In The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th- Century America, Johnson and Wilentz reveal the economic, social, sexual, and racial atmosphere that gave rise to cults and virile charismatic leaders. They recreate an intriguing story of a flawed prophet and the wrongly guided followers during the 1820-1830-time period. Throughout their writings the authors provide usage of stories and memoirs of Margaret Matthews, William Stone, and Gilbert Vale when constructing the life and history of Matthias. Johnson and Wilentz provide an emphasis on the spiritual spiral of this period and the converting of Matthias and those of his followers. As well as providing a colorful 19th-century American episode that outlined in a measureable detailed account the midst of
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Secondly, the story moves on to that of Robert Matthews who like Elijah Pierson was a strong religious believer. Matthews was an impoverished carpenter who who preached to people, but was ridiculed which angered him greatly. This gave him great frustrations which he took out merely on his wife and children. During a period in the storyline, Matthews acquired riches and wealth but lost them all within a matter of time. After this period Robert Matthews grew more influenced in his ideas of God, which forced him to become delusional. His wife Margaret worried as he saw himself as “Prophet of the God of the Jews” and later believed he was God. He gathered money from his followers in order to fund his church. He would gather the best metals to fashion his religion with religious artifacts such as candlesticks, swords, and chalices, as well as furniture. He gathered rituals from the bible such as the of not shaving where he will grow a beard and not cut it. He would fashion in rich linen which were made of the most expensive. He was highly held by himself that if there were people to dismiss him he would revolt at them with naming them devils. His kingdom as well derived from communal
Secondly, the story moves on to that of Robert Matthews who like Elijah Pierson was a strong religious believer. Matthews was an impoverished carpenter who who preached to people, but was ridiculed which angered him greatly. This gave him great frustrations which he took out merely on his wife and children. During a period in the storyline, Matthews acquired riches and wealth but lost them all within a matter of time. After this period Robert Matthews grew more influenced in his ideas of God, which forced him to become delusional. His wife Margaret worried as he saw himself as “Prophet of the God of the Jews” and later believed he was God. He gathered money from his followers in order to fund his church. He would gather the best metals to fashion his religion with religious artifacts such as candlesticks, swords, and chalices, as well as furniture. He gathered rituals from the bible such as the of not shaving where he will grow a beard and not cut it. He would fashion in rich linen which were made of the most expensive. He was highly held by himself that if there were people to dismiss him he would revolt at them with naming them devils. His kingdom as well derived from communal