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, portraying cult leader Jim Jones as the loving father of the "Rainbow Family".]] The Peoples Temple was a Cult that is best known for a Mass Suicide at Jonestown , Guyana , on November 18 , 1978 . The Temple was founded in 1953 , at Indianapolis, Indiana , USA , by Reverend Jim Jones . ORIGIN In Indianapolis, and at the Californian cities of Ukiah , San Francisco , and Los Angeles , where Jones extended new branches of his church, they earned a reputation for aiding the cities' poorest citizens, especially racial minorities, Drug Addict s, and the Homeless . Soup Kitchen s, Daycare centers, and medical Clinic s for elderly people were set up, along with counseling programs for Prostitute s and Drug Addicts who wanted to change their lives. CONTROVERSY Several disturbing accounts began to surface as a small number of members began to leave the cult. It was reported that Jones stole from his followers, faked miracle healings, punished members severely, practiced Sodomy , and considered himself the new Messiah . By now, Journalist s, law enforcement officials, and Politician s were showing interest in Jones' group. Jim Jones reacted with frequent long and angry speeches, where he claimed that the defectors lied, and the outside world was trying to destroy them. At the time, more former members told of beatings and abuse within the Peoples Temple, and relatives of members insisted that members were being forced to remain there against their will. Move to Guyana Jones reacted by moving his sized church, over 800 followers, to Guyana . The followers were promised a tropical paradise, free from the wickedness of the outside world, but when they arrived, they were forced to work by Jones' orders, and together they built Jonestown . Visit by Congressman Ryan In November 1978, the cult was visited by Leo Ryan , a United States Congressman from California, who was investigating claims of abuse. A number of Temple members expressed a desire to leave along with the Congressman, and the entire group went to the local airstrip. Temple security guards fired on the group, killing Congressman Ryan, three journalists, and a Temple member who wanted to leave. The shootings were captured on film by one of the journalists who died in the attack. Jonestown Massacre Later the day, Jones ordered his congregation to drink a Cyanide -laced fruit drink in the Jonestown Mass Suicide . Those who resisted were shot, Strangled or injected with cyanide. Jones was found with a gunshot wound in his head. Upon investigation his body contained high doses of drugs. In all, 913 people died, including 276 children (some say 911 died; see Jonestown for details). Aftermath Shortly after the mass suicide, the building housing the Peoples Temple in San Francisco — located at 1859 Geary Boulevard in the city's Western Addition neighborhood — was demolished, and the property remained undeveloped until the United States Postal Service opened a Post Office at the site more than two decades later. The temple's Telephone number — Walnut 1-9654 — has never been re-assigned to another customer. SIMILAR NAMES ''The Peoples Temple'' is not to be confused with ''The Temple of the People'', a non-denominational religious organization headquartered at Halcyon, California , or the Peoples Church , an independent church affiliated with the Assemblies of God in Fresno, California. In addition, it should be noted that the church's official documents generally omitted the apostrophe in the name, thus this is considered 'correct'. QUOTE
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