The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-25
30 BS
UP AGAIN; SAYS
He IS KING
HIS MONARCHY, HE DECLARES, Is
/ ON FREEIAND ISLANDS-ONE is
B SAID TO BE NEARLY SOLID
GOLD.


prince, too. First king OF tho Free
land isles. ruler over thousand souls.
the dign,fied head OF baby govern
ment way down in the South Pacific
seas. Schlatter Is here In all his royal
splendor. With him Is Crown Prince
August, of the kingdom OF Freeland.
otherwise known as Bishop Schrader'
likewise a divine healer, and heir ap-
parent to the throne OF King Schlat-
ter I. and the island empire. Adorned
in their sable robes OF silken velvet
and wearing long flowing hair ana
(beards, these unheralded royal per
sonages have come for recruits to peo-
pie their kingdom. where all Is milk
and honey; where all may live In sub
lime happiness and contentment.
The real name of the king is Fran
els SchIatter, Swiss by birth. who
created such a series OF sensations
throughout this and other countries
decade ago by alleged wonderful cures
accredited to him by the sick and the
lame, the deaf and the blind. the rheu-
matte and tho dyspeptic. He later
proclaimed himself a second Messiah.
for which he was bounded out OF many
cities.
He would disappear for months at a
time and then suddenly turn up In the
most unexpected place. Finally, few
years ago, he dropped out OF sight en-
firely and his whereabouts has mysti-
fed the nation. until now he unexpect-
eddy appears at San Diego.
The king 10 growing old. He has
only few years to live. Neverthe-
less, he asserts that his faith and his
power to heal are deeper and stronger
than ever. He declares emphatica.ly
that his divine mission on earth Is yet
unfulflled.
Never Saw His Kingdom.
Crown Prince August Is much
younger than the king. He has never
seen the island kingdom, although heir
10 the imperial throne. His work for
both church and state has been per
formed In travelling about in this and
ether countries, healing as he went
and acting as a kind of a press agent
for the island colony. dispatching re
cruits In great numbers. His highness
asserts that he has visited nearly
tevery people on the globe and has
healed thousands.
King Schlatter fs q small man, but
ifllled with a real dignity and conscious
ness OF latent power within seldom
encountered. In speaking OF the pur-
port Of bis visit to the United States
King Schlatter said:
I'VE travelled to your city fncognfto
and are attempting to live in seclusion
80 far as is possible, considering the
duties OF our high and holy position
IN the world. We do not wish to To-
rnent any great excitement among
your people. Excitement among men
is at the best an impeachment to overy
phase OF progress of our mission on
earth. An enthusiastic follower Is
greatly to be desired. but a fanatical
.disturber never. The fruits Of our
labor have been blighted many times
by unthinking. unnecessary exhibit
lions Of zeal on the part OF followers
of the divine church"
The crown prince Is large and hand
some, a really magnificent specimen
of manhood. Seven inches more than
six feet In height. dressed In his silk
velvet robe, with features Of distc-
lively classical type, so we'll depicted
in Biblical illustration, he presents a
truly striking appearance and seems
every inch a prince. His bearing Is
graciously dignified, but In such be-
nignant manner does he receive his
visitors that one marvels little Mt the
success he has had with mankind. I'm
questionably a magnetic person Is his
royal highness.
Bishop Schrader is we'll known
Hhrough the west. A few years ago
he appeared In Colorado and other
states and pursued his work OF alleged
healing by faith and divine power and
had thousands Of followers. He was
met everywhere with open arms until
he. like Schlatter, declared himself a
Christ, when all, except those who
,professed to have been benefited by
him, turned against him and drove the
lpretender out He dropped out Of sight
for many years and was reported to
have persisted on the Great American
desert. He says that he was not
doomed to such an untimely ending OF
his career, but has been travelling ex'
,tensively in foreign countries, preach.
ling his beliefs and restoring. he as
serts, to full health and vigor all who
exhibited faith in him and his powers
Healed Arc Transferred.
Tho prince says that the Divine
church believes In the Holy Bible and
all its teachings. It's members are pro
cured from the ranks of those who are
healed. He says that when they arc
healed they require no further induce
mont to go with the leaders Of the
church, anywhere, everywhere, even to
the ends OF the earth. Healing ciinchel
their faith In the church, and they are
usually willing to dedicate their lives
20 its service. II they wish, the healed
are transported to the islands, where
homes are presented them. SO thai
they may live to good old ages In the
midst OF plenty, far away from the
Iheavy, cares and trials Of the present
day strenuous life.
Although their highnesses do mo-
admit II, the Divine church is said e
he an offshoot OF the sect fathered b.
the late John Alexander Dowie, and
many OF the customs of operation have
been copied from him. Dowie IL sale
aldo to have obtained many ideas from
Schlatter when the latter was in tho
Weight OF his glory. But that is neither
here nor there. Schlatter is again or
earth and In his glory, for is he not q
real, bonafide king? He found. after
many futile attempts. that he could
mot proclaim himself heavenly kine
end remain at peace in this country, SC
he betook himself to the Freelant