The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-17 00:00:00

RIOT AT THE MORMON CHAPEL,

SPALDING.

On Sunday afternoon a great disturbance was
caused in the neighbourhood of Double-street, Her-
ring-lane, and Broad-street, by the proceedings of the
Mormons, or Latter-day Saints.

As we announced some time back, these people
have opened a room (attached to the Crane Inn, for-
merly used as a dancing-roam), as a place of worship.
Hiving announced at the close of their services that
the " elder," by whom they were conduced, would
readily answer any questions which might be put to
him, several parties, on the Sunday afternoon and
evening previous, went and questioned the " elder;
so as quite to dumfound that worthy. In order to
prevent the repeti►ion of an occurrence so likely to
deter others from joining, and so calculated even to
shake the faith of some of the elect themselves in their
system of belief, a council of war was held, and it was
determined to prevent the admission of any, save the
elect, or those introduced by them. Unaware of this,
great numbers presented themselves at the doors on
Sunday afternoon last, but were denied admittance

by a "saint" placed outside. One gentleman, upon
being so denied, politely inquired of the individual
if he were placed there as a specimen of the inside
lot, at the same time expressing an opinion, that if that
were the case, admission among such a scurvy crew
would be by no means desirable. The " saint" cer-
tainly bore the taunts with which he was assailed by
the assembled mob with exemplary patience, but when
a great addition to their numbers caused them to grow
bolder, and threats of storming the fortress were in-
dulged in, he thought it prudent to retire within.
Soon a party led the way to the attack ; the door was
torn open, but here an unexpected obstacle presented
itself in the shape of a huge, burly fellow, armed with
a rolling-pin, who completely blocked up the "strait
and narrow" staircase leading to the Mormon elysium.
The mob, however, were not to be thus baulked ; a
desperate onslaught was made; and about 30 of the
assailants made their entrée into the place. The
superintendent of police then arrived, and, after quiet-
ing the mob outside (which was very large), entered
the chapel. Several of the right sort were then ad-
mitted, but the mob were determined that, as they
could not get in, no one else should, and for some time
barricaded the door effectually, preventing all ingress
or egresP. Notwithstanding the uproar, the " saints"
endeavoured to proceed with their service, but even
while singing the sound was at times completely over-
powered bythe yells and cries of the mob and the scuffling
upon the staircase. After peace was partially re-
stored, the elder commenced a harangue, in which he
stated his belief that every person in the town of
Spalding was undoubtedly doomed to everlasting
damnation, save and except himself and a chosen few,
who had their salvation entirely in their own hands,
with power to save just whom they might feel disposed.
At first be began in a hesitating strain, but warmed
as he got more into the subject, tossing •his arms
about wildly, shaking his head, stamping his feet, and
raving frantically, till he quite foamed at the mouth,
and at last, from sheer exhaustion, he sat down.
Upon this a respectable looking young man stepped
forth, politely requesting to be allowed to put a few
questions to the maniac—a request which, after some
consideration, was agreed to. Several straightforward
questions were then proposed, but the " elder," in-
stead of quietly answering, commenced a denuncia-
tion of the sinfulness of those assembled. Not in the
least daunted, the questioner manfully kept his
ground, and the Mormons, not being prepared to an-
swer, and seeing it impossible to put him down, raised
a cry of " Turn him out." This was easier said than
done; part sided with the Mormons, and part
against them, and a general fight ensued, bonnets
were broken, coats torn, and hats smashed. The
mob outside, bearing the row within, made a rush,
and another section gakied admittance. The ques-
tioner got his coat slit up the back by a Mormon,
who, in return, was rather roughly handled. The
police, after a time, again restored quiet. A hymn
was then sung, and the meeting separated.
In the evening a second meeting was held, and a
large mob collected in front of the place, but owing
to the precautionary measures which had been taken,
no disturbance of any consequence. took place.
Application, it is reported, is about to be made to
the magistrates to license the room for public wor