The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-21

Two well known citizens OF Topeka
fifteen years ago were members OF a
religious colony that set out to evan
gelize the world. A sail to Gibraltar
in the evangelistic plans. The cru
SADIE was ineffective in evangelizing
the world after the expenditure of
thousands of dollars, and the colony
of Jealous religious workers is starry
ing.
A plea for money to obtain food
broken cookies and crackers a three
cents a pound'-comes from Edwin
Paine, who is in Shiloh, Ne, with
his family, thin. emaciated and broken
in spirit, after casting his fortunes
with the religious colony fifteen years
ago. giving up a prosperous business
and happy home in Topeka for the
cause Roy Paine of Kansas City.
son of Edwin Paine, received the be-
seeching letter for help from his aged
father the other day
Edwin Paine was comfortably stu
ated in Topeka in 1903 with a home
Of his own. his family well clothed
and well fed. his children being edu-
Gated in the public schools of the
CITY A neighbor. c. T. Matchett, was
an intimate friend of the family
Matchett came under the influence of
a new religious sect whose representa-
tives had come from Maine, seeking
converts in Topeka The new rel.
xious ideas caught firm hold OF
Matchett. who in turn undertook 10
bring his neighbors, the Paine FANNY
to the same religious views He sue
ceeded Edwin Paine sold his home,
valued at $500 for $3.50. under the
insistence Of Matchett, and taking his
children out of school. went with his
entire family and Matchett to SIMON:
Me. to enter the University OF
Truth presided over by Frank W.
-, DIV
the story goes, as told by Ralph Paine.
who now lives at 1929 North Twenty
eighth street Kansas City, Kan. with
his sister Ada, who is Mrs. J. J. Bo-
harmon. Paine and his sister escaped
from the bondage OF Prophet IN
Kansas City to live. but the aeeo
| father and mother still suffer their lot
with the flock of the prophet" at the
University of Truth unwilling 10
/ give up the faith
Even Buildings Weird.
The Maine colony Of strange be-
levers was housed in large white.
weird looking wooden buildings az
/ Shiloh, Me-. built on an estate OF two
square miles of high ground near tne
| little village of Lisbon Falls. belong
| ing to Frank W. Sanford. 4 taber-
4 uacle, hotel and Bible school were
combined in the building.
| Day and night prayers were said
/ in the high tower of Shiloh. Mem
! hers of the colony included devout
Young men who had come to learn
| enough OF their faith to become evan
geIists; women who divided their time
/ between sewing, household duties and
prayer; and strong and willing men
/ who worked in the fields about the
I university"
/ There were 500 original members
| of the colony. Every person who
entered the kingdom" had TO first
| liquidate his property and drop the
money into Sanford's bank account
/ BY and by. Ralph Paine states. the
colony began to be restless with the
monotonous life As a change San
ford proposed that the university
proceed to evangelize the entire
world. and with thirty picked men
and women and a crew Of fifteen. he
I left Shiloh to sail in the Coronet. a
ship purchased with $4,000 Of the
| funds in the Sanford bank account.
| The goal Of the Coronet was Africa
and other dark places In five-or six
weeks the sailing eyangelists reached
| Gibraltar. and made a series OF
cruises down the coast of Africa.
Didn't Convert Negroes.
Converting the world came TO be
| an almost impossible task, accord
ing TO the experience OF Sanford and
his band, as the African natives did
not take kindly to such teaching. Sc
the Coronet returned to Portland. Ne
A later cruise on the barkentine Rebec-