The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-07-15
MEDICATION OF
DEER PARK
CAMPERS
By Gordon Cooper.

clnlty concerning the nature of the re-
llglon practiced by the religious or
ganlzation which has purchased the
10 acres comprising the old Solebury
Deer Park at Ingham Springs. / be-
lIeve it is fair to the readers of this
paper to know the true status of these
people, and for that reason | visited
the camp last Tuesday and spent
several hours in consultation with its
leaders, and in observing their activ
tiles.
In the first place, this paper erron-
eously reported the name of the or
ganization. The true name is "Reor-
gained Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints" The first word of
the name "Reorganized," is that
which distinguishes these people from
the so-called Utah Mormons." The
facts concerning the organization
were furnished me by Walter W.
Smith, historian for the entire church
I orscnally. Ii IS a delightful man to
talk with. He is well educated and
thoroughly informed. His sincerity
and honesty is undoubted. lis know
ledge of his church is remarkable.
Everything he told me | have con-
firmed by the New Standard Ency-
clopedia, which contains a condensed
history of the beginning of his church
and of the subsequent formation of
the "Utah Mormon Church" under
Brigham Young.
The facts are these: In 1880, Jos.
Smith, Jr. organized the Church of
Latter Day Saints at Fayette, N. Y.
He had for his authority spiritual
revelations which he embodied in a
called "The Book of Nor
mon." This he claimed he deciphered
from tablets written by ancients who
came to this country hundreds of
years before it's discovery in 1892.
The church prospered under Jos.
Smith, and in 1881 it's members NOV
ed westward to found a settlement.
This settlement was made in Kirt-
land, Mo. In 1887 the church had 5000
members and needing more territory,
they moved to Far West, Mo. where
they founded county on the From
tier. But because they opposed slav-
cry, they were opposed by other set
tiers, and in 1888 they migrated to
Ill.
The Centennial History of Missouri,
written by DIR. Walter B. Stevens,
secretary of the Missouri Historical
devotes more than a hundred
pages to the story of the Latter Day
Saints in their settlement DIR. Stevens
is not member of the church, and
writes an unprecedented account which
gives credit to the hardihood and hon
esty of the Saints. They were Not
and DR.. Stevens deplor-
ed the act of the settlers who opposed
them so bitterly, and confiscated
$250,000, worth of their property
when they were driven out.
At Nauvoo, Ill. the Church pros
pered in material ways as well as in
religion and education. They organ
lied the first City University in 1910.
The city became the metropolitan
city of Illinois. In 1914 a newspaper
was published in the City attacking
the Church. The city council declared
it nuisance and closed it. The head
Of the church, Joseph Smith, Jr. was
blamed for this, and he was arrested
on a warrant. While in Jail in Car
image, ILL.,, a mob shot him, together
with his brother Hiram.
This left the church without
head. Three men aspired to secure
the appointment. They were Brigham
Young, James j. Strange, and Sidney
Rigdon. There was split in the
church, and Brigham Young resent
ing his failure to secure the appoint
nent, gathered company of his SYM
oathizers and went to Utah. The New
Standard Encyclopedia says the COM
oany numbered 143 men and women.
But Mr.. Smith, the present historian
If the Latter Day Saints, gives
Young credit for larger following.
But the "Utah Mormons" grew
rom that company under Brigham
Young in the settlement he founded
n Utah in 1916. Eight years later, he
Introduced polygamy Tin 1852 His
object for this was to increase. -
population of the settlemer41a 'he
make it impossible for NJ and to
% leave the settlemer' ) followers
men and women - In TINS way
,thers for r. we're ostraclzed by
.es. cir polygamous practi-
b.
the meantime, the original Lat
.er Day Saints remained in Nauvoo
Ill. following their daily vocations in
peaceful manner. In 1860 they reor-
ganized their church and elected Jos
Smith. Jr. son of Joseph Smith, as
their head. The church was then call
ed the "Reorganized Church of Let
ter Day Saints" They are not now
and never have been polygamous,
They believe in a Triune God just as
other Christians. They believe in
every one of the ten commandments
and practice them.
Members of the church have scat
tered in all parts of the United States
They have churches in all of the prin-
cipal cities. The church in Philadel-
phia, (of which Mr.. Walter w
Smith has been pastor for number
of years. was first started in 1889
1t has never had any connection with
the Brigham Young Mormons.
The members of the Reorganized
Church of Latter Day Saints include
thousands of the prominent people
of the country. Mr.. John Zimmerman