"MARY AND BENJAMIN."

NZ Truth, Issue 117, 14 September 1907, Page 5

"MARY AND BENJAMIN."

"ISRAELITE HOUSE OF DAVIDI"

Another Dowie Dodge.

"Ben" and his Beauties— Shocking Allegations of Immorality.

Tlve crop of fools is apparently as inexhaustible as the legion of rogues ready to prey upon them. Despite the fact that on several occasions "Truth" has exposed the games of "Mary and Benjamin" and their "Israelite House of David," four Fitzroy (Vie.) families are now packing up their goods and chattels, and withj drawing their hoards from the SayI ings Banks, and realising upon j their property for the purpose of proiceeding to join "Miary and Benjamin" at Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.A., to await there "the second coming of Christ" and the end of the world. Already some 80 families have gone over there from Australasia, chiefly from Melbourne, and principally from Fitzroy, to join "the chosen people" and incidentally, it may be mentioned, that it is estimated the "House of David" has scooped m no less than £35,000 of the goad money of fatuous Australians. These people cannot be persuaded to the contrary by their friends and well-wishers. They will speedily be disillusioned when they get to Benton Harbor. Those Fitzroyites who: have already gone to the place selected by 'Mary and Benjamin" as "the spot chosen by God for the ingathering of Israel" have written PITEOUS AND PATHETIC LETTERS to Mr H. Baker, who resides at ilis ooraer of Napier and Freeman streets, North Fitzroy, imploring him to use his influence to prevent other Australians from going to jom the Davddite fold. These correspondents state mso many words that | they have teen deceived, that they i are practically starving, and that they are at the mercy of "Benjamin" who wears fine linen and fares sumptuously every day. But the game of "Mary and Benjamin" is most effectively "blown out"- by an exposure made m a pamphlet published by Harry M. Williams., of 110 Elm-street, Ben-ton Harbor, an ex-member of the "House of Davidi." It is well-known that the chief gag. of these 1 'Israelites" was I that onlY 144,000 of the world's people were to be present at and take part m the "ingathering." "Benjamin," however, has been pretty loose m his dates. "The Third Watch" was alleged to have ended m. 1875. Thirty years later (1905) ', 'Israel" was to "enter into their rest.'' The last three of these thirty years Avere to be set apart for the "ingathering," and it is significant that the commencement of that period coincides with the date of "Benjamin's" embarkation upon his ' Davldian" enterprise. June 22, 1906, was to have toe'en the end of it all. "Ben" now has at the most 300 followers. But he is not to be beaten, and he has now amended his schedule by definitely fixing the DATE OF MUNDANE FINALITY for June 22, 1910. We are, however, more concerned with what is gains- on at Benton Harbor than m "Benjamin's" curious calculations. Not only do the letters received by Mr Baker from the sore, sorry and starving Australians m Michigan oonivey'a sad story of fraud, hypocrisy and deception ; the exposure published by Harry M. Williams tear aside the veil from "the holy of holies, or inner court," with a ruthless hand. The author of this pamphlet was a member of the "Israelite House of David" for over 17 months, and writes of his experiences at Benton Harbor from July 5, 1905, to December 23, 1906. Williams first relates the genesis of the sect. "Mary and Benjamin Purnell," the author states, "came to Benton Harbor from Fostoria, Ohio, .where they were albout to start the supposed great ingathering of the children of Israel, having but a short time before emerged from the most IMMORAL AND DEGRADING SOCIETY Michigan or any other State, includ{ing Utah, has ever known', the Prince I Michel K. Mills affair /of Detroit. JThis M. £. Mills, their leader, was also attempting the supposed, gathering of Israel ; his career was cut short, however ; being charged and found guilty of rape, he was sent to Jackson (Michigan) State prison for five years. At the imprisonment of this man, and the corruption of that place coming to light (facts of which can be found m State records), Benjamin Purnell aspired for the leadership as the seventh messenger from God, but, his fellow companions amid women knowing him, would not hear of it, and he and his wife were ousted. For some ten years or more he roamed these middle eastern States, as a nomad, lugging with him his frail wife and two children, who ought to have been placed at school, and as. a result of this neglected edr ucation, the troy, a youth now 24 years of age, can scarcely read or even write a legible hand. The daughter died at 'Fostoria six years agio. ... While "Beniamin" was at Fostoria hs heard of the prosperous condition financially that a sect of people at Benton Harbor were m ... He came along and proclaimed himrself the seventh messenger of God, was accepted, and got the bankine? account. The people got what ? That's the riddle. "About, this time "Benjamin" gets a REVELATION TO GO TO AUSTRALIA, so, while other people's money was m abundance, the delightful trip was taken by Benjamin, Mary Son and So-, and the bodyguards, a large Irish woman, Mrs Cora Mooney, and David Sind-th. At Melbourne, Australia, Benjamin presented himself to certain John Wroeites, again carrying the day with some of them by luring words and beautiful prophecy. Alas, how easy is man decoyed, and, Baraum's words "The American peoole like to be humbugged,' must hold good m Australia'; for jvway thr/ came, leaving homes, ami houses, mothers and even wives, to follow

