The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
Guests Rummage About.

II VIII be many a year before the story
OF Peter E. Armstrong; bequest VIII be
forgotten. Summer gGests al Eaglesmere,
q resort near the site OF ~Celestia,' al
ways include in their jaunts a trip 10 the
sacred villa They group about the ruins
Of the Armstrong hope. and seem 10 de-
light In rummaging through the shacks
that remain standing
Only four tumbled-Cown houses tell the
tale Of the undertaking. They crown s
bald spot or the mOuntainJop: they are
a remnant OF the one-time CITY. where
Armstrong hoped 20 gather 10000 persons.
One Of the buildings has been converted
into a sheep-pen. and another into a
small home. where =. c. Jenkins. an
ahahle Yankee. lives as keeper OF the
estate.
The trend Of the group OF buildings is
so riCkeJy that persons think twice be
fore entering IT, once f. was a work
shop. schoolhouss, and printing establish
ment Of the prophet" There Armstrong
turned out the Day star OF Zion. a
monthly publication in which ne 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 ali the
earthly treasures Of the dOctrinist. which.
according 10 a dying request closed from
Armstrong. shall be forever closed from
public ewes and left 70 rot 20 dust"
Visitors peer through the cracks in the
walls OF the secret caamber." but an
they see is a pile Of old-fashloned. de-
caying furniture.
Armstrong aimed 20 Guido Alexander
Dowie. and built the first Zion City in
America" and II was with this express
purpose he went 10 sullivan County and
bought the no acres Of land He dubbed
himself a ''prohet and leader, and he
promised his flock that when their earthly
life had been spent they would leave the
earth in q misty cloud that would en-
velOp "Celestia." and they would soar
heavenward. For this reason. II is said.
he chose mountain lands. since Il was
2.loo feet above the clouds and ever so
much nearer the blue sky.
To those persons who knew him and
studied his life. Armstrong stood out as
a mysterious character. Either he was
as shrewd as ShakespeaTe's ShylOck. or
out OF mere fancy he was the promoter
Of one Of the airiest religious Ideas that
the history Of this END Of the United
States has had 10 witness.
Declined 20 Pay Taxes.
Al lAttIrSttIt SApEF y Nut4 OK AEEl-
strong's experience with Sullivan
County collector who had come 10 get tax
money II emphasizes the mans keenness
and farsightedness. Always through his
life the prophet maintained the land
over which he was earthly president be-
longed 10 God. and whenever the tax col
iector appeared he would have an ever
ready answer.
Get your money from the real owner
Of this property. ] am simpIy a tenant
here"
This excuse had warned on several Of
the men who had visited him on a tax
gathering errand Finally. one came
along who advanced strenuous argu-
meat. and made a threat 10 tail Arm
strong II he didn't pay up.
You are the owners agent IS YOU
say. thundered the collector. ''and III
get value received out Of you II I am
compelled 10 put you 10 Jail.
The old coctrinist WINGED, bur did not
produce When the collector came again.
he started 70 drive from the sacred land
flock OF sheep. that was the pride of
the proprietor Armstrong saw the man
chasing the sheep in the direction OF La
porte. but paid little attention 10 il.
COD viii stop you from taking my
sheep from me" he replied. when the col
lector passed The house. and told him that
he expected 10 negotiate the flock
Previously Armstrong had trained the
sheep never 70 cross the bridge that had