Robert Edge - an introduction

There have been many stories of communities being prepared for the missionaries by an mysterious figure. In Tennessee, the most interesting of them is that of Robert Edge. In May 1878, in Lexington, Henderson County, Tennessee, a man came into town announcing that he would be holding a meeting that evening to preach. Travelling preachers were not uncommon in Tennessee, but this man was not dressed a well as these preachers tended to be. Plus he appeared to know the area very well. He would make appointments at homes of people he met without asking for directions, yet arrive on time.

He taught the same doctrines as taught by the Mormons: Apostasy, the need for Apostles, authority from God, Baptism by immersion, etc., but claimed to belong to the Church of God. His answers to more personal questions were frequently more obscure. For example:
Mr. Jones enquired, “My friend, where are you from?”
Mr. Edge—“From about six miles,” meaning the next neighborhood where he had just left.
Mr. Jones—“What church do you belong to?”
Mr. Edge—“The Church of God, sir.”
Mr. Jones—“Where is it?”
Mr. Edge—“In the United States.”
Mr. Jones—“You have been speaking about one being ordained before he had the right to preach. By whom were you ordained?”
Mr. Edge—“By Jesus Christ, sir.”
Mr. Jones—“Where?”
Mr. Edge—“In Eternity.”
Mr. Jones—“How long have you been preaching?”
Mr. Edge—“About eighteen hundred years.”
At this point Mr. Jones sprang to his feet and walked away in disgust.

Though he taught the importance of baptism, he refused to baptize anyone, saying that in the future they would have the opportunity to be baptized by those who had the right. He did perform marriages that he said would allow them to be together for eternity and gave them "tokens" so they would know when they entered true temples of God.

By July 1879, Mr Edge had collected a number of enemies. Some of them tried to have him killed. At which point he announced it was time for him to move on. While staying at the Reed home he awoke in the middle of the night saying a mob was on its way and that he should move on. When the mob arrived, he had gone and he was never seen again.

Members of Robert Edge's group continued to meet. At some point they saw a summary of the LDS church doctrine in the New York Sun. Being impressed they contacted the church asking for more information and were directed to Missionaries serving in Cane Creek, Tennessee, the nearest branch. Several of Robert Edge's followers joined the Church.

So who was Robert Edge? Well, readers will recognized all the makings of a Three Nephites story. I'm more of a sceptic. There are just so many other options to choose from. But to do that I'll need to sort out fact from myth. What really happened and what was the product of imagination?