frail man. On the return trip from Australia Benjamin made direct calls for their money two different times after had. gotten them away from their native shore, safely on board, for America. But soon after landing here, some of these Australians found their noses on the grindstone, once more toiling hard for the bread without the butter, not even a 'truppenoe' to spend, for Benjamin pays nothing for their labor but a few articles of clothing and coarse food. They were led to believe there were 1 1,000 members and 800 acres of land, which are ALL UNVARNISHED LIES.' The author gives the menu for "Benjamin and Mary" and "their sev-

(Riccartdn.) This is Riccarton's rep. Georgie Witty, A white man, although he ain't pretty. " ; A cute sort of coon By the light of the "Moon," He piped up a tune That bum,ped Russell right out of the- ditty.

en virgins," and that for the common members. Here are the two :— "For the Selecft—B oiled and mashed potatoes, baked beans and beans m. olive oil at 4 dollars per gallon, canned tomatoes, rice and tapioca pudding, green grapes, candy, lemon and custard pie, chocolate layer cake, cocoa, tea, coffee, milk, bread and ibutter, eggs. For common members— Steamed potatoes, stewed beans m water or corran-seed oil at 30 cents per gallon, canned tomatoes, no puddings, corn pancake (for Sunday dinner), tea,, coffee, or water ; bread, no ' butter, no milk even for tea or coffee, and sometimes no sugar, no eggs." Benjamin's food is cooked at a special range, -and he has his own private dining-room, where he is served by private waitresses, dinting with "his choice virgins." "Benjamin" golang ONE BETTER THAN DOWIE. now claims to be "the Christ," and at the time the pamphlet was written was bavin® a cemen.'t block house built for himself and "his "ignorant virgins." Stop for a moment and consider," says the author, "what an influence he has over the minds of these young and untrained girls of 18 or 20 years, many of them

A' weird looking funny old Jay What his use is there's no one cansay. He meanders around In his old black gown, But he always comes up for his pay.

away from the guidance or advice of their mothers, and almost continually m his presence." The man of the sect all wear hair and beard uncut. '"The men who work keep their hair done up on week days, but all let down Sundays for dress parade and advertisement. There is not another people m the country (save it be the wild Yuraa Indians of Lower California) who wear their hair untrimmed." In 1902 "Benjamin" got money from a man named John Pel-ton to print his books. "Mary and Benjamin Purnell stopped at PeMon's house about four years on and off, leaving when Benjamin got mad., but always returning. After consulting with Benjamin the Peltons came to the conclusion that they must no longer live as husband and wife, but as brother and sister, yet Benjamin takes liberties with women that he would grant nobody else." "Mary Purnell is most bitter with her scolding tongue, and when short of good words she stoops to t'.i-c lowest and most obscene lanrruase enc could think of, more than unfit for public print or even thought/

Cl portliness is supposed to be next to godliness, but there is nob a bathroom m the whole establishment at Bentoii Harbor. Clothes are boiled m the same kettle as beans or potatoes. The children covered with vermin. All the poor invalids and cripples exiled to a ■farm six mil.es away to keep them AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC GAZE. "If a man' comes to join the colony, having left wife and family behind, but has provided for them a little thoughtfully, and Benjamin hears of it, he more than scolds that man and rebukes him. 'Leave them to the world, and you take ] care of Israel,' he says." "It seems as though he wants every bit of treasure laid at his feet. Think of the widows and orphans he has made by his desires m this country and Australia." l| 'He can loiter about the place all day with some of his women elect, and carried his heavy walking-cane. Why the cane ? For protection, of course, for he knows not when he may be attacked by some discontented member who has been fooled, or from some husband from outside who has been deserted by his wife that she may follow Benjamin Purnell. But Benjamin does not labor ; he may be up late nights, but he remains m bed until 10 or 11 a.m. next day. When once the crust of his place has been broken, a fearful odor will emit therefrom. The houses are literally over-run with bed-bugs. The poor unfortunates within have to drink water from a well within 100 ft. s of a hole where they empty their night pails aad garbage, no ' sewerage whatever ; no, cannot spend money m ' that way. but can buy for themselves (Mary and Benjamin> clothes, silk shirt "waists (blouses), and Jewellery, until they appear a sample case of a travelling jeweller. Benjamin has eight or nine suits of clothes, while some of the members have hardly a change of underwear. I have one of Benjamin's cast-off shirts now. ,He always gets the new ones, that's the kind of "all things m common" and equality that exists m the colony. Benjamin thinks more of his automobile than of the people." BEN AND HIS BEAUTIES. . The author has some interesting things to say about Ben's relations with women. He says :—"Benjamin's immoral liberties which he takes with women, married or single, so long as they are plump and fair, comes from nattoimgi ! but a carnal nature, for he is never seen hugging old Sister C or G or any of the elderly sisters, but always the young and plump ;« hugging and fond-

