The Washington herald., 1907-03-17
American Religious Cults
that Are MOney-makers.
CAREERS OF TWO ELuAHs
Frn.s;.s-sc Theories Tkat Have
Gained Following in This COun-
try, in spite of Oar Supposed
shreWdness, Flying Rollers, Holy
Jumpers, and Golden Rulers.

don Mail
The rise and downfall Of John Dowie Is
a case IN point With no wealth OF his
own, he accumulated from gifts at least
e5,00O,OOO. The self-styled Elijah" was a
hind Of grotesque high priest, who dissi-
pated the vast fortune poured out by his
too credulous flock. His last appearance
before two hundred of his congregation
vas the tragedy's closing scene Surely
remarkable personality, that played a
marvellous role in life entirely unique
Fifteen years ago he founded Zion City,
an industrial town Of over 1900 people.
Its factories and stores were humming
hives of industry, but now his wealth is
gone and the community's debt stands at
s1,9O,OOG
The downfall of Dowie and Dowieism
dates from Elijah ITS" pilgrimage to
New York three years ago TO convert
what he was pleased to call the worlds
wickedest city. Alas! the pilgrimage only
resulted in Tldicule and the loss Of e1O0,-
600. But It was only a few weeks before
last Christmas that the end came. On
that day il was announced that Zion
City would be abandoned. On that day.
too. Dowie made his last appeal to the
faithful few remaining. But even to them
he was a poor imbecile. raving incohe-
rently in warlike figures OF speech that
marked the ringing down of the curtain
on a tragi-comedy that was over.
Elijah" Sanndford's Career.
And then there is that other Elijah,
Sandford, who built his huge temple at
a cost of e2o,000 on the sandhllls near
Durham. in the State Of Maine. Sand
ford came near rivaling DOwie as a
prophet, and began TO build the founda-
tions Of the temple with his own hands
in 1895 As showing the credulity OF the
Americans. it may be mentioned that AT
this tine the mans sole possessions were
a wheel5arrow and shovel. As he la
bored he was jeered at by the farmers;
yet one after another Of them fell under
his influence and adopted his strange
tenets
Indeed. many of them sold their rich
farms and gave all they had in the world
10 the new Elijah He sent missionaries
into foreign lands. and immigrants for
the new faith colony began 20 arrive at
Ellis Island. the famous immigration sta
tion in New York HarbOr The new
prophet imposed fasts of Incredible dura- {
tion; he himself claimed TO raise the dead
10 life; and his faith cures" were her /
aided far and wide
Physicians and the orthodox churches |
Of the State tried TO combat the new |
craze but I'm vain Like many another |
Sandford throve on Pcrsecuuon said he /
was the represe entativo OF God. and ruled 4
even his richest and most powerful a6- 4
herents with an iron rod. But the end 4
soon came The vast pile of wood brick 1
and stone on Bsulah Hin began to lock 4
deserted, rats infested the prayer-rooms /
in the minarets None remained but a /
few half-starved dupes in the stronghold, /
where the imDUdent charIatan claimed to /
have talked with the Almighty
Accumulated Wealth.
The governor OF Maine ordered an inves- I
tigation Of life behind the bars of the /
New Zion and Sandford's assistant,
Moses Holland was hailed forth. with n /
number of half-insane creatures. who /
were handed back to their own people /
more dead than alive Sandford's wealth 4
is still believed TO be great for Ee de- /
posted large sums. given by believers. in /
various banks throughout the United /
States. His assistant, Moses" and other /
Geutenants would pray with uplifted 4
arms day and night for weeks at a time /
Without q moments break the petitions |
aseended; food was brought to the pray /
ing men and women when they were /
about TO faint from exhaUstion-and /
money flowed in a steady stream TO the /
temple builded on the sand"
Fantastic as these things are, they are
excelled by what is TO come Stanford |
bought "a heet'-an old barkentine and
two yachts With Elijah Sanford and
Moses Holland as admirals they put
TO sea with seventy of the flock The
Holy Fleets destination was kept Sc
cret. but Il leaked out later that the pill
grims were at Beirut. In Syria. Their
leader had acquired land near JOppa, and
there some, at least Of the Holy Ghost
ers' may remain At present. however.
the State authorities in Maine are trying
10 wind up the affairs Of this disastrous
sect
Away out in Seattle, in the far North
western State Of Washington, the Holy
Rollers are IN full swing, and already
they have caused blood 10 flow George
Mitchell. despairlng young man. who
claimed that the lives of his two sisters
had been ruined by Frank f. Canfield
the so-called Joshua" Of the sect. shot
the leader dead.
Holy Rollers Brief Career.
And the affair had a terrible sequel. One
Of the Misses Mitchell followed her
brother TO court IN Seattle. and in the
midst OF the hearing produced revolver
and shot him dead. As result the Holy
Rollers on the Pacific Coast had to fly ;
for their lives. for the murder OF young
Mitchell aroused Sild frenzy against
them.
This sect was organized six years ago
by the shores Of Canandaigua Lake in
Western New York. Belief in hell is their ,
chief tenet. and conversion Is by fear !
The penitent lies on the floor at the end I
Of a great hall and rolls over and over :
ike a hypnotized Hindu at a big "meia''
until the authorities are satisfied the devil .
is rolled Out Of him. This fantastic cere- ,
mony has lasted as long as five hours,
and as the unhappy penitent rolls the sins
of a lifetime are elected from him by ,
confession. h
There are also the Flying Rollers. with I
headquarters at Benton Harbor. Mich /
These claim converts even from Australia. q
where they have had missionaries at +
work. At their publication meetings a h
great fire is built. and the converts $
throw their treasures into the flames to 2
show they forsake all things for the
faith
Comedy I'm This Sect. ;
All this Is tragic enough, but there is
comedy in the "sanetihed Church of t
Adam and Eve" It's founder was ar
rested while preaching on the main street o
OF RathdEum, Idaho. and was hailed off a
10 the police station arrayed in a horse
blanket This man. Rev John :
Mattley, the police thought. should have
at least some covering. The truth is, he :