Joshua Jehovah Sykes

Some interesting information here. Quote regarding conscientious objection.

News Articles

SYKES LEAVES FOR "GARDEN OF EDEN"

Joshua Sykes, pastor of the Church of the Living God, which was burned here recently, sent about fifty members of his congregation this morning on their pilgrimage to the "Garden of Eden," near Denver, Col., which Sykes selected for his seat of operations soon after his tented church was destroyed here and he was warned to leave the college city. The departure was unostentations. The little band embarked quietly in automobiles at an early hour, and headed for the east.

Sykes remained behind to settle up some business affairs, and told The departure was unostentatious. in a few days, making the trip by rail (SP -- looks like a linotype block was misplaced)

According to an edict issued recently by Sykes, only those members of his church who could afford to purchase an automovile and had finances sufficient for the pilgrimage were allowed to set out for the new Garden of Eden. Sykes told his flock that the "grand ascension" would take place in October, and that immediately thereafter he would meet in Heaven those members of his flock who were left behind. Some one hundred and fifty members of the church remained in Berkeley and Oakland to await the ascension.

Marks New Chaper (SP)

The departure of the little band this morning marks the beginning of another chaper (SP) in the history of the Church of the Living God, founded by Sykes in Berkeley four years ago. In a tent at the corner of Shattuck avenue and Derby streets, Sykes located his Temple of Favid, and proceeded to preach a new faith. His existence in Berkeley was a stormy one, punctuated at intervals with appeals to the police to restore order and afford protection.

Because of alleged pro-German utterances of the "pastor" and some members of his flock, citizens of Berkeley, a month ago, stormed his meeting place, set fire to the tent and surrounding building belonging to the institution, and threatened Sykes with a coat of tar and feathers if he did not leave the city. For days Sykes did not show up in the city, hiding, it was said by the police, in San Francisco. A visit to Denver followed, and, although his reception there wass not exactly to his liking, he found a new site in Colorado.

Attorney Theodore Bell, of San Francisco, who has defended Sykes in various legal encounters, and against whom charges of misconduct were filed with the San Francisco Bar association soon after the burning of Sykes' church because he asked a retainer of $1,000 to defend five members of the church for alleged violations of orders from their exemption board, was given a clean bill of health by the grievance committee of the association Saturday, following an investigation. The committee adopted a resolution, signed by Herbert Rothschild, secretary of the committee, which follows:

"Resolved: that in the judgment of the committee, Mr. Theodore Bell was not guilty of professional misconduct in writing the letter specified, and that this committee should dismiss the matter involved from further consideration."

Following the burning of Sykes' tabernacle, Bell issued a statement in which he accused Chief of Police August Vollmer of responsibility for the incident and threatened the chief and the city of Berkeley with a suit for damages.

Berkeley (CA) Daily Gazedtte, 6/3/1918

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REV. 'SYKES' TO SERVE SENTENCE

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3.--The "Rev." Joshua Sykes, self-styled leader and founder of the Church of the Living God, which was burned by a mob in Berkeley in 1917, and three of his former "apostles" today lost their appeal against sentences imposed for violation of war-time laws and regulations in a decision handed down by the United States District Court of Appeals. Sykes is under sentence of 18 months in the federal prison on McNeil Island. His former associates, A. J. M., Dean, John Ferguson and Joseph Crosby, were sentenced to serve one year and a day each in the same prison.

The men were found guilty in the U. S. District Court in San Francisco on Janiary 8, 1919, on charges of seeking to hamper this country's war activities by urging members of the Church of the Living God, on Derby street in Berkeley, to refrain from subscribing to Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives and encouraging men to evade the draft.

Oakland (CA) Tribune, 5/3/1920

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DENOUNCE 'JEHOVAH SYKES.'

Denver Police Declare Religious "Prophet" to Be a Menace.

DENVER, Dec. 25.--Chief of Police Armstrong, after six weeks of investigation by his men into the teachings of Jehovah Sykes, self-styled "Second Christ, King of the World," and alleged immoralist, who is at the head of the Temple of David here, says that the man should be run out of town.

"I am convinced that Sykes and his outfit are a menace to society, and we will not harbor his free love in our city," said Armstrong.

After publication of the police expose on the alleged conduct of Sykes and some of his followers, a committee of church elders appeared and offered to defend and to explain their teachings, stating that a misinterpretation of their creed has gained currency.

The chief complainants against Sykes are former members of the church. They allege that their homes were broken up by Sykes; that their children were hungry and ate from trash cans because of his order to cease work for seven months to prepare for the end of the world.

Sykes's latest prediction is that there will never be another President of the United States inaugurated. He, instead, is to be monarch supreme of the whole universe, and Marie Friede, a church woman, is to be his Queen.

