Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — RANKEST OF FRAUDS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RANKEST OF FRAUDS.

THE BOGUS CHRIST, GEORGE JACOB SCHWEINFURTH. •?;, Desfcrlptlon of HU “Heaven”—Xuxnrlons * Quarters on the Weldon Farm—Served by Hls Dopes—Saits that May Be Disastrous. The BocUord Redeemer. George Jacob Schweinfurth, who claims to be the second Christ, is beginning to realize that all things are not in his power, writes a Rockford, IIL, correspondent. He is consistent enough; though, to continue his protestations to his band-of “angels” that he still has the whiphand of the universe, and he therefore continues to reign in their addled minds as the king of kings and lord of lords. His failure to sway mankind to his liking in his recent futile attempt to settle the three healthy damage suits which were brought against him and his apostles by “angels” who fortunately fell from their estate with lorce sufficient to bring them to a realizing sense of their ineffable stupidity does not seem to sway him in the least. He did buy up the complainants in one of the suits, and thereby escaped the immediate trouble of a journey to court, where the inner workings of his heaven would be revealed, but the pieces of silver offered to the others have not procured the desired withdrawal. Rockford people are glad. They are anxious to see Schweinfurth beaten. They have been waiting for that event a long while, and it now looks as if it was well assured. At least the defendants have a remarkably good show of winning. Schweinfurth doesn’t want to come into bourt and have his preposterous pretensions subjected to judicial scrutiny. He would much rather tax his angels a few hundred dollars with which to settle the cases. Schweinfurth has taken no action as yet in the two suits instituted against him by George F. OstrandeT and Matilda Pierce, which are pending in the Rockford/courts. They each wanted SI,OOO. They entered “heaven” several years ago, after the usual renunciation which the impostor requires from all his followers—namely, placing all their goods and chattels at his disposal and consenting to work for him without money and without price as long as he saw fit. Before he had brought them to that condition of servitude, Schweinfurth had incidentally promised them golden harps, wings and other appurtenances of wellappointed angels. When they had toiled early and late with no other result than making Schwelnfurth’s condition more luxurious, their faith •wavered and Anally deserted them entirely. They became convinced of the utter nonsense of the swindler’s pretended godship, and left the farm in dudgeon to sue for their lost property, claiming that Schweinfurth had failed to keep his part of the contract in furnishing the harps, wings and crowns promised. The Coudrey suit Will be tried in Chicago. It is expected that when these suits are tried the iniquitous community which 6chweinfurth blasphemously calls “heaven” will be fully exposed. It Is hoped by the good people of this country, moreover, that it will result in the breaking up of the establishment which has so long been a disgrace to this portion of the State. Pending such a culmination, however, affairs are proceeding as usual at the Weldon farm, as the “heaven”' is known. The place Is about six miles southeast of Rockford. A description of the man and his dupes will be of especial interest at this time. They may- not exist much longer. Although Schweinfurth was chary about speaking of his peculiar establishment he made no objection to his visitors inspecting the premises. It was an interesting tour. The Weldon farm contains about 500 acres of the Anest agricultural and pastured land In what may be termed the “garden spot of Illinois,” and it is cultivated with the greatest of care and skill. The work is done by the five Weldon boys and the twelve or Afteen other disciples who make their abode at “heaven.” The breeding of fine horses Is also carried on quite extensively, And at good profit. By va-

rious enlargements, additions, and improvements the old Weldon farm house has been transformed into a handsome, well-appointed establishment, a good likeness of which is herewith presented. The members of the “church triumphant” dignify the place by calling it Mount Zion. The residence in the summer is completely shaded by the spreading oak and dim trees which surro ind it. Each year the building is painted and frequently changed at the order of the fastidious Schweinfurth. The house is capacious, well provided with comfortable porches, and is surrounded by verdant, sloping lawns with just enough shrubbery to show them to the best advantage. An inspection of the interior was made, including Schweinfurth’s library and chambers, the chapel and school-room. The entire house and appointments are suggestive of taste, refinement and repose. * The men, women and children live together in one house as a large family, of which Schweinfurth is th« head. The disciples claim that tiw relation of brother and sister is maiOM tained between the sexes even byj

