USA > Missouri > Jackson County > Kansas City > Kansas City, Missouri : its history and its people 1808-1908 > Part 5
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"Brethren, the Lord has begun to gather his children, even Israel, that they may prepare to enter into and enjoy his rest when he comes in his glory, and He will do it. No matter what your ideas or notions may be upon the subject ; no matter what foolish reports the wicked may circulate to grat- ify an evil disposition, the Lord will continue to gather the righteous, and destroy the wicked, till the sound goes forth, IT IS FINISHED.
"It ought to be known abroad that much improvement is needed in the cattle, sheep and hogs in this part of the country. For the sake of comfort and convenience, as cows here are worth from ten to fifteen dollars, our brethren would do well, and we would advise them to purchase before they arrive in this region.
"In fact, if they journey according to the commandments of the Lord, pitching their tents by the way, like Israel in days of old, it would be no more than right to drive cows enough to supply every family, or company, with milk on the way.
"They would then have them when they arrived here; and, if they selected of the best breeds, they would lay a foundation for improvement, a thing of which all our brethren who are acquainted with raising stock will at once see the propriety.
"The sheep of this state are large, but as their wool is coarse the breed would soon be improved if our brethren would drive with them some Merinoes or Saxony. As soon as wool and flax are had among the brethren, sufficient for the purpose, they will manufacture cloth for their own use in the church.
"The swine in this country are not good, being the old fashioned shak breed, and much inferior to the large white grass breed of the eastern states. If any could introduce this breed into the church in Zion, what little pork might be wanted in the winter would be much better and easier raised.
"It is a matter of some surprise to us that our brethren should come up to the land of Zion, as many do, without bringing garden seeds, and even seeds of all kinds. The Jaredites and Nephites took with them all kinds; and the Jaredites, all kinds of animals. And although the Lord has said that it was his business to provide for his saints, yet he has not said that he would do it, unless they kept his commandments.
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"And notwithstanding the fullness of the earth is for the saints, they can never expect it unless they use the means put into their hands to obtain the same in the manner provided by our Lord. When you flee to Zion, we enjoin the word, prepare all things, that you may be ready to labor for a living, for the Lord has promised to take the curse off the land of Zion in his own due time, and the willing and the obedient will eat the good of the same: not the idle, for they are to be had in remembrance before the Lord.
"One very important requisition for the saints that come up to the land of Zion is, that, before they start, they procure a certificate from three elders of the church, or from the bishop in Ohio, according to the commandments; and when they arrive to present it to the bishop in Zion, otherwise they are not considered wise stewards, and cannot be received into fellowship with the church, till they prove themselves by their own goodness.
"Some of our brethren may at the first instant think, perhaps, that this is useless and formal, but a few reflections will be sufficient for them to see the propriety of it, and more especially when they learn that it is a com- mandment given us of our Lord.
"Our brethren will find an extract of the law of this state, relative to free people of color, on another page of this paper. Great care should be taken on this point. The saints must shun every appearance of evil. As to slaves, we have nothing to say. In connection with the wonderful events of this age, much is doing towards abolishing slavery, and colonizing the blacks, in Africa.
"The foregoing remarks have been addressed to our brethren abroad, considered as one general body, and have been designed as general informa- tion to all. We cannot close this epistle, compatible with our duty, without particularly addressing ourselves to our brethren, the elders, to whom is in- trusted the preaching of the everlasting gospel, the glad tidings of salvation to Israel, and to all the Gentiles, if they will listen to the invitation.
"Brethren, we are aware of your many afflictions, or at least in part, some of us having been eye witnesses to the things of God, and having been called to bear testimony of the same from the first, since this gospel has been proclaimed in these last days. The desire of our hearts for your pros- perity we can truly say is inexpressible : for when you are prospered, we are, and when you are blessed, we are blessed also. The afflictions which you are necessarily called to undergo in these days of tribulation and vengeance upon the wicked, call forth from our hearts unceasing prayers to our common Parent in your behalf, that you may be enabled to deliver his message in the demonstration of his Spirit, and call together his elect from the ends of the earth, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, even to Mount Zion.
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"By those few expressions, you will sce brethren, how important we view your callings. We do not consider that it is our duty to direct you in your missions; but we will give you in a few words what we have reason to expect relative to the gathering of the saints, according to the revelations of the Lord.
"By the authority of your callings and ordinances, you, no doubt, will admit, that it will be expected, that you will know your duty, and at all times and in all places, teach the disciples theirs; but we are sorry to say, that in some instances, some of our brethren have failed to do so.
"We would remind our brethren of a clause in the Covenants, which informs us, that all who are ordained in this church, are to be ordained ac- cording to the gifts and callings of God unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the one who ordains them. We would also remind them of one valuable caution recorded in Paul's first letter to Timothy, which says, Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins.
