In order to understand the ramifications of Matthias's formation of his kingdom, the social,financial, ethnic, and sexual conditions of the times must be realized as the catalysts that cause the cults to form. A whole series of evangelic congregations appeared in the early decades of the nineteenth century in order to serve the poor, the emotionally needy, those barred from the new prosperousness, hopefulness, forbearance, personal freedom and sensible thought of the business classes. Combining good narrative skills,excellent characterization, and historic detail, Johnson and Wilentz recreate the engaging tale of a hypocritical prophet and his erroneous followers in New York during the eighteen twenties and thirties. The main motif that dominated Matthias's and Elijah Pierson's actions involves the beliefs that were instilled in them when they were young,about the natural order of men and women. The patriarchy that ruled Matthias's kingdom originated in both men's thoughts from the Calvinism that was their first doctrine as youths around eighteen hundred.
The Ascent of Prophet Elijah, a northern Russian i...
English: Elijah Resuscitating the Son of the Widow...
A statue in the Cave of Elijah. The cave is locate...Elijah's Morristown First Presbyterian Church and Mathews Coila Anti-Burhgers church enforced the dominance of men through incorporating their domestic authority into church ritual. With Elijah men sat at the head of the pew and his father and uncles were church trustees. Even though Robert Matthew's church had an egalitarian dissolution of power and wealth , patriarchal roles were reinforced by men leading their families into church and all the authority figures being male. They were taught that God governed the world through fixed relationships of dominance and subordination. It is because of Matthew's refusal to give up his position as male leader and provider for his family, even when they were destitute, that led to his descent into lunacy leaving his family in eighteen thirty one. This is why women and economic despair play such an important role in the history...