MORMONISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 97, 3 May 1901, Page 3

MORMONISM.

THE ELDERS SET UPON. . Tub reception of Mormonism in Christchurch (says the Press) has not,been encouraging. Three of its elders, Messrs E. P. Brown, George C. Wilson, and D. D. Duncan, who have recently been carrying on missionary work in various parts of the colony, began operations in Christchurch a fortnight ago, and have givon numerous street speeches. At several of these there have been slight disturbances, and on Sunday week a united assault upon the elders was threatened, which, however, did not eventuate. On Saturday ono of their fiercest opponents hero, who is alleged to be a local barber, gave the evangelists great offence by publicly declaring that they should be forcibly expolled from the town. Last evening another address was given at Which this man, and another, alleged to be an ex-captain of the Salvation Army, were present. Elder Wilson was pointing out the necessity of Divine authority in a preacher, and on being asked by what authority he spoke himself, immediately mentioned Joseph Smith, the founder of the sect, to whom its teachings were supposed to have been confided by the angel Moroni. According to the elder’s account, it was this alone which especially incensed the two men before mentioned, and afterwards the crowd. An attempt was made to hustle the speakers. Elder Wilson dodged with difficulty a man who tried to knock him down, and the three took to their heels, and.ran for all they wero worth down Colombo and along Cashel stveet, with a crowd of about 500 people chasing and hooting. Elder Duncan got separated from the other two, and was apparently lost to notice. Several of the police took Elders Wilson and Brown under their protection, and half a dozen constables guarded Hereford street bridge, while the two took refuge by the police station. The crowd still lingered about the bridge, and as the men were afraid of a disturbance arising if they should go home to their lodgings in St. Asaph street, they made their way, by indirect routes, and under police protection, to other accommodation in Salisbury street. Speaking to a representative of The Press, Elder Wilson declared that no mention whatever had been made in their address of polygamy, which had been forbidden by the Mormon Church for ten years past, and did not now exist in ■ it. Elder Brown acquiesced in this statement.

The elders remarked that they had given addresses in Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne, Napier, and Dunedin, and had never been so treated before. It was not polygamy which was objected to, for that had not been mentioned, but their American accent caused ridicule, and their sect was taunted with the alleged massacre of a large body of settlers in the fifties, which the Mormons declare were annihilated by Indians. The elders stated that though their doctrine was greatly misunderstood, they did not want people to listen to an explanation of it against their will, but thought that they might be given free speech, and those who did not want to hear should walk on. They had 4000 followers in New Zealand.