aith the
scripture, but you must draw near to Him first.

These enthusiasts derive their practices from the Shakers, a sect
which originated in England, but was driven by persecution to the New
World. The Shakers call themselves the "United Society of True
Believers in Christ's Second Coming," and were founded by Ann Lee, who
variously termed herself the "Female Christ", the "Holy Comforter",
and the "God-anointed Woman". They might be termed the suffragettes of
religion, for they pray always to "Our Father and Mother, which are in
heaven." They were taught the convenient doctrine that their Founder
had "spiritual illumination", so that any evidence of the senses used
against her might deceive. She governed through terror, holding that
by her mental powers she could inflict torment upon any of her
followers. Fortunately she taught absolute celibacy, and so there are
now only about a thousand of her disciples.

Bible Prophecy

This far western country swarms with those fanatics who await the
return of Christ, and find in Bible chronology positive evidence that
he is coming on a specified day. Seldom do I give a lecture on
Socialism that some eager old lady does not come up to me and point
out how futile are my hopes, because the Millenium will come before
the Revolution. Several times I have come on an item in the
newspapers, telling of a group of people, sometimes whole villages,
selling their goods and going out into the fields to shout and sing
and pray, expecting the vision of the Lord and His Angels in the
skies. I have in my hand a pamphlet entitled "Shekineh: The Glory of
God in Israel, Facts Mathematically Foretold, of the Soon Coming of
Our Blessed Lord." It is earnestly, yearningly written, in that spirit
of feeble-minded affectionateness which the Bible-sects seem to
encourage:

Now dear reader you see that these problems tell a wonderful
story which I know are the Eternal Truths of God. Jesus is
soon coming. I believe that from now on we can say, next;
week perhaps our blessed Lord will return. Yet the time may
not end till the close of the A.M. year, which will be March
20th, 1897. But let us take up the sickle of God, etc. Oh,
my Christian friends, live near the Blessed Christ, and gain
eternal life through Jesus Our Lord!

In the public library I find another pamphlet, entitled "The Our
Race," which proves that the "lost ten tribes of Israel" are not the