Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-17
THE PASSING OF SHILOH


The report that Shiloh may be sold
to settle a small claim of $1,000 is
worthy of more than passing. atten-
ton. There are many who recall the
building of this structure on the sand
hills of Durham, of the projects there
proposed to redeem the world.
Twenty-Five years ago Frank w. San
ford made the original purchase of
land from Elizabeth l.. Douglas and
is said to have begun work on the
foundation of the first building with
a wheelbarrow and three cents.
Three years later he dedicated the
lands he owned in Durham ito the
work of God"
For twenty years succeeding, this
institution established for study and
practice of the Bible, afforded the
news gatherer and the sensation
mongers a theme which was worked
to the utmost. Tales of miracles and
stories of hardships, of fasting and
prayer, of starvation and cruelty, of
those deluded and deprived of their
money, of PROSECUTING, of persecution
contributed to the fame or to the
notorety of what became known as
the Kingdom of Shiloh. It's promoter
and leader became known throughout
this and some other lands. From
1900 to 1915, inclusive, the Kingdom
acquired a third Of the land in Dur
ham and out of fifty farms within a
radius of three miles it purchased 26,
but since the disbanding of the King
dom two years ago most OF these,
which We're well covered by mort
cages, have been sold to former
members of the Kingdom, which was
corporation without capital stock.
Much. doubtless, might be truth
fully told of the heartaches and dis
appointments of the deluded who
went there Much has been told, part
of which Is probably untrue. That
the founder intended to swindle is
not credible. He was successful
pastor when he. and his wife decided
to preach and depend on God for that
;tl 20 mi no n
the "Holy Ghost and Us" society I'M
supported by any contribution box
People flocked to hear him and among
his first converts was one who gave
his farm for establishing the temple.
Sanford was possessed of a magnetic
personality and for a time was on the
| tide of success. 1t was estimated
| that more than 100000 went to the
| building of Shiloh and at different
times Sanford came into possession of
several yachts in one of which trip
was made around the world. Branches
Of the society were established and in
Liverpool a fine residence was donat-
! cd to the cause.
{ Then came departure from the sim
pie pretensons. 1t was claimed that
an inmate OF the institution died and
vas raised from the dead. Other al
legged miracles became subjects OF
current comment; tales were told OF
! infirmities healed by faith, of demons
cast out and the leader dreamed OF
! evangelizing the world.
Doubt crept in, the tide turned, dis
cord arose. The efforts to evangelize
, the world We're not successful and the
yacht Coronet ended seventeen
months voyage having lost six by
; starvation and scurvy. With matters
going from bad to worse the leader
lost his prestige, was sentenced to
Atlanta and now has disappeared. a
disagreeable narrative. One reading
it may choose conclusions, but the
most probable is that Sanford's zeal
became a mania: that what he at
tempted to do was impossible from
/ the start: that he unconsciously
duped his converts, that many OF
them suffered privation and loss OF
property. No. not pleasant tale. but