George W. Higgins facts for kids

George W. Higgins was an American minister who belonged to a religious group called the Holy Ghost and Us Society. He was likely the last person in New England to experience a traditional mob attack known as tarring and feathering and riding the rail. This unusual event happened in 1899 in Levant, Maine, which is a town near Bangor. After the incident, 29 people from a mob of about 150 were put on trial.

Who Was George W. Higgins?

George W. Higgins came from Calais, Maine. He was a minister for the Holy Ghost and Us Society. This religious group was founded by Frank Sandford. Their main center was at Shiloh Temple in Durham, Maine.

The Holy Ghost and Us Society

Frank Sandford encouraged his followers to give all their belongings to the church. They were also asked to live together in a community at Shiloh. Higgins worked as a missionary for this group. He helped about 15 people in Levant become members. Some of these new members were successful farmers. They gave their property to the church, which caused concern among other townspeople.

Town Concerns in Levant

Locally, Higgins's followers were sometimes called 'Higginsites'. The people of Levant worried about the group's practices. They were especially concerned about the well-being of some members.

The Mob Incident of 1899

Two local leaders from Levant asked Higgins to leave town. However, Higgins refused to go. One night in 1899, a large group of about 150 people formed a mob. Some of them wore masks to hide their faces.

What Happened to Higgins?

The mob dragged Higgins from the house of one of his followers, Ruel Clement. They then forced him to ride on a wooden rail to the edge of town. This was a painful and humiliating punishment. The mob left him there and warned him not to come back.

The Aftermath and Trial

Despite the warning, Higgins returned to Ruel Clement's house. Clement then reported the incident to the Sheriff of Penobscot County. This led to the arrest of 29 people. Many of those arrested were respected citizens of Levant. They were later put on trial in Bangor.

Later Events

In 1901, Ruel Clement became very ill with typhoid. He chose to rely on his faith for healing instead of seeing a doctor. Sadly, he passed away. Higgins returned to Levant to lead Clement's funeral service.

A Diplomatic Discussion

The incident involving Higgins even came up in international talks. In 1899, U.S. Senator Frederick Hale from Maine spoke with the Ambassador of China, Wu. Senator Hale was discussing how some American missionaries were treated poorly in China. Ambassador Wu then mentioned the "Levantine Affair," referring to Higgins's tarring and feathering. He used it as an example of religious intolerance in the United States. This left Senator Hale without a reply.