The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem [Review]

University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Department of Near Eastern Languages and Departmental Papers (NELC) Civilizations (NELC) 2008 American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem [Review] Heather J. Sharkey University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/nelc_papers Part of the Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Near Eastern Languages and Societies Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Sharkey, H. J. (2008). American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem [Review]. Middle East Journal, 62 (4), 734-735. http://dx.doi.org/10.3751/64.2.3 Heather J. Sharkey's review of American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem by Jane Fletcher Geniesse. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/nelc_papers/4 For more information, please contact [email protected]. American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem [Review] Abstract In this riveting account, Jane Fletcher Geniesse tells the story of Horatio Spafford and his Norwegian-born wife Anna, who arrived in Jerusalem in 1881 as leaders of a small group of Chicagoans known as the "Overcomers." The group's ostensible goal was to witness the second coming of Christ, though the Spaffords themselves had another purpose. Horatio had squandered $100,000 of his own and others' money; he was fleeing from debt and the law. In time, Anna Spafford presided over the creation of a Jerusalem commune that became known as the "American Colony," even though many of those who joined were Swedes. Disciplines Islamic World and Near East History | Near Eastern Languages and Societies | Religion Comments Heather J. Sharkey's review of American Priestess: The Extraordinary Story of Anna Spafford and the American Colony in Jerusalem by Jane Fletcher Geniesse. This review is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/nelc_papers/4 734 MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL counts are, in parts, ratherelliptic. Geniesse tells the story of Horatio Spaf ? The book's analytical as opposed to ford and his Norwegian-born wife Anna, ? documentary value would also have been who arrived in Jerusalem in 1881 as leaders enhanced by a substantial engagement with of a small group of Chicagoans known as existing writings on monarchical rule, no the "Overcomers." The group's ostensible tablyMichael Herb's All in theFamily, the goal was to witness the second coming of main poUtical science work on familypolitics Christ, though the Spaffords themselves had and succession issues inMENA monarchies. another purpose. Horatio had squandered A book of this scope will always con $100,000 of his own and others' money; he tain some mistakes. Yet, given its ambition was fleeing from debt and the law. In time, as compendium, a bit more editing and fact Anna Spafford presided over the creation of checking could have helped tomake it the a Jerusalem commune that became known undisputed standard reference of the field. as the "American Colony," even though The Saudi section alone contains a number many of those who joined were Swedes. of inaccuracies: King Fahd took the title of Under Anna Spafford's autocracy, and "Custodian of theTwo Holy Mosques" not following a period of hand-to-mouth living, in 1995 (p. 80), but in 1986. Saudi Prince the Overcomers went into the hotel busi Waleed does not have a 14% share of Citi ness and tourist trinket trade, and saw their corp (p. 267), but a 4.4% share. The Saudi enterprise flourish. The American Colony state's comptroller-general in the 1950s and eventually won the respect of many local 1960s was not Musaid bin Abdulaziz (p. Muslims, Christians, and Jews because its 270) (who was a religious recluse), butMu members did not proselytize and because said bin Abdulrahman, an uncle of Kings they unstintingly helped the destitute and Saud and Faysal, and probably the most sick. The American Colony also won appre important princely technocrat before 1975. ciation from rich touristswho stayed in their The ruling family in 1992 contained hun lodgings without realizing that the Colony dreds of grandsons of the founder king Ab children who carried their luggage, made dulaziz rather than "more than 60" (p. 240). theirmeals, and did their laundry had been Page 247 contains contradictory information yanked out of school just to serve them. saw the and about King Khalid's maternal background. Outsiders seldom strange This being said, Kechichian has done a seamy side of the group's practices. Its considerable service toMiddle East studies members yielded to dictates from Anna by assembling by far themost comprehen Spafford, who claimed to receive messages sive source book onMiddle East monarchies fromGod. These messages ordered Colony to date. Shot throughwith new insights and members to practice firstcelibacy and later nuggets of previously unavailable informa the sharing of beds (swapping husbands tion, thebook will be a resource that scholars and wives and