A
SHORT ACCOUNT
OF A
SHAMEFUL
OUTRAGE,
Committed by a Part of the Inhabitants
OF THE
T
O W N O F M E N T O R,
UPON THE PERSON
OF
Elder
Parley P. Pratt.
WHILE DELIVERING A PUBLIC DISCOURSE
U p o n t h e S u b j e c t
OF
T H E G O S P E L;
April 7th, 1835.
[
3 ]
SECTION
I.
THE township of Mentor is situated on the Western Reserve in
Geauga County, Ohio, bordering on Lake Erie. The ridge road
from Painesville to Cleveland runs through it, and the aspect
to the eye of a traveller, in passing through, is of the most
pleasing kind, for at once he beholds large farms, elegant buildings,
flourishing orchards and delightful gardens, seemingly all things
necessary to render a people happy and comfortable as to the
enjoyment of the bounties of nature. In the midst of this flourishing
settlement and variegated scenery, stands a commodious chapel
or church, built of brick, having wooden steps the whole width
of the building, and front of this is a small public square.
Two public houses and a brick school-house compose the remainder
of the buildings around the square. -- Here in the fall of 1830,
I had the privilege in company with Elder O. Cowdery, of addressing
the people on the all important subject of their eternal welfare;
and since that time I have passed through various states, having
travelled in all, nearly fifteen thousand miles, devoting my
time almost wholly to the ministry of the Gospel, coveting no
man's silver, gold or apparel nor even counting my life dear
to myself -- if by any means I might be instrumental through
the grace of God in bringing souls to repentance, having been
called unto this holy ministry by the spirit of prophecy and
revelation, and act apart by the laying on of the hands of the
Elders of the church of the latter day saints.
When four or five years had rolled away in thus devoting my
time, and suffering many privations, I returned to Kirtland,
where is a large church of my brethren, which is an adjoining
town to Mentor, and I felt a great anxiety to visit the people
in that vicinity once more, for the spirit of the Lord was upon
me, manifesting that except they would repent of their sins
and hearken to the voice of the servants of the Lord, whom he
has sent forth to warn this generation, and to publish peace
and salvation to all nations in his name, and yield obedience
to the New and Everlasting covenant, that great calamities awaited
them, and that the Lord God would speedily visit them by his
sore calamities of pestilence and other great judgments. And
not only them but all the inhabitants of the earth also, who
rejects the fulness of the everlasting Gospel, for when they
do this they become ripened in iniquity and they must fall.
Knowing these things, I felt weighed down in my spirit, and
could not in conscience refrain from warning them lest their
blood should be required at my hands. I therefore visited many
of them from house to house and warned them faithfully, I was
treated with personal respect by some, and hospitality entertained
by others, and may the Lord reward and show great mercy unto
such, but most of those whom I visited, treated the things belonging
to their everlasting peace with indifference, and even with
contempt, and none seemed willing to exert the least influence
to give
[
4 ]
me a public hearing. But not feeling entirely clear as yet,
to give them up, and feeling anxious for their salvation, I
went a few days after, from house to house, telling the people
that I would deliver a public discourse at or near their brick
meeting house on Tuesday, the 7th of April, at 3 o'clock, P.
M. The day having arrived, I started to fill my appointment.
While on the way the Spirit of God gave me such a realizing
sense of their situation, the hardness of their hearts, and
the banishment of their minds, that I could no longer refrain
and retiring alone to a grove, I there poured out strong crying
and prayers, even mixed with tears, mourning over the depravity
of human nature, and because of the powers of Satan, which seemed
to veil the whole face of the earth, and especially to shroud
the minds of fallen religionists with darkness, so that they
will not behold the things that are for their everlasting peace,
but close their minds against the light as all former ages have
done, when God has poured out his judgments and destroyed the
wicked from off the face of the earth.
