Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-12-03
KORESH COLONY
OLD RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT
Or. Ieed Promises to Rival Dowie as
the Founder of a Sect and Eco
non1c Movement

homic Movement
A religious and economic settlement
that promises 10 rival Dowie's in size
and Importance has sprung up in Flor
| ida The founder is DIR. Cyrus T. Teed.
who does not claim to be second
prophet but who does claim to possess
more brains and knowledge than the
majority OF even our socalled learned
men. The basis of the sect seems to
be purely material His religious cog
uomen is koresh. which is said to be
the Hebrew word for Cyrus. He claims
to nave discovered the secret of mans
redemption, not through miracles. but
through scientific process. What these
processes are has not been disclosed to
vulgar and profane world that might
seon. His scientific system, If ii may
be called such, is known as the kore-
shan tniyersology, and it denies
pretty much everything our scientists
think they have demonstrated. For in
I stance, it is claimed that we are dwell
+ ing In the center of the earth rather
/ than upon the exterior OF sphere. All
our astronomy and other sciences are
said to be wholly WRONG.
| No religious vagary is too wild to
attract adherents. and, OF course. Dir.
Teed has his disciples VINO are giving
up Their wealth to help found their set
tlement in Florida. They are said to
have hundreds of square miles of land
on the sea coast. and they have started
a small community called Estero City,
which they hope to make the largest
city In the world. The way they have
laid II out and the fiattering terms in
which they advertise their venture
make 1t all sound like a real estate
Z speculation, but IT Is claimed that the
cicy viii be run on the commupistic
plan. The city as Incorporated in
cludes larger area than that OF
Greater New York
In their eommunistic life the Kore-
shans sustain some resemblance to the
primitive Christians, who held their
possessions in common. Their secular
organization is called the koreshan
Unity, which is Incorporated according
to the laws OF the state of New Jer-
sey. The properties held by the Ko-
reshan Unity are owned in common by
the members. In Lee county, Florida.
alone. they own about eleven square
miles Of land.
The founder OF Koreshanity mani.
tests many of the elements of simple
life: but his simplicity is interviewer
with a complexity of character and
the elements of possible achievement
and high attalnments.
He is a man OF great determination.
which is easily observable In the pro
trudng chin and the clear. steady look
of the eye. He has promulgated his
system for many years and labored pa
tiently In the building up OF his insti.
tuition
The government OF the Koreshan
! Unity as a body distinct from It's po
litical and secular relations. is vested
in ar imperial head. called the pre-em
inent who constitutes the executive
power Of the system. The governing
body Is called the pre-eminent concil
ium. The pre-eminent presides at th'
meetlngs CT this body. The title Of tn
: pre-eminent is Victoria Gratia kor
1 esh." signifying Victoria by the grac'
! OF Koresh.
, The woman who is thus honore,
, with the title and executive offic'
, Of the Koreshan Unity was originall,
Mrs. Anna q. Ordway. recently Of Chi
csgo. Mrs. Ordway is about 60 year.
OF age. Victoria Gratia Is a forcefu
. character OF great executive ability. |
splendid disciplinarian and is greatl,
beloved by her people. She is well cal
yllated to enforce the government o
I scientific and religious body havin,
, for its aims the highest good not onl,
OF its own society. but the improve
: ment OF the conditions Of the entir'
world.-Detroit News Tribune.