The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-12-05
A Mormon Split.

Lamont, Iowa, Nov. 26.-Joseph
Smith, president of the reorganized
church of Latter Day Saints, and son
of Joseph Smith. founder of the Nor
mon chu 'ch. is reported i'll at his
home in Independence, Mo, and his
children. who live here, have been
celled TO his bedside.
The above news despatch is mysti-
flying to great many people, doubt
less. 1t is not generally known that
two rival branches of the so-called
Mormon church exist. The split fol
lowed the death of Joseph Smith and
his brother. Hyrum. who were killed
by a mob at Carthage, Ill, many
years ago, Joseph was the so-called
prophet" and founder Of the sect,
which. on account of its speciousness
and for other reasons, was persecut-
ed and driven out, first from western
New York. where Smith received his
vision" then from localities in Ohio
and Missouri where it had settle0,
and still later from Nauyoo in south
ern Illinois.
This latter movement marked a
crisis in the church. Following the
death OF the Smiths. there was a
scattering. due in part TO internal dis
sension. While the Mocmons had
previously been accused of practising
polygamy or something akin to It by
their enemies, Joseph Smith had
never asserted it as an article of
faith
On his death he left son, Joseph
who was then too young to take con-
troll. Brigham Young. one of the
apostles, was elected to the leader
ship and pioneered the bold migration
into the unknown Utah desert He
soon had "-evelation" that resulted
in the formal establishment of poly
gamy among the Latter Day Saints
who followed him.
But by no means. all of the original
Saints had joined Young. Many still
remained in the vicinity of Nauvoo
and in time these drew together in
southern Iowa. Among them was
Joseph, the son of the prophet. who
became their head and leader The
Joseph f. Smith who is the present
head of the Utah Mormons. succeed
ing Brigham Young is the son of tho
p-ophet's brother. Hyrum. and cous-
in of the other Joseph
The Iowa Latter Day Saints aud
those of Utah are bitterly hostile to
each other. The Iowans dotest the
memory of Brigham Young and his
polygamous teachings, which they as
sert were injected into the faith with
out authority and have tended TO
bring it into disrepute, They claim
to be the legitimate church and re-
gard the Utah element as spurious,
though the latter is much the greater
in numbers, wealth and influence.
Some years ago, when the Salt
Lake church authorities. at heavy ex
pense. sought out and beautihed the
spot in Sharon. Vermont. where the
prophet" was born. erected a hand
some monument and dedicated il
with imposing ceremonies as 2 chrirc
along with-or rather quite separate
from-the large number OF high
church dignitaries from Utah, headed
By President Smith and hume 'ou.
apostles, came on that occasion al
emissary OF the Iowa Mormons sen
out to spy and report. His comments
on the situation and on the parson
| ages present were decidedly interest
ing. II is unnecessary to state tina
they were offe ed in whispere,
words. This spys presence wa
known. but quietly ignored by tn,
| Utah Mormons. In his view il was a
presumptuous for these people 4
raise monument to Smith as /
would be in the view of orthodo.
! Christians to have them do the sam
thing to Moses.-Randolph Heral,
( and News.