The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-06
STEVENS PROPHECY.
RY O T BEAUMONT


Washington win be DESTROYED in 1907 OF 1908
Nos York Cify VIII sink into che sea. &c.
These dire predictions for the year have
been pronounced by Edmund Scribner
stevens a local asuoIOger.
Some predictions scarcely deserving the
least attention gain for themselves con
siderable notoriety by being sent forth 20
the world through the medium OF the
public press These revelations predicting
great calamities are engines Of terror TO
the weal-minded, the supersutious. and
the credul0us. There are some people
now living who are familiar with MiHer's
prophecies, who predicted the end Of the
world in IS42 II viii also be remembered
that, as soon as those predictions were
made. or Immediately after. there was a
great influx into the insane institutions
of the country. Men Of supposedly sound
mind made use Of his calculations in pub
lie addresses, and succeeded in terrifying
the ignorant and superstiuous TO such an
extent as 70 produce insanity in many
instances.
Ny design in alluding to the predictions
Of the latest prophet is simply To class
them with the many others that have gone
before, and show, briefly, what fanciful
ideas have been advanced in olden times
by. seers and prophets.
In the year 1912 it was prophesied by
an ingenious seer, who claimed TO possess
second sight, that the Mediterranean Sea
would be dried up, and that believers
could go TO Jerusalem on foot Italy be-
came crowded with German pilgrims. but
the sea obstinately refused To depart
In 1924 great terror pervaded all Europe
from the prediction of John Stofflerus. a
learned mathematician and astrologer. Of
Luabia that a great deluge was ap-
preaching. Many Of reputation as wise
men conceded with him, and warnings
were sent forth to the people to prepare,
and suggesting means Of escape from the
inundation. In France the terror was
so great that many had 10 be confined in
madhouses. while others built high monu-
ments for safety. President Auriol. Of
Toulouse, built up four high pillars,
with a boat resting on top, which was
not needed, however, as the deluge came
not
This prophet, however, nothing dauntCd
though the stars were against him, con-
tinued his prophecies and predicted the
end of the world in 1856, which was also
a failure
A Lutheran divine. by the name of
Stefelius, in an arithmetical sermon, pre-
dictad the end of the world in 1913. He
was preaching on the very day appointed,
and his hearers. in great terror. confiding
in his correctness. when a fierce storm
arose, with terrific thunder and light
ming. which. with other fears. created
inexpressible trouble But soon the storm
ceased the winds were hushed, and the
sky became clear. The people, made furi-
Gus by the deceit practiced on them
dragged the prophet from his pulpit and
beat him so severely as nearly to have
realized his prophecy, so far as he was
concerned.
Lord Napier. the inventor of Iogarithms.
was among those who prophesied Of the
end OF the world at a certain time but
he, like many other enthusiasts, outIived
his predictions.
In the year 1851 TWO men appeared 3
Cologne who said they were fror- "a
mascus. The Jesuits of that went
TO them and talked TO them IN Latin.
Greek Hebrew and Chaldaic; they an
swered in all languages. They said they
had come, by order of heaven, to turn
men from their wickedness. They gave
out that they were seven hundred years
old. Among their prophecies. they pre-
dicted that Cons;antinople would be de-
stroyed in 1866, the true God acknowl-
edged by all nations in 1867, England to
be overlooked and destroyed in 17es an