The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-17
MORM0NlSM.
How an Honest Farmer Suffered for Il
Two Missionaries OF the Religion
Disturb a Community.
They Scandalize and Disgrace q
Neighborhood OF Good People.
The Old Farmer, However, Stands by
Them and Becomes a Martyr.
He is Ordered to Leave His Home, and
Being Wealthy. His Property Is
Burned to Ashes by His In
dignant Neighbors.

PARRrpsnuRd, w. Va, April lG.--Ten
months ago an apostle of Mormonism, call.
ing himself John Smith, and claiming re-
lationship TO the founder Of the faith, came
unheralded into the wilderness Compare
tivcly) of Calhoun county, W. Va.
About three weeks later another man
named Jacobs arrived. lie was OF pnes'ly
demeanor and sacerdotal habit. 1t was
observed at once that tho men were there
Tor common object.
The two then engaged large audience
room, and announced their intention Of
preaching Mormonism." For timo
they had very few hearers, but continuing
the meetings nightly, they succeeded after
few weeks in gathering large eongrega-
ton. One or the other would preach ut
night and during the day they would
drive through the country in different d.
rcctions, visiting the families represented
ut their meetings and endeavoring 10 pros
clyte them after u fashion peculiarly their
own.
II was soon noticed that while they
treated the old aud young men and women
with equal cordiality aud respect at tho
public meetings in theirpriyate visits they
selected largely the homes where Young
unmarried women live. Al these places
they made the most protractcd and most
frequent visits. They would often claim
that private interview was necessary TO
properly impress upon them the truths Of
their religion. so things went on for SOW
eral months aud until the winter was nearly
spent, when ugly rumors began 10
spread, In which the names oi the two
apostles aud some Of their fair proselytes
| figured very prominently.
In their public prcnchings the Mormons
| had indirectly defended the practice Of
| polygamy, often spending large part Of
the hour of discourse in quoting biblical
expressions 10 sustain their arguments.
| The rumom concerning them led Ia the be-
| lief that they were pmcticing their pre-
ccpts TO the scandal aud disgrace OF the
community and number of indignant
men ordered them 10 leave the ncighbor-
hood within two hours. They were noti-
| fled that should they return summary
| punishment awaited them.
l But these two apostles were not without
one friend. Hts name Ia Vim. Metz, his
, occupation farmer, his wealth ample for
comfort, and his reputation excellent
During the sOjourn Of the Mormons no
lent them horses, entertained them at his
| house, encouraged them 90 remain, and
showed his sincerity nightly by occupying
a prominent position nj their meetings la
fact, Il Is said, lac paid all the expenses In
cidental to their preaching. When they
were ordered away he protested strongly
against II, and championed their cause
against his neighbom. He even accom-
panied thom some distance when thoy Lett,
and was 10th 10 le<ysA'in So.
Since that time his life has been ons.ean-
tinual round Of abuse aud persecution.
Shortly after they went away, about three
weeks ago, his fine house and barn were
burned TO the ground IN the night time,
| his family barely escaping with theirliycs.
In the meantime hc was the recipient of
letters ordering him 10 leave the country,
and threatening vengeance II he did not.
| Metz sold the old farm on which he
had live aud purchased ono some miles
away. The night before he was to enter
his new home, ten days ago, he saw Il ON
fire. aud II WIS soon burned 30 the ground.
Last week he succeeded In securing an
other piece Of property and intended nov
ing there In u day or two. When I've went
TO Il Saturday night he found only an ash
heap, aud n warning TO leave the country
at once Put IN - conspicuous place.
endeayoring To ascertain Who are the per-
pctrators Of the ouliagcs, but they claim
not 10 have succeeded, Ia addition To tho
burning Of the mans property and onler-
ing him 90 leave, his cattle have been
poisoned, his wells ch0kcd up and his
| fences DESTROYED.
Ills children have also been the subjects
OF persecution. their fuuucr companions
ncglccting them aud treating tlicn with
scorn. Mciz's wife Is almost dcrngcd
over the continued persecution, driven
| from place 10 place, her friends deserving
aud her relatives cold. She IL almost
pady 10 give up In despair. She at llnt
refused 10 take up With the Mot.nons, but
| her husbands continued adherence 10
| them induced her TO follow his example,
aud before they left she was an ardent
wonhipcr. Metz was compelled to sell
hs property for very little and to pay very
dearly for what he purchased, 40 that no
n now left with scarcely anything.
Meta feels now that his life h. no longer
safe Ia the community aud that lac has not
n friend 10 whom lac can 60. a year ago
his standing WIS oi the very highest, and
his ncghbora had frequently shown their
esteem by selecting him Tor rrsp1ndblo
! positions. Today lac Is little better than q
! Tramp. Amid Il all lac adhercs 20 his be.
| lief IN the new Mormon doctrines, and
| finds his only consolation IN the thought
that he IL suffering mariyrlom, position
| In which his wife coucurs.
Just where TO look for property MeiE
SAYS he does not know o. those who would
| otherwise sell 20 him hesitate for fear that
| they may share the indignation oil the pop
| ulacC.
should Metz continue In the neighbour
hood Il Is generally believed that he viii
be foully dealt with. Tie county OF Cali
| houn il one q the mos bw-aliding IN tho
State, aud until the advent Of the Mormon
missionaries nothing toiis general dAcrcdit
had been known.
so intense Is the feeling against Meta for
encouraging the missionaries who Thought
such general disgrace into many ian'ilios
and 70 general Il this feeling that the law
breakers will hardly be asked TO renderany
account
| Tha putnher of women who walk for