thoee who were married before they entered Zion. The easy time enjoyed by Schweinfurth is shared by none other of the flock. The “disciples,” as the males are called, work in the field like hired men, only a pay day never comes. The “angels” (the women) bake and sew and look after the household duties. A dormitory for the women is located in the rear portion of the building, while the third floor, or attic, is divided into apartments for the men. In the rear of the house are several large hams. They are inclosed in the front by a hedge which always shows the trimmer’s care. The roadways about the

place are all graveled, and the general appearance of the big farm is that of an unusually prosperous, wellkept country establishment. Whatever may be said in condemnation of Schweinfurth’s peculiar morals, nobody can truthfully say that he lacks shrewdness or ability. It may be only ability to hoodwink weaker mortals, but there is no gainsaying the fact that he uses it in a brolly cunning manner. He is averse to talking about his doctrine to outsiders—the heretics. It doesn’t pay, and Schweinfurth never engages in anything that doesn’t yield a fair profit, to George Jacob. Schweinfurth was born in Marlon County, Ohio, in 1853. His early years were passed In company of mere mortals, and he acted as one until be evolved his grand wool-pulling scheme that has blinded the eyes of his deluded followers. Now he acts worse than ordinary mortals. In his youth he gave indication that his life would be consecrated to God, and hls avowed aim was to take the life of

Christ as a model of his own career. He gradually became conscious, he says, that neither the orthodox churches nor their ministers could satisfy his aspirations. While stationed at Alpena, Mich., Schweinfurth became acquainted with a woman named Dora Beekman, who was conducting a mission there. Her permanent home was Byron, 111., where she ministered to a congregar tion who aimed at a life of actual holiness, a religion that was not acceptable to the populaf churches of that town. Schweinfurth attended the mission services, and his belief in the practicability of man becoming the image and counterpart of God was strengthened and developed. Mrs. Beekman was the first preacher he had heard that satisfied him, and ultimately hls preaching, fashioned after hers, became unacceptable to his orthodox hearers. Then he went to Byron and became associated with Mrs. Beekman in her pastorate. This connection continued until her death “in 1882. For the last ten years his place of abode has been the Weldon farm, which is only nine miles north of Byron. Schweinfurth claims that Mrs. Beekman was made to know by an inner illumination that she was the woman clothed in white described in the Revelations, the spiritual mother of Christ in his second coming, and when she found that he was partaking of he'r spirit and showing the characteristics of the Christ, she was further assured that he was indeed the “Messiah.” She announced the fact to her people, and at death in 1882 he succeeded to her pastorate and has since continued to fill the throne. When an individual recognizes Schweinfurth as the Christ, and follows him accordingly, he or she becomes a member of the “Church Triumphant,” as they eall it. The “church” Is entirely void of rites or ceremonies. Services are held every Sunday, when Schweinfurth speaks from two to four hours, his sermons being taken in shorthand by his sister, who, by the way, is an exceedingly expert stenographer. They are then sent to the other congregations at Chicago, Byron and Plum River. Ill.; Kansas City, Mo.; Minneapolis and St. Charles, Minn.; Buena Vista, Cal.; Detroit and Alpena, Mich.; and Richmond, Ky. The services usually begin with some good singing by the “angels” and the opening exercises are similar to those in the Methodist Church, where he received his religioustraining. It isonly when he begins his discourse that the peculiarities of his doctrine become apparent. Almost invariably his sermons are directed to the evidences of divinity manifested in his life and work- His chief argument is that God, having finally decided that the means of redemption are inadequate to the needs of mankind, has determined to make another effort to rescue a perishing Igorld. To accomplish this end, he pHaims, God has raised him up from the people, clothed him with divintsy .and power from on high, and