Sykes was sentenced in San Francisco on Jan. 23, 1919, to eighteen months' imprisonment in the Federal Penitentiary at McNeil's Island, Washington, for conspiracy to obstruct the draft law, but was released on bond pending a decision by the United States Supreme Court on his petition for a writ of certiorari. Sykes was pastor of the "Church of the Living God," in Berkeley, and several of his followers were convicted with him.

Charges of gross immorality, contributing to juvenline delinquency, sedition, and several others of a like nature, were filed with the District Attorney's office against Sykes by Chief of Police Armstrong on Friday.

A gold watch and chain are said to have been used by Sykes as a sort of witch's stick. Holding the end of the chain between thumb and forefinger, with the watch dangling below, Sykes would ask:

"Is the person possessed of the devil? If so, vibrate."

If the watch and chain remained motionless, the person on trial did not have a devil, but if the watch moved the person had a devil. He is said to have subjected his own wife to this test. The watch vibrated and he declared his wife had a devil. That was one of his excuses for casting her aside and taking Marie Friede to be his "Queen."

"I understand the watch vibrated when by husband asked Jehovah if I was possessed of a devil," said Mrs. Sykes on Friday in her room at 2217 Court Place. "I know that was his method of finding out."

New York Times, 12/25/1920

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JOSH SYKES - BUNCO MAN

Leader of the Sect of 'House of David' Makes Followers Believe End of World Is Near -- Now Rests in Denver Jail.

Denver, Dec. 29.--Joshua "Jehovah" Sykes, self-crowned king of heaven and earth and leader of the sect of the House of David, was removed from his sanctuary here this afternoon and put in a cell at the city jail. A woman went his bond.

Sykes was arrested on a charge of operating a confidence game, the information on which the warrant wass drawn specifically alleging that he defrauded Ernest Lampert, a former member of his flock, out of $150. Lampert declared that "Jehovah" Sykes had persuaded him that the world was about to end, that he would have no further use for worldly goods, and that he had given him all his earthly possessions. Lampert alleges he did this on September 15, this year.

Sykes spent three hours at police headquarters. He was then released on $300 bonds furnished by Laura E. Randall, a member of his flock.

His wife, who is estranged from him after twenty-seven years of marriage, had no comment to make on his arrest. Earlier in the day she was quoted as saying: "Even at the time I married King Joshua, he was said to be posessed of a wandering eye and an uncontrolled foot."

The information which brot about Sykes arrest mentioned the name of Anna Spijchiger, who is was alleged was fleeced out of $1,000 by him in California a year ago.

Sykes is of 61 years of age.

Carbonate (CO) Chronicle, 1/3/1921

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"QUEEN OF HEAVEN" SUED

Alienation of Affections of "Jehovah" Sykes Is Charged.

Denver, Feb. 11--Marie Friede, appointed queen of heaven by Joshua Jehovah Sykes, head of the Tabernacle of David here, was notified today that Mrs. Emma Sykes, wife of Joshua, was bringing suit against her for $50,000 for alleged alienation of the affections of Sykes.

Sykes has been sentenced to the federal penitentiary for alleged violations of the espionage act during the war. He formerly had a tabernacle in Oakland, Cal.

Mrs. Sykes' complaint states that she and Joshua Sykes were married in 1893, but that Mrs. Friede, who is a widow, has obtained "undue influence and control," and has completely alienated Syke's affections from his wife.

Followers of Sykes say he plans to leave Mrs. Friede in charge of the tabernacle while he serves his term in the penitentiary.

Morning Oregonian, 2/12/1921

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SELF STYLED KING OF THE HEAVEN HAS BEEN EXONERATED

Denver, Colo., Feb.1 5.--Joseph Jehova Sykes, self-styled king of heaven and earth and head of the tabernacle of David, was exonerated from charges of contributing to the delinquency of two girls in Juvenile Judge Ben B. Lindsay's court here yesterday.

Grand Forks (ND) Herald, 2/15/1921

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CULT HEAD AWAITS ENDING OF WORLD

JEHOVAH SYKES OF DENVER SAYS HE HAD VISION

Upheaval Predicted for Saturday Night--Harding Will Not Be Inaugurated, Voice Whispers.

DENVER, Col., Feb 16.--Joshua "Jehovah" Sykes, scheduled to begin a prison term on the Pacific coast next Tuesday, tonight gathered with his followers in the temple of the religious sect of which he is head, awaiting the end of the world.

He announced he had returned to Denver following a vision. He said he heard a whispering voice saying that Warren G. Harding would not be inaugurated March 4, because the world would come to an end before that time.

