The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-21
THE M0RMONs IN GEORGIA.
History OF tho Rise Of the Feud-Proselytes
Scattered Through the Upper Portion OF
tho State.


Scattered Through the Upper Portion OF
tho State.
The killing of Joseph Standing, the
young Mormon elder, in North Georgia,
has created discussion all over the coun.
try. The interest that has been drawn
to the section in which he was killed has
brought out some interesting facts con-
cernlng the progress made by the Nor
mons there. Let us permise what
We have to say by remarking that no one
can tell why the Mormons have devoted
80 much time to the counties of Cherokee
Georgia, in which they have been work.
ing SO long. They are not to be found
elsewhere, but they seem to be determiu-
ed upon captivating the section spoken
OF. The Mormons sent their emissery
into Georgia about seven years ago.
This man was named Morgan, and is
described as an extraordinary person.
lie was brave, aggressive, shifty and e;o-
quent. He begged no quarter and
made no concessions, but went ahead
preaching his faith as one inspired.
Nothing could daunt him aud very few
men could argue with him. He was
thoroughly prepared upon all points of
his faith, and he argued it everywhere.
AS might be expected, he made converts.
AT first there were only one or two, but
he gradually brought more over, until he
had them scattered over Walker and tho
adjoining counties pretty freely. Then he
summoned new elders, who came out to
mid him. Since then fully one dozen
have been sent into this section. They
were all under the direction of Elder
Morgan, who was after while made
Superintendent of Missions in the
South"
The ground most closely occupied by
these proselyting elders was Chattooga
county (the half this side of the noun
tains,) Walker county, Cattoosa, Whit.
field. They have established q post or
two i'll Floyd county and in Murray and
Dade, and have gone into Pickens and
Fannin. They drifted on toward Ten
nesseo and North Carolina, appearing to
shun the railroad and stick to the noun
tninous districts. They have made many
converts in these counties. and have es-
tablished what they call flocks in many
neighborhoods. Their policy is not, as
has been supposed, to take all their con-
vcrts to Utah. The truth is they take
only a small portion of them. At one
time they took over forty converts on one
train, the crowd being gathered from
several counties. At various other times
they have sent patches Of ten or twevle.
1t is probable that 150 or 200 will cover
all that they have sent out from north
Georgia. These people were mostly poor
and shiftless folks, and generally past
middle age. One or two pretty girls are
known to have gone, but the most of the
women were old and ugly and not liable
10 be pressed into polygamic relations.
Many husbands aud wives went, the
wives insisting that rs the Mormons based
their polygamic theory upon the fact
that Rachael selected new wives for ia
cob, they would be allowed to select new
wives for their husbands, whenever, if
ever, like Rachael, they deemed it neces-
sary.
But the elders made many converts
that still live in Georgia. These are
persons who are Mormons in everything,
save that they do not attempt to practice
under Georgia laws the polygamic part
of their creed. They believe in the book
OF Mormon-in the divine inspiration of
Joe Smith-and in oil theory and teach
ing of the Mormon Church. They have
been babtizsd by the elders and are
AAeE :. 40 E=alHLr. nIa llgen
as headquarters. These native Nor
mons are scattered throughout the vari-
ous counties, in what exact number it is
hard to tell. They are usually quiet, il
literate people of small means, but there
are some few families of property and
intelligence, which have embraced this
faith. When they once become convert
ed they are never reclaimed. The elders
fhrOt,nh hn ~ rot,it IL
them. pray with them, and attend to
their spiritual wants, Just as other preach.
ers do with their churches. They have
even organized conference of the sew
eral congregations of native converts.
Joseph Standing was the presiding elder
of THE conference, aud was on his wav to
Romo to attend conference meeting
when he was killed. In talk with Sem.
ators Hawkins, of Chattooga, and Glenn
ents, of Walker, they both expressed the.
belief that the cause was progressing
and growing stronger. "They are gradu-
ally getting new vonverts," eaid Mr..
Hawkins, "and hear they never loose
single one" A most excellent preacher
from Whitfield told us that he occasion.
ally heard of some member of his own or
other churches who WAC turned to Nor
monism.
We learn that there has never been
any trouble from mob law throughout
the ai-cai: generally. The elders have
preached in the Court House Of probably
every county, have had good audiences
and have never been disturbed. They
preached, we believe, once or twice in the 1
city hall or Court House at Rome. They
have never been annoyed or threatened
that we can hear of, except Mt Varnells
station. They have had fair and courte-
Gus treatment. At first they attracted
crowds through curiosity, and at last
built up regular congregations. The
people have become used TO them and
take no notice Of them.
These elders have been singularly cir
cumspect and careful They have not
preached liccntious doctrines at all, but
have kept the polygaElic feature of their
religion in the background. Even when
asked II polygamy is allowed in Utah,
they reply: "We have our marriage
customs and you have yours. We shall
not interfere with yours, and you ought
not to interfere with ours" OF course
there has been great deal of general
scandal about the morality of these ell
ders, but we could find no man who be-
lieved it. Said one gentleman: / do
not know of single case where they
have been guilty of immoral practices,
even among the families of their 'saints.'"
They seem to be Dent upon their work of
proseiyting and upon nothing eise. TT
this they devoted all their energies and
their lives.
1t appears that there has heen consid-
erable trouble at the little station of
Varnells. Some Of the people there, it
seams. we're determined not to submit to