Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1877-04-24
THE JosEPHITEs.
IRON the San Francisco Post. March 2cth.l

From the fact that the Mormons ar
rived in this city in large numbers as
early as in l847-came here by the
ship.load-and made California an i'm
portant missionary field ever since the
Pacific coast was acquired by the Uni
ted States. It is not surprising that
the execution of John D. Lee and his
confession should have awakened
more than ordinary interest among
our citizens. The truth is there are
quite number of Mormons in Cali
fornia, Nevada and Oregon, and some
few descpiles in Washington Terrific
ry, and two or three times as many
thousands of persons who have at one
time or another been Mormons, lived
in Utah and apostatized from the
faith, abandoning it altogether and as
sociating themselves with Christian
societies where they reside. These
"apostates," as they are called, as
soon as ever they lost faith in Brig
ham invariably sought to fee from
his rule. joined Gentle trains passing
through Utah, and coming west have
scattered all over the coast. The on
ly organized body of these, however,
is known here as the "Reorganized
Church" of the Latter Day Saints, and
its members profess allegiance to 10,
seph Smith, the eldest son Of their
"martyred prophet" and the founder
of their system. In San francisco
they are not numerous, but they are
respectable, good citizens, eschewing
all the vagaries of polygamy, and de
nouncing the doctrines of "blood
atoning," milking the Gcntiles.
"blind obedience" to the priesthood,
and the other kindred teachings that
have made Utah a veritahle inquisi
tion and pandemonium. Their nun
bers are quite large in San Bernardo
no county, of this state, and Ormsb
county, of Nevada, and they have lit
tie patches of disciples in nearly CIV
cry county of the states and terrific
ries of the Pacific. The present head
quarters of the new organization is a
Plano, ILL.,, where their young prophe
resides; but they adhere to their orig
inal faith, and are moving back again
into Missouri, where they expected t
build up their new Jerusalem. L
this new church the confessions c
Lee are particularly interesting, an
better than any revelations their ow
prophet could give them, and the
mean to make use of it in their prop;
gandism. Yesterday there was t
. have been great outpouring on th
!. subject in the hall of the Grand Arm
of the Republic, on New Montgomer
street. where The branch of deSciple
met; but, through the neglect of tn
deacon to advertise and bring the pul
, lie together, Elder Andrews had to d,
: fer his discourse till he had a large
! audience, and so he and brothers
: Anderson and Belts "bore their test
4 mony," as did dying Lee, to the
faith in the original Joseph as
prophet. An erratic brother, NJ
: something, was boisterous and sal
so many confused things that they ma
Ito IDEAL with him" and suspend hin
It'll he got more sense. As journals
invariably leave the pulpit to thos
better adapted for the work expccte
from it, of course 1--WE took no stocl
in any shade of the Mormon faith; b.
jim looking at the risals of Brigha
Young and Joseph Smith, there
y something to hope from the labors
I the latter in breaking off the shackl'
!, that bind the people Of Utah to tn