Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11
The Horrors of Mormonism Exposed
by a Deluded Victim.
FORCED INTO VIRTUAL SLAVERY.
A Refusal to Enter POlygamy Leads t,
Many Prosecutions.
FLYING FROM AN AWFUL BONDAGE
ESPECIAL rELrGnAM TO THE D1sr ArcH.

reformed as it is possible for them to be.
Seven years ago Norm on elders first ap-
peared in Clay county, and since then they
have made hundreds of converts in that To-
cslity, most Of whom have been sent to
Utah and Arizona Three years ago
party OF 100 converts, in charge OF five
elders. left there for Ogden, q tab. Land
ers and his family were in this party. All
these converts were poor and ignorant coun-
| try people who were compelled to sell every
thing they possessed in order to raise money
| enough to pay their way to the land of the
Mormons. Most of them had only few
dollars left after buying their tickets, but
the willy elders told them to fear not, as the
"church" would take care of them as soon
as they reached their destination.
Fair Promises by the Elders.
Temporal, rather than spiritual argu-
ments, had induced most of these people to
become converts to Mormonism. The elders
had told them wonderful stories of the fer
tile soil of the far West and how they could
make abundant crops with less than half
the labor required to earn scant living
among their native hills.
They were told that polvgamy was no
longes practiced, and, believing the seduc-
and honey, they became easy converts and In
time started on the long journey to the far
West
Landers says: ION our way West we were
Joined at Memphis by second party of
converts, and at Kansas City by third
party. A number of elders accompanied
each party and looked after their transpor-
tation, many of the converts being ignorant
'of their ultimate destination. Arrived at
Ogden, our party, which then numbered sew
eral hundred people, was divided into small
parties, numbering only "a few families each,
and we separated, some going to Arizona,
others to Idaho, and still others being sent
to various parts of Utah Territory.
His Troubles Begin in Earnest.
II was furnished transportion by wagon
to Mormon settlement two days journey
from Ogden, and then my troubles began in
earnest. was located in a cabin, hardly
fit for COW house, on the farm of Mormon
elder, and told that would be furnished
supplies and enabled to make a crop the
first year, and that after that 1 could secure
a homestead on Government land and go to
work for myself.
1t was explained to me that the man on
whose farm had been located would fur
nish me everything L might need and 1
would cultivate q portion of his land. l
was also informed that my crop, when made,
would be divided into FIVE parts. One-tifth
was to be given to the church, three-ffths to
the elder who owned the land, while would
receive the other fifth for nv labor Twas
told that this was considered by the church
as very liberal arrangement for me. 1,
of course, had to accept it. I could do moth
ing else. as had no money. carried with
me some cooking utensils and bedding, and
for several months we had no other furni-
ture in our miserable, ."bin.
A Miserable Existence.
"My appeals to nv landlord for furniture
were ignored. The food furnished us was of
poor quality and often insufficient in guam
tity. What work could do outside of
preparing for my crop went to pay for food.
and was given no opportunity to earn any
money.
"I had not been long in Utah before
learned that I had been de-
ceived about polygamy, The elders
expected to take another wife. At first they
only advised me, but it was not long until I
was given to understand that would be
made to suffer for it in various ways if per-
sisted in my refusal. The elders even went
so far as to talk to my wife about the matter
when was not present
FINALLY one Of the elders arranged a
meeting with a newly arrived convert, a
woman from Wales, repulsive in appearance,
and was plainly told that would be ex-
pected to make this woman wife No. 2.
Then, as it was impossible to longer dodge
the issue, positively refused to obey, and
told them that while had become willing
convert to their church, it was with posi-
tive understanding that polygamy was not
now practiced.
His Daughter Sealed to an Elder.
"They did NOT resort to force to make me
obey their order, as expected they would,
but I cannot describe the many little
indignitIes and annoyances suffered after
that.
"One day an elder came to me and in
formed me that my two daughters. then aged
and IL years, had been sealed by the
church to the elder on whose farm was
then living, and would become wives Nos.
and s to him, as soon as they were old
enough. By that time was getting pretty
sick of Mormonism, and resolved to save
my children from fate worse than death,
at any cost.
"When my first crop was gathered and
divided, it took all of my fifth interest in it
to pay my landlord and elder for the meager
supplies he had advanced me during the
year, and I was again penniless, with no
prospect of ever improving my condition
while remained in Mormondom. When
first told the elders was going TO move
they said should not leave, but then they
learned was only going to another Mormon
settlement, they allowed me to depart with
out molestation.
His Lot Slightly AIleviated.
"In Arizonia Jared little better, owing
70 the influence Of a relative there who had
married second wife and thereby risen to
position of some influence in the church.
Before I left there he had taken third
wife and had been made an elder. 1 re-
mained there two years, and by living almost
| like brutes we managed to save money
| enough to pay our way back to Alabama,
and renouncing Mormonism forever, we left
| the Territory.
''The elders were determined we should
| not leave, and it was only by keeping the
time OF our intended departure secret that
we we're able to get safely out of the country
| Soon after moving to Arizona, I learned
that the elder to whom my two girls had
been sealed by the church had not lost sight
! of us and had no idea of giving up his in
tended victims without an effort. He had
an agent follow us and report to all the
elders in the vicinity of our new home that
the girls belonged to him.
Mormon Promises Never Fulfilled.
"During my three yearS residence among
the Mormons I learned that the promises
made by the elders who go forth TO make
converts are never fulfilled. know that
many people are induced to join their
| church by the stories of the good homes