The New Canaanites

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 3, 1872

The New Canaanites.

IN the Herald of Life, of Aug. 7, 1872, we find the following, from which it may be inferred that another unaccountable delusion is about played out:

We copy the following article from a Georgia paper of the 17th ult., presuming, from circumstances familiar to us, that it is reliable. We give it as information interesting to many of our readers, painful though it will be to them:

“We were called on yesterday morning by E. Chadwick, of Boston, and John Swail and John Parks, of Springfield, Massachusetts, late members of the “New Canaanite” or “Elijah Message” settlement, in Columbia county. They informed us that the colony is reduced to about twenty-one persons, men, women, and children, many of whom are sick, and that all are in destitute circumstances. They handed us the copy of a letter, alleged to have been written by Joseph T. Curry, the “Elijah,” so called, and containing the doctrines in brief as taught by him. It is, indeed, wonderful that in this enlightened age there are people so ignorant as to be deluded into believing such doctrines as are there set forth. The following is the letter:—

“Everet, Nov. 22, 1871.

“DEAR BROTHER ORCUTT: I commit to your care, that it may be read only to those who have taken hold of the new covenant, these three propositions or requirements. This may be copied for the right of every one: 1st. To take hold of the new covenant as it is written in Isa. 56: 2; looking steadily to Yahwah for the fulfillment of this part, as written—Jer. 31: 33. This first proposition being understood and settled, those who have attained it are ready for the next. 2d. To believe in Joseph T. Curry as the Elijah of Malachi, the Cyrus of Isaiah, the prophet like to Moses; and the rod of Micah 6: 9; therefore the divinely commissioned Governor, Jer. 20: 21, of this nation; consequently not to obey without question, even in thought, his doctrine or practice, or to set up the will against him in any matter, however trivial, is a violation of Yahwah’s commandments. When this is settled, then, and not till then, comes the next proposition. 3d. To move South to the place that shall be indicated by the Cyrus. As persons shall come up to the 3d proposition, let them write to me.

JOSEPH T. CURRY.”

Augusta, Georgia.