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
M0rmOns.
4tiantn Constitution.

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raising a commotion among our people
and I 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 find this an easy way to live. They
compass sea and land to make a single
proselyte and remind us OF the far
reaching zeal of the Jesuits of the 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 covertly 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-
lyters in Christian land who would
seek to draw their converts from one
Christian church to another and SOW
discord in a family.
Twas 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.
If man doesn't find his affinity when
he marries he finds her afterwards, and
they keep on swapping around.
Joe Smith came from there and one
day pretended to find Bible under q
big stone. It was placed there by an
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
angerrebuked him and took the golden
leaves away. Well, that man found
fools enough to start a 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 pair of magic spec
tlcles and Urim and Thummin, and
tllked to him behind a 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 mad the "Book
of Mormon" printed, and organized a
church with thirty members, and Smith
cast a devil out of man named
Knight.
But Palmyra got too hot for them
and they moved to Kirkland, Ohio, be-
cause the angel said 80. But Kirkland
got too warm for them and they moved
to Missouri and founded the city Of
Zion. Not long after he went back to
Kirkland on visit and they tarred and
feathered him, but his persecution
gave him strength and followers and
they built church there and called
themselves the Latter Day Saints, and
started bank and flooded the country
with wildcat money in the name of the
Lord. The leaders were arrested and
indicted for murder, treason, burglary,
arson and larceny, but were allowed to
escape from Jail and leave Kirkland
with their families. From there they
went to Illinois, guided by an angel.
and founded the city Of Nauyoo. 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 1S42
he was at the very height OF his pros
perity and took u 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
rumpus and Foster and Law started
anewspaper 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 Tor their
lives. They appealed to the courts
and had warrants issued for him and
Rigdon and seventeen others. They
were 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 SO e1asperated with
them they went that night to the jail
and broke down the doors and shot
Smith and his brother to death.
What kind of o story is that to found
the Mormon religion upon and yet
these Mormon elders have the check to
travel through this southern land to
propagate their spurious faith among
our people.
But Smiths wife and his son Joe
povor did oooont tho rnynloti0D aa tn