After I had done this, I continued my walk and having arrived
at the place a little before the time of appointment, I went
into one of the public houses, where a small number of men had
already collected, as I supposed to attend the meeting. After
setting a few minutes; Messrs. Grandison Newell and Elias Randal[l]
invited me into another room. I readily consented. I readily
consented, and after we were seated, the conversation was as
follows, as near as I can recollect. Said Mr. Randall, Sir,
I understand you intend to preach near this place to day. I
answered, I have an appointment and calculate to fulfill it.
It is our request, said he, and the general voice of the people
of Mentor also, that you should not preach here, for we do not
wish to hear you. I answered by saying, I possessed no power
to charm or draw any person to me, who is not within the sound
of my voice, and it is very easy for those who do not wish to
hear, to keep at a distance; but if any do wish to hear, they,
under our government have the liberty of conscience, the suppression
of which in past ages, has caused more innocent blood to be
shed than ever the wars for conquest among the Greeks and Romans,
or the various nations since the foundation of the world --
and sirs, the sages of our government seeing the evil did by
the blessings of God, establish the rights of man upon the broad
basis of civil and religious liberty, which I hope in this civilized
country, to enjoy undisturbed, and if none wish to hear, and
all stay away, my discourse cannot possibly do any injury however
absurd or erroneous my statements may be. And I feel bound to
deliver my message, therefore I shall not desist. Mr. R. answered
-- If you are suffered to preach some will hear you and doubtless
be led away into delusion as many have already been. Mr. Newell
then commanded me not to attempt to preach in that place, or
any where in the township, for said he, I have the voice of
the people, and you had better not attempt it. I answered, I
demand your authority, sir, for I will readily submit. if you
will produce any legal authority of the town, county, state
or U. S. for I am determined to be subject always to legal authority.
He replied, We have no law to justify us, neither shall we attempt
to reason with you on the subject, for I have a revelation
[
5 ]
from God that you shall not preach here to-day. I replied to
him that I would obey God who had sent me, rather than man.
He then said to me, as we were leaving the room, that if I preached
I should do it at my own peril. Between one and two hundred
men were collected, but I saw no women, only a few at the adjoining
houses, and the time of my appointment having arrived, I walked
across the square to the meeting house which was shut against
me. Notwithstanding it belongs to an order of people calling
themselves Disciples, but generally known by the name of Campbellites.
They profess great light and liberality of sentiment, although
it seems that they, like many others, are afraid to meet the
truth in the field of fair investigation, having become sensible
that their system of a form denying the power would stand the
test no better than the system of the great goddess Diana of
the Ephesians. For you understand that the craftsmen around
about her magnificent temple were under the necessity of maintaining,
by noise and uproar, what argument and reason failed to do.
But to return to this subject, having seated myself on the steps,
some of the people soon collected around me, and some being
seated, while others were standing in seeming amazement to see
what would follow. I cast myself into the hands of him who had
sent me, and arose & opened the services by reading a portion
of the book of Mormon, but soon after I had closed the book
and commenced to speak, I saw a band of men collected about
20 rods from me. Two Bugles, a Base Drum, and several smaller
ones, with their Fife, were put into lively motion, and the
men in regular file came marching towards that place where I
stood speaking, headed by Mr. G. Newell in front, the musicians
and company following -- some were prepared with whips, some
with Pistols, and others armed with swords drawn from their
sheaths, and glistening in the brightening sun beams. The scene
was some thing truly novel in our great republic, but to me
it was solemn beyond description -- at least my language fails
to describe it. They marched near the platform on which
I stood proclaiming to some twenty or more who seemed to be
idle spectators of what passed. The music or noise for a moment
drowned my voice, but while they had passed, I again resumed
my discourse, feeling determined to deliver my message. They
continued to march round and round the square, but I still continued
to proclaim, only being interrupted at intervals by the overwhelming
noise of the music as they marched near me; but as I was about
to close my address, they again marched within a few feet of
where I stood, and they discharged a fully volley of eggs at
me, some of which struck me in the face and others besmearing
me from head to foot. They passed on, and I then resumed my
discourse by telling the people that I had discharged my duty,
and I felt that my garments were clear of their blood, and I
thanked and praised God who had given me strength to endure
such persecution, and had counted me worthy to suffer all these
things for Christ's sake and the Gospel's. I then closed by
bidding those around me adieu and walking slowly across the
square, meditating the occasion. But I had not proceeded far
before the mob began to pursue me with great haste and confusion,
with their swords brandishing in
[ 6 ]
the air, their pistols firing, their trumpets sounding, their
drums [beating], their fifes thrilling, their men hollowing,
their dogs joining with a general howl, and their cattle running,
so that the whole presented a scene of uproar and confusion
seldom, if ever, witnessed in any land of arts and sciences,
saying nothing of our boasted land of freedom, civilization
and Christianity.
