Evening journal., 1891-12-02
MARYLAND M0RM0NISM.
LATTER-pAY SAINTS LOCATED
NEAR WASHINGTON.

tion-Given n Bearty weloome-His-
tory of the Growth of the Religions
Mandraks-It Draws Large Crowds.
While everyone knows that the Nor
mon Church exists and hourishes in
Utah, perhaps few persons are aware
that a branch OF that church has been
planted and is furnishing q at Baldwin, on
the B. & o. railroad, only sixteen miles
from the city Of Wilmington. IL Is the
onlv church of it's kind on the Peninsula,
and one Of few east of the Allegheny
Mountains.
This society Of Mormons, or, as they
choose TO cal themselves, Latter Day
Saints, was organized IN August 1857,
nv a worker named Joseph Stewart of
Philadelphia. Since that time it has
been nurtured by It's founder, William
a. Koeley of Kirkland, o., and Frank
Sbeeby Of Lisbon Falls, Me.
When Missionary Stewart first came
to Baldwin he only induced three persons
50 accept the doctrine, but they were
workers, and when they accepted the
Book Of Mormon and the dogmas OF tne
church they did 1t with firm cenvictlon
that Joseph Smith was not az big frard
as most persons supposed him TO De. Ihe
leader Of this trio was Jonathan B. Car
ter. q local contractor and builder. he
was especially zsalous and he instituted
meetings at convenient periods to push
forwerd the work These meetings we're
well attended despite the fact that there
was small Methodist Episcopal chapel
In the place before Mormon and Aoroni
thought OF pouring Smithsonian balm
into the hearss OF these three pioneers.
They seemed to have "fhurim and
Thummin" over their eyes, for they read,
believed and were baptized, by walking
from the dam into the Baldwin mill race
with a fortitude that would have dens
credit to a regenerRted back sliding Bap
tist.
At Hrst the meetings were held from
house 80 house. The public in general
Was invited, aud the meetings were well
attended Many came because of the
novelty Of the thing; others because the
little village furnished no better Rttrae
tiOns, while q selecJ few felt that their
souls hankered after a nameless some
thing that no other church could supply.
While the meetings were. well attended.
but few persons had the temerity to stand
forth and say that they could place
Joseph Smith on a par with Elijsb,
Elisha, VeunOr, Virgins ard other
prophsts.
Holding meetings in houses became
wearisome There was never any posi-
tive assurance that the meetings could
be held. The one yearold Mormon
might De attacked with Group, collie or
scarlet fever at the place announced,
and IL that were not enough 20 break up
the meeting. the baby's 2-year old
brother would set up a howl that knocked
the bottom out of the volume bucket of
MARYLAND Mormonism at the end of
each meeting the prime movers would
ask, Where shall We three meet againg"
The question WAS invariably answered
by the introduction Of certain group
whoyping -cough-cholera infantu& provi-
soes that did not bseome the dignity Of a
religious body.
In the spring of 1890 they began the
construction of the Temple of Moroni
The small plot Of Mormon soil was given
by one Of the Carriers. church edifce
Is by "a feet outside measurement, was
erected by Carter and his two religious
eoAdjutors. The temple is neat wooden
structure OF one and one-half stories
Inside it is plainly furnished and prettily
papered.
After this building was completed
regular services were held. and the at
tendance became much larger. The
prOseytes convinced four others that the
latter day work was cut according TO the
latest religious styles in favor in the
in the courts above. These lAtter-day
converts added zest to the meetings by
throwing themselves, body and soul, into
the work. Visitors we're not frightened
away by the taking up of a collection,
and by this plan they euchered the little
Methodist chapel on the bank" out OF 8
number of its visiting sdherents
ItsPeeds TO West Nottingham
In the meanwhile branch of the Nor
mon Church was organized at West
Nottingham, Pa, about thirteen miles
north Of Baldwin. The society there met
with much better success, and at the
present time has sixteen members.
These West Nottingham followers of
Joseph Smith are frequent visitors to the
church there. and the Baldwin members
expect TO gather them all in rs soon as
thsYsdedicate their temple, as the Penn
sylvanians aave not church edifce.
A visit TO the Church.
On Sunday morning an EVENING
JOURNAL reporter attended service at
the church there. It began at 10 o'clock
in the morning. When the reporter en-
tered he was treated with the utmost
courtesy.
A glance over the small congregation
showed that the adherents of the church
we're from the poorer walks OF life. The
men and women sat on opposite sides Of
the church large number Of children
were present. The congregation was
orderly and reverentiAl, but among the
men "biled" shirts, shoe blaeking and
tonsorial nestness seemed to form no
part of their religion.
The services we're conducted by Jona-
than c. Carter In character they much
resembled those Of a Methodist church
experience meeting. Mr.. Carter, al
though an uneducRted man, has wonder
full persuasive elosuence in the rough.
he led theEmeeting in prayer, and next
announced a hymn. Coming over to the
reporter he handed him a hymn book,
opened at the place designated in the
announcement. 1t was called the
Saints Harp, and compiled at Lamont,
Iowa, in 1870, by Joseph d. Smith, and
Norman w Smith, and published by the
Reorganized Church Of Jesus Christ OF
Latter Day Saints.
The choir was composed of Harry NJ
HaTgan and Daniel @ Carter. who san
with due regard for earnestness, but an
utter disregard for melody. In all the
hymns sung there was q striking same
4. he