The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-08-16
CHAPTER III.
John Ferrier Talks with the
Prophet.

PFOphets
Three weeks had passed since Jeffer-
son Hope and his comrades departed
from Salt Lake City. John Terriers
heart was sore within him when he
thought of the young mans return,
and of the impending loss of his
adopted child. Yet her bright and
happy face reconciled him to the ar
rangement more than any argument
could have done. He mad always de-
termined deep down in his resolute
heart, that nothing would ever induce
him to allow his daughter to wed a
Mormon. Such a marriage he regard
ed as no marriage at all, but as
shame and a disgrace. Whatever he
might think of the Mormon. doctrines,
upon that one point he was inf1eXible.
He had to seal his mouth on the sub
ject, however, for to express an I'M
orthodox opinion was a dangerous
matter in those days N the Land of
the Saints.
Yes, dangerous matter-so danger
GUS that even the most sanity dared
only whisper their religious opinions
with bated breath, lest something
which fell from their lips might be
misconstrued, and bring down swift
retribution upon them. The victims of
persecution had now turned persecut-
orS on their own account, and persecut-
ors of the most terrible description
Not the inquisition of Seville, nor the
German Vehmgericht, nor the secret
societies Of Italy, were ever able to
put a more formidable machinery in
motion than that which cast cloud
over the Territory of Utah.
It's invisibility, and the mystery
which was attached to it, made this or
ganization doubly terrible. 1t appeared
to be omniscent and omnipotent, and
yet was neither seen nor heard. The
man who held out against the church
vanished away, and none knew whith-.
er he had gone or what had befallen
him. His wife and his children await
ed him at home, but no father ever re-
turned to tell them how he had Jared
at the hands of his secret judges. A
rash word or hasty act was followed
by humiliation, and yet none knew
what the nature might be of this terri
bic power which was suspended over
them. No wonder that men went
about in fear and trembling, and that
even in the heart of the wilderness
they dared not whisper the doubts
which oppressed them.
At first this vague and terrible pow
err as exercised only upon the recall
citrants, who, having embraced the
Mormon faith, wished afterwards to
peryert or abandon it. Soon, how
ever, it took wilder range. The sup
ply of adult women was running short,
and polygamy, without female pop
ulation on which to draw was barren
doctrine indeed. Strange rumorS began
to be banded about-rumorS of MUIR
dered immigrants and rifled camps in
regions where Indians had never been
seen. Fresh women appeared in the ha-
remS of the elderS--W0men who had
pinned and wept, and bore upon their
faces the traces of an unextinguishable
horror. Belated wanderers upon the
mountains spoke of gangs of armed
men masked, stealthy and noiseless--
who fitted by them in the darkness.
These tales and rumors took substance
and shape, and were corrOborated and
re-corroborated, until they resolved
themselves into definite name. To
this day, in the lonely ranches of the
West, the name of the DANTE Band,
or the Avenging Angels, is a sinister
and iH-omened one.
Fuller knowledge of the organization
which produced such terrible results
served to increase rather than lessen
the horror which it inspired in the
minds of men. None knew who be-
longed to this ruthless society. The
names of the participators in the deeds
Of blood and violence, done under the
name of religion, were kept profoundly
secret. The very friend to whom you
communicated your misgivings as to
the prophet and his mission might be
one of those who would come forth
ct night with fire and sword to exact
| q terrible reparation. Hence every
man feared his neighbor, and none
| spoke of the things which were nearest
| his heart
One fine morning John Ferrier was
| about to set out to his wheat fields,
when he heard the click of the latch,
and, looking through the window, saw
a stout, sandy-haired, middle-aged man
coming up the pathway. His heart
| leaped to his mouth, for this was none
other than the great Brigham Young
| himself Full of trepidation--for he
| knew that such a visit BODIED him little
| good-Ferrier ran to the door to greet
the Mormon chief. The latter, how
ever, received his salutation coldly,
and followed him with stern face in
to the sitting room.
Brother Terrier" he said, taking a
seat, and eying the farmer keenly from
under his light-colored eyelashes, "the
true believers have been good friends
/ to you. We picked you mp when you
were starving in the desert, we shared
/ our food with you, led you safe to the
Chosen valley, gave you a gpodly share
of land and allowed you to wax rich
| under our protection. is not this sop
i ut is So" answered John Ferrier.
TN return for all this we asked but
one condition--that was, that you
should embrace the true faith, and
conform in every way to It's usages.
This you promised to do. and this, il
common report says truly, you have
neglected"
aAnd how have r nnDlnntnd If ~