The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-03-18
From the Detroit Tribune.
Mormonism in Canada.

N<1SAko4A Al 00uoAos
For several months past a man named
John Shippy, protesting to be disciple
OF Mormonisu, has been holding meetings
in various parts Of the Western portion Of
Canada for the ostensible purpose of ecop-
verting" people to that faith. He has
visited nearly every hamlet aud town, in
Guiding in bis circuit the settlements of
OF old country people, among whom he
bas created considerable .farore, until, it is
stated, he has enrolled hundreds who have
accepted that as the true faith. Being a
good speaker, il is not to be wondered that
heshas played upon the credulity of the
more ignorant portion of the community
The matter became so serious as to call
forth strenuous exertions from various
ministers Of the Gospel. Shippy's char
acter was assailed BY ministers and con-
gregations, In the pulpit and out Of it, to
such an extent that the intelligence was
communicated to him. Not relishing
this style of procedure, Shippy singled
out one Elder Duncan, Baptist minister,
as the most obdurate adversary, to whom
he forthwith issued challenge to meet
him at any given time and place, and dis.
cuss the principles of religious faith in
public. This challenge was published sew
eral weeks since in the Chatham Planet,
and after being urged by many friends,
Elder Duncan accepted the same, and
chose the Town Hall, Chatham, as the
place where the debate should take place.
and Thursday, Friday and Saturday last
as the time. So
The discussion drew out an immense
crowd, and when the speaking began on
Thursday the hal.was filled to excess, and
many were compelled to remain on the
outside. "Saint" Shippy opened the con-
troversy, and his remarks were attentively
listened to all day. Friday, Elder Duncan
followed, and those who were present in
form us that he handled the "Saint' with.
out gloves, and gave him and his faith
the hardest kind of knocks. Toward the
close of Saturdays speaking the excite
ment increased, and when the debate was
being announced as closed, the crowd arose
and rush was made for the "saint." A
large police force present, however, fol
the time being kept him from harm bu,
at given signal, stones, clubs and othei
missiles were promiscuously thrown at the
"saint."
As the hall contained many ladies', the
fear of injuring some of them put STOP
to these proceedings The officers took
charge of Shippy and endeavoured to con,
vey him to the door, but they had no soon.
er reached the centre of the hall ere they
were assailed and their charge forcibly
taken possession Of Threats Of vengeance
were freely used. In his efforts to get
down the stairway he received many kicks
and bruises, but finally reached the street,
where he was hurried off by the police,
and placed out of danger. Thus ended
the Mormon controversy, which had crea.
ted so much stir in Chatham.
The reason assigned for the rough usage
of Shippy was that he had been but recent.
ly discharged from the Canadian Peniten-
tiary, of which he had been an inmate for
two years, aud that his conduct had been
outrageously indecent during his stay in
Blenheim, near Chatham.