Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-23
Sanford Says He Re-
ceives Il from Prayers.
Using Funds to Prepare ves-
sells for Trip to Holy Land
''EIijah" Owns Nearly Half the Land In Dur
ham But Gets Lille Out Of Il.

Lisbon Falls. Me-. July 22.-'Elijah
Frank Sandford' says he is receiving
$1,000 day in answer to his prayers.
1t was about two weeks ago that Sand
ford ordered period of 40 days of
continuous prayer. A certain number
of the disciples are detailed to go into
the heart of the big building and they
pray for a certain number of hours,
and then they are relieved.
AT present there are about 225 of
SandfOrds followers on the sand hill.
and they are not doing much of any
thing except to pray. Sandford or
dered this season of prayer because
he says he is greatly in need of $4O,-
900 with which to purchase new yachts
and to prepare for his contemplated
trip to the Holy Land. Sandford's fol-
lowers really believe he is receiving
each day $1,000 and that will continue
without any interruption until the 40
days of prayer are completed While
the people at Shiloh put implicit faith
in what the second Elijah" tells them,
the people here are sceptical. 1t is true
he receives some donations of money
and valuables and these are continue
Gus from all parts Of the country.
If all reports are true, there is at
times need of food at Shiloh and If
Sanford has much money il would be
well for him to eXpend some of it III
provisions. Sanford now owns nearly
half of the land of Durham, and it is
given out to the public that he is hav-
ing farming conducted on large scale
and after modern methods, but those
who are conversant with the real con-
dition of things do not believe that on
the farms owned by Sanford enough
is raised to support the colony. Every
thing that is done is in slip shod fash
ion, which really accOmplishcs nothing.
Crops are planted, but when they grow
are never hoed and SO the yield is
small and results prove not worth the
expenditure.
This week a pitiful letter written by
a heartbroken mother in Tacoma,
Wash, was received here. She writes
that her daugh ter was ensnared in the
Shiloh trap and that all her efforts to
reach her daughter to get word to or
from her are unavailing. The mother
wishes the authorities to ascertain if
the Shiloh gang as she calls them. have
taken her girl away to Jerusalem. If
they have not already done so, she
fears she will be taken across the seas
and that she will never hear or meet
her again. The mother writes that she
has sent entreaty after en-
treaty to her daughter at
Shiloh begging her to return to her
home but not a single word can she
get in reply. She now really thinks
her daughter has never received the
letters.
Il have earned her fare, so as to have
1t ready at Il moments notice, if she
leaves, although l have no hope of her
doing So writes this mother. There is
10 doubt that this girl is so under the
influence OF the Sandford religion that
she will not write to her mother, even if
the letters are given to her. The girl
is said to have average intelligence and
a fair education. and when she came to
Shiloh believed her life was to be one
Of ease, although one of restraint. 1t is
SandfOrd'S plan to inculCatc into the
minds of his disciples that they must
give up all they have. to donate their
property to the Kingdom and then
surrender their personal property, "and
even forsake their parents. their wives
and their children" In some way Sand
ford gains great power over all who go
to his colony, and it is rarely that one
breaks away. All seem to fear to talk
with strangers, and they will one and
all declare that they are happy, even
when or the verge of starvation.
Many letters like this written by the
Tacoma mother are received here and
some of them are even more pitiful than
this one 1t is believed that many of
those VINO are at Shiloh would leave if
they had the chance TO do so, hut they
think that if they forsakc Sanford
something terrible will befall them. 1t is
reported that Sanford intends soon
as possible to go to the Holy Land and
that his stay there Will be a prolonged
one. One reason assigned for Sandford's
anxiety to leave the country is that he
desires to get from the sight of the dis
torted countenances of his disciples and
to fee from the sound of the rawlings Of
those who under his teachings nave be-
come either insane or well nigh so from
mental and nervous prostration.
a man who has closely followed the
Sandford movement said to a correspon-
dent: Il do not believe Sanford is now
receiving any great amount of money.
although I must admit that he seems to
be able to purchase about anything he
desires. 1t must be remembered that 1t
does rot cost him much TO support his
followers, that whatever property they
have they are obliged 10 give him. 1 am
also told that his wife's folks. who are
known to have considerable property.
have helped Sanford out financially
when he was in tight place. He does
not receive anything from his farming
operations, for, as near as can find out.
the entire colony do not raise enough
to keep a small flock of sheep. Nothing
is done ut Shiloh in order or in season.
Instead of cutting their firewood in the
summer. so it may dry for winter use,
they wait until it is time for the snow to
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