The Vanishing Messiah

Fascinating story about a fascinating figure.

What an interesting read! Wetzel stumbled upon this fascinating man in the course of doing other research, but wasn't able to leave questions unanswered and I can't blame him. Schaltter was a character I couldn't even dream up. The fact that he actually existed makes for a great story.

As told by the description of the book this is a tale of a faith healer who came to national fame just before the turn of the century. The first part of the book tells story of his rise and sudden disappearance. The second part is a forensic study into one of the Schlatter "impostors" who showed up after his reported death in Mexico. The author is certain that this particular man was actually Schlatter, and tells the story of how he came to this conclusion. He even lists all of the evidence out in an Appendix for easier review. Why did he fake his death, and later write another book contradicting key parts of his earlier tale? Lots of reasons are put forward, but the ultimate answer is pretty open, and is left that way by the author.

All in all this was a well written, meticulously researched book about a man who, at the very least, people believed was a genuine faith healer. It's the story of his personal creed, his disappearance, and how it all leads back into a prophecy from his childhood. Great story, although I'm left at the end wondering if Martin really was Schaltter... I guess we won't ever know for certain, but it's fun to read about nonetheless.

Completely fascinating, meticulously researched, and well-written narrative nonfiction about a divine(ly crazy) figure from American history whose legacy seems to have vanished, just as he himself so often did. In addition to being an account of this mysterious, alleged-faith-based healer's life, the book also follows the lives and assorted odd details of characters who impersonated the original Francis Schlatter after his publicized, suspicious death (even the facts about that aren't completely certain, even now.) Such a strange little corner of history and a bizarre, otherworldly, or maybe just all too worldly, man who was able to take advantage of the impressionable beliefs of the time, seemingly fueled by his own mental torments.

It's very well written, supplemented with photos, letters and various related bits and pieces of historical significance. Although I usually dislike when an author inserts themselves into the story or history they're telling, talking about their research or places they visited in connection with the subject, it was so nicely done when it happened here and added a lot of atmosphere rather than detracting from the story.

One of many surprises is that the book was only really possible thanks to two women who played significant parts in Schlatter's story. They both wrote about his life and works and kept records that allowed much of the story to be pieced together by the author. Amazing to think how easily stories like this could've been lost, and how narrowly it made it down through history. So glad this one did!

Recommended for any reader of narrative nonfiction and lovers of American history or of kooky, true religious stories (think Going Clear, Under the Banner of Heaven).

Very interesting! History buffs and folks that love random information this book is for you!
I had never heard of this story before. It was intriguing, well written and well researched (I feel, I haven't done any research myself though.)

Gone guru

The Vanishing Messiah: The Life and Resurrections of Francis Schlatter by David N. Wetzel (University of Iowa Press, $19.95).

Looking like the blue-eyed, white Jesus still found in portraits on the walls of true believers, Francis Schlatter didn’t have far to go to convince westerners of 1895 that he was the real deal. He had multitudes waiting around to hear from him and established clergy ready to lynch him, sorta like the original.

But he’s pretty much vanished from history.

In The Vanishing Messiah: The Life and Resurrections of Francis Schlatter, historian David N. Wetzel traces the tale of an Alsatian immigrant who performed some street miracles in Denver and Albuquerque for large crowds, then was seen walking into Mexico. He disappeared, and later men who claimed to be Schlatter were exposed as frauds.

Eventually forgotten, in Wetzel’s portrait, Schlatter’s every bit as fascinating as any popular evangelist, with an added bit of mystery. Did he get a normal life in Mexico, with a wife and some kids, or did his bones bleach in the desert?

Or maybe the Big Guy has plans to send him around again.