Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-06-06
Disgusting Practices in the Church.

| PIHclCeS lu t1e phOrulon ClurCn. we eX-
tract the following:
Facts constitute the most effective mcdi.
um OF giving you realizing sense of our
condition in This TPrr,ory-so | proceed
with the relation of further Incidents illus
tratIve OF wha; is going on about us, to the
truth Of which | am able to bear ample tes-
timony. On Christmas night, young wo-
man who had recently arrived by the hand
cart train, committed suicide by cutting her
throat. She had travelled thousands of
miles on foot, suffering great priva,ions and
fatigue, but cheered on the tiresome path by
the confident expectation that when her
Journey should be ended she would ind
abundant consolation in the mileniM pleas.
ures of this Zion" Ike thousands before
her, whom religious zeal had led TO forsake
home, kindred and friends for this distant
land, she had honestly abandoned all TOR
Chrisl's sake" assured that she could here
lead pure and holy life, safely removed
ed world. How sadly was she disappoint-
ed
On her arrival she was taken into one of
the Mormon families. Pleasing the fancy
of its besotted head. he proposed TO take.
her for one of his "spirituals" Being nat
urNlly modest and endowed with the self
respect and dclicacy lecoming her sex, she
was unable to overcome the prejudices of
her early education-and so positively re-
fused the insulting overtures. She was
| then informed that she could remain in his
house on no other condition she chose to
abandon it. but soon found every door clos
ed against her. What could she do? Here
was she, homeless and friendless, beyond
the possibility Of escape from her pursuers,
her joyful anticipations Of a life Of piety all
blpsted, and the future presenting not the
least invitation to hope. There seemed no
alternative but pollution or death. and she
chose the latter. Weep, mothers and
daughters of America, over the cruel fate
of this unfortunate sister, and let her mem
DRY nerve YOU to such aid in the quickenng
of public sentiment as shall force the au-
thorities of Washington to prevent the rep
etilon of such wrongs as these,
Mr.. Sutherland, who was killed last year
with Colonel A. w. Babbit, former Secre,a.
ry of State for the Territory, came out here
a Mormon, and was employed by a disaf-
fccted Mormon named Howard, who was
stripped by the church Of all or nearly all
!
confessed his sins, resumed the Mormon
faith, was re- baptised into the church, and
now wants another wife. Mr.. Sutherland
started for the States on business for this
| Howard, very much dissaffectrd towards
| MormonSm when he left. His wife who
remained here, has never been Mormon.
but hes constantly rejected its teachings and
doctrines She was very anxious that her
husband should not return to Utah, and
wrote to him in the States after he lcf',
begging him not to come back, and stating
that she would join him there. IL is doubt
ful whether he ever received the letter, for
it is well known that all such documents not
in the Mormon interest, if sent through the
mail never reach their destination.
When she received tidngs Of his death
she was overwhelmed with grief Some Of
the old Progresses I can use no mildcr
term) called the next day, and attempted to
console her by telling her that he was an
apostate, and had met the fate that all apos
iates must expect; that his friends ought
to rejoice, for bis blood had been shed as an
atouem mt for his sins; and he was thereby
saved from eternal perdiIion. She was fur
thermore exhorted TO give herself no nneas-
lher and better husband in the church,
Such language in the hour OF her sorrow
nearly crazed the poor woman. Size was
consong herself however, with the thought
that she had a friend in Mr. Howard. but
soon found Ihat this last resort had failed
her Howard did not hesitate 10 assist the
Mormons in robhing her of what little prop
erty her husband had left. and added the
last drop to- her cup Of wretchedness by i'm.
portuning her to become one of his spiritual
wives. Among the influences brought In
bear to obtain her consent to this PROPOSE
ton. was that Of the Bishop of the Ward
who came to her, inquired her means oi
subsistence, and then Significantly adVtsed
her TO marry Howard. Nor did her per.
secuion end here.
She had some business with gentleman
mot Mormon )--recen,ly merchant in
ST. Louis, and now connected with The firm,
Of Gilbert d Gerbi>h, of This place--relative
to some Of her husbands affairs, and was
under the necessity OF visiting bis store sew.
eral times. The other day he carried hel
the distance of several blocks in a sleigh to
call on Mrs. Babbif, and from there 10 hen
house. The nextday tho "teachers" of the
Ward (under. oversecr) called upon her and
forbade her going out with or receiving Wis
its from Gentiles, inlimatpg (hat il she fail.
ed to comply she could not remain in the
Ward. The object oft this and similar mens
ures was to reduce her to despniring subju
' CATION and TO such extremity as might force
her to consent 10 be 'sealed'to Howard 81
some other member of the church, although
she has never been herself member, D