Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-06-06

thine for We had been gIfevouaIy put
upon, and believed the God OF Israel
should avenye our wrongp as he had
avenged those OF His older Zion. And
hear me now--so long as believed
this, | was no coward; while you.
sir"
A long forennger was pointed
straight at the amazed Brigham.
while you, sir. were craven.
contemplate In your cowardice.
would have fought In Echo canyon 10
the end, because believed. But you
did not believe. and so you we're afraid
to fight. And for your cowardlce and
your wretched lusts your name among
all but your ignorant dupes shall be-
come kissing aud scorn. For mark
Il well, unless you forsase that heath
en- God OF Battles and preach the di.
vine Christ OF the New Testament,
you shall come to hold only the lgnor-'
ant, and them only by keeping them
ignorant"
The commotion among the people In
front was now all but panic. On the
platform the sires OF Israel whispered
one to another. while Brigham gazed
as II fascinated. driven TO admiration
for the speakers power and audacity.
For the feverlsh, 1eeting moment,
Joel Rae was that yeritable Lion OF
the Lord he had prayed to be, putting
upon the people his spell Of the old
days. Heads were again strained up
and forward. and amazed horror was
on most OF the faces. Far back, Pru-
dence trembled, feeling that she must
be away at once, until she felt the
| firm grasp OF Follett's hand. The
speaker went on. having turned again
to the front.
Instead of a church you shall be-
come justly hated and despised az a
people who foul their'homes and dis
honor beyond forgiveness the names
OF wife and mother. Then your pun
ishment shall come upon you as II has
already come for this and for other
sins. Even now the GENTLE Is upon
us; and mark this truth that God has
but now given me to know: we have
never been persecuted as n church,
but always as a political body hostile
| to the government of this nation.
Even so, you had no faith. Believing
as l believed. would have fought
that nation and died thousand bloody
deaths rather than submit. But you
had no faith. and you were so low that
you let yourselves be ruled by a cow
ard-and l tell you God hates q
coward"
He stopped. waiting as II he were
not done, but the spell was broken.
The life, indeed. had In the later mo-
ments been slowly dying from his
words; and. as they lost their FIRE,
scattered voices of protest had been
heard; then voices In warning from
behind him, and the sound of two OF
three rising and pushing back their
chairs.
The little bent man tried again to
smile, hoping for a friendly glance
perhaps a hand.clasp without words
from some one OF them. Seeing that
he was Stunned. he stepped down on
the platform at the side, twisting his
hat In HIS long. thin hands in embar
rassment. A moment he stood so
turning to look back at the group o
priests aud Elders around the Prophet
seeking for any sign, even for glance
that should be not unkind. The little
pained smile still lighted his face, but
no friendly look came from the others
Seeing only the backs turned toward
him, he at length Strengthened out his
crumpled hat, still smiling. and slowly
put It on his head; as he turned away
he pulled the hat farther over his
eyes, and then he was on along the
dusty street. looking to neither side
still with the little smile that made
his face gentle.
But when he had come to the enc
Of the street and was on the road III
the hill, the emile died. He-seemed al
at once to shrink and stoop and fade
no longer Lion OF the Lord, but 1
poor, white-faced, Mortified little mar
who had meant In his heart TO give I
great revelation, and who had succeed
ed only Ia uttering blaspheny to tn,
very face OF Gods prophet.
From below, the little groups OF ex
cited people along the street looked III
and cav his thin. bent figure alone Il
. the fading sunlight, tolling resolutell
upward.
Other groups back in the squar,
talked among themselves. not few II
whispers. A listener among then
might have heard ouch expressions as
He'll be blood-atoned sure!" -
They'll make breach upon him.
They'll accomplish his deeease!"-
Hell be sent over the rim OF tn,
basin right Quickl" One indignan
Saint. with q talent for euphemism
was heard to say, Brigham win hav
his spirit disembodledi"
To the priests and Elders on tn
platform Elder Wardle was saylng
! THE trouble with him was he wa
. crazy with fever. Why. III bet m,
best set OF harness his pulse Amt les
than a hundred and twenty this min
ttfo %