In September 1972, Lester Kinsolving, an ordained Episcopal priest and religion editor for the San Francisco Examiner<\/i>, wrote an eight-part series of articles that documented allegations of physical abuse, financial misdeeds, and suspect theology within Peoples Temple. It was the most extensive \u2013 and most critical \u2013 coverage of the Temple to that date, raising issues that would not be explored again for five years, with the publication of the New West<\/i> article in August 1977.<\/p>\n
The first four articles ridiculed Jim Jones\u2019 claims of divinity and his ability to raise the dead, criticized questionable financial dealings, and exposed the involvement of Mendocino County employees and public officials in the Temple.<\/p>\n
Temple members mobilized to write letters to the editor of the Examiner<\/i> and picketed the newspaper\u2019s offices in protest. The Examiner<\/i> dropped the final four articles slated for the series, but whether the editors had succumbed to the Temple\u2019s pressure is still open to question.<\/p>\n
The four unpublished articles in the series charged that the Temple was responsible for the death of Temple member Maxine Harpe, that Jones had defamed an African American pastor by alleging he had propositioned two young girls, and that the Temple had armed guards in Redwood Valley. Kinsolving also reported that members were punished in group meetings for crimes against the church, noting the example of a young boy being forced to eat his own vomit.<\/p>\n
THE PROPHET WHO RAISES THE DEAD<\/a>, September 17, 1972 Unpublished
\n\u201cHEALING\u201d PROPHET HAILED AS GOD AT S.F. REVIVAL<\/a>, September 18, 1972
\nD.A. AIDE OFFICIATES FOR MINOR BRIDE<\/a>, September 19, 1972
\nPROBE ASKED OF PEOPLE\u2019S TEMPLE<\/a>, September 20, 1972<\/p>\n
\nTHE PEOPLE\u2019S TEMPLE AND MAXINE HARPE<\/a>
\nTHE REINCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST — IN UKIAH<\/a>
\nJIM JONES DEFAMES A BLACK PASTOR<\/a>
\nSEX, SOCIALISM, AND CHILD TORTURE WITH REV. JIM JONES<\/a><\/p>\n