The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-01-22
, ThO Mormoas IN spartanburg.
Correspondence Neu, and Cy1,i,r

."AIuR auout ~ ltom theIr pulplts, ana
the Editors have their suggestions as to
the best methods Of dealing with the
evil: Ihe Southern people have consid.
cred tho matter only in the abstract until
lately, when in certain sections, they are
forced to meet 1t in more practical way.
Near Chattanooga two of the elders were
shot down, but tha. did not end the WORK
of the elders. Chattanooga is still their
stronghold in the South and that is where
the president for the Southern States has
his headquarters In the sumner of
1882, belieys It was, q Mormon elder.
Or two, visited the Northeastern part OF
our County. Some little notice was taken
of this by the local press and the people
were disposed TO consider it Joke. Du.
ring the Summer and Fall of last wear
their visits were more frequent and they
are now becoming more aggressive. They
have the true missionary spirit and are
willing to preach wherever permission is
given. s
Some of the citizens about Parris's
Ford on Pacolet, twelve miles North of
town, have, from time to time, mentioned
the fact that these elders were coming
amongst them and they feared that they
would do harm, , Their suspicions were
increased, no doubt, by reading joaquin
Millers Mormon story, published 10 a
County paper last year, aud some OF our
| citizens would not have been surprised to
see one of there elders travelling around
with a coflir after him rs did The leading
character in Miller's story. A few OF
them'sAalkld about, driving The elders
from the County by force and causing
their converts to- foley, unless; they
behaved Themselves. ThiB being the
ieeilng OF the people, your correspondent
thought the subject worth looking into.
The "Gcntiles" could give no informa.
ton, except that the elders put up with
one james 8. Russell, and made frequent
visits to the neighborlidotl. They said
that Russell had Increased the Mormon
population by moving about twenty Eve
Indians from Rock Hill and giving them
houses on his land. That 10 about III the
information they could give A note was
| addressed to SIR. Russell asking for an
interview. This he cbeerfully granted.
James s. Russell, the first convert to
Mormo1ism in this County, think, was
born near Rock Hill in York County.
He had only common school education
and his reading is limited. He is about
40 years old, anu married Miss Burnett
| Of this County. Wbep he was young
man he travelled around aud took pictures.
The people OF Union County may re.
member him, for he was about wilkins.
vile aome tiIne. this County he was
indicted foy iniclt gtanic in whisky about
the time of Kuklux excitement. or late
years he has been quiet, law abiding
citizen, the owner of farm and he L.
doing about ss we'll ss tho average man
Of bis neighborliood. "
Mr.. Russell was disposed TO talk very
freely about Mormonism and seemed to
have no sort Of malice against those who
opposed this new religion. He says the
Church at Salt Lake has sent missionaries
to all the Southern States. In South
Carolina there are only four, with head.
quarters at Whitaker Station, in York
County. To that County and one corner
of SpartRnbnrg they have cona led their
operations up to this time. They have
twenty to twenty five converts in York
and four in this County. The eldera
trnve! OIL foot and are not allowed to
recei collections from, their copgrega;
tiona. They bear their own expenses,
staying wherever night oyeEtAkes them,
If Permission.is given. Ifa charge is
made for lodging they always pay for it.
The president of the Southern work
ISo'oSo ae OhnttbuopEasn 4AC SlbtL3 Ii1 tue
State Conferences, which are composed'
of elders and all the membership. aItr
was such conference as this that was
broken up,at lRook CAill spwa aime ago
by indignant citizens. There IL o family
Of GeEdons abou. whitaker :!,a.2 bats
united with these Latter Day Saints. In
this County, James S.sRua4all aud his
wife aud Hampa Robinson and his wife
are the only converts up to this time.
Russell says he moved two Indian fami.
lies from Rock Hill to cultivate his lands.
He has known them since he was child,
and says they are quiet, industrious peo.
pie. They arc Mormons.
r TIE elders will preach in any placs
where permission is given. They would
even como to Spartanburg aud let the
new light shine In tho Courthouse, or
any other place. They are anxious for
controversy, an1, as Russell saya. "They
glory in arguing about their Church aud
doctrines. 2 x Th ~ teach that o plurality
Of wives is authorized by the Old and
New Testament, as we'll as by the book
of Mormon. They receive the protestant
Bible as the Wor,l Of God, but they claim |
that the Mormon Bibla lie Of equal weight
end authesity.
When Russell was asked If negroes
wet9 tNlDit,sd 10 their Church, he said :l
me gsa alnagas maaeain resalsti io..$s
isegToes@ AilSoi souf Members nreRea 81
pected to preach, If necessary but one
to whom 20 ,reYelation comes cannot
preach. We babiize the negro. when he
asks It, but ths. does not ehtitEe him TO
with the Saints." Tiiis doc.
trine will make Mormonism popular with
certain Of our citizens Of the "Ariel"
stripe. Thu names of tho elders in this
State are Cragun, Bingham, Humphrey
md Willy. They are ell sent out from i
Salt Lake. North Carolina and Tennes.
lee each have about twenty FIVE mission.
.ries. Humphreys grandparents lived
lear Cross Auchor, In this County, and
ne has relatives here. Two. of, the eideIs
q this State are married and two are
Jingle. The wives Of tho married men
sre In Utah. They bapsiEs by immersiion I
Ind believe thAtS baptism ~ ESSENTIAL.
They re.baptize those WHO come 70 them
rom che Baptist Church. They seem to
make sort Of '.straddle" on Calvinism,
preaching that doctrine ip q way that
sould have pleased Jonathan Edwards
,ut at the same time, thsy preaoh free
agency. AS to their belief in the Book
Il Mormon and the infaIibility OF the
eachings Of their jeldeIs, tEey are as
levout rs the best sectarlans In the land.
They do not preach that men should have
|. plurality of wives 10 State that for.
bids j., In oil. casee they advice their
To obey the laws Of their cDun.
ry. i asked Mr.. Russell what ho would
10, If he and bis suife Rerp- to~mpve TO
Utah. Would he take other wlves3 He