Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-10
Wednesday, April 10, 1907.
A Maine Crusade to the Holy Land.

Holy Land which was undertaken by a
little party Of Maine religious en-
thusiasts 40 years ago. The incident
which made great sensation at the
time has been pretty well forgotten
here in Maine although there are still
living in the State several men who
participated in the enterprise. The
leader was George Jones Adams, man
possessing some of the characteristics
of Sanford and the late Elijah"
Dowie. at least in his ability TO secure
cash and win deluded followers.
Adams appeared in York county in
1862 ana for several years made his
home in the town Of Lebanon where ne
preached in the SchOOlhOuSeS and pub
lished n small religious Journal which
he called the "Sword of Truth and the
IIarbinecr Of Peace" Before coming
10 Maine, he had had varied career
with the Mormons in Illinois ana was
candidate for their leadership after
Joseph Smith was shot in 1874, being
defeated. however, by Brigham Young
After leaving The Mornons ne was in
Massachusetts for a number Of years
but moi finding thai state q fertile field
for his style of sO-callcd religions work
he came 10 Maine.
He Travelled from town To town. call
ing upon the people to establish Il col
Ony in Palestine, there 10 await the
speedy coming of the Messiah. All
through Maine he preached and gath
cred followers, o number also coming
10 his standard from New HAMPSHIRE
He did not spend his money in erecting
great buildings. as Sanford has done al
Shiloh but proceeded. as soon as he
was able, TO charter the Nellie Chaplin
n bark cf GOO tons, and sailed August
IL, 1866 with l5s followers. The point
Of departure was Joncsport in Wash
ingtnn county and from that part of
the State n great number of his follow
er% wer" drawn. TIL" ship was loaded
with Maine lumber sufficient to erect a
church. a Schoulhouse ana some 20
dwellings, for the colorists. The voy-
age to The coast Of Palestine occupied
~ days and then the Nellie Chaplin an
chnred Off Jaffa-the Joppa of Biblical
timcs-whcre the colonists landed and
ashore. Mr.. Chamberlain goes into
interesting details regarding the hard
ships Of the colonists and the crushing
blow which fen upon them when they
realized that their leader was not only
a swindler and impostcr but also a
drunkard
IT is needless TO say that the colony
proved a prompt and complete fiasco.
Within a few weeks a number died OF
Syrian fever and within a year or two
all those had departed back to the New
World who had funds to get them
there. No fewer than 40 were sent
home nj the personal expense of
wealthy New Yorker Moses :. Beech,
who happened to be travelling in the
Holy Land in 1865 and heard Of their
prcdicamcnt. Those who did not
promptly return home soon quarreled
added difficulty of the unfriendly at
titude of the Turkish authorities. Our
government sent Il special commission
er to look into the affairs of the colony.
IT was about two years before the col
ony was wholly broken up and practi-
c3lly all the survivors had returned to
the homes they had 50 foolishly left
There are still standing today, 40
years aftcrward. north Of the city Of
Jerusalem and a half mile from tn"
seasilnrr. IL score Of buildings including
structtd from the Maine lumber carried
from Jonesport in the Nellie Chapin in
1866 These buildings are now occu-
pied by Germans who have tried hard
to have the colony called a German
colony but il is still called the Ameri-
can colony" both by the local govern
berlain mentions several members of
this expedition who are still surviving.
One of theIn is T.. *. Emerson of In
dian River. Maine, Il member of the
rescue committee which brought the
last portion of the ColoniSts home.
Others are Rev. Robert F. Emerson of
Rochester,. y. H.. and Chas. w. Tib-
belts and Chas. NJ. Corson Of Dover, y.
ii. Two Of those who remained in
Palestine have won success there, Rolla
Floyd well known tourist guide OF
Jerusalem. and Hon. Herbert +. Clark.
u. S. consul to the same city.
Mr.. Chamberlain's article is re-
minder that Sanford has taken n ship
Iood or two of people from Maine IN
Palestine. Perhaps the story of their
experiences will in like manner furnish
material for an interesting aga2ine
article generation hence. Certainly