The age-herald., 1900-03-31
MORMONS IN THE SOUTH
Extent of Their Mission Work-How
 They Operate

Mormon elders or missionaries have been operating in the southern states for the last five years. At the beginning their werk was confined to the mountain districts and they were little heard of, that locality be-
 ing very isolated. Within the last three years, however, they have extended their field and, during the last year especially, have entered Wide territory. In North Carolina they have visited nearly every county; in central and northern South Car olina, well as in northern Georgia, they have been very active. and southwestern Virginia and eastern Tennessee have also been visited.
 The Mermcns have been more successful among what are termed the mountain whites than elsewhere, although they have gained d stroEs foothold in the Caro- linas as well as Tennessee. The mountain whites form class widely separated from the others of their color. Some get Hv- ing from the small farms in the valleys of the C21rolinas and Tennessee; others gather herbs, which are sold to patent medicine makers; others are employed in coal and ore mines while a large propor- ton live by hunting and occasionally working in the lumber regions. They have few sGloCis flower ChuT ches, and, owing to the difficulty of traye.trL3, are seldom seen outside of the mountain district. The great majority can neither read write, and are like children in their retgous be- lief. Consequently, they are extremely su- pGrstitious and the Mc-mons have eEcoun- tered less difficulty in working among them t.hau in the more thickly settled southern states. The material Is like that in Flu rope which the Mormon missionaries worked on when the migration to Europe toek place.
 The general plan of the missionaries ill
 the mountain districts has been to become acquainted with the women of the family
 approaching the male memoers through the
 wives, sisters and daughters. In coun-
 try where the nearest neighbor may be three or five miles distant every house is
 more or less of a hotel, and 1t is taken as q matter of course that the traveller will stop at any dwelling for refreshment or a
 nights lodging. The Mormons soon be- came familiar with the customs of the country, and have done most of their work travelling. in wagons on horseback from house to house. They never go Singly, possibly because they realize that life is not worth much in the mountains. and that
 two men are better able to resist enemy than one. The majority are young or mid dle-aged men, apparently selected for their good physique. They dress plainly in black, wearing the soft hat common to the south.
 It is probable that nearly all carry arms. One of their schemes is to stop two or three days at a house in some small settle ment, paying, of course, for their board People there depend for information prin- cipaliy upon the gossip of the few travellers who happen along, and are generally will ing to listen and ito give information them-
 selves. From the 'women folks" it is easy to get an idea of the number of people in
 the locality and those most likely to be
 successfully operated upon. They have plenty of funds and a little money goes
 long way there. After establishing a foot hold they begin to talk of their religion. Its l
 ments adapted to the intelligence of their hearers, who in turn speak Of 1t to their | friends and neighbors.
 If the missionaries deem it safe they en- l deavor to arrange a series of meetings at l different dwellings, or possibly. in a school l house. The mountaneers, attracted by the 1 novelty. ,wi9 come from miles around to
 hear of the new religion, as they would lis- | ten to any speaker. Once gaining their in- l terest the Mormons grow enthusiastic and endeavor to work their hearers up to a high | pitch very much on the order of a Metho- | dist revival. In this way they gain con- 1 verts who in many instances have not only | joined that church but have turned over
 what little property and money they had | to the missionaries, to do with as they | pleased.
 aries will stay in a locality several months | organizing what they call "a local brancl | of the church in Utah" They furnish ( | ritual which includes number of we'll 1 known hymns, and preach at least once l a week. They have studied the character
 of the people so we'll that they understand | how to make the religion attractive an< l in the beginning they meet with few ob | stacles The first opposition was encoun | tered when some of the workers in Nortl
 Carolina suggested to young women amont | their converts that they could find gooC
 homes In Utah and secure good husbands They pictured the wealth of the churc1 | and the advantages which the wome1 | would have, and offered to pay their fare This was resented, especially by the men l A number of the girls. however. listened