The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-16
Morlnonism in Alabama.

1ne Mof0lOnS nave chosen NORTH
Alabama as a missionary field anc
have been vigorously prosecutingt heil
work for the last SIX months. The
Constitution sent a representative tc
investigate the extent OF their success
rs 1t was generally rumored that
many converts had left the state 70,
Utah.
Among other things hefinds that the
Mormon elders, under the guise OF
travellers, go from house to house dis.
tributing a little twenty-five page
pamphlet entitled Doctrines OF Lat
ter-day Saints, by Elder John Nor
gan" This book contains their ar
ticles OF faith, and gives an account OF
tile revelations madeto Joseph Smith,
and claims that Mormonism is the
only true religion. When a person
IONS them the elder gives him what
they call their mystic sign" which
consists OF a paper upon which is
written their articles OF faith and the
name OF every convert in the section.
The possession of this proves the
owner IL true saint.
One OF the most enthusiastic con-
verts in Shinbone valley is w. j. Con
ger. Living upon Conger's farm is a
young man, by name Boiling. who has
been very bitter towards the elders
and their convicts. About six weeks
ago Boiling found u paper near his
house, which stated that Mormonism
was the only true religion and that
unless he Joined them in thirty days
and Used his influence to get his neigh
bors to JON he must leave that sec
ton O the country. The paper was
signed by all theelders, by Conger and
a number of other converts. Boiling
has not left, and stated that he does
not intend to,and so far no effort has
been made to force him.
Last September or October Elder
DAVIS came over into Choccolatoeo
valley, within five miles of Oxford and
IN ashort time he was Joined by Elder
Alfrad, who came direct from Utah.
In a little while they had made con
verts OF James Tillman and his wife,
and later on Hiram Harrison and his
entire family. TilIman became much
ehthused with his new religion, and de-
clared that he thanked the good Lord
for sending Mormon elders to teach
him the true religion. Elder Davis
n Alfrad spent most of their time
while In this section in the homes of
Tillman and Harrison, and re.
Gently q committee OF citizens
surrounded Harrison's house and
called for the elders. They happened
to be spending the night at the house
OF Thomas Richards, and the COM
mlttee, not finding the objects OF their
search, notified Harrisont that he must
not let the elders stop at his house
The next day Harrison bought a
gun and a supply OF ammunition, and
his son wrote the following notetothe
citizens: Come to our house anoth-
er night and some OF you will eat
breakfast in hell the next morning"
After writing the notice young Harri-
shot a pistol bali through the
paper and then stuck it on the gait
post OF a man whom he supposed was
one OF the committee OF citizens.
The shinbone Valley elders were re-
lntorced in January by Elders Butler
AID Wilson, and in that section they
taught not only their converts
ou1 many otlier ignorant people TO be
lleve that the entire territory of Utah
IS the exclusive property o! the Nor.
church, and that it is a land oy-
erflowlns with riches, long life and hap
plness, and acknowledgements are
Gus to get there us soon as possible. |
The elders have very littleto sa yabout
ooiygamy and tell their converts that
only church officials or any pious
member are allowed to have more
one wife.
The elders are fed and clothed by
heir converts and also receive regular
of money from Salt Lake
,lty. Deserted homes, separated fam
lies and friends changed to bitter
nemles are some oftheresults already
Mormonsin Alabama.
Atlanta, Ga, correspondence Phila.
Press.