The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-28


From the Washington Union, Jan. 2l.l
We believe the public are already apprized Of tn
fact that the disciples of Mormonism have estah
lished an organ In this city. The second issue o
this remarkable journal is before us and il make
some strange revelations concerning Mormon matri
mony, we propose to submit to our readers few ex
tracts from the Seer The Seer is under the editoria
supervision or rather the inspiration of Elder OrsOr
Pratt. 1t appears monthly, and presents by " au
thority' version Of Mormon doctrines. The number
before us settles the question Of Mormon polygamy
The manner in which this libdinous and beastIv
practice is described and defended, cannot fail tS
shock and disgust the reader =
From the foregoing quotations and remarks, it will
be seen that the LatterDay Saints have strcter no
lions of virtue and consider themselves under great
er obligations to refrain, not only from unvirtuous
acts, but from unvirtuous thoughts than any other
people under heaven. But do the saints actually de-
by their practices that they believe what
they practise virtue as well as deliver the preccpts
thereoft We answer let the practices of the thirty
thousand saints in Utah speak; let strangers who
have travelled through our Furnishing territory de-
clare let the records of the courts Of justice bear
witness let the injured females, if there be any,
whose character and reputation have been destroyed
by the vile seducer publish their wrongs; etillegeti
mate Children il Utah affords them, come forth as
public monument of our disgrace Ka house of ILL
fame be found throughout the length and breadth
OF our territory then let the saints hide their faces in
shame and the sons and daughters of Utah blush be-
lore the heavens If an aduterer or seducer of female
virtue can be found in all that land then let the elders
be clad in sackcoth and the saints put on the gar
ments Of mourning, and weep before the Lord day
and night, until the evil be taken from their midst
But have not some of the saints in Utah more
wives than one 7 Yes; and they take good care of
them, too, and teach them and their children the
great principles OF virtue and holiness by example as
wen as by Precept. But is it not sinful for man to
have more than one wife living at the same time If
1t 49, the Bible has not told of it, But is it not con.
rary to the Christian religion? If il is the Chris
tan religion has not revealed it as an evil But do
vxnkrn lI,,x I'll Al.1x. "a =.
God for man, in these days, to take plurality of
wives9 Yes, unless God shall give them to him bya
revelation through holy prophet Is it not contrary
to the constitution and laws Of the United States for
the czens OF Utah to practise the plurality of wives?
80; neither the constitution nor the laws of the
United States have said anything on the subject of
marriage or domestic relations. But is it not contra
~ to the laws OF the territory No; the Legislature
tzens of any blessings or privileges enjoyed, under
the sanction of the Almighty, by holy prophets and
patriarchs Of old"
We annex minute description of the courtship
and matrimonial ceremony of gentleman about to
take upon himself the yoke of an additional Spouse
mo man in Utah, who already has wife, and who
may desire to obtain another has any right to make
any propositions of marriage to lady until he has
consulted the president over the whole church, and
through him obtains a revelation from God as to
whether it would be pleasing in his sight If he Is
forbidden by revelation that ends the matter; if by
revelation the privilege is granted, he still has no
has obtained the appreciation Of her parents, pro-
yided they living in Utah; if their consent can
not be obtained this also ends the matter But If the
parents guardians freely give their consent then
he may make propositions OF marriage to the young
lady If she refuse these propositions, this also ends
the natter but if che accept, day is generally set
apart by the parties for the marriage ceremony to be
celebrated 1t is necessary to state that before any
wife, it is his duty to consult the feelings Of the wife
which he already has, and obtain her consent, as
corded in the twentyfourth paragraph Of the reve-
lation, published in the first number Of the Seer.
"When the day set apart for the solemnization Of
the marriage ceremony he's arrived, the bridegroom
and hiswfe and also the bride, together with their
relatives, and such other guests as may be invited
assemble at the place which they have appointed.
The scribe then proceeds to take the Names ages
tive towns countless States and countries of the par
ties to be married, which he carefully enters on
record The president who is the prophet, seer, and
revelator over the whole church throughout the
world and who alone holds the keys of authority in
this solemn ordinance, Gas recorded in the second
and fifth paragraphs OF the revelation on mariage)
calls upon the bridegroom and his wife, and the
bride, to arise, which they do fronting the presi-
band, while the bride stands on her left The pres
dent then puts this question to the wife: Are you
willing to give this woman to your husband to be
his lawful and welded wife for time and for all eter
nifty If you are, you will manifest it by placing her
right hand within the right hand Of your husband
The right hands of the bridegroom and bride being
thus joined the wife takes her husband by the left
arm as if in the attitude Of walking. The president
then proceeds to ask the following question of the
man DO you brother, calling him by name,)
take sister, calling the bride by her name) by the
right hand to receive her unto yourself to be your
lawful and welded wife, and you to be her lawful
and welded husband for time and for all eternity
with covenant and promise, on your part, that
you will fulfil all the laws, rites, and ordi-
nances pertaining to, this holy matrimony,
this in the presence of God, angels, and these
witnesses of your own free will and choiceT The
bridegroom answers, yes. The president then puts
the question to the BRIDE Do YOU sister, calling
her by name,l take brother, calling him by name,)
by the right hand, and give yourself to him, to be
his lawful and welded wife, for time and for all
eternity with covenant and promise, on your part,
that you will fulfil all the laws rites, and ordinances
pertaining to this holy matrimony, in the new and d
everlasting covenant doing this in the presence Of
God angels, and these witnesses, of your own free
will and choicef The bride answers, yes. The
president then says In the name of the Lord Je-
Christ, and by the authority OF the holy priest.
hood, pronounce you legally and lawfully husband
and wife for time and for all eternity and seal upon
you the blessings of the holy resurrection with power
to come forth in the morning Of the first resurrec,
ton, clothed with glory immortality, and eternal
lives: and seal upon you the blessings OF thrones,
and dominions, and principalities, and powers and
exaltations together with the blessings OF Abraham
Isaac, and Jacob, and say unto you be fruitful and
Lord Jesus. All these blessings, together with all
other blessings pertaining to the and everlasting
covenant seal upon your heads, through your faith
fulness unto the end, by the authority of the holy
priesthood, in the name OF the Father, and OF the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen. The scribe
then enters the general record the date and place
of the marriage, together with the names Of two or
three witnesses who were present"
PATRIOTIC ScENE.-We were accidentally pre-
sent at scene in the House Of Representatives. Of
Florida, on Saturday last, Of deep and stirring inte
rest 1t being the Sth Of January the anniversary Of
the flag Of the Union, which usually occupies posi-
ton over the Speakers chair, but which happened to
be in one corner of the at the time be unured
and placed in its proper position. Another motion
was made and carried by reclamation, that Gen. r.
X. Call who was observed to be in the hall, be in
vited to unfur the flag. The General was an active
participant in the bloody field Of Chalmete, as aid to
the glorious old chietain, then in the full vgor OF