22/06/2015
Shiloh, The Deception Of A Cult (1862-1951) is now available through Raven House Publishing, LLC, http://ravenhousepublishing.com/product/shiloh-the-deception-of-a-cult-1862-1948/, and other online bookstores.
E version should be available soon.
Eugene Elcik, writes his fourth compelling novel, Shiloh, The Deception Of A Cult [1862-1948]. A powerful, chilling and controversial novel of a cult movement, estimated to be the largest of its time.
Shiloh, located in the rural community of Durham, Maine, housed one of the world's unique and mysterious cults during the late1800s. The mastermind of this religious organization was a brilliant but fanatic individual named Frank Weston Sandford. The members of this contentious organization, shadowed by murder, deception, and mystery, called themselves "Shiloh," "Holy Ghost and Us Society," and/or "The Kingdom."
Of 540 towns in Maine, Frank Sandford chose Durham to start his crusade. He envisioned a town within a town, somewhat like the Vatican (a country within a country). This closed community became Shiloh. It became one of the largest nonconforming religious movements in the nation, perhaps in the world. Within that community in Durham, he constructed not only a temple, but also a school, hospital, post office, living quarters, and a children's training center.
Sandford convinced his followers to sacrifice their wealth, their homes, and themselves in order to build his edifice, labeled "The Kingdom," all in God's name.
Sandford's dynamic personality swayed people to believe he had direct contact with Christ, and that only through him, could his people find salvation. He proclaimed himself to be the prophet, Elijah, who came to establish the "perfect church." Many of his converts suffered by experiencing famine that led to starvation because of his leadership. His inescapable magnetism became a recipe for disaster. Sandford led by isolation, intimidation and control; the formula for a cult. Later, some in his organization began to question his motives and tried, sometimes successfully to escape.
Sandford traveled the world in order to evangelize and draw members to Shiloh. Some of the crew on his schooners; "Kingdom" and the "Coronet", died of starvation, while Sandford and his family ate heartily. Those that lost their lives, Sandford ordered to be thrown overboard, hiding evidence of their loss from starvation or accidents during vicious storms at sea. This historical novel is their story.
Some called Sandford a lunatic, or an evil person. Did he deserve being convicted and sent to a Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta? Who really was Frank W. Sandford? Why did a murder take place at Shiloh? Why did this mysterious cult shut itself off from the rest of the world? What exactly went on behind its closed doors? This blistering story of based on true events will shock you.