"Those cautions, however, are particularly addressed to our young breth- ren in the ministry. We know that many of our brethren are wise in these important parts of their labors, and have rid their garments of the blood of this generation, and are approved before the Lord.
"We will proceed further, brethren, to notice some particular items immediately connected with your duties, and what, as we said before, we have reason to expect from you, according to the revelations. In one given December 4, 1831, we learn that it is the duty of the elders of the church in the east to render an acount of their stewardship, unto the bishop ap- pointed unto the church in that part of the Lord's vineyard.
"The Lord says, And now, verily I say unto you, that as every elder in this part of the vineyard (the east) must give an account of his steward- ship unto the bishop in this part of the vineyard, a certificate from the judge or bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the bishop in Zion, ren- dereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward, and as a faithful laborer; otherwise he shall not be accepted of the bishop in Zion.
"And now, verily I say unto you, let every elder who shall give an ac- count unto the bishop of the church, in this part of the vineyard (the east) be recommended by the church or churches, in which he labors, that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things.
"We hope, brethren, that you will be particular to teach the disciples abroad prudence and economy in all things. Teach them in plainness, that without regular recommends they cannot be received in fellowship with the church in Zion, until after they have proven themselves worthy by their
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godly walk. And those who are recommended by you, we expect will be such as are personally known to you to be disciples indeed, and worthy the confi- dence of all saints.
"Viewing the quotation relative to your obtaining a certificate from the bishop in the east concerning your worthiness, you cannot blame us. breth- ren, if we are strict on this point. It may be understood, therefore, by our brethren, the elders, who come from the east, and do not bring a regular certificate showing that their labors have been accepted there, that they can- not be accepted in Zion. We do not set ourselves up as judges in this; we have only a desire to see the order of our Redeemer's kingdom observed in all things; for his commandments are precious with us: we have them in our hands, and they are sacred to our hearts.
"Our brethren who labor in the churches a distance to the west of the residence of the bishop in the east, who do not render their accounts to him, should be particular to bring recommends from the churches in which they do labor, and present them, with the accounts of their labors, to the bishop immediately after their arrival here. And those elders who labor continually in preaching the gospel to the world, should also be par- ticular to render their account of the same, that they may show themselves approved in all things, and be known to be worthy of the high office in which they stand in the church of Christ.
"Having said considerable concerning those particular points which are necessary to be observed by our brethren who journey to this land, and also a few words to the elders, we deem it a privilege, before we conclude to say something more to the church at large. In the previous remarks, how- ever, we presume our brethren may make many improvements, and, per- haps, discover some errors; if so, we can say that the best of motives have prompted us to write to our brethren, and if some small errors are to be found we are certain that the general ideas are correct, and will be a means of doing good, if those who are immediately interested in the same give heed to them.
"Dear Brethren in the New Covenant, accept this as a token for a salu- tation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, from your brethren in Zion. While we are permitted to witness the great things which are continually taking place in fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the last days, as the children of God are gathered home to prepare themselves for the sup- per of the Lamb, our language, that is the English tongue, fails to express our joy."
The newspaper announced that the communication would be "contin- ued in our next," but the printing office was destroyed and the "next" never came. After the appearance of the two articles the Saints soon were in
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trouble. The following circular, signed by about one hundred "Gentiles," was issued July 18, 1833:
"We, the undersigned, citizens of Jackson county, believing that an important crisis is at hand as regards our civil society, in consequence of a pretended religious sect of people that have settled and are still settling in our county, styling themselves Mormons, and intending as we do to rid our society peaccably if we, can, forcibly if we must, and believing as we do that the arm of the civil law does not afford us a guarantee, or at least a sufficient one against the evils which are now inflicted upon us, and seem to be increasing by the said religious seet, deem it expedient, and of the highest importance, to form ourselves into a company for the better and easier accomplishment of our purpose, a purpose which we deem it almost superfluous to say, is justified as well by the law of nature as by the law of self-preservation.
"It is more than two years since the first of these fanatics or knaves (for one or the other they undoubtedly are) made their first appearance, amongst us, and pretending as they did and now do to hold personal com- munication and converse face to face with the most high God; to receive communications and revelations direct from heaven, to heal the sick by laying on hands; and, in short, to perform all the wonder-working miracles wrought by the inspired apostles and prophets of old.
