Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1892 — A QUEER RELIGIOUS SECT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A QUEER RELIGIOUS SECT.

Peculiar Belief* of the Latter House es IsraeL The Latter House of Israel is the name of a peculiar religious sect of which Michael Mills—Prince Michael —is head, with headquarters in Detroit, Mich., or, more properly speak-, Ing, at present in the Detroit JallJ The foundation of. the sect is due to Jas. J. Jezrael. an Englishman, who in 1837 compiled the Flying Roll, the Bible of Latter House of Israel. Some as the followers came to this country, settling in Elgin, Ontario, and there Michael Mills joined them, in time becoming their leader under the title Prince Michael. After a time Detroit was pointed out as the Mecca of the sect and thither they, migrated. The members of the Lattet House of Israel, like the early Jews, place the most of their ceremonial tn the purification of the body. They let their hair grow like the ancient patriarchs. Salvation is restricted to 144,000 elect, whose names are inscribed on the Flying Roll, and who comprises twelve tribes, ten of which are in this country and two in Ed- <

gland. Prince Michael claims to have been freed of the ,uncleanliness of Adam, during which purification he says that balls of fire flew from his body. Each order given to his folis specially received from heaven. Property is In common among the sectaries, and Prince Michael himself is continually attended by nine angels women who are known only by the abstract names of joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, spirit, and temperance. The sect believes thata terrible calamity will soon overtake the unfaithful, that they shall be swept away, and that the world will become the home of the 144,000 elect. In cells adjoining that of Prince Michael are several “angels" who are held as witnesses against him. The evidence at the preliminary examination was of the most revolting character, and showed up the prince and his chief helper, Eliza Courts, in anything but an enviable light. Had the people of Detroit known the full extqnt of the practices in the "heaven,” popular justice would have bedn meted out to Prince Michael long ago.

PRINCE MICHAEL.