delegated him to this work of regeneration. Thus he boldly declares himself the second person of the trinity, claiming all the divine attributes that Christ possessed when on earth and the delegated power and author* lty of God himself. The Schweinfurth mansion is always filled with a company of “angels,” who come and go from all sections of the country. Perhaps the oldest and most faithful female of the belief on the farm Is Mrs. Tuttle. She has two or three bright, curly-haired little cherubs who romp and play about the big house, and who came in a mysterious way. Mary Weldon, whose father and brothers have been hoodwinked out of their many valuable acres and live under the same roof with Schweinfurth, also has a pretty 2-year-old child. Miss Schweinfurth, a sister of the “Christ,” has made her home at the “heaven" for four years. She is quite a stylish-looking woman, tall and of the brunette type of beanty. The visitors to Schwelnfurth’s heaven (and they are many) Invariably ask why the Weldons allow such a valuable piece of property to be controlled by such a worthless drone as the bogus Christ, and why they consent to toil for his support. There is no doubt that the senior Weldon is a devout believer is Schweinfurth’s fantastic theories and accepts all he utters as gospel truth. Weldou Is nearing threescore years and ten and has always been what his neighbors call a “religious crank.” His sons regard Schweinfurth with considerable awe and have been brought up to regard him as their lord and master. Schweinfurth was certainly lucky in falling in with a family so well disposed toward hiip and so well able to gratify his luxurious, indolent habits. He possesses quite a large library and spends much of his time among his books. Branch Heaven In Chicago. The Chicago branch of Schweinfurth’s heaven is a two-story frame house at 1309 Wolfram street, in Lake View. Mundane mortals who lack wings with which to make the journey take the Sheffield avenue horse caj, and then walk a block west on Wolfram street to reach the earthly paradise. The place isn’t so big as the Weldon farm, bat it is just as well. kept. Critical mechanics say it is the best built house on the street. It is owned, the neighbors say, by Francis P. Ward. He

and Wilber L. Baldwin are the resident apostles representing Schweinfurth. Ward is a carpenter and has the reputation of being a hard working mam. “But on Sundays he has great goings on there,” said one of the near-by residents. Baldwin is a sign painter and has a shop at 303 Dearborn street. Both men live at the house in Wolfram street, but since the damage suits were brought which threaten to expose the evil workings of their principal’s shallow scheme they have not been noticed about the place so frequently. The neighbors have become accustomed to the nov-

elty of living in such holy atmosphere and have ceased to pay any attention to the proceedings in No. 1309. Once upon a time a worthy young man went to have his fortune told. “You will inherit great wealth,” said the prophetess, looking at the lines in his hand, “and will become a man of great power in the community.” “If I am to inherit great wealth," said the young man to himself on his way home, “what is the use of drudging and working hard every day? I will give up my job, and rest that I may not be too tired to enjoy my wealth when it comes.” So he quit work, and rested, and days, and weeks, and months and years passed, and his wealth never came to him; his habits of industry left him; he became the most worthless vagabond in the town, and his mother and sisters support him. There is a moral in this, but the moral editor is too busy writing millinery advertisements to expound it Senor Garna, the new Chilian Minister to the United States, is a literary man who has written several books, and served as Minister to the United States as long ago as 1870. Since that he has been Minister to France from .Chili, in which post he served for seventeen years. He is a man 50 years old and personally very popular. “’Ostxer Joe,” with which Mrs. James Brown Potter hortfled the elite of Washington, has been dramatized and will be played by an actor named Baggage. Wait until the baggage “smasher” catches him on the road.

GEORGE JACOB SCHWEINFURTH.

MRS. TUTTLE—-THE CHIEF “ANGEL."

MOUNT ZION, THE IMPOSTOR’S HOME.

THE LAKE VIEW “HEAVEN.”