The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-14
CAPE COD MORMONS.
A Colony of Latter Day Saints Flourishing in
New England.

Correspondence Boston Transcript.
''West Harwich is a clean, lively little town
with good accommodations for summer boarders
at moderate prices. This was. quickly learned,
and we started to see the Saints. whose houses
occupy two long streets roads down to the
Port These dwellings are comfortable in APP
pearanee, and have gardens about them. A
moderate sized building larger than the houses.
were told, lis the place where the Saints
have their meetings"
Our driver was true to his principle of reti-
eence concerning the Mormons, but excused it
with the promise to find Captain HoweS, one of
the most prominent of the Saints" who would
tell us all we wanted to know; and. suiting the
action to the word, he drove onto the wharf and
called out to an amphibious looking individual
sitting in boat that was close to the dock.
Captain, here's some folks from ever so far;
they want to see you"
The Captain stared, and so did the dozen OF so
fishermen lettering about and talking of the
mornings catch of 5000 mackerel that was sent
to Boston; but after a moment he called out
that he would come ashore. The sea was slight
ly ruffled with east wind, but was of that
deep blue that artists love to picture and away
out were the fishing smacks coming into port
with their burdens We had turned and been
driven under shelter by the time the captain
made his appearance, and closer observation
proved him to be hardy specimen of his pecu-
liar calling; tall, 1.-THE. keen-eyed, and rather
intelligent visage Yes" said he, as if he had
hastily made up his mind what to say, 4 am
VIKING TO Talk Oh my religion. wear
Mormons of the kind called Josephtes;' we are
the true Latter Day Saints; we do not believe
in plurality
you mean polygamyl'
a Eyes, that is what L mean. When the Nor
mons separated at the time of Joseph Smiths
death, some of them went off to their destrue
ton with Brigham Young; but we don't counte-
nance them. Joseph Smith, jr., of Plano, ILL.,, is
our leader
'And his father, Joe Smith
"a hell fail t1s1a or
We believe in immersion as the true baptism; be-
cause Christ was baptized in the river Jordan;
we believe that no one will be eternally lost, al
though they have to suffer for their sins, and
we think Christ is coming in person to reign over
us.
How about your form of worship
well, we have Bible that Elder Pratt trans
lated-it's like the King James Bible only it ex-
plains things good deal makes them clear We
sing and have prayer meetings, and Sunday
school, and Sunday services, just like other peo-
pie"
you have a good many religions mixed up in
one."
Eyes, the best of all of them put together
And the book of Mormonln
'Well, that is history of Mormon that Smith
found written on some gold plates"
WHO wrote tl'
II don't know"
He then went on to state that he had always
resided at Dennisport; that he was converted by
an elder, Mormon missionary, and that Joe
Smith, jr, had attended one of their confer
ences, two of which are held in Ocean Hall at
West Harwich each year. that these meetings
are LARGELY attended by Mormons resident in
New England, who are colonzed in several
places-at Fall River, Providence, Boston and
elsewhere.
81 wish had time to talk more of our people,,
concluded the fisherman, but yen must go and
see onr der, and he turned away with a little
twinkle in his gray eyes.
The elder was ill or forewarned of our coming,
aY1H mote HIT ,.o,,a
person we gathered some significant statements
to believe in plurality they act in numerous
cases upon the principle of affinity" Marriages
among them have in this way been frequently
broken and resumed. One woman went to Utah,
was gone twenty years, and returned to her old
marital relations Our informer, when we eX-
pressed surprise at this and other statements of
like character said:
'Why, it's right enough; people can help
liking each other if they are married"
The conferences this person mentioned as
most enjoyable OCCASIONS with good speaking
from real smart men," and general attendance
of the people in the neigh Jorhood, some of
whom, it is said, are generally make converts
1t was impossible to learn just how many Nor
mons there were at Dennisport- part Of
West Harwieh-but there are more than fifty of
their dwellings, and over one hundred residents
III them may fairly be estimated.
The children of this colony attend the free
school with the other children of Harwich, and
there is a great tolerance of the Saints, old
and young by the residents in the vicinity in a
business if not q social way. An intelligent
man, born and brought up on the Cape, in speak
ing Of them. said: These Mormons are indus
trious and behave very well; but, of course
they've got some black sheep among them like
any other body of religious people" Another
said, in excuse for one of the Saints who de-
parted from the colony with an affinity" why,
he came back and lives here now"