I walked slowly onward, being accompanied by two other brethren
who had stood by me undaunted during the whole scene, even rejoicing
that they had the privilege of living in a day when the Scriptures
are so fast and plainly fulfilling. The rioters did not lay
violent hands upon us, neither did they pursue us far before
they halted & we saw no more of them. But we returned home
rejoicing, remembering, that all inspired men before us had
suffered shame, and many of them even death, for the same holy
cause in which we are engaged.
SECTION 2.
But as I presume that it will be interesting to the readers
of this little pamphlet, to see an outline of the discourse
delivered on the occasion described above, I will proceed to
notice as briefly as I can, a few of the most important items.
I commenced the service by reading in the book of Mormon, commencing
on the 512th page which reads as follows.
And now behold, I say
unto you, that when the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that
these sayings shall come unto the Gentiles, according to his
word, then ye may know that the covenant which the Father hath
made with the children of Israel, concerning their restoration
to the lands of their inheritance, is already beginning to be
fulfilled; and ye may know that the words of the Lord, which
have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled;
and ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the
children of Israel; and ye need not imagine in your hearts,
that the words which have been spoken are vain, for behold,
the Lord will remember his covenant which he hath made unto
his people of the house of Israel. And when ye shall see these
sayings coming forth among you, then ye need not any longer
spurn at the doings of the Lord, for the sword of his justice
is in his right hand, and behold at that day, if ye shall spurn
at his doings, he will cause it that it shall soon overtake
you. Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea,
wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works; yea, wo
unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that
shall say, the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy,
or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power
of the Holy Ghost; yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that
day, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ, for
to get gain; for he that doeth this, shall become like unto
the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according
to the word of Christ. Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss,
nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant
of the house of Israel, for behold the Lord remembereth his
covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that
which he hath sworn; therefore ye need not suppose that ye can
turn the right hand of the Lord unto the left, that he may not
execute judgement unto the fulfilling of the covenant which
he hath made unto the house of Israel.
Hearken, O ye Gentiles, & hear the words of Jesus Christ,
the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I
should speak concerning you: for behold he commandeth me that
I should write, saying, Turn all ye Gentiles from your wicked
ways, and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings,
and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations and your
idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and
your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness
and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name,
that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled
with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people,
which are of the house of Israel.
[ 7 ]
I then closed the book and proceeded [---------- I take the]
opportunity that I have this day of addressing some of the people
of Mentor on the all important subject of their eternal welfare,
and I shall endeavor to maintain the strictest regard for the
personal feelings of all present, while at the same time, I
shall strive to preach the truth as it is in plainness.
That which most immediately concerns this generation is the
second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he is soon to make
his personal appearance in the clouds of heaven, with power
and great glory, taking vengeance on all those who know not
God, and who obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Eighteen hundred
years have rolled away since his first advent into the world,
and when he left it, being separated from his disciples by a
bright cloud, angels declared that he should come in like manner.
But signs were to precede him, and these are the things for
which we ought to look, in order that we might all be ready.
And now I appeal to all present. Have you all obeyed the Gospel,
and are you living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth
of God? For if not you would do well to prepare quickly. For
the Lord has in our day and generation opened the heavens, and
spoken by his own voice, by the ministering of holy angels,
and by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. And he has now
sent me, one of his servants, to warn the people of this place
to repent of all of their wickedness, and be baptized for a
remission of their sins in his name, that they might receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit, as in days of old, and be numbered
with the house of Israel.
