The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-04-03
The LeatherwOod God
Br HARRY L. Hale

The LeatherwOod God
People along Leatherwood Greek
were not bad-nor were they too
good. They were just common, every
day persons like you and |, all over
Ohio, who liked their beer, said a
few bad words when the hammer
missed the nail and hit the thumb,
but did we'll by their fellow-man, re-
ligiously attended camp-meetings and
believed in a Deity.
Leatherwood Greek is about two
and one-half miles northeast of Sales
vile, village of 1913 population on
State Route 265 in Guernsey County.
It has grown little in the last 120
years. The ruined foundation of
large warehouse burned by Morgan's
raiders in 1868 still stands. One
hundred twenty years ago the little
mining village also had small log
church, built by original settlers of
the place. 1t was called "The Tenn
ple."
Just why God should elect to
come to Leatherwood Creek, no one
was-or has-been able to figure
out. Some said it was not He. But
| there were many who believed
otherwise.
Tt was a Sunday afternoon in Au-
gust, 1928, and the last service of a
three-day camp-meeting held by the
United Brethren Church. Because the
large assemblage would have over
flowed The Temple, the log church
used by all denominations, services
were being held in q cleared spot on
the creek bank.
Rev. John Crum was about half
through his sermon and had paused
for breath when a tremendous
voice, bursting forth like a clap of
thunder on the congregation, uttered
one word-'Salvation,' followed by
shout and snort which filled the peo-
pie with awe and dread" 1t made
them feel, old settlers related, "like
being scared in the dark and the
dread was like the thought of sud
den death"
Men jumped to their feet and wo-
men screamed. Everyone grew pale.
All eyes were turned in the direction
from where the voice had come and
there, seated in their midst was a
stranger dressed in black broad
cloth, frock coat, white eravat and
yellow hat. His face was solemn and
unmoved.
How, when or from where he had
come, no one knew. Nobody dressed
in that kind of clothing ever had
been seen in the community. The
stranger had flashing black eyes, a
pale face and low, broad forehead,
and his long black hair, neatly
brushed back, came nearly to his
waist.
Rev. Crum finished his sermon but
few paid attention to it Evesyone's
attention was fixed on the mysterious
stranger.
After the meeting the man went
about introducing himself as God AL
mighty and said he had come down
among the people in his spiritual
body and then he assumed the cor
poreal one with the name Of Joseph
c. Dylks. He claimed he could ap-
pear and disappear at will, perform
miracles, and finally said that he
had come to establish the millennium
and whoever followed him should
never die in their natural bodies.
| He found many believers and fol-
lowers. AT the beginning he was
rather careful in his statements, but
as his converts grew he became moro
bold. He told them his body could
not be touched without his pernis-
sion and that, with a shout and a
snort he could destroy the universe.
A lot of people believed him and his
converts grew numerous through
parts of Belmont, Guernsey and No
BILE counties.
He appointed Michael Brill, Robert
Mccormick, John Brill and a young
minister named Davis, all of Sales.
vile, his disciples and preached to
his followers in The Temple at Sales,
vile.
He told his followers "I am God
and there is none else. | am God and
the Christ united. In me Father, Son
and Holy Ghost are met. There is