Very Rare The Danites" Lithograph Poster, 19th century, "Entered according to Act of Congress, A.D. 1878 by W.J. Morgan Co., artist mark "Willard", depicting the secret society related to the Mormon religion with gold miner's tools, men surround a lady asking if she is married, minor loos on edge bottom left and minor tears, ht. 22 1/4, wd. 28 1/4 The Danites were a secretive group of Mormons organized and abolished in the same year, 1838. They were founded by a man, Sampson Avard, who was striving to use the Church as a tool for power. Members were bound by oaths of secrecy to support what appeared to be a good cause, the defense of the Church in a time of mob persecution, but ultimately Avard sought to manipulate the Danites into a tool for retribution and violence. While much has been written about the Danites, it appears that they played a relatively minor role and their secret purposes were opposed once they were exposed to Joseph Smith. Allegations that Joseph was the mastermind or driving force behind the secret Danites are without substantial evidence. Allegations that a violent group of secret Danites persisted for years as an approved tool of the Church are also without merit, though it has been the stuff of numerous movies, novels, and stories - all at least partly fictional. (From: http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_Danites.shtml)"