University Dally Kansan
Monday, November 20, 1978
2
People's Temple sect has embroiled history
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—The killings of Congressman Leo Ryan of California and three newsmen in Guyana was the latest and most gruesome incident in a 20-year saga of intrigue and controversy surrounding simple and its under the Rev. Jim Jones.
Conceived in Indianapolis in the 1960s with the awowed purpose of breaking down class distinctions, the Temple moved to Redwood Valley, Calif., in the late 1980s and then here
A sophisticated political manipulator, Jones became a potent force in San Francisco almost overnight, organizing 5,000 Temple members who worshiped in his church each Sunday into a task force of volunteers—a host of liberal political campaigns.
JONES, 46, is married and has seven children. He was born in Indiana, the son of a poor couple. He was married at 18 and formed his first church the same year, but moved later it here because he found Indiana's social climate racist.
At one time, Jones listed among his friends California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone.
Moscone appointed Jones chairman of the city Housing Authority after the People's temple helped Moscone win the mayoral election in 1975.
BUT JONES' star began to fade after a series of allegations by disgruntled former members who complained that Jones rubs his following with an iron hand.
They said his methods of control included fake healings, physical beatings and exhausting work schedules. They accused him of extorting huge sums of money and issuing death threats to anyone who strayyed from the church or did anything to discredit him.
Published reports also said members were required to confess in writing to crimes they hadn't committed, including molesting their own children, stealing large amounts of money and conspiring to kill the president and overthrow the government.
THE RIGID discipline was designed, former members said, to toughen and unite members so they could survive a nuclear attack. But the United States, which Jones had predicted.
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Former members said Jones' following submitted to his authoritarian regime because his rules and rituals left them in a state of subordination on the church, terrified and branished.
Jones called the allegations "outrageous lies," but resigned from the Housing Authority in August 1977 and went to work with lawyers to establish an agricultural colony.
IN SAN FRANCISCO yesterday afternoon, Archie James, a representative of the group, denied that any members of the full-sect staged the ambush that killed NRAF.
"We are nonviolent people," he said.
"Whatever the circumstances of the airstrip incident, it is not the kind of action anyone within the Tempel would ever precipitate."
The extent of the church's holding is unknown, but the Temple holds title to at least 25 pieces of property in Ukiah, Calif., and properties valued at an estimated $1.5 million in Mendocino and San Francisco counties.
Monday, Nov. 20
THE BIG CLOCK
(1948)
Jon, Drow Johnw, with Ray Milland,
Mauren O'Sullivan, Charles Laughton,
Elsa Lancaster. First rate murder mystery.
$1.00 7:30 pm Forum Room
Monday, Nov. 27
WHATEVER HAPPENED
TO BABY JANE?
(1962)
Dir. Robert Aldrich, with Bette Davis, Jean Crawford, Victor Buono, One of the best Gothic horror films of the 60s. Delilahly a shocker!
$1.00 7:30 pm Woodruff Aud.
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Shirley MacLaine's Trip to China:
THE OTHER HALF OF
THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR
(1974)
Dir. Shirr, MacLaine and Claudia Willl. Fascinating record of the experiences of 7 American women, and 18 British women, in 1972 to visit the People's Republic. 1972
-plus-
GEOGRAPHY OF THE BODY
and
GWEN/MIME
Two short films.
$1.00    7:30 pm    Woodruff Aud.
Wednesday, Nov. 29
Robert Bresson:
UNE FEMME DOUCE
Dir. Robert Bresson, with Dominga Sanda, Gouy Faginine, Jane Lobre Bresson's first color film, based on the book by Doyleaux, published on behalf
$1.00 7:30 pm Woodruff Aud.
(1969)
KANSAN
A burglary in $2,000 in glass art was stolen from the KU department of design and glass blowing. 244W. 18th ST., touched by a knife on its front.
Police Beat
Lawrence police reported several thefts in the city during the week. At least five of the thefts involved KU students.
Police said Kindred both valves at $200. The theft occurred between 3 p.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
Police said that the theft occurred Saturday night and that the pump was valued at $3,000.
Louse Kindred, Route 1 Eudora, the theft of two calves from the Lawrence Livestock Sale Barn, 900 E. 11th St.
Karol Fitzgerald, Old Bridge, N.J., junior. 2024 oustad Road, response that a burglar broke into her home early Friday and Tuesday.
A bust of an Indian was stolen from the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, 140 Louisiana St. The bust was valued at $1,000.
Marc Penner, Imman senior, 33 VV Camden Manor, reported the theft of a wheel and tire from her car, which was parked at her
In two other brief reports, about $450 in album was stolen early Friday from J. Watson's, at the intersection of Ninth and Fourth Avenue.
McNerny valued the radio at $15 and the speakers at $each.
OTHER REPORTS included the theft of a gas pump from
Nashville, the theft of a refrigerator from El Paso,
and the theft of a refrigerator from Chicago.
Mike Robertson, Fairway freshman, 1025 Emery Road, reported the theft of a shotgun from his car.
POLICE SAID Penner valued the loss at $75.
Police said someone apparently had stayed in the disco after it closed at 2 a.m. Friday.
Danouch, 124th Rhode Island St., reported that a burglar sale a $200 stare receiver from his unlocked home Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at the Masonic Temple in Ridgewood.
Police said the theft occurred either in the parking lot near Robertson's home or in a nacking lot at 2411 Louisiana Age.
And the manager of Hillcrest Bowl, at the intersection of Ninth and Iowa streets, reported the theft of a $95 bowling ball.
James McNerney, Overland Park junior, 1111 W. 11th St,
reported that he was an AM-FM cassette tape player and two
drones in car. He said he had been hit by one of them.
Robertson told police the theft occurred between 6 p.m.
Tuesday and noon Wednesday. The gun was valued at $129.
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