The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-05-03
HORIZONS MUST BE PROTECTED.
Church Manager Located at Chatta-
nooga Appeals 10 Chief Executive.

Montgomery. Ala. April 29.-(Special)-
The members Of the Church of Jesus Christ
or Latter Day Saints have applied to the
governor of Alabama for protection against
the lawlessness in Crenshaw county. re
Gently enacted against some OF their elders
operating in that county.
Elias ). Nimban manager Of the south
ern mission of tho Mormon church, located
at Chattanooga. Tenn. complains that two
of his elders We're roughly handled by
disguised men, and inclosed the following
letter 10 the governor.
Last Saturday night whilo coming
home from the meeting Wl.h Uncle sam. I
Elder Spencer and four ladies. Elder Spen-
Ger and myself were attacked By am armed. L
blackened and masked mob A 4 En- hmeut I
took Uncle lsham ana the ladies ana about .
ten or liteen marched we elders ahead If l.
them into the woods and forced MS TO strip L
OF our coats and stand there ga tae cold n
10 listen to their vile abuse. cGrs IS and
threats. With uplifted hands and looking =
INTO tho mouths of several guns were =
made to SAY would leave the state We 2.
We're asked il we preferred being thrown =
into n near by niU p0uD or whipped until
We could lust crawl away. The aendish "
human agents OF the devil told MS the
damnable doctrine We were preaching must -
be stopped and they We're going 10 DO &. u.
We We're finally let 20 with the threat =,
that If We came back into these parts again =
our blood would be the only satisfaction"
4AlC 6oNstltI yesterday morning IEltl q
conference with the elders ana the sheriff =
of Crenshaw county and stated that the :
constitution plainly gave the right of free
dom in religion 10 all persons. and that -
the persons implicated should be punished :,
for their conduct and the elders protected. :
An investigation Will be held
Constitution of the State Quoted
Montgomery. Ala. May I-(SpeciaI)- Al
Governor Johnston insists that the consti-
tuition of the state demands the protection d
OF Mormons against intimidations or persc-
cutions on account Of their fash.
The constitutions! clause in question e
reads as follows.
Article l. section 4-That no religion u
snail be tiblshed By law. that no prefer
ence shall be given by law To- any re- II
iig1ous sec, society. denomination or ~
mode OF worship that no one shall he
compelled BY law TO attend any place OF r
worship. nor to pay any urles. taxes or
other rate. Tor building or repairing any =,
place of worship, or Tor maintaining any Il
minister or ministry. that no religious test
shall be required as a qualification for any ]:
office or public trust under this state. and &
that the civil rights. privileges and capaci-
Ties OF any citizen shall not be in any man n
ner affected by his religious priuci oIcs" r
The governor reasons that the AIormons II
religious sect: that they believe in +
the God of the Christians and believe that
tho Bible is His inspired word. They be-
lieve. however. the book of Mormon TO be
an inspired revised edition of the Al
mightys laws and iuiunctions. The gov r
ernor considers that they are entitled. a
der the constitutional provision above q
quoted to this belief. He says the Nor r.
mons in this state number only about 500; Il
they do not preach. advocate nor practice
polygamy and that, no matter how much II
ne might differ with them In their religious
theories. II is his duty 10 protect them. II
The recent highwaying and fogging OF le
the two elders in northeast Alabama is |
considered by the governor to be a IA
GRAVITY unla wful proceeding and he has IN 8
structed thc sheriff of the county in which a
Il occurred TO every means i'm his II
power 10 discover and to punish the per- N
petratorS