The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-02-17
THE KIRKLAND

SAFETY SOCIETY BANK
WILL PAY FIFTY DOLLARS TO o. PRATT
OR BEARER.
KIRKLAND, OHIO, March, 1887.
s. RIGDoN, President.
]. SMITH, JR., Cashier.
The bank began business in 1881 and
collapsed in 1887. When the inevitable
crash came, Smith and Rigdon fed to the
West to escape the wrath OF hundreds of
swindled Gentiles whose worldly goods
had been exchanged for Mormon "mon
ey." Extraordinary efforts lad been
put forth to make the failure of the bank
great financial success for it's managers
and while thousands of their victims
were left with an abundance of the
worthless currency in their pockets, the
Saints" had acquired a legal title to a
large amount ofreal and personal proper.
ty. But thenCeforth the Kirkland Zion"
was too hot for them and they removed
as rapidly as possible to Independence,
Missouri, then to Nauvoo, Ill. and finally
to Salt Lake.
A few Of the original Mormons, how.
ever, are still to found in Mentor and vi.
cinity. They are all aged people, and
none of the peculiar features which
Brigham Young added to Mormonism
seem to have any attractions for them.
They denounCe the polygamists as apos.
tates, stoutly deny the completely of the
prophet Joseph in the introduction of
polygamy, and adheres to his son Joseph
of Plano, ILL.,, who claims to be the head
ofthe church which his father founded.
young Joe," as he is profanely called
by the Gentiles, is very proud OF the
decision rendered in his favor last Feb.
ruary by the Court of Lake county, and
its main points are printed on handbill
which is given to all who visit the Kirt.
land Temple. The few old Saints who
remain here cling to the hope that 10.
seph will return to Kirkland and rees.
tablish his church where it was graded
fifty years ago. They are still full Ofthe
strange fanatiCism which led them into
Mormonism, and although for half CEN
tury their expectations have been disap.
pointed, they still look daily for the !'end
of the world" and the literal coming Of
the Lord" Their idea of the end of the
world is q great catastrophe in nature,
by which the Gentiles will be over
thrown, and the followers of Joseph
Smith will be placed in possession of the
earth.
The farm on which General Garfield
lives was owned by Mormon In those
pslmy days Of religion and financial in
hstion, when this region was the hotbed
of Mormonism. The General is familiar
with the early history Of this strange
sect, and has a hearty adherence Of the
iniquities which have characterized it
from Its birth. In the judgment Of q
very large class Of his countrymep, his
official attitude toward the Salt Lake
abomination Is of far greater Importance
than the question Of this or that mans
appointment to a Cabinet Office. During
his administration we may confidently
hope for real advance toward the des.
truCtion of the surviving twin relic Of
barbarism" which now disgraces the re.
public.
A strange ami yet not wholly improb-
able way Of peaceably settling the ques'
tion would be the acceptance Of Joseph
Smiths leadership by the Church in
Utah, and revelation" through him OF
the necessity of stopping the further pro-
gress Of polygamy. As the son and heir
Of the original prophet he has much
trestige, even in Utah, and he is carry
ing on quite an extensive and systematic
missionary work In many Of the States,
steadily increasing the number of his
followers, all Of whom are taught to re-
gard polygamy as fatal heresy. He has
printing house at Plano, where he pub
fishes the Saints Herald, a monthly
journal and various Mormon books and
tracts, including the Book OF Mormon"
When a few more of the old reprobatea