For all the mighty and tremendous judgments that are to precede
his coming, spoken of in the Scriptures, are soon to take place
or be poured out upon the heads of this generation, even those
who reject his words and turn a deaf ear to the voice of his
servants, whom he has sent to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to him.
Some of the things that are to precede his coming as foretold
by the prophets, the Savior himself and by his inspired apostles,
are pestilences, famines, wars, earthquakes in divers places
and distress of nations with perplexity. Men's hearts failing
them for fear and for looking after those things that are coming
on the earth. The Savior also said that his angels should fly
to the four quarters of the earth, to gather up his saints,
or his elect, for Israel, the seed of Abraham will be gathered
from their long dispersion to build up the waste places of Jerusalem,
as Isaiah says, 'to rear up the desolations of many generations.'
While all this is completing, the saints will be gathering to
Zion with songs of everlasting joy. The trump of the archangel
sounding, the graves of the saints opening and they rising to
meet their coming Lord. The Spirit of God will then be poured
out upon all his servants and handmaids, so that they will prophesy
and see visions. The burning of Babylon, the great, the same
that has made all nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of
her fornication. And the great, the rich and the mighty men
and the chief captains calling for the rocks and the mountains
to fall upon them and hide them from the face of him who sits
upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. The mountains
flowing down at his
[ 8 ]
[voice], the vallies being exalted and the earth reeling to
and fro as a drunken man, while but few men, says Isa. will
be saved. And all these are a few of the things that this generation
must witness, as sure as the great Jehovah, his Son Jesus Christ,
the holy angels or the holy apostles, prophets or servants here
ever spoken the truth. -- And now having warned those of you
in this vicinity, who have been disposed to listen, to repent
and prepare for that great day; and although many have been
disposed to be angry, to mock at and even treat with contempt
those sacred things. I therefore call Heaven and Earth, Angels
and Men to witness that I am clear of your blood. And if these
things come upon you while unprepared, then you will remember
that an humble servant of God stood among you this day, in the
midst of confusion, disregarding your rage and all your scoffing,
and faithfully warned you to prepare for the day that is soon
at hand. For doing which he was mocked and scoffed and shamefully
treated. But I have borne it in the name and for the sake of
the Lord Jesus Christ, and I now bid you adieu.
Amen
SECTION 3.
This, in short, is the outline of what I delivered on the
occasion described above; but being often interrupted by the
riot, it was of course, spoken in a broken and imperfect manner.
But well did the inspired apostle say, that in the last days
perilous times should come, men should be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud blasphemers, false accusers,
fierce despisers of those that are goof, traitors, heady, high
minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Having a
form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. I can say,
that I am astonished that persons who profess so great light
and so much religion as the people of Mentor, that they should
condescend to conduct more worthy the heathen idolaters than
enlightened, Christian republicans, but so it is. And I can
only say with the deepest feelings of my heart, "O! that
this people knew the things that belong to their peace! but
now they are hid from their eyes, I only add may the Lord bear
long with them, and grant unto them space for repentance, for
they know not what they do, -- And may he deal with them according
to his justice, mercy and goodness, and may he cause righteousness
and truth to spread and take deep root in the hearts of thousands
and tens of thousands, yet in our beloved country, and among
all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, bringing forth the
fruits of salvation and eternal life. That all wickedness mat
be destroyed, and truth prevail until 'all the people shall
become righteous' -- 'and the knowledge of the glory of the
Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.' May each
revolving year give accessions to the cause of the Redeemer
& an increase to his kingdom -- until the last trump shall
sound and time be no more, when all the saints shall meet in
Eternity in the celestial kingdom of our God to go no more out.
Even so -- amen.
PARLEY P. PRATT.
[ 9 ]
SECTION 4.
