Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1913 — FANE OF JEZREELITES SOLD [ARTICLE]

FANE OF JEZREELITES SOLD

Was Built by Ex-British Boldier to House Hie Religious Bect London. —Jezreel’s temple, at Chatham, which was originally erected at an enormous cost as the Temple of the New and Latter House of Israel, Is sold. It comprises s large unfinished building 124 feet square by more than 100 feet in height flanked by towers and shafts and having an area of 10,000 square feet This extraordinary bntlding, which Is s conspicuous landmark for miles around, was commenced In 1882 by a British ex-soldier named White, who after an attack of sunstroke In India proclaimed himself the prophet of a new religion and adopted the name of “James Hershon Jezreel.” An article of the new faith was that none of Its dictples should ever visit the barber and the Jexreelites became rapidly known in the locality and beyond it “Jezreel” soon gathered hundreds of followers and started a little colony of farms and workshops, oat of which be amassed s fortune. He started the building of the tower with the object of accommodating 5,000 of the faithful out of the 144, 000 who were to be saved when the end 'of the world came. He promised his followers that he would live forever, but he died unfor-

tunately before the great tower was completed. It remains unfinished today, notwithstanding the fact that at least $220,000 has been spent on it The six storied building, roofless and windowless, was seized by the contractors and remained desolate for years until In 1908 It was occupied by an American named Mills, who adopted the title “Prince Michael” and proclaimed himself the successor of “Jezreel.” A little over three years ago the temple, still windowless, was the scene of an eviction. This is the last time that the Jesreelites were prominently before the public.