(Ellesmere.) The Captain's a dashing young; swell, He'd captivate any young belle, Heaton Rhodes is his name, From Ellesmere he came, But why there is no one can tell.

ling, and kissing them is not uncommon. From these actions he must derive some pleasure^ if it goes no further. Is this not enough to brand him as a libertine, and granting him, for argument sake, 'that he is pure (though, his breath smells nothing like it), how about his victim of attack? Why is Miss .M- — H losing her reason ? Why is Miss P P— hurried back to England mentally unbalanced ? Why are Miss E J and Miss E M , and a few others KEPT IN SILK DRESSES and other things they want, while others must go without, sometimes real , necessities ? Why was Mrs E C presented with a new silver trombone when she could not play a note, while others who could play were given brass, second- ; hand ones :? ... On entering this place, the first requirement, after acknowledging Benjamin and Mary as the seventh messengers of God and heads for ever, and turning over all they possess of real or .personal property, is that one is asked to write a confession of all misdeeds committed from the time they were 12 years old. After this there is a regular monthly of all they have done amiss ; confession last Friday of every month. In this way Benjamdn holds tlte thermometer of temperament, for he knows just how everyone feels towards the faith and the colony. The honest souls are willing to tell him. Besides this confession wav of feeling out his people, Benjamin has what detectives call 'stool pigeons.' It is the secret duty of these when they hear of- a member grumbling about food or general conditions, they go to them and themselves complain,, to draw the member out : they are to pretend to be on the outs with Benjamin. When they get all the news, with crop full, away they fly to Benjamin and tell all, with any addition that may be needed. The worst of these is an Australian, favored, of course, by Benjamin, but looked upon as a dog by men who know him here. Members cannot trust each other, and although they call each other brother and sister, they know many times they are talking to backbiters and railers. A people without natural affection, incontinent as they are. they are not afraid to lie to outsiders, or Gentiles, as tliev call them. . . . The j rules read that no liauor is to be

brought on the place, yet one of the ! heads had only to so to her room to GET A BOTTLE OF WHISKY when A W had a col.l. I also know of another room it was* m, and cigarettes and tobacco too . . . The son had plenty of mone^ and fine clothes, and if wearing a suit a few weeks he got tired of it, he would hand it over to some member, who was glad t 0 get a second-hand one, while the son got a new one made. He is well known to the sporting fraternity of Beaton Harbor. . . . Benjamin says they have 800 acres of land, when, as a matter of fact, they have only 381 acres m their name, and that heav*ily encumbered. . . . Compulsory education is not enacted here, and the children that do go to school are man unfit condition much o£ the time, and I dare say lice would be found m their hair to this day. You well know, and the world at large knows, that ignorance breeds crime. That's what fills your brothel houses, asylums, gaols, and nenitentaries. That being a fact, Michigan had a good nest if this state of things is allowed to continue. . .. . After one' joins this sect they have no more private communication with the outside world, as all letters must be handed into the office unsealed, where they are read, and the postage is affixed by on? hi charge. Honest members have not even the price of a stamp. BENJAMIN WaWs ALL." In conclusion, the author of the pamphlet put Ihe total membership down at 384, babies and all. He states that during the 17 months he was m "the fold" 62 people ' have left, besides the number that died. And, Anally, he invites intending members to communicate with him, or Mr John Pelton, Bradner Ohio or Mr and Mrs L. M. Giles, Box 59* Pratt City, Alabama. In addition to the a/bove, John Pelton writes : —"Now I will give you a little history about my wife. She told me two weeks before they left here that every time Mary and Mrs Moonev would go to the post office Benjamin would call her upstairs (Benjamin's conduct can be had by addressing me) and I told her if her and I were living together as man and wife he would never come downstairs alive." P. Giles, m another letter, writes m a similar strain of Benjamin's conduct to his (Giles's) wife. * Yet m the face of this evidence of fraud, chicanery and immorality there are still to be found fatuous folk m Melbourne amd m Australia and New Zealand ready to embark, with all they possess, to join "Benjamin" at Benton Harbor !