The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-04
MORMONISM In INDIANA.
The Little Church Which Elder Blair Estab-
lished in Clark County.

more than q score of years had Mormon colony
In its midst. Although the members do not
practice rolygamy. they are firm believers in the
principles founded by Joseph Smith. In about
1851 a little village was commenced on the line
between Floyd and Clark counties. In time it
grew in numbers, until, in 1852, its population
consisted of probably $50 souls. A schoolhouse
had been built and Christian church estab-
lished. The best educated man. John Scott,
was duly installed as the minister. Everything
went we'll. and the forests and marshes grew to
be weltilled farms.
In 1868 the trouble commenced. A man named
Joseph Blair arrived in the village He was
pretty we'll versed in biblical lore, and it was not
long before people began to look upon him as
sanity good man. One Sunday Rev. Scott was
Ill, and was unable to deliver his usual address.
This was Blairs opportunity. and he was rot
slow to take advantage of it. He was one of the
many who followed Joseph Smith to Utah, but
was not satisfied with the country and returned
to the East He was still a Mormon in every
sense the word implies. REV." Blair volun-
teered to fill the pulpit. His kind offer was glad
ly accepted by the deacons. He preached, and
such a sermon was never before heard in Scots
vile. for that was what the place was called.
His eloquence captivated the hearers. He told
them Of the wonderful revelation of the Mormon
prophet; how God In vision had revealed to
him the place where the additions to the New
wrought by Smith and his followers.
The seeds thus sown took deep root. For
months it was the evening theme of converse
ton around the Preside and at the grocery.
Blair remained with them and worked earnestly
in the cause he had espoused. One by one his
following increased At first people were loath
to confess to each other their estrangement from
the Christian church, but, finally in 1865, they
grew holder, and announced that they would
build Mormon church. A log house, which
bad been used for school, was for sale. and
Blair and his adherents purchased it. It was
called Mount Eden. Picturesquely situated
amid frowning hills, in verdant little valley, it
was beautiful place. Not change or inn
provement was made on the building or its
furniture The quaint rough benches and
the teachers desk remained just as they were
when the old pedagogue taught the young idea
how to shoot. It remains the same to-day not
withstanding the lapse of years and the ravages
of time; the rough-hewn logs are just as stout
and firm as they were twenty years ago.
Among Blairs stanchesr friends and support
ers were Rev. John Scott and his six sons, who
were also ministers They at once renounced
the Christian church. and Mount Eden re-
sounded with their utterances. The new church
started off with a membership of thirty-ive. The
converts were baptized one Sunday in May
1866, in little creek that flowed near the church.
Down into the stream they waded one at a time,
and were baptized by Blair according to the
Mormon faith. The banks were lined with
spectators, some OF whom had ridden fifteen
IuiIeS III OTUeE 10 WlLueSS Inc DaptlZtQR anu the
establishment of new church.
Then it was that Blair laid down firmly the
belief which his converts must adhere to. He
argued that the services of physician were
never needed. That mans death was his fate;
that when God ordained that soul must be
called back to its Maker the command was in
eviSable, and that human science and krowl-
edge could not stay the hand Of death. The re-
people were ready to believe anything Brigham
Yop1g's missionary told them. He appointed
deac0ns and elders from his own choosing John
Scott and his six sons were appointed to fill all
the Offices Shortly afterward Blair concluded
to 60 further into civilization and preach the
Mormon idea. Then Rev. Scott was installed in
his place. The new minister preached in the
same strain as his predecessor. and held the
congregation in the same religious chains Of
Mormonisn, only more tightly drawn.
One day, about this time, the wife of one of
the SCOTS took sick. The house was locked and
the members assembled at their little place of
worship to pray for her recovery. Pray hard as
they would, the woman grew worse and finally
died. They refused positively to summon a doc
tor Then one of the brothers, John Scott jr,
became i'll of typhoid fever. Again they refused
medical assistance, and prayed for him, but
with the same results. The patient died. The
anti Mormons, however, summoned physician
and compelled the family to let him examine the
patient, but 1t was too late.
Many stories are told of the singular actions
of these people. Among them is one about a
young mOEmCu WHO ndU just udrrl6U young I
girl named Goss. One morning he claimed to
have had vision from heaven, which instructed |
him to lock his wife in room and never let her
see the sunlight again. She, as he said, had
committed some offense in the eyes of God and
this was her punishment For six months her
relatives and friends were refused admittance,
and she languished in solitary confinement in q
darkened room. Every day she was given her
meals by the Reconstructed jailor, but she was
never allowed to go forth, even for few min
utes, from her prison.
At length the brothers Of the young wife could
stand the separation no longer, and resolved to
release their sister from her thradom at all
hazards. Accordingly. they procured six
the house of their brother-in-law, demanded ad-
mittance. They were refused, as before. They
then broke in the door and led their imprisoned
relative out. In the meantime the husband, on
not to enter, saying that an angel, with fam
ing sword uplifted, stood before the door ready
to cleave in twain the first who should enter
The brothers. however, were uninjured, and are
still alive.
On one occasion a deacon in the Mormon
church told the daughter of an anti rmon that
he had a vision which instructed him to lay
his hands upon her head. The girls father came
up and in very forcible language informed the
fanatic that he, also, had had a vision. His Wis
ion told him to kick the said Mormon, and he did
so, right heartily.
This part of the State has furnished more in
sane people for the. Indianapolis asylum than
any other James Bell, brother of Elias Bell
who some time ago murdered his brother and
then killed himself, was Mormon. A host of
others might be mentioned
At another time Mormon woman was about
to be delivered of child. The members Of the
church prayed that the little cherub might come
safely into the world, and that God would care
for the mother. All medical attention was de-
clined. The anti Mormons would not see the
woman thus allowed to die and forced the fam
lily to accept the services of midwife who told
them that faith might do in some cases. but it
wouldn't In this"
There the little log church stands to this day
Its congregation numbers about forty. and the
instructions of Blair have been carried out to
the very letter. Every Sunday James Scott
who succeeded his father as minister and spirit.
ual adviser breaches to them, and there they
will stay. The Mormon Bible is read, and those