Being a native of New Hampshire. and passing through the country, on
the 7th of April, approaching a public house, not far from the
center of the township of Mentor, near which stood a very commodious
house erected for public worship, which so frequently meet the
eye of the traveller as he passes through the flourishing towns
and villages on the Western Reserve, and induced in almost all
parts of this free and happy country, which bears such evidence
marks of liberality and of the idea of a Supreme Being, as well
as the noble sentiments which animated the bosoms of those illustrious
patriots, who framed the American constitution with respect
to matters of religion and rights of conscious. While musing
and meditating upon the pleasant scenery around me produced
by nature, industry and art, and thinking how happily this neighborhood
must live here, my attention on a sudden was caught by seeing
several women collected at a spacious farm house near the chapel,
and occasionally stepping out before the house, and looking
with much earnestness towards the house of worship, where several
men had collected near the door and others seemed to be gathering.
I alighted at the tavern, and asked the landlord what occasioned
such a collection? He said to me, there is preaching. My curiosity
soon drew me to the spot, where I seated myself on the platform.
Finding the preacher outside of the house, and the door closed,
and as I understood by the bay, against him. -- The speaker
was a tall, young looking man, well dressed, and seemed to be
very intelligent. To see such a sight was indeed novel to me,
in this land of religious freedom, which supports so many religious
teachers with high and fat salaries, and which sends forth such
a multitude of Missionaries among the heathen nations, to entertain
and civilize then, and to spread the benign influence of the
light of the glorious Gospel among those who sit in the region
and the shadow of death.
The people seemed to be very uneasy while the preacher was reading
to them with great solemnity, a chapter out of a book that he
called 'the book of Mormon.' But about the time he closed the
book, to my astonishment, a well dressed man who stood near
me, cried out with a Stentorian voice, "every man to his
post." At this most of the congregation (which by this
time became quite numerous) repaired to the tavern. A bugle
was sounded and a company soon formed, with drums and fifes
playing and beating a martial air. And being headed by the man
who had previously given them the watch-word. During this time
the man continued to preach, and the mob (for so I feel in justice
to call them) commenced their march, with music in full sound,
towards the man who was speaking, as if he was defiling their
sacred house.
About this time I addressed myself to an aged, venerable looking
man who had seated himself near me, and seemed very much pleased
to witness the valor displayed on the occasion by this band
of heroes, who looked quite brave, and numbered some fifty or
sixty, being armed with clubs, whips, swords and pistols, and
as they marched up near, I said to him, Is this the way people
worship the Lord in this
[ 10 ]
[country]? He said, no. But observing my surprise, he continued
-- concerning this whole matter. That man, said he, pointing
to the preacher, belongs to a religious sect who has arisen
up near us, and who are determined to take the whole country.
I then asked him what they were called. He said they were called
Mormons. I told him that I had frequently heard of that people.
O! said he, you know nothing about them, they have got foothold
in Kirtland, but we are determined to drive them out and not
to have such a people among us. I asked him what doctrine they
held to? O! said he, they have an illegitimate child in Kirtland
whom they call Christ. And they have chosen his twelve apostles
and seventy other disciples to preach him, as they say, in all
the world. They are also building a great stone temple among
them, and they say that when it is finished, these apostles
are going to be endued with power to work miracles, such as
healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, &c. &c.
And that man, pointing to the speaker again, is one of their
apostles, and he has been all through our neighborhood, from
house to house, talking to us, but we are determined he shall
not preach here in peace.
But if any other sect wishes to preach here, we will use them
well. I asked him if these people made many converts? Yes, said
he, they have preachers all over the country, and their converts
are flocking into Kirtland from every direction, and are in
a starving condition. -- I told him that I was astonished that
people should be led away with such strange stuff. Said he,
I told you but little, but if you will get the anti-Mormon book,
it will tell you all about them. I then asked him where I could
obtain one. He said they were printed at Painesville, and ought
to be spread all over the world to put a stop to Mormonism.
I observed to him that the preacher seemed to be but little
disturbed with the noise and confusion around him. O said he,
he is used to it, he has been in such scrapes before, in Missouri.
