The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

Laporte. Pa. March 1.-Four hundred
acres OF land decided 70 Almighty Cod
forty-four years ago By Peter E. Arm
strong. founder OF "Celestia, q sort OF
Zion City. in the Sullivan County hills,
near this place. have been sold for taxes
because the grantee has failed 10 pay.
Through the viii OF Armstrong, this
strip Of sacred ground has become dif-
serentiated from al the other real estate
in the country. The man was the father
Of an odd religious rafth that prompted
him 70 assemble a band OF followers on
the hill tops and form what was then
uamed tCelestia." and what has become
L. be known as the city OF God"
Strangely enough. when he Willed TO
God the 100 acres surrounding this hill
top villa. be provided no way Tor the
payment Of taxes The total sum due
grew ssartlingly large. and the authorities
began 70 wonder how the amount might
be realized out of the so-called holy
land.
when Recorder OK Deeds Albert ?.
Heess. Of LaDOTte. took Office. he figured
out that the money on this piece Of land
must be collected. The county needed
the money. A prompt appeal was MADE
10 relatives Of Prophet Armstrong to
reimburse the county. but This was futile
They were not exactly In sympathy with
the disposal OF the acres OF their father
and so they said. 7 guess you'll have
70 go 10 the owner for your tax money.
Land l. Sold.
The answer did not sound Ike money
10 the sullivan County recorder So. he
proceeded 10 sell the property al a regular
treasureF's sale OF unseated land This
transaction ended the long-cherisbed
dream Of Peter z. Armstrong. who had
said in his remarkable viii that he hoped
the property would remain in the eternal
care and possession or Cod.
No more interesting record has ever
been written in a deed book in Pennsyl-
Vania than the Armstrong viii. which
reads
June a. lss4 Peter T. Armstrong and wife 20
Almighty God. Know all men By these presents that
Z. Peter E. Armstrong. and Hannah. my wife. q
;he County q sullivan, aud state q Pennsylvania
haring redeemed fnom the inhsbltznts q eaTth b.
boundaries herein descrbed. and heing duly iInrress-
ed and taught By the inspired word q God and His
Holy spirit. that His children could not claim %
hcd property q anI kind ss irdiyid1als. but that
IceF -lQul render and c0nsec-afe unto fro1 al
thing that they posses for the c1uron good o.
his people who waiting for His son fr0u heaven
and who are wiling i've together I'M holy fellow
ship. relying unor His word and bounty; and %
the end that HIS saints may be fully scparated
from the world and gather together ard cnioy
thar light and hberty which they di5 IN the o1cs
faithful dsys q their theocracy- We Do make and
establish 'his deed q c1nveyance this Is-h day
q June. 1854
Whereas. Iu Consideration q the kini rr7fecting
care q Almighty God 2 the PAST and present.
which % hereby kGmhly scknOVledge. and f0r
The exceeding great and precious ITumise Of un-
ending life those who In holy faifh and Uatie1rc
wait for tie couing az bis En0iu-ed son % U-dEc
the words which promises have received from
Hin Who is Creator and original GrEntor C earth s
teTiioJ % The children q men. We do. b. these
presents deed. grant and convey 90 Ainighfy God.
who irhabitsfh eternity. and 90 His heirs In Iesus
70 bargain and sale hy mans cup.dity 10 more
interer and claim q suy nature soever In % q
lsiuE and bcing in the County of sullivan. and
State q PeunsylEania beng cur rart Of partial
Of land within tho following h7unds
The tract is then described
The deed concludes.
We do grant deed. and ccnrey % the sid
Creator and Cicd q Heaven and Earth and 20 His
heirs in Jess- MESSIAH for their proper 49, ard
behoOrs forever.
In witness whereof have he-e-Izto 81 cur
hands and sal the Gay and year above Eriftea
SEALED in Tresence q John s. Green
PETER ( ARMSTRONG
II ID