It is never easy to understand motives, and the motive that causes us to seek for notoriety (which may be the real reason why I am writing this) had doubtless a great dea] to do with the prophet cies of Tang Hwan-chang, as it has to do witl similar prophecies everywhere. But in this case there was another motive. We learned very early in the man's career that the real motive was enrichment. Every one who joined the religion of Mr. Tang was to pay $1 for "missionary work." We know bow generall the "missionary work" became.
But it was done with very little expenditure of money.
Most of it was mere advertising, One half of every dollar went directly into the pocket of Tang Hwan-chang, so, if he has to buy his life now, he is probally able to do so.
The collapse of the whole organi. zation came, naturally enough, after the passing of the Autumn Festival with no attending calamity. Those who were in prison were told that they would be kept till that time, if the prophecy came true of course they would be honoured, But if it were false they would suffer We do not know that any have actually suffered.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.