A PSEUDO-CHRIST IN AMERICA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A PSEUDO-CHRIST IN AMERICA.

Fokty miles below Savannah, in the extreme southern part of Liberty County, U.S., exists an astonishing and anomalous state of affairs. The negroes have abandoned their patches, have turned their cattle iu on their crops, are deseiting the turpentine farms, sawmills and plantations, and are flocking around a pseudo-Christ who is preaching to them daily. So thoroughly are they infected with a religious craze that a surprising and interesting evolution is taking place in their material and social condition. Iu obedience to the impostor's commands wives have separated from their husbands, children have left their parents, and in many instances whole families have deserted their homes to follow. He is a white man, between 30 and 35 years of age, a little above average height and of spare build. Christopher Orth is the name of his fleshy body, he says, and Jesus Christ of his spiritual body. Long ringlets fall from his head, which is large and of unusually fine proportions. Over 400 ] men, women and children, have been accepted by him, and constantly attend him. Women, however, constitute the greater part of his flock. The coloured people in that benighted district place wonderful faith in him, and the band of 400 does not begin to represent the number that believe in him. For two weeks after his sudden appearance the negro preachers did their utmost to persuade their people not to listen to the man. Finding that their advice was not heeded the preachers sought the influence and aid of the prominent white citizens of the county. The whites were deeply interested too, for as the craze spread the question of labour became a serious one. Whether the man was a lunatic or sharp working the negroes for money was not certain. The decision was reached to arrest Orth for vagrancy, and a warrant was issued upon the oath of a coloured preacher and politician named Stiles, who came within seven votes of being elected a member of the present Georgia legislature. Race troubles were feared, but Orth told his followers to do no violence. He had prophesied that he would be seized, and had declared that no harm would come of him. His believers would have torn the officers piecemeal at the slightest word ot command from their "Christ," as they called him, but he went willingly, and was followed 12 miles on foot under a scorching June sun to the trial place, Flemington, by 300 men and women. Fully half of these were armed, many of the women carrying muskets and shotguns. When arraigned before the county magistrate Orth exhibited several dollars, and the charge of vagrancy and being without mean 3of support was dismissed. Another warrant was immediately issued charging him with being a lunatic. The law gave him 10 days before a com mission of lunacy could inquire into his case, On the day set apart the imnoster appeared with a following twice as large as ho had before. Colonel Norwood subjected him to a long and rigid examination. Outside the crowd kept crying a weird chant: — "They have taken our Christ! Buckra man want to kill our Christ, but they can't !" Orth stated that he formerly lived in Ceutreville, Ohio. His familiarity with the Bible astonished court, jury and spectators. "If you are Christ show us a miracle," suggested Mr Norwood. " Get thee behind me, Satan. I will not be tempted by you," was the response. " You are charged with being a lunatic, and unless this jury believes otherwise you will be sent to an asylum. Show us the nailprints in your hands, aud convince the jury that you are the Christ who was crucified," said the lawyer. "Thie is the natural body which you sec, corruptible, perishable. It is uot the body which was fastened to the cross ou Calvary. The spirit, though, which is iu me is the same living spirit which was iu the body that was hung beside Barabbas. My spirit is in everybody." " Was it in George Washington?" " Yes, and in Abraham Lincoln, too," " Was is it iu Jefferson Davis?" "It was." Nothing could induce the self-styled Christ to undertake to perform a miracle. He refused to turn water into wine, on the ground that it would be taken as sanctioning the use of ardent and fermented spirits. "I did that once, and the act has been misconstrued ever since," he observed. "I am about to take a chew of tobacco. If you can palsy my arm and stop me, I and the jury will believe in you," said the exCongressman. "I don't care whether you chew or n"t, and I don't want to maim you for life," Orth retorted. The dc lioitUico inquircudo quickly concluded that Ortii is insane and recommended that he be sent to the State Insane Asylum at Milledgeville. That institution, however, is overcrowded, anil the superintendent has declined to take more patients for tho present. Liberty County has no gaol, and to send Orth there and have him confined would be an expense on tho county. So the lunatic was released until some provision is made for his case by order of oue of the judges of the county. He continues to preach. The negroes regard his release an unquestionable evidence of his divinity and power, and the fanaticism is spreading with ■greater rapidity than at any previous time. For this year the negroes' crops are gone, and when winter conies they will have to bo supported.