As king of heaven, said Sykes, the voice told him it was his duty to return to Denver and remain with his flock at the finish.

Sykes left Thursday for San Francisco to surrender to United States officers to serve 18 months for draft obstruction during the war. When he reached Cheyenne he had a vision, he says, revealing to him that the end of the world would come before Senator Harding is inaugurated president, and he returned to Denver to prepare the faithful for the millennium.

Tonight none but "believers" were admitted to the former theater which Sykes has turned into his temple. "We are preparing for the finish, we cannot be disturbed, a guard at the door told reporters.

"Ye all have been warned of this by Jehovah," the guard said "but ye heeded not the word of the almighty, now ye will have to suffer with the rest of the damned, for Jehovah is about to be crowned in glory and the anointed of his faith will be chosen people in the next world."

This is not the first time that Sykes has predicted the end of the world. He predicted an end last summer, and many of his followers quit their jobs, sold their property and went to the temple to await the end. Later the poverty of some of the members caused charges to be brought in juvenile court against Sykes for juvenile delinquency. It was charged that children of the members were improperly fed and clothed. Later the charges were dismissed.

The Sunday Oregonian, 2/27/1921

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Queen of Sykes' Heaven Goes to Insane Ward; Jail Yawns for Joshua

DENVER, COLO., March 4.--Following filing of lunacy proceedings in the county court here today Marie Frede, so-called "Queen of Heaven" in the sect of which Joshua Jehovah Sykes is head, was taken into custody by the sheriff and placed in the insane ward at the county hospital.

The lunacy proceedings were brought by the Denver police department. According to the petition presented in court, the proceedings are intended to prevent her from dissipating her fortune of $150,000. She is alleged to be "so unsound and distracted in her mind" that she is unable to manage her affairs. Marie spent large sums supporting the religious organization of which Sykes is head.

Sykes, who is under sentence to the penitentiary for obstructing the selective draft, has publicly announced that he has set aside his own wife for Marie Frede, whom he describes as his "spiritual consort."

Sacramento (CA) Union, 3/5/1921

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"Jehovah" Sykes To Be Held in Denver

SAN FRANCISCO, March 8.--Joshua "Jehovah" Sykes is scheduled to remain in custody at Denver until A. M. Dean, convicted with him and for whom a bench warrant was issued at the same time the warrant was issued for Sykes, is arrested, United States Marshal Holohan said today. Dean's arrest in Denver is expected soon, according to the marshal.

When Dean is in custody Holohan said he will send a deputy to Denver and both prisoners then will be taken to McNeil's island federal penitentiary to begin serving sentences for obstructing the draft.

Oakland (CA) Tribune, 3/8/1921

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JOSHUA SYKES' WIFE LOSES DAMAGE SUIT

DENVER, October 20.--"Queen" Marie Frede of the Tabernacle of David was the "pursued" and not the "pursuer" so far as Joshua "Jehovah" Sykes, self-styled "King of Heaven and Earth," was concerned, according to a decision handed down in court here yesterday. Mrs. Frede was the defendant in a $50,000 alienation of affections suit brought by Mrs. Emma Sykes, Joshua's legal wife.

The court held that Mrs. Frede did not "vamp" the religious leader as Mrs. Sykes charged, and ordered a verdict for the defendant.

At present Sykes is serving a prison term at McNeil Island, Washington, for obstructing the draft.

Merkeley (CA) Daily Gazette, 10/20/1921

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LEADER EXPECTED TO "RISE AGAIN"

Joshua Jehovah Sykes Dies, but There Is No Mourning Among Followers.

DENVER, Feb. 25--(UP)--John Sykes, head of a religious cult in Denver and known as Joshua Jehovah Sykes Yhvh, to his followers, died here today but there was no mourning among the members of his cult. They believe as he was the second Messiah he will rise again.

Sykes had been ill three days, apparently pf pneumonia, but when Coroner Bostwick arrived at the home of Margaret Yhvh, where he passed away, the cult members refused to let him touch the body.

"He will rise in three days, the fourth day he will be crossing over," the cult members told the coroner.

"All right," said Bostwick. "You have set the time limit. Four days from now I will come and get this body and determine to my own satisfaction what caused his death. Until I do that there will be no death certificate signed and you can't bury the body."

Regina Marie Friede Sykes, whom Joshua Sykes "elevated" to the position of "queen of heaven and earth" is in Long Beach, Cal., unmindful that the religious eccentric to whom she bore three children is dead.

Sykes has been the ruler of the Temple of Yhvh in an old building in the lower section of the city. He was about 55 years old, but admitted only 30 years, dating his life, his followers said, from the time he first realized he was the "annointed."

The (Butte) Montana Standard, 2/26/1929

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