| Show REJECTING THE MESSAGE A SHORT time since the NEWS gave the particulars of tap banishment from the counties of darlington and chesterfield of elders chidester aud and burgess the action was and therefore all the more disgraceful to the state where it was taken the basis of the proceeding was the proclamation of these missionaries which was to the effect that the falness of the gospel has been revealed anew iu in this age through the instrumentality of the prophet joseph smith that it was necessary that all men everywhere should accept of christ as the redeemer repent of their sins be baptized by immersion in water at the hands of an authorized servant of Godt God that bat they might receive the holy ghost included in that message is the declaration that the judgments of the almighty are about to fall upon the world the legitimate result of the wickedness that exists in it there could be no other foundation for the course pursued pursue by the people who expelled the elders from froin the district of country referred to because that is the character of the message carried by the missionaries to the people to whom they are sent it seems that these abic dis ders of the commonest rights of man are persistent in their determination to drive the missionaries from their midst as will be observed from the following notice which reached the two elders named at gaffney city I 1 FAIR WARNING to john F chidester eder and george E burgen gaffney OW my sire sirs on the ath day of may my company waited on OD you and requested que you to leave the state have you done so you are now sending your infamous letters to your good hearted friends friend sl here who took you in and some of your letters perhaps all have been handed me for perusal I 1 see from them that you expect to have a ong long sociable chat with them sometime I 1 now warn you that if you or any of your detestable klan ever writ put yourselves in chesterfield or darlington ton counties that you will be ridd riddled led with bullets we are bound to keep your cursed doctrine from among us and will even take life to do so you can send as many letters and good wishes as you please they are amusing but you and your klan will finy find it to your interest to heed this last warning signed CAPTAIN may 1889 it is understood by the elders that the captain who sent this barbarous epistle wears wean the prefix reverend in connection with his name which he failed to sign showing that ao he was not lost to all sense of shame it if people 0 to o not want the gospel message and will drive and spurn the bearers of it from their midst that is their look out we presume that the elders are not under obligation to insist on its reception when they are driven from one city or county they can go to another and so soon on until their whole duty is fulfilled any people who are so lacking as a body in moral and physical courage as to tamely see the laws and natural rights of man trampled upon by mobs instead of defending religious liberty are not likely to receive the principles of the glorious gospel from such localities cali ties the elders are justified in retiring after having used due diligence in seeking to sow the seed of salvation in those districts that are thus left there will come testimonies of a different character from those borne by the pleading tones of the brethren they will come in ways that will cause the ears of the people to tingle they will be the voices of earthquakes whirlwinds whirl winds deafening thunder vivid lightn lightning tog and tidal waves all accompanied with great destruction and consequent distress the elders are engaged in the work of pruning the vineyard for the last time previous to the coming of the son of man and calamities upon the world will follow the rejection of the message which they beer bear to those who mock and laugh itt at these statements we simply say watch and see and the proofs will be forthcoming |
