Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-01-08
Indiana Mabert's Romance.

A recent correspondence between the
Rev. DIR. J M. Thoburn, pastor of the
Methodist church in Calcutta, and the
Rev. John NJ. Reid, one of the Methodist
missionary secretaries stationed in New
York, has brought to light strange
story of Morrnonism. On the sixth of
March. 1868, child who was named In
diana Mary was born to man named
Mabert, living in Calcutta. Five months
afterward Mrs. Mabert died. and The
child was cared for by Mrs Mcmahon,
her grandmother. In 1865, as the story
runs, the Rev. J. P. Meiks, Mormon
missionary, left Salt Lake City for India,
and on arriving in Calcutta became ac-
quainted with Mrs. McMahon. He sue
ceeded in proselytizing her to his reli-
gion, and one night Mrs. Mcmahon alb
Quoted the child Indiana and fled with
her from the country, accompanied by
Mr.. Meiks. Mr. Mabert started in pur-
suit of the fugitives, but did not succeed
in getting on their track. Mr.. Meiks and
Mrs. McMahon went to Salt Lake City
and the child was placed in the family
of Orson Pratt. A year or two later
Mrs. Mcmahon died and Indiana became
a member of the household of Brigham
Young. Here she remained for two
years, when she went to St. George with
Lucy B. Young, who had been living at
the Lion house, and when she was ten
years old she went to live at Zion with
Dora Young. Here the girl remained
for several years and she was in fair
way to become an orthodox Mormon, rs
at the age of fourteen she went through
the st. George temple and knew little of
anything excepting Mormonism. Her
peculiar position, however, of being
without relatives in Utah and preju-
dice she had conceived against the rites
of the Mormon Church prompted her to
make inquiries with regard to her family,
and she found she had been brought
from Calcutta, where her father was still
living. Last February, Indiana, who is
now about sixteen years of age, wrote to
her father, mailing her letter to Calcutta,
but Mr.. Mabert was in Burnam and the
letter fell into the hands of the Rev. Dr.
Thoburn, who communicated with the
Rev. Mr.. Reid.
Dr. Thoburn announced to Mr.. Reid
that the young girl had relatives in Cal
cutta, who wished to have her restored
to them. and he asked for information as
to whom Indiana was living with and if
she was Mormon. He added that if
would be better for her to remain here,
as her Indian relatives were not at all
wealthy. DR.. Thoburn's letter was sent
to the Rev. Mr.. lift, of Salt Lake City,
who found that Indiana Mabert had
left Dora Young and had gone South.
Soon after receiving DIR. Thoburn's let
ter he met Judge Wheedon, and In
diana's case was mentioned. Judge
Wheedon said that he knew of the case,
and that Indiana was a member of
the family of DR.. Cooper. There
Mr.. Hiff found her, and lie offered her
home with his family until she would
be able to return to her father in India.
She accepted the offer and at the same
time declined proposition of the Nor
mons to enter the Brigham Young acad-
emy at Provo.
The young girl, who is described as
being very pretty, and as having a very
retentive memory and remarkable con-
versational powers, has several rings
that belonged to her mother; but gold
watch that formerly belonged to her
mother is said to be now part of the APP
parel Of Salt Lake City Mormon. The
Rev. DIR. Thoburn, who will attend the
general conference in this country next
May, will take Indiana with him on his
return to India; and the young girl in
speaking OF the matter said she could
never be induced to return to Mormon
ism, and that her only desire is to re-
turn to India. Since the beginning of
the correspondence her father returned
to Calcutta and is very anxious to meet
the daughter who, when he last saw
her, was an infant and is now a young
woman. .-NeaO York World