1870-02-07-New York Herald-Operations of the Mormons on Long Island
Operations of the Mormons on Long Island
- New York Herald, 7 February 1870, p. 11
Operations of the Mormons on Long Island—Their Creed and Opinions—The Saints in Williamsburg.
In last Monday's issue of the HERALD an account was given of the Mormon propagandists on Long Island, and it was reported that Bishop Burton, of Salt Lake City, had established branches of the saints at Hempstead, Baldwinsville and other locations near Rockville Centre. During the past week the war against the "Gentile" world was carried on with increasing vigor, and other laborers have been despatched north and south throughout the island. Several new elders have arrived from the City of the Saints, and during this week an additional force of elders and priests, headed by a bishop, will reinforce those already here.
The labors of Bishop Burton during the past week have been very successful at Freeport, the old branch established by Brigham Young about thirty years ago. The church, under the care of J. K. Benedict, an elder baptized by Young on the first establishment of the colony, has been built up and confirmed in the faith as taught in Utah. Twelve persons, most of them wealthy and able and willing to co-operate in the work, have been converted and baptised there by Bishop Burton and his assistants, of whom he has eight or nine. In Baldwinsville twenty Mormons, most of them recent converts, have rented a large upper room in the single hotel of which the village boasts and there hold forth three times a day to crowds of wondering rustics, telling them of the recent revelations from the Most High, and warning them of the coming trouble by fire and sword and of the dire destruction of all who refuse to believe in and tender their allegiance to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Baldwinsville, L. I. At Patchoque is located the nucleus of another branch; at Hempstead another, and at Rockville a grand effort is being made to establish still another.
Many of the principal towns in Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have been set apart as districts which are now being worked and consequently a grand rally around the banner of Mormonism may be expected. In Connecticut also proselytes are being gathered, and a large staff of missionaries, principally natives of that State, have returned from Utah and come to warn their friends against the approaching day of wrath. A large relay of missionaries have been sent out West, to Canada and to England and Europe for the purpose of gathering all the members and as many converts as can be had to the "valley in the mountains" or to the Eastern Utah, which, should the movement be successful, is to be established on Long Island. Bishop Burton and the other leading Mormon church dignitaries now in Long Island make no secret of their intentions, and express themselves as being certain of the ultimate success of their mission and the spread of Mormonism until it becomes the established religion of the world. Their objects and opinions may be given best in Bishop Burton's own words. He says, "We do not seek bloodshed or war, but as the master revealed to Joseph Smith that this great Continent was to be the land from which the delegates of Christ were to be sent to all parts of the unbelieving world, and for this purpose, in his own good time, He will give it to our people, we are determined to abide the issue, be it what it may."
The leaders of the movement in Long Island are peculiarly reticent in regard to the new schismatic movement at present taking place in Salt Lake City, and their followers on Long Island, no doubt, will be at a loss to reconcile the statements made to them in regard to the unity and peace which prevails in the City of the Saints, with the account given by the HERALD correspondent yesterday of the organization of the "Church of Zion" and the adoption by the saints of its constitution.
Polygamy is rarely referred to in the crusade; but the life of the saints at Utah is painted in the most glowing colors and comparisons drawn between the social state of the "valley of the mountains" and the large cities under Christian rule. The principal congregation of the saints on Long Island, however, is not to be found in any of the places already referred to, but in a place much nearer home—14 Grand street, Williamsburg—where there is quite a large congregation, and from which drafts are repeatedly made for colonists for Utah. The movement has obtained a very strong footing in Williamsburg, and the degree of success which they continue to meet with gives rise to much apprehension on the part of the Christian community there. Three sessions are held every Sunday, and the large room engaged by them in Grand street is rapidly becoming too small for the increasing congregations. A special session was held yesterday to listen to an address from Elder Jackson, a prominent member of the Church recently returned from Utah. The large room was crowded to excess, and a number of the missionaries from Hempstead and district were present. The address contained little of public interest. It denounced in no measured terms all unbelievers and held out glowing assurances of happiness and well-being to all who embrace the Mormon faith, closing with a prophecy that Congress would be defeated by the hand of God in any efforts to check the spread of Mormonism or to take from the saints the inheritance given them by Heaven. At the conclusion of the service a member of the Church who was sick was annointed with oil by the elders of the church, and after the inevitable collection had been "taken up" the audience dispersed.
