Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-12-31

Country papers throughout the
Southwest are printing. Usually az
the request OF subscribers what pur-
ports to be a letter written by Christ.
This Is the revival OF a--wen. "fad.
OF fifteen years ago. In this letter
was an injunction that Il should be
published" to the world by whoever
found 1t, together with the state
ment that misfortune and bad luck
would follow the person having pos
session OF il in the event that il was
not given publicity.
There is likewise a promise that
whoever may have a copy of this let.
ter in his or her possession will pros
per and be followed by good fortune
The promise and the prediction seem
to have had such effect on so many
persons that the spread of this letter
bids fair to equal that OF the famous
"chain prayer" which swept over this
country and England a few years ago.
According to the theory, or legend,
the original letter was found some
time In the early days of Christianity
by child. Here is the letter. or the
command. as II appears In the publi-
sation:
"Whosoever works on the Sabbath
DAY shall be cursed. l command you
to go to the church and keep holy the
Lords day without any manner of
work. You shall not idle or mis-
spend your time In bedecking your
selves in superfluities or costly ap-
parel and vain dressing. for l have
ordeded IL day of rest. will have
that day kept holy. that your sins
may be forgiven you.
"You will not break my command
ments, but observe and keep them.
they being written by my hand and
spoken from my mouth. You shall
not only go to church yourselves, but
also your manservant and maidserv-
ant. Observe my words and learn
my commandments.
"You shall finish your work every
Saturday at 6 o'clock in the after
noon, at which hour the preparation
for the Sabbath begins l advise you
TO fast five Fridays In the year, be
ginning on Good Friday and contin
uing the Fridays following in remem-
brance OF the five bloody wounds l
received for you and mankind.
you shall love one another and
cause them that are not baptized TO
church and receive the holy sacra
ments-that is to say. baptism and
the supper of the Lord, and he made
a member thereof. and in so doing
win give you long life and many
blessings. Your land shall be replen-
ished and bring forth abundance, and
will comfort you in the greatest
temptation, and surely he that doeth
10 the contrary shall be cursed
81 will also send hardness OF the
heart on them. and especially on
hardened and unpenitent unbelievers.
ne Andl nAtH bANtn W bht Hooi oAdAt
find II profitable. Remember to keep
holy the Sabbath day, for the seventh
day have taken as a resting day to
myself.
And he that hath a copy OF this
letter. written by my own hand and
spoken from my own mouth, and
keepeth II. without publishing IT to
others. shall not prosper. but he that
publisbeth II to others shall be bless
by me. and II their sins be as many
as the stars at night. and II they truly
believe they shall be pardoned. and
they that believe not this writing and
my commandments will have my
plaques upon you, and you will be
consumed with your children, goods
cattle and all other worldly enjoy.
ments that l have given you. Do but
once think OF what have suffered
for you-if you do, It will be we'll fol
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