The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-25
THE SARIOSS
 LAND IS SOLD Four Hundred Acres Deeded
 To The Almighty GOES TO HIGHEST BIDDER Enterprisine Tax Collector Wants Tax es and Does Not Stand Back On Sentiment of a Fanatic to
 Serve His County.
GOES TO HIGHEST BIDDER
From the Washington Herald.

From the Washington Herald.
 Laporte, Pa.--Four hundred acres of land deeded to Almighty God'' A years ago by Peter E. Armstrong, founder of "Celestia," a sort of Zion City, in the Sullivan county hills, near this place, have been sold for taxes because the grantee has failed to pay.
 Through the will of Armstrong, this strip of '.sacred ground" has become dlf- ferendated from all the other real estate in the county. The man was the father of an odd religions faith that prompted him to assemble a band of followers on the hill tops and form what was. then named "Celestia," and what has become to be known as the "City of God"
 Strangely enough. when he willed to God the 400 acres surrounding this hill- top villa, he provided no way for the payment of taxes. The total sum due grew startlingy large, and the authorities began to wonder how the amount might be realized out Of the so-called "holy land"
 When Recorder of Deeds Albert F. Heess of Laporte, took office, he figured out that the money on this piece of land must be collected The county needed the money. prompt appeal was made to relatives of Prophet" Armstrong to reimburse the county, but this was futile. They were not exactly III Syllpdthy WILL the disposal of the acres of their father, and so they said: 1T guess you'll have to go to the owner for your tax money" The answer did not sound like money to the Sullivan county recorder. So, he proceeded to sell the property at a regular treasurer's sale of unseated land. This transaction ended the long-cherished dream of Peter P. Armstrong, who had said in his remarkable will that he hoped the property would remain in the eternal care and possession of God"
 No more interesting record has ever been written In a deed book in Pennsyl- vania than the Armstrong will, which reads:
 June 4, 1864 Peter D. Armstrong and wife to Almighty God. Know all men by these presents that I, Peter E. Arm strong, and Hannah, my wife, of the County of Sullivan, and State of Penn sylvania, having redeemed from the in habitants of earth by lawful purchase a certain tract of land within the bound aries herein described and being duly impressed and taught by the inspired word of God and His Holy Spirit, that His children could not claim to hold pro perty of any kind as individuals, but that they should render and consecrate unto God all things that they possess for the common good of His people who are waiting for His son from heaven and who are willing to live together in holy fellowship, relying upon His word and bounty; and to the end that Ills saints may be fully separated from the world and gather together and enjoy that light and liberty which they did in the once faithful days of their theocracy: We do make and establish this deed of convey ance this 14th day of June 1864.
 Whereas, in consideration of the kind protecting care of Almighty God in the past and present, which we do hereby humbly acknowledge and for the exceed ing great and precious promise of un- ending life to those who in holy faith and patience wait for the coming of His anointed Son to judge the word; which promises we have received from Him who Is Creator and original Grantor of earth's territory to the children of men. We do, by these present deed, grant, and convey to Almighty God, who inhabiteth eternity. and to Ills helrs in Jesus Messiah, to the intent that 1t shall be subjected to bargain and sale by mans cupdity no more forever, all our right and title (by human law) in terest and claim of any nature soeyer in or to of that certain tract of land and Improvements thereof lying and be- ing in the county of Sullivan, and state of Pennsylvania, being our part of partial of land within the following bounds"
 The tract is then described.
 The deed continues:
 We do grant, deed, and convey to the said Creator and God of Heaven and Earth and to His heirs in Jesus Mes siah for their proper use, and behoove forever.
 In witness wheheof. we have hereunto set our hands and seal the day and year above written.
 (Sealed in presence of John s. Green.)
 PETER H. ARMSTRONG
 HANNAH ARMSTRONG.
 xrri11 ta a of Peter E. Armstrong's bequest will be forgotten. Summer guests at Eaglesmere, a resort near the site of "Celestia," al- ways include in their jaunts a trip to tho sacred villa. They group about the ruins of the Armstrong hope and seem to de- light in rummaging through the shacks that remain standing.
 Only four tumbled down houses tell the tale of the undertaking. They crown n bald spot on the mountaintop; they are D remnant of the one-time city, where Armstrong hoped to gather 100000 persons, One of the buildings has been converted into sheep pen and another into a small home where A c. Jenkins, an affable Yankee lives as keeper of the estate The trend of the group of buildings is so rickety that persons think twice be- fore entering it. Once it was a work shop, schoolhouse, and printing establish ment of the prophet" There Armstrong turned out the Day Star of Zion, a monthly publication in which he expound- ed lengthily his particular religious views.
 Pasted over the walls of this musty old shed are hundreds of copies of the Day Star In one room Is stored all the earthly treasures of the doctrinist which, according to dying request closed from Armstrong, ''shall be forever closed from public eyes and left to rot to dust" Visitors peer through the cracks In the walls of the Secret chamber" but all they see is a pile of old fashioned ,de- caying furniture.
 Armstrong aimed to outdo Alexander Dowie and built the first Zion City in America" and 1t was with this express purpose he went to Sullivan county and bought the 400 acres of land. He dubbed himself a prophet and leader and he