"We believed them deluded fanatics or weak and designing knaves, and that they and their pretensions would soon pass away; but in this we were deceived. The arts of a few designing leaders amongst them have thus far succeeded in holding them together as a society, and since the arrival of the first of them they have been daily increasing in numbers, and if they had been respectable citizens in society, and thus deluded, they would have been entitled to our pity rather than to our contempt and hatred; but from their appearance, from their manners, and from their conduct, since their coming among us, we have every reason to fear that with but very few ex- ceptions, they were of the very dregs of that society from which they came; lazy, idle and vicious. This we conceive is not idle assertion, but a fact susceptible of proof, for with these few exceptions above-named, they brought into our county little or no property with them, and left less behind them, and we infer that those only yoked themselves to the Mormon car who had noth- ing earthly or heavenly to lose by the change; and we fear that if some of the leaders amongst them had paid the forfeit due to crime, instead of be- ing chosen ambassadors of the Most High, they would have been inmates of solitary cells. But their conduct here stamps their characters in their true colors. More than a year since it was ascertained that they had been tampering with our slaves and endeavoring to sow dissensions and raise
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seditions amongst them. Of this their Mormon leaders were informed, and they said they would deal with any of their members who should again in like case offend. But how specious are appearances. In a late number of the Star, published in Independence by the leaders of the sect, there is an article inviting free negroes and mulattoes from other states to become Mor- mons and remove and settle among us. This exhibits them in still more odious colors. It manifests a desire on the part of their society to inflict on our so- ciety an injury that they know would be to us entirely insupportable, and one of the surest means of driving us from the county; for it would require none of the supernatural gifts that they pretend to, to see that the introduc- tion of such a caste amongst us would corrupt our blacks and instigate them to bloodshed.
"They openly blaspheme the most high God and cast contempt on His Holy religion by pretending to receive revelations direct from heaven, by pretending to speak unknown tongues by direct inspiration, and by diverse pretense derogatory of God and religion, and to the utter subversion of human reason.
"They declare openly that their God hath given them this county of land, and that sooner or later they must and will have the possession of our lands for an inheritance, and in fine they have conducted themselves on many other occasions in such a manner that we believe it a duty we owe ourselves, to our wives and children, to the cause of public morals, to re- move them from among us, as we are not prepared to give up our pleasant places and goodly possessions to them, or to receive into the bosom of our families as fit companions for our wives and daughters the degraded and corrupted free negroes and mulattoes that are now invited to settle among us.
"Under such a state of things even our beautiful county would cease to be a desirable residence, and our situation intolerable! We, therefore, agree, that after timely warning, and receiving an adequate compensation for what little property they cannot take with them, they refuse to leave us in peace, as they found us, we agree to use such means as may be sufficient to remove them, and to that end we each pledge to each other our bodily powers, our lives, fortunes and sacred honors.
"We will meet at the courthouse at the town of Independence, on Sat- urday next, 20th inst., to consult ulterior movements."
As announced by the circular, about four or five hundred citizens met. July 20, 1833, and appointed a committee to wait upon the Mormon lead- ers and demand the supension of the Evening and Morning Star, the im- mediate removal of the leaders from the county, and the checking of fur- ther Mormon immigration into the county. The Mormons asked for thirty days to move their effects and dispose of their properties. This was refused.
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They asked for ten days and were refused. They were told fifteen minutes was long enough for them to start. The conference of the committees then broke up and rioting began. The frenzied citizens razed the printing plant of W. W. Phelps & Co., the printing press was broken, the type "pied" and thrown into the streets, the furniture broken and thrown out of doors, and Mrs. Phelps, with several children-one of them ill-was turned out of the home. The mob, still unsatisfied, started to destroy the general store of Gil- bert, Whitney & Co., but Mr. Gilbert promised to paek the goods and move, and they desisted. But they caught Bishop Partridge and a Mr. Allen and tarred and feathered them.
The citizens assembled on July 23, 1833, and issued threats against the Mormons, ordering them to leave at once or every man, woman and child would be whipped. John Corrill, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, A. S. Gilbert, Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, and others of the leaders of the Saints placed themselves in the hands of the citizens. The citizens ap- pointed the following committee to meet a delegation from the Mormons: Samuel C. Owens, Leonidas Oldham, G. W. Simpson, M. L. Irwin, John Harris, Henry Childs, Harvey H. Younger, Hugh H. Brazeale, N. K. Olm- stead, James C. Sadler, William Bowers, Benjamin Majors, Zachariah Wal- ler, Harman Gregg, Aaron Overton, and Samuel Weston.
The Mormons appointed the following: Edward Partridge, Isaac Mor- ley, John Corrill, W. W. Phelps, A. S. Gilbert and John Whitmer. This agreement was reached :
"Memorandum of agreement between the undersigned of the Mormon society, in Jackson county, Missouri, and a committee appointed by a pub- lic meeting of the citizens of said county, made the 23d day of July, 1833.
