The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-26
A SINGULAR COLONY.
[Weston (Washington Territory Letter to Il
Sail oh Trit,uua

weston (Washington Territory Letter to the
Salt Lake Tribune]
/ have travelled extensively through |
this Northwestern country, and come
in contact with almost all classes OF
people. Among my discoveries is q
Davisite colony, which calls for |
brief description. Davis, formerly of
Utah, is the founder. He ran away
from the Morrisite party to Montana,
and. while sojournlng in the noun
tains, or as he says, mountains of fire,
received . revelation from God, or
daiping him chief of
heaven and earth. He conceived an |
idea to start . church Of his own; so
emigrated to Washington Territory,
with few deluded victims ~ his fol- |
lowers, and established q small colony |
east of Waila Walla, who will have no
intercourse with the Gentiles, and the |
members are forbidden to reveal any
facts concerning their church. Rumor
says Davis has bought the Walla Wall
Ia newspaper companies, therefore his
settlement is but little known to the |
outside world. He assumes to be the |
only divine, or true apostle OF God,
and teaches that spirits return and
take upon themselves new bodies, that
the spirits of Jesus Christ, John the
Baptist, Paul, st. Peter, King David,
Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
have been born again. Another be-
lief is, that the millennium era began
at the birth of their Jesus Christ a
child now about twelve years of age,
who they claim to be the great etern-
al mother of spirits, and the mother of
all Spirits Davis and his apostles
teach their followers that Jesus said
in the resurrection they are neither
married nor given marriage conse-
quently they practice that theory OF
not marrying but being mated to one
another; they claim when they are |
mated it is just IS binding As ii they
complied with our laws. As the lit
tie daughter is the supposed mother
Of all spirits, the father intends to
mate her to her brother in the flesh
ss he mates his dupes to his own lik-
ing, they relying upon his judgment
as being correct. He also teaches his
victims that he, being endowed with
the holy spirit, has perfect right to
visit the female portion of his flock
with perfect impunity to administer
to their cares and wants. In visiting
other mems wives he'exercises much J.
privileges as are not creditable to q
deputy god. Dayis has charge of their
property, holding deeds and titles for
the same, while they suppose they are
holding all things in common; still
they can not control it only through
the ways of the Lord (Davis). Their
wives seem to be satisfied in their
present position, believing in this new
doctrine of faith.
The men have rather q strange and
offensive custom among themselves.
They never shave or cut their hair,
and their children are sadly neglected
for the want of proper care. AT times
it is hard to distinguish them from
the Umatillas. Davis also had yard
or Enclosure set apart for the sacred
children to play in, SO as to keep them
separate from the rest. This man
takes pride in praising these young
saints, especially his son Jesus. who
he claims will in time conquer the
world. He also assumes to have pow
Or over life and death, in which he
excels Elder Llewellyn Harris, of
Parowan. Nevertheless, deaths have
in the colony. One of his
faithful wives he failed to restore to
life. -1. is s3-ti 4. 3 ris4
Another absurd idea of his consists
in teaching tho women that he, being
the Holy Spirit, has q better right TO
father their children than their. own
husbands. He claims to be the Holy
Ghost, the true representative of the
Eternal Father of spirits, and the
Standard of Israel. The colony, in
the opinion of many, is based upon
The free-love system. They also be-
lieve that If any person sins against
The Lord (Davis) he will not be for
given in this world or the world to
come. aE
Persons joining the Davisites must
give up all their earthly goods to Da-
Wis to show they are joining in good
faith. A few have apostatizsd and
lost their property; they give tho rul-
ers of this colony a very dark charac-
Ter indeed, and have no desire to re.
visit the camp of Israel. A few Cen
tiles have had the curiosity to visit
this kingdom Of Davis and meet jesus
Christ face to face, as well as Moses,
King David, the Young apostles and
The mother Of all spirits. /
Their last convert was Mira. Orms-
BY from Nevada, who was admitted q
member. Report says she deserted
husband and family. This colony has
! newspaper organ, the Standard of
[srael, a poor weakling, from which 1
gather these choice ssyings:. IL is
Gods will that you do my will
They who believe faithfully in my
doctrine may have everlasting life.'
This choice specimen of Utah Nor
(Davis) is Welshman, and