
tributions of money came faster and
the work was extended, and small
building was erected by MIR. Sandford
to meet the growing needs of the school
Next, MIR. Sanford claimed to have a
revelation of an immense establishment,
to be erected upon the site of the old
house, which In point of size and mag
nitnde should startle the world, and
without funds on hand to begin the
work, without any definite plans, appar-
emily, except to obey the directions
which he claimed to receive from the
Lord, within few weeks, or months
at the least, this immense building, 16C
| feet long, built around an inner coull
and rising five stories high, was actually
erected, and the school established
there, as is well known to every body.
Money flowed in to pay the bills, and
people tlocked in hundreds to witness
the sessions of religious meetings held
there, or more frt quently to participate
actively in the work of the Bible school
After this temple was completed a
large stone bnilding was erected, called
the children's buildings; a fine brick
hospital, and another building for the
dynamos and other similar uses. The
entire work has cost nearly 5000 600
and is all paid for, by voluntary gifts Ia
Mr.. Sanford for the furtherance of the
work.
Besides this property at the present
time, Mr.. sanford owns buildings in
Boston valued at $25, 900, property in
London and other foreign lands, an
ocean going yacht, by which the work
is carried along the coast, and smaller
boat.
Mr.. Sandford claims, further than
this, that actual miracles, like unto
those of olden times, have been per.
formed at this temple of the Holy
Ghost and Us, on Shiloh hill. He talkt
freely of THESE things, and constantly
in conversation refers to them, notable
among the cases being that of one wo
man whom he claims was actually rais.
ed from the dead there on Shiloh hill
and of another, who, by prayer, war
given her eyesight, and laid aside for
ever the strong lenses which had alone
enabled her to distinguish objects
In all this work >andford has been al
absolute dictator. His will has beer
law, and the colony on the hill, some
times numbering hundreds of souls, han
remained or gone away as directed. Ii
has always been his boast that he never
solicited any subscriptions for his work
but he has never hesitated to take the
deeds of property and the last cent OF
those who have joined the school,
The indictments found against Sand
ford are. mansaugLter in causing Il {
death of Leander Bartlett, a 4 year ole
boy, a member of his colony from lacl
of proper care and treatment when sicl
in January 1908; cruelty in deprivini
his own son, 6 years old, of food anC
drink for u hours, and in depriving the
children of John Swart of food anC
drink for 40 hours
The charges we're preferred by thu
Androscoggin County Humane Societ,
and the Cumberland Conference of Con
gregational churches.