The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-11
THE DANTE ADJUTANT,

The Tribune is in possession of Il
copy of letter written by Mr. Reed
Peck, under date. Quincy, Adams
Co., H.. Sept. IS, 1897 Reed Peck
was adiutant in the band that was
known in Far West, Missouri, as "The
Daughter of Zion,' whose members
individually called themselves "Dan-
ties. - We shall call attention to part
Of the contents OF this letter, because
the Dcseret News has failed to keep
its promise to inform the public with
respect to the facts as they concern
the organization commonly called
"Danites -
Mr.. Peck declares that III the year
1888 he learned of several secret meet
jngs that had been held at Far West
and which had greatly excited those
who were privileged to attend. None
but holders Of the Mechisedck priest
hood in the Mormon church had been
invited to these secret gatherings, and
the general whisperings that ensued
quietly intimated that some movement
Of extraordinary import was on foot.
or the real nature of these meetings,
however, Mr.. Peck declares he was in
ignorance; but he was n member Of
the Mormon church and an elder in
Israel, as they are called and call
themselves, and he responded to An in
vitation which finally came to him to
attend one OF these secret meetings.
1t was at Far West in the month of
IuDo and his o++and,pca tbora did 4wn
things for him-disclosed to him the
objects of the gatherings and organ iza-
ton. and so fixed him in control of the
band that he could do no other than
seem TO Join In its activities There
was no alternative except great per
the villains who formed the group were
a bloodthirsty lot Mr.. Peck was an
officer of the Missouri militia, and on
account of his experience thus gained in
military matters he was Immediately
made adiutant in the "Danite" band.
OF this incident Mr.. Peck says, 81
did not think it policy TO reject the ap.
pontment' - The Tribune we'll under
stands the significance of that simple
suggestion
AS Reed Peck records the facts in
his letter, it was about the last of
June when he attended the first secret
meeting TO which he had been invited.
He says that there were about sixty
new members voted and sworn In at
that time, and inasmuch as the oath
was delivered to all at the same time
he takes comfort out of the fact that
his silence in the responses absolves him
from any charge'of having really sworn
to do the deeds prescribed in the duties
Of the gang. Mr.. Peck letter goes
on TO say:
Jared Carter George w Robinson and
sampson Award, under the instructions
of the presidency. [meaning the first
time1, had formed a secret military So
ciety called THE Daughter OF Zion" and
were holding meetings 10 initiate mem
bers. The principles taught by Sampson
Award as spokesman were that, "As the
Lord had raised up a prophet in these
last DAYS like unto Moses, IT shall be
the duty of this band to obey him in all
things. and whatever he requires you
shall perform, being ready to give up
life and property for the advancement OF
the cause. When anything is to be per
lcge Of Judging whether II would he right
or wrong, but shall engage in the accom-
plishment and trust God for the result,
II Is not our business or place TO know
what Is required by God, but He Will
inform us by means Of the prophet. and
we must perform. II any one OF you sec
member of the band in difficulty in
the surrounding country contending for
instance with an enemy. you shall eXtri
cate him. even il in the wrong. il YOU
have 10 do with his adversary as Moses
did with tho Egyptian. put him under
the sand. and both pack or TO Far West
and we will take care of the matter our
selves. No person shall be suffered to
speak evil or dIsrespectfully of the presi-
deucy The secret signs and purposes Of
the society are not to be revealed on
pain of DEATH" etc, etc.
This is information that belongs to
the public. since the Deseret News de
uied that the DANTE band was a
church oganization. and since the
church organ has failed to fulfill its
promise TO inform the people upon this
subject after the bluff it made to dis
close the results of an investigation.
It is probable that in making that in.
vestigatiou the News has found out
something that it did not expect and
did not care to earn-and which it
does not now dare to give To the pub