placing young girls with will gratefullymine formany years to come. older men), as a way of testing their ability to resist temptation. (Many failed the test.) from Dr. SteffenHertog, Sciences Po, Paris Spafford separated parents offspring, discouraged children from getting toomuch American Priestess: The Extraordi education, forbade reading for pleasure, saw that were nary Story ofAnna Spafford and the misbehaving youngsters stripped followers American Colony in Jerusalem, by Jane naked and whipped, and provided Fletcher Geniesse. New York: Nan A. with meager meals. However, she exempted from Talese, 2008. xvii + 313 pages. Acknowl. her own daughters, Bertha and Grace, that received to p. 316. Notes to p. 348. Bibl. to p. 364. this regimen, and insured they in Index to p. 378. French and piano tutoring (and good food) addition to academic training.When Bertha reached Anna received a Reviewed Heather J. maturity, Spafford by Sharkey on "message" relaxing the ban marriages. When Bertha went into childbirth, Spafford In this riveting account, Jane Fletcher relaxed theban on seeking professional med MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL 735 ical help (since she had for years insisted on After reaching Jerusalem in 1881, the the exclusive healing power of prayers). Spaffords and their fellow Overcomers had Periodically, a member of die American initially sympathized with the Jewish return Colony would escape, bringing news of the to Palestine, which they regarded as a pre Spaffords' abuses to the attention of Ameri requisite for Christ's second coming. Per cans consuls. One consul in particular, the haps the most surprising turn in their his Reverend Selah Merrill, was so appalled tory is that they did not become Christian that he sent regular reports to theUS State Zionists, as the term is now understood, and Department, which filed them away. Protes that theywatched the Jewish Zionists' state tant missionaries in Jerusalem also were ap like organization with mounting unease. By palled, and shunned the group. Perhaps mis the timeWorld War I ended, Anna Spafford sionaries had heard, for example, of Anna and themembers of theAmerican Colony Spafford's belief thatdeath, however caused had developed a vision of a Jerusalem that (by heart attack, tuberculosis, or otherwise), would be open to all people who called it was God's punishment for an individual's theirhome, including theArab Muslims and sin and that she herself, being blameless, Christians of Palestine. would never die. But Anna did die, in 1923, leaving her followers stunned and adrift. Heather J. Sharkey, the author ofAmerican The American soon as a Colony collapsed Evangelicals inEgypt: Missionary Encoun and an acrimonious over religious cult, fight ters in an Age of Empire (Princeton Uni assets ensued. Anna's Ber Colony daughter versityPress, 2008), isAssociate Professor tha obtained control of theAmerican Colo ofMiddle Eastern Studies at theUniversity ny Hotel, which flourishes even today, and of Pennsylvania. devoted her spare energies to social service. Years later,King Husayn of Jordan awarded Bertha the Jordanian Star in recognition of WATER her work on behalf of Jerusalem's children, her "the Christian woman ever making only Cooperating Rivals: The Riparian Poli to have received thathonor" (p. 309). tics of the Jordan River Basin, by Jeffrey Geniesse's occasional insertion of imag K. Sosland. Albany, NY: State University ined dialogue and of stereotyped summaries of New York Press, 2007. xii + 212 pages. ofMiddle Eastern history (e.g., her dismiss Notes to p. 275. Selected Bibl. to p. 284. as a al of the Sudanese Mahdist movement Index to p. 293. $80 cloth; $25.95 paper. "revolt byMuslim fanatics" [p. 124], and re 1860 civil war inMount Leba duction ofthe Reviewed by Anders Jdgerskog non to a "terrifyingmassacre of Christians" [p. 184]) weakens the book. Nevertheless, The book under review focuses on the Geniesse succeeds in this of bringing story riparian politics of the Jordan River Basin, theAmerican and the result is Colony alive, covering both the bilateral tracks as well as a memorable account. Particularly fascinat the multilateral track.While many books ing is the way she connects the Spaffords have been written on the Jordan River Ba to like L. contemporaries Dwight Moody, sin, JeffreyK. Sosland's contribution to themost American of popular evangelical the debate is welcome in particular as itof the 19th Eliezer ben who century; Yehuda, fers a very detailed expose of the linkages themodern revival of engineered Hebrew; between water issues and the wider politi Charles the British who Gordon, general cal developments and conflicts. The book later died in Khartoum; Djemal Pasha, the dwells on two main issues: the usefulness Turk who over theOttoman on Young presided of functional cooperation water in the re in Palestine World War and army during I; gion and the relatedmatter of whether third Selma the Swedish whose Lagerlof, writer, parties should facilitate such cooperation.

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