The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-03-04
THE MORMON CHURCH.
1t is Stondlly Growing In this Com
munlty, Seemingly.
THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD
In tho Church in North Benwood SAT.
nrday and Notwithstanding
Lectures on tho Authenticity OF tho
Book of Mormon-Tho Progross Of
tho Local Congregation.

Tho annual diatriot conference OF tho
Church Of jesus Christ OF Latter Day
Saints, popularity known as tho Mormon
church, convened In tho little church on
Water street, just below Forty.olghth,
Saturday morning, aud will close to.
morrow evening. This is tho original
church founded by Joseph Smith. lts
members dlaclaim any connection
whatever with tho Utah church, do not
accept Brigham Young rs a prophet,
and as Presiding Elder Garrett said to
an lSTELLIdrscER reporter yesterday.
consider tho Utah Mormons US apos.
tatcs from tho truo iaith. This church
has never taught nor sanctioned polyga.
my. Its headquarters ate ut Kirtlund,
o., and tho sect numbers about 10000
aonll.
This district includes Western Penn.
sylvania. Eastern Ohio aud Northern
Wost Virginia. 1t Is known as the
Observation-Disclosures district. Tho
church here, when tho neat little edhco
was dedicated by Elder Mcdowell, now
ono OF tho First Quorum Of Seventy"
or ruling council OF tho church. num-
bcred but sixteen members. A congre.
cation can DO formed with but six mem.
bers, that being the number with which
Joseph Smith started his now religion.
In 1890 the church here had thirty.nino
members. The report at this meeting
showed a membership OF l2j.
The business sessions were held Sat-
urday in tho church. Rev. Conner 1.
Griffith, OF Kirkland, O., missionary OF
the district, presiding, assisted by Elder
Il, Etzenhouser. of Independence, Mo.
There were delegates present from
Pittsburgh, Kirkland, Cleveland. Lake
View, BIake's Mills, Youngstown, O.;
Conncllsvillc and Sharon, Pa,
Tho regular routine OF business OF tho
district was transacted. Delegates were
elected to tho worlds conference, to DO
held at Independence, No., April 8, as
follows: George Ii. Hulness, Frank
CriIey, Maggie Z. Handy, Of Pittsburgh,
Pa; Conner L. Griffith, Mr.. and Mrs.
W. II. Garrett, Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. II.
Bond. Hattie Griffith, Of Kirkland. o.
Encouraging reports wers read from
the various branches in tho district.
Elder ". II. Garrett, OF Kirkland, O.,
was chosen presiding elder ior the en-.
suing year. and L. S. Farley, OF Pitts.
burgh, was reelected secretary.
The evening session was devoted to q
lecture by U. Z. Miller, Of Pittsburgh,
OH biblical Evidences Of the Anthem.
ticity OF the Book Of Mormon" Mr..
Miller was a compositor in Pittsburgh
printing Office until failing eyesight
compelled him TO give up his calling.
lie is now employed Us prcssman. He
has devoted his spare time to study OF
the Book OF Mormon. and OF tho ex-
terror evidences in its favor. He holds
tina. many monuments on tho American
continent, preserved from antiquity,
furnish evidence OF tho truth OF its
story. He also dwelt on the references
in the Goth chupter OF Isaiah, to "a book
that is sealed. ",dclivered to the learned,
who shall say they cannot read because
it is sealed; and to Ihim that is not
learned, and hc shall saw, II am no.
learned" and finally: I'm that day
shall the deaf hear tho words OF tho
Book, and the eyes OF the blind shall
see," etc.
Tbs lecture Was illustrated BY store
opticon views, and wai very interesting
even TO those whom It did not convince.
Many passages from scripture were pro.
sented to bear out the speakers yiews.
Yesterday there was an early praise
service in the church. followed By Sun.
day school at Q u. IN. At l0:30 Elder K.
Etzenhouser, OF Independence, No.,
preached sermon. lie Is member
OF tho First Quorum OF Seventy" At
o'clock in the afternoon there WAS
communion, followed by social services,
or love feast. There were short OK.
periences and testimonies by large
number OF members, and the little
church was literally packed by tho con-
gregatiou.
Last evening Elder NJ. II. Bond, also
member OF tho First Quorum OF Seventy,
preached 10 another large congregation.
This evening Mr.. Miller will deliver
another lecture. illustrated with stcre.
op,icon views, his theme being, "ArchG.
illogical Evidences OF tho Authenticity
OF the Book OF Mormon" He shows
some OF the monuments and inscrip-
tions OF American antiquity to show
TIM. tho early inhabitants OF this con.
tinent came from Asia, and has very
ingenious arcumen. 10 that ctlcct. 70.
morrow evening the sessions will close
with another sermon by Elder Elzen.
houser.