Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-06

this luncJuTe JHC COlu SnO -.
turned toward him by the good cltl-
zens Of this town, and seeing that ne
had driven the people from him, and
lost his influence, he shook the dust OF
T~,erinvton from his feet, and hied him
awayto the rural districts of the coun-
ty in search Of those upon whom ne
could more easily impose. lie inquired
ola leading citizen Of the Twentieth
district for the most ignorant settle
ment in the County, and vas lacOnlc-
allv informed that he was then
in the midst of what he desired-dense
Ignorance whereupon he pitched his
| tent and proceeded to promulgate the
tenets Of his lustful and pernleloqs
faith. His first discourses were well
received and much %applauded by sew,
eral Of the most prominent citizens OF
the district, and it was evident that
he was destined to reap a bountitul
harvest from the seed he was sowing.
He was a man of fine though unas-
Stunning appearance, gifted by nature
with remarkable powers Of eloqqenee,
and evidently possessed of a good edu-
cation. He began a system OF preach
ing and practice that surpassed any
thing known since the palmy days OF
Brigham Young, combining his labors
chiefly to the section Of country lying
between Berkett's and Haley's creeks,
where he had many proselytes, some OF
! whom are practicing and preaching
NOW after the manner Of this modern
Messiah. His services were COM
] menced after the usual manner, with
singing and prayer. He would preach
9 from several texts and read a good deal
= of Scripture in each sermon. The
# massage upon which his doctrine was
founded was as follows: Add tC
d your faith virtue, and to virtue knowl-
n edge. and to knowledge temperance
and to temperance patience, and x
patience gOdliness, and to godllnes'
brotherly Kindness, and to brotherly
Il lkindness charity" He taught thai
!. his religion was composed OF seven
!. distinct ingredients, based on the fore
IS going Craces. and that having taken al
is the degrees it was impossible for nj
ID disciples to sin, no matter what the.
q did.
= In administering the first degree b
ID extended to the applicant the rlgh
st hand Of fellowship and whispered /
ar his ear what he was pleased to teri
az the Secret Of the Lord, and whic
was not TO be revealed under penalt
a 0f death Aman could go no furtheI
% or was unable to take the second d
AZ gree without a woman applicant, as
was necessary 10 add to his faith vi
tue.
81 This vas done By requiring the cal
didafes. male and female, to share Il
same BED for one night The marie
o. men in taking this degree had to e
On change wiyeE Edge divided b
Ia p~roselves into classes, with an old o
HI each elass-slWayga wgman-whI'
he took unto himself This he CALI
M Bringing from under the civil lay
en- and seemed TO be the all-absorbl
Ia, feature Of his doctrine. He taug
~ by this process the women became I
common property Of the church.
" man had his own wife, and no wife
own husband. They knew 10 diff
rate ence, and consequently could DO
harm. and was done in order 70 destl
The passion Of the sexes
iade After al had become y%irtuous, Il
son- were prepared for the second degre0
knoviedge. Fortitude and enduraI
were required IN this second step,
i Il was necessary that they should
the three days and nights. All the c
didates repaired to the place Of y
re-. din. and neither ate, drank nor 8
durine the time, lest they should
tempted. On the last day Of the
tate they we're required 70 strip themsel
ctlye men and women, and lay IN the v
how an hour. and dip themselves 50
.;tpre times. This was supposed 70 pu
- and bring them out fully from a.
9 pun the law Edge, ia this process,
w Of his converts be ~persOnated Moses,
genty commanded them 70 lay aside rain
,oden for they stood % holy ground.
I~u After the second degree they
lalisS supposed 10 be in full possessio
'Vuh" the gpirit, and not capable Of sin.
could add the other virtues, ten
lance. patience, elc,. which comp
pup the seven degrees. lie told them
! the they must do all this 10 order 70 Q
ing in a state Of sinless perfection; aud
d for the administration 81 the aboYt
tho grees he impaired the Holy CHI
them by the laying on Of bands, '
'isehO' qualified them foF the Lord to p
ng was and work through that the
with a nothing Of themselves but were
nassau ly Instruments of the Lord, and
49, wise responsible for their acts.
inis" told bis disciples that he doscl
home from the skies in a meteora few
70 con before he made his appearan
charge. them, and could carry them
obot,o place where he fell, and show
his tracks leaving the sacred spo
ra 70 a claimed that bis spirit in hir
Ter all, been preaching 1900 years, Il
n~nessee was a priest after the order o.
novor chisedech; was Christ manifest
flesh had been beheaded had
70" WAC from the dead, and was a mind
lg man, and would tell the members
corpse, church that he could see little
hooting on their heads and making y
e left a him, WhsS they would not TAX
! one TO seats. lie seemed 70 haye az
seek no great power over the simple nil
for his both sexes, and could lead the
ANYTHING be desired. When b.