I asked if they had a church there. He replied, that they went
there and threatened to take the whole country, and to destroy
the inhabitants, and that blood should run down their streets
like water. By this time the heroes who were marching round
and round, occasionally passing near us, had obtained courage
enough to discharge a whole shower of eggs at the preacher,
who soon finished his discourse and deliberately walked off.
But the scene of riot and confusion which ensued I cannot describe.
Here my informant stopped his relation to join the general procession,
who were pursuing the inoffensive looking speaker, and one or
two more who started with him. I soon after mounted my horse
again, leaving this troublous scene and pursued my journey,
reflecting upon the consequences which result from such occurrences,
if they were allowed to pass unnoticed, and were not stamped
with the disapprobation of an enlightened public. My informant
told me, however, that the Leader of this band of heroes, was
one of the first men in their town, and was worth twenty thousand
dollars. I think he called his name Newell. And I verily think
that this modern Knight ought to have the honor of his name's
being enrolled with Don Quixotte and Sancho Panza, and handed
down to posterity as a reward of his valor displayed on this
occasion.
[ 11 ]
I have since conversed with some of the heads of this strange
people, and I am free to confess that I see nothing very strange
in their doctrine, when I learned it from themselves without
misrepresentation. Their principles seem to be based upon the
Scriptures in their literal sense. However they have an addition
of a record, called the book of Mormon, which they hold as sacred
as the Old and New testaments. It gives an account of the forefathers
of the natives whom we call Indians, which it seems by this
record are a branch of the house of ancient Israel.
The little time I have had to examine this book, I found it
very interesting, and I thought my time well employed. And I
think upon the whole whether this people are true or false,
the opposition shown them looks very much like the times through
which the apostles of Jesus passed anciently, while preaching
the gospel among the self-righteous Jews, and afterward among
the idolatrous Gentiles, who were blinded by their superstitions.
But alas! alas! when will the time come that peace and harmony
will cover the earth, and all the hostile feelings of mankind
cease forever, and all become of one heart and one mind, all
see eye to eye. O that God would hasten that glorious day when
all the jarrings, contentions and animosities which are now
distracting the world, shall cease to exist forever.
A NEW ENGLANDER.
P. S. I have written these few lines and addressed them to you,
and if you think they will be of any service to you, they are
at your disposal.
Transcriber's
Comments on
Pratt's
"Shameful Outrage"
Parley P. Pratt's victimization in the "shameful outrage"
at Mentor occurred on April 7, 1835. Pratt later filed a complaint
with a local magistrate and the case of Pratt vs. Newell eventually
ended up the the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, during
the October 1835 session. That Court awarded Pratt a $47 judgement
against Grandison Newell, for what appears to have been material
damages to Pratt's clothing and personal possessions. The report
of this judgement in the reads as follows:
The Court of Common Pleas
still continues in session. A considerable amount of business
has been disposed of; generally such as is not of an interesting
character, but such as nevertheless demands the attention of
the Court. The cause of Pratt vs. Newell, for an assault,
however, excited some interest. Pratt is a Mormon Preacher,
and had determined to preach to the people of Mentor, whether
they wished it or not. Having been warned not to do so, and
refused admittance into their meeting-house, he mounted
the steps of the same, and began to hold forth from the Book
of Mormon. The defendant acted as captain of a company, who,
with drama, fifes, trumpets, &c., marched back and forth
before the stand chosen by the preacher, and saluted him with
music and [bows]; some, in the rear of the company, also pelted
him with eggs until he was well besmeared; -- to recover damages
for which, the suit was brought. It was proved that defendant
issued orders to march, and halt, and keep time, but gave no
orders to fire. The jury, however, came to the conclusion, that,
holding them under military command, he was responsible for
their acts, and returned a verdict against him for forty-seven
dollars damages. (Chardon Spectator
Oct. 30, 1835, cf: Firmage and Mangrum, Zion in the Courts,
pp. 52-53).