"It is understood that the undersigned members of the society do give their solemn pledge each for himself, as follows, to wit: "That Oliver Cow- dery, W. W. Phelps, William E. MeLellin, Edward Partridge, Lyman Wight, Simeon Carter, Peter and John Whitmer, and Harvey Whitlock, shall remove with their families out of this county on or before the first day of January next, and that they, as well as the two herinafter named, use all their influence to induce all the brethren now here to remove as soon as possible-one-half, say, by the first of January next, and all by the first day of April next; to advise and try all means in their power to stop any more of their seet from moving to this country; and as to those now on the road, they will use their influence to prevent their settling perma- nently in the county, but that they shall only make arrangements for tem- porary shelter, till a new location is agreed on for the society. John Cor- rill and A. S. Gilbert are allowed to remain as general agents to wind up the business of the society, so long as necessity shall require; and said Gil-
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bert may sell out his merchandise now on hand, but is to make no new importations.
"The Star is not again to be published, nor a press set up by any of the society of the county.
"If the said Edward Partridge and W. W. Phelps move their families by the first day of January as aforesaid. that they themselves will be allowed to go and come in order to transact and wind up their business.
"The committee pledge themselves to use all their influence to prevent any violence being used so long as a compliance with the foregoing terms is observed by the parties concerned."
This agreement, be it said to the shame of those who made it, was not kept. In October, long before the time specified, open hostilities were re- sumed, and by gun, and stone, and club, the Saints, men and women and children, were driven from their homes, fleeing before those who in defiance of law were by violence attempting to rid themselves of unwelcome neigh- bors.
The first of the open hostilities after the agreement occurred October 31, 1833, about two miles west of Independence. This was quickly followed by others. The Mormons in places tried to defend themselves and lives were lost on both sides. Colonel Thomas Pitcher, at the head of the militia dis- armed some of the Saints, taking fifty or sixty guns and pistols.
A company of about fifty armed men, without any legal authority, vis- ited a settlement of Mormons on the Big Blue river, October 31, 1833, de- stroyed ten houses and whipped several men and frightened the women and children so that they fled to the outlying country for safety. Another party of Gentiles visited a Mormon settlement, twelve miles southwest of Inde- pendence, the night of November 1, where Parley P. Pratt had assembled a force of about sixty men. The attacking party camped for the night and stationed guards, two of whom had an encounter with Pratt. One of the guards struck the Mormon leader with a musket and knocked him down and then both of the sentinels were captured by the Mormons and detained over night, and the church storehouse was entered and the goods scattered in the street.
About thirty Mormon families left Independence November 2, 1833, and assembled with other fugitives in the country for protection. The same day another attack was made on the Mormon settlement on the Big Blue river and a house was unroofed. Another settlement about six miles from Independence was attacked. The Mormon settlement on the Big Blue river was attacked by a mob the second time, on Saturday night, November 2, and the first "battle" was fought. A sick woman received a pistol-shot wound in the head and one of the Mormons was wounded in the thigh. \ delega-
.
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tion of Mormons went to Lexington, Missouri, the next day to ask protec- tion of the circuit court, but it was denied. Other Mormons applied to a justice of the peace in Independence without results.
These conflicts increased the excitement on both sides, and many wild rumors were afloat in the county. The Mormons heard that they were to be massacred, and the residents of Independence were told that the Mor- mons were preparing to destroy the town.
The residents took possession of a ferry across the Blue river, belong- ing to the Mormons, November 4, 1833, but soon abandoned it and assem- bled in greater numbers at a store one mile west of the ferry. A party of about thirty Mormons started from an adjacent settlement to assist their friends on the Big Blue river, but when they heard of the assembly at the store they fled through the corn fields. Later in the day there was a conflict on the prairie, twelve miles southwest of Independence, in which two of the Gentiles, Hugh L. Brozeal and Thomas Linville. were killed and one Mormon mortally wounded.
The conflict created great excitement, and the following day the citi- zens assembled to the number of several hundred from all parts of the county. The Mormons also rallied their forces. A bloody conflict was imminent, but the Mormons began to disperse, realizing that they were outnumbered and that they could not expect justice from the courts or any of the other county officials.
The Saints were driven from the county, most of them going north into Clay county, where they found temporary refuge, taking such of their move- able property as the, haste of their flight permitted. Some went into Van Buren county, from which they were again driven, some into Lafayette county, from where they were soon expelled.
The work of the mob was complete. Every one of the Latter Day Saints was driven from the county. The local officers were appealed to by the Saints, but they were told to defend themselves. It may be said to the honor of Governor Daniel Dunklin and Attorney General Robert W. Wells that their official attitude, whatever may have been their personal feelings toward the Mormons, was one of fairness and liberal interpretation of the law. At- tempts were made by these officers to have some of the perpetrators of the outrages indicted; but the local feeling in Jackson county against the Mor- mons was too intense. The residents had their way.
The flight of the Mormons from their homes before an enraged pop- ulace, in the inclement season of the year, many of them destitute-bare- footed and improperly clad for the winter-constitutes a picture that no fair-minded Missourian can look upon with other than shame, no matter what provocation the Mormons may have given. Before the spring of 1834
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