Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-11
ROANOKE MORMONS
TIE LATTER DAY SAINTS IN TAX
COUNTY.
Work Of the Elders in Bsck-Crsek Com"
munity-Msny oonverts-Thrsats
OF Expulsion.
Correspondence Of the Richmond DIspssch.I

ROANOKE, Va, March 8, 1883.
An account of the hold the pernicious
so.callcd religious sect known as the
Ia,ter-Day Saints has obtained on quite
q number of the people Of Roanoke
county VIII DO interesting TO your thou
sands OF readers. Some OF your read
ers who understand the moral putrldlty
of Mormonsm will be at q loss to under
stand how q so-called religion, univer-
sally condemned, could fasten itseltupon
the intelligence. faith, and charity OF
community. But it has obtained lodg-
ment in the community known as BACK
Creek, in this county, and numbers
among its supporters some very intelli-
gent people. The majority OF the mem
bership are OF that class OF people who
depend upon the superior intelligence OF
others for guidance in nearIyall matters.
especially those affecting their spiritual
wellbeinr. hence it is that two Mormon
elders. assisted by the most intelligent,
influential. and the wealthiest citizen OF
the community. who early espoused the
Mormon faith have been able to induce
some twenty-five or thirty men and
women 10 embrace their teachings and
over half that number TO receive their
ordinance of baptism. These emissarles
have been operating ID that section Tor
several months, quietly but persistently,
RS the result OF their efforts will show.
They followed n Mormon bishop VINO
suddenly appeared there several months
neo and preached one or more sermons.
lie is said to have been very intellectual,
thoroughly posted on the scriptures, and
very eloquent. The people being unused
TO pulpit oratory Of high order were
easily captiyatcd by him, and he left
them in a reflective mood very auspi-
cious for the early appearance and
lsbors Of the elders. A number OF the
converts contemplate emigrating to Utah
in the spring, while one will settle on
the Mormon reservation in Colorado.
Tho engraltinG OF TINS cancerous
growth on the civilization of our county
has aroused deep Indignation, and mea-
sures for the expulsion Of the elders are
freely proposed and discussed. Their
bold declarations about the Divine APP
proval of pOlyQamy aud the non-com-
initial attitude of their Back Creek fol-
lowers when Intercepted on this article
of the Mormon faith intensiies the bitter
ness Of the masses OF the people and
strenetbens their determination to effect
theexpulsiou ofthe emissarlesatth the earil-
est practical moment. The feelingof in
dignation is, perhaps. partly due TO the
fact that among the converts are several
Young, beautiful, and intelligent ladies,
whom the elders perhaps, design to
marry when they get them safely within
the Territory.
Up to this writing only one minister
Of the Gospel has invaded the Mormon
stronghold and contended with them for
the supremacy OF the truth over error.
1t was reported that he routed them in a
debate, but the fact that he did not re-
turn again indicates that he either failed
to do 50 or regarded the people there rs
being so firmly joined to their idols that
little could be accomplished in the way
OF their enforcement.