Chapter III: Characteristics of the Population

All Nationalities and all Social Peculiarities Fused into a Common
Mass—Missourian—First Settlers of the State—Where From and their
Type of Domestic and Social Life—The “Kansas-Nebraska Bill”—Its
Effect upon the Population of Missouri—“Emigration Aid
Societies”—Extremes Brought Together in Missouri—Reflex Tides of
Population—Rapid Increase—Unique Social Formation—Social
Peculiarities Fuse—Religious Characteristics Become more
Distinct—Religious Thought and Feeling—Doctrines and Dogmas are
Sharply Defined and Fearfully Distinct in Missouri—Sects and their
Peculiarities—Sectarian Strife Uncompromising—Why—Religious
Controversy—Published Debates—Their Effect—Sectarian Bigotry and
Intolerance—Differences, Essential and Non-essential—History Ever
Repeating Itself—Persecution has Adopted Few New Expedients—Early
Martyrs and the Missouri Martyrs—“The Altar, the Wood and the Lamb
for a Burnt Offering.”