The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-30
Pathetic Instances
of Human Credultiy.


In the past few days the PEOPLE Of
this country have been furnished with
two striking examples of human cred
lllty. One of these was in our own
state of Florida. noted for level
headed population; the other in New
York, the home par excellence Of the
American faddist. 1t may. however,
be added. and the fact will no doubt
kfford some degree of consolation to
Eloridians, that those who participant
I'd in the exhibition of folly Just al
fuded to were. many OF them IL not
I'll, imported from other states
The Estero community, of Lee coun-
~. whatever may be its virtues and
whatever its faults, is composed OF
people VINO have given evidence of as
n,uch intelligence, as much wit and as
much energy as the ordinary run of
men. The newspaper they publish,
The American Eagle, ranks we'll among
fhe publications of Florida, both in
literary style and mechanical make
np. OF course it's religions and pseu-
dosscientifc teachings are the yeriest
Eot and thereby hangs the tail OF
khe absurd situation.
The leader of this singular colony.
bne iced. came originally. we under
stand from Chicago. But that IS Meth
or here nor there. for we know that
both good and evil things may en-
anafe from very unexpected sources.
AT any rate, this eccentric person.
mho called himself Korssh and his
reputed wife, Victoria Gratia. estab-
iished an absolute sway over the
minds of his followers, induced them
TO credit cosmic theory so absurd
that the ordinary schoolboy conld up
Set it, led them to adopt religious
belief reeking With superstition and
finally to place implicit confidence in
his assertion that he would rise again
= day or two after his death.
He died last week. The Esteroans
waited with breathless. impotence for
ths fulfllment OF his promise, which,
OF course. did not take place. let us
hope. considering the bal-ny climate
of this land OF fruits and flowers, that
Ne has by this time been consigned to
mother earth.
There was-perchance still is-ip
and around Nyack, New York, band
@ saints" whose leader was one Lee
o. Spangler. We say was" because
when his prophecy that the. world
would come to an end hast Sunday fail
ed TO materialize the prophet, wisely,
II may be judged. fed to parts I'M
known: for even the wrath of saints"
may be kindied. as is admitted by st.
Paul.
Yet at the time named fo- the uni
rersaI catastrophe the deyout disciples
of this scamp actually put on resur-
rection robes. as did the Miileiites OF
the last century. climbed to The tops
OF mountains to witness the pyro-
technical display or whatever other
phenorlena were to accomp any the
grand finale of things material, and
incidentally to prove to their u1beIiev-
ing neighbors that although IN the or
binary affairs of life they were plain,
intelligent, hariworking members OF
society, yet that this one bug Matched
fy the Ingenious Spangier had found
iodsment in their brain and made
taem victims of crednlity that bor-
dered on lunacy.
How can such things be,'' the or.
binary man may ask The Lord only
KNOWS the answer. The fact that they
are is quite sufficient to serve as
warning to the general public to be-
ware the teachings of religionists,
philosophers and politicians who
tempt with alluring promises of vain
things or awaken admiration by start
ling theories opposed to the eternal
verities. The lesson taught by the ex-
smpies cited viii prove of far reach
ins benefit il people win halt in their
Hild career long enough to learn it.
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