The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-06-29
PREACHER NICHOLS pInEs.


near Lafayette some time ago fo1
driving their mother almost crazy
has gone from that part of the coun-
try, and the man that aid. the shoot
ing is still under arrest. The Yam
hill Reporter says:
About Eve OF six years ago thi,
ma" Nichols arrived in this count!
from Salt Lake. He professed to
come with revelation and mission
By this revelation he was comm and
ed to establish a new church, with {
set of tenents, new in some respects
but smaki ng strongly of Mormonism
in their general features. The prin-
ciples Of his doctrine required thai
| all members shoull be Independent
of the outside world; that they mus
abandon all ornament, either person
al or otherwise; that education, except
just enough to read the bible, was
worldly a,Id should be slammed; thai
mem mhers should indulge in the holy
kiss; that all property owned by
I members Belong to tile Lord, and
that he was the agent of the Lord
| that food must be of the simplest
kind, no tea, no coffee, no sugar, nc
Ieaven in the bread and no seasoning g
of any kind; that all house ornaments
and musical Instruments must be
thrown aside; that they must not give
testimony, vote or take part in the
government of the state, but to be
governed byhim as the lords depu-
ty; that parent having child not
belonging to his church should be
disowned and discarded; that they
should hold themselves entirely alooi
from others and look Oh them as mere
worldings, whose society would be
communicating; that the only thing
that could keep believing wife tied
to non-believing husband or VICE
versa is lhe force of the lava force
that must be set aside as soon as
possible.
With these tenets he went amongst
the people and succeeded in getting
number, mostly ignorant, soft head
ed women under his control. A few
men Joined him, but the greater part
dropped the business when they saw
the drift of the teachings.
For while things went along
smoothely, bat in time the man be-
care bolder and demanded more
sacrifices, turned over to him, espec-
tally the glrIs, for religious training
Soon discontented muttering was
heard; there was altogether too much
meddling in family matters. Hus-
bands and sons began to see that
Bro. Nichols was more potent at the
family freside than @ey were; tool
was cooked according to Nichols,
wives and children were dressed by
the same authority, and all family in
tercourses were conducted according
to the letter of che law.
1t was observed that in practicing
the holy kiss, Bro. Nichols was
chaste enough with the old and ugly
sisters, bu. the young, good looking
ones always received vigorous hug,
and lingering on the kiss that look
ed altogether too carnal. and in some
cases, where the sister was buxom,
smaked decidedly of the lascivious.
Of course all this could have but one
result: Husbands objected to having
everything about them a Ia Nichols,
even in kissing their wives
they must conform to his rule.
Husbands objected and wives persist
ell, family troubles followed where
peace had reigned and ought to rein.
There were separations because of it,
and men were compelled to threaten
Nichols life if he came about their
houses because of it. But the fellow
persisted. He invaded the family
privacy and advised the wife against
her home interests, against everything
chat is considered lawful and sacred,
and they believed in him.