The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-16
BILL ARp'S LETTER,
Bill Has Something to Say About the
Mormons.
4Nanta Constitution.


5000 miles away from home they arc
raising commotion among our people
and l don't understand what they are
after. Are they really missionaries
sent out from Utah to propagate their
religion, or are they religious tramps
who lind this an easy way to live. They
compass sea and land to make single
prOselyte and remind lis of the far
reaching zeal of the Jcsuits of tho six
teenth century. The Jesuits went to
the heather Of all countries who had
not heard Of Jesus, but these Mormons
go to the PrOtestants in enlightened
Christendom and seek covcrtly to
undermine their faith. They work
upon the weak minded and fanatical
and only make converts by destroying
the peace of the family. No wonder
that the good people of the cOmmu-
mites drive them out and maltreat
them. have no respect for prose
lytcrs in Christian land who would
seek to draw their converts from one
Christian church to another and SOW
discord in family.
was ruminating about this Mormon
ism, which is another child born of
New England fanaticism, where all the
devilish things originate. 1t is close
akin to the doctrine Of free love, that
originated there half q century ago,
and is now pretty generally accepted.
1t man doesn't find his affinity when
he marries ne finds her afterwards, and
they keep on swapping around.
Joe Smith came from there and one
day pretended to find Bible under a
big stone. 1t was placed there by al
angel and had golden leaves, and he
was told to read it, for it was the last
will of God and he must preach it to
the people. He copied the writing and
was going to sell the gold, but the
angel rebuked him and took the golden
leaves away. Well, that man found
fools enough TO start new departure
in religion, and because the good peo-
pie at home made fun of him, he and
his followers moved to Pennsylvania,
where he had more visions and the
angel gave him a pair of magic spec
ticles and Urim and Thummin, and
tlked to him behind curtain, and
John the Baptist visited him and gave
him the Holy Ghost and the gift of
prophecy and supernatural powers.
From there he and his followers went
to Palmyra, N. Y, and had the ''Book
OF Mormon printed, and organized a
church with thirty members, and Smith
cast q devil ont of O man named
knight.
But Palmyra got too hot for them
and they moved to Kirkland, Ohio, be-
cause the angel said 80. But Kirtiand
got too warm FOR them end they moved
to Missouri and founded the city of
Zion. Not long after he went back to
Kirtiand on a visit and they tarred and
feathered him, but his persecution
gave him strength and followers and
they bnilt a church thers and called
themselves the Latter Day Saints, and
started e bank and flooded the country
with wiidcst money in the name Of the
Lord. The leaders were arrested and
indicted for murder, treason, burglary,
areon and larceny, but were allowed to
essccaaTo Hom jail and leave Kirkland
with their families. From there they
went to Illinois, guided by an angel.
and founded the city of Nauvoo. There
they built another church and sent
! missionaries to England to make con
verts, and they made them. Nauvoo
grew up rapidly and the Saints soon
numbered !, 1,500 men and elected Smith
mayor and lieutenant general. In 1912
he was at the very height of his pros
perity and took hand in politics. In
1S43 he, had another revelation from
the angel and was advised to take some
spiritual wives. Accordingly he took
two married women, the wives of Dr..
Foster and William Law. two of his
chief supporters. OF course, this raised
o rumpus and Foster and Law started
a newspaper against him and published
the affidavits Of sixteen women, who
charged Smith and his head man,
Rigdon, with impurity and immortality.
Smith then destroyed the press and
Foster and Law had to fly for their
lives. They appealed to the courts
and had warrants issued for him and
Rigdon and seventeen others. They
we're arrested and put in Jail. The
governor visited them and promised
protection to them, if they and their
families would leave the country, but
the people were 80 exasperated with
them they went that night to the jail
and broke down the doors and shot
Smith and hie brother to death.
What kind of q story is that to found
the Mormon religion upon and yet
these Mormon elders have the cheek to
travel through this sen4hefn land to
propagate their spurious faith among
our people.
| But Smiths wife and his son Joe
mover did accept the revelation as to
spiritual wives, and the son reorganized
M0ffslOniam at Plano III rphara 10