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THE ALABAMA MOBS elder J 0 kimball Kin abail president of the Sout southern bern beatea mission mia eion sends senda from logan the following interesting communication regarding the recent mobbing of elders in alabama and aiso aiau the instructions under which the are proceeding lie he says on reaching logan on friday evening I 1 received a letter direct from the office at chattanooga anted may which explains in detail the dispatch received from atlanta qa ga stating that tour four elders haij baj been mobbed and perhaps killed the telegram was waa partially correct as aa the following report explains 11 Two were organized during the last ton ten days daye the first farat mob was waa organized in smith county tenn the eluera were impressed impre ased to leave their quarters quarter as an evening approached it and lik in doing so go the mob were unable to find thim them so BO dispersed without carrying out their wicked plans plane the second mob however were more successful elders miller and lebaron LeBa had been filling appointments at a small email burg on the line between etowah and st bt clair counties and had received a warning not to tc hold any more meetings some borne time after this they were passing that way and the postmaster an old friend of the elders persuaded them contrary to their feelings and in opposition to counsel given to make an appointment at the above place they coi cc boated and about one hundred people congregated together and a meeting was wag held next morning a messenger hurriedly approached the post poat office and stated that a mob was wan organized about onh hundred strong toy the WS mater instructed theElder tf to remain at the house houge he gathered around him five of his hie friends ansa and went down n the road a distance prepared to defend the elders the mob was met by these staunch friends and a refusal made to comply with the demands to give the elders up the two parties wrangled and parlayed parl eyed for sometime some time and seeing that the friends ft were determined a compromise was wa reached the me eldir elders a agreeable to title the demands of toe the mab promised to vacate which they did and were soon out 0 ut of danger inger dm 12 demonstrations of the above kind are quite common in isolated localities in the southern bouthern states at this season of the year owing ito to revivals a nd protracted meetings the people aro are kindly disposed dia posed and very hospitable ministers or clergymen so called awaken feelings of bitterness and the poor ignorant people think they are doing gou bous 19 service we have and have also written a circular letter ol of instructions to the same mama effect and mailed one to every elder in the mis sion the missionaries to at once and without delay when warned by representative of a city village neighborhood neigh boyhood bo or county to leave anu aika not return unless invited or instructed to do so by the president of the conference alsoto also to avoid debates unless challenged to not argue except with kindness and love and above all to respect others opinions opinion we further advise all to use the months of july and august in visiting the sainta and remaining closely among their friends frie no elder is permitted to travel ravel alone at AA he abe office in chattanooga we receive a report from each conference once a week the presidents of conferences receive a report once a week from each pair of elders we have also a correct post office address of each elder throughout outtie the mission A strict watch is in kept as to the health of missionaries and it if siok sick they are either transferred to healthier local ies or at once released our authority and power reaches no further we regret very much that such reports are circulated and parents hearts almost broken for it causes a fear to creep into the minus of our people and a prejudice is thus engendered against the southern people the elders have the faith enjoyed by our fathers and are heroes they ure are in the hands of god and he will care for them our mission to in in a rk condition nearly every conference reports baptisms ema and new friends the prospects are very bright indeed I 1 write the foregoing explanation for the benefit of fathers father mothers relatives and friends frienda of our elders aldere should anything happen which Is possible we trust our people will believe we are awake to our duties and are aire caring tor for our beloved brethren |
