Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-09-23
AMERICANA MAGAZINE.

In tho August number of Amer
icana, Just at hand, President b. II.
Roberts continues his History of the
Mormon Church The first chapter
in this issue deals with The Dlsrup-
ton at Kirkland" and the second with
THE Peaceful Exodus from Clay Coun-
ty." There is great deal Of informa-
tion In this installment OF the History,
stated concisely and with the clearness
and forcefuness characteristic Of the
writer. The illustrations consist of
picture OF Lyman Wights house and
facsimile Of a Kirkland Safety Society
Bank bill.
The Saints in Kirkland at the time
covered by this part of the History,
passed through a financial crisis which
must have tried the faith OF many to
the utmost But this was not the
worst calamity President Roberts
points out that pride and worldly mind
edness preceded the temporal troubles.
and when these came the people accused
each other of sin and folly. ana there
were chickering's. fault finding and bit
terness until the spirit OF the Gospel
In Kirkland was well night eclipsed."
Apostasy was rife.
The exodus from Clay county was
peaceful Many Of the Saints exiled
from Jackson county found refuge
there. but the citizens of clay county
became suspicious Of their guests and
requested them TO seek some other To-
cation They alleged
q. Their religious tenets were so
different from the present churches of
the age. that this always had and al
ways would excite deep prejudice
against them in any populous country
where they might locate.
"2 They were eastern men whose
manners. habits, customs and even dia-
iect were essentially different from tho
Missourians.
g. They we're non-slave holders.
and opposed 10 slavery, which excited
deep and abiding prejudices In a COM
munity which tolerated and protected
slavery.
a. Common report had Il that they
kept up a constant communication with
the Indian tribes on the frontier; and
declared from the pulpit that the In
dams were a part of Gods chosen peo-
pie. destined by heaven TO inherit with
them the land of Missouri"
Such were the reasons why the good
people OF clay county decided not TO
shelter the Saints. They had religious
tenets different from other churches:
they spoke with Eastern accent and
had Eastern manners; they believed in
liberty and the Semitic origin OF the
Indians! What frivolous excuses for
denying shelter to American citizens on
American soil But it may be noted
that they had no crime to accuse the
Saints or only, they did not want
them for neighbors. And the Saints
withdrew in peace, though they. pre-
sumabiy. had just as much right 10
settle in Clay county as other settlers
had
This is an interesting chapter IN the
history OF the church. It causes ono
70 reflect upon the purpose Of the AL
mighty in suffering His people TO DEE
driven from place TO place: for ulu-
mately the Divine purpose i'm history Is
the chief element of Importance. rather
than the means by which the Divinopiau
Is carried out. Undoubtedly the Saints
as people. needed The education of
persecution. Of Wandering from place
10 place Of the exodus and empire
building, in order to develop the quail
ties necessary for the fulnrment Of their
mission in the world Many feu by the
wayside. unable 20 stand the test.
Thus a selection was made from which
came posterlty endowed with the
qualities needed for the development Of
the Church. IL was all in the uinne
plan
There are other articles Of interest
in this number. The complete list OF
contents follows: THE House of Gov
ernors, by William George Jordan:
Little Wars OF the Republic" II Tho
Earlier Indian Wars by John Il
Meader; ''The Scot In New England |
and the Maritime Provinces" part III /
b. JOIN calder Gordon AN American |
Refugee" by S. r. Knapp: History of
the Mormon church" chapter XVI |
by Brigham H. Roberts, "The Bilboes
and the Stocks" by Leslie Irvine; |