The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-29
THE MoRMoNs AT SALT IxKr.
5Gs % AND yssHiiSSIs,f
ULk SAfufN ~

From recent accounts of the progress of
the Mormons at Salt Lake, it appears that
they are like the GeDtiles in other par,s. Of
the worll, and exhibit large amonnt ofhu-
man nature in their internal Dissertations.
Schisms, backbiting, and struggles for in'1j.
vldusl power and supremacy. The gencrsl
idea OF their little sanity settlement in the
wilderness beyond the Rocky mountains IL.
that they are band OF brothers' and sisters.
closely knit in the bonds OF fraternal afe efior.
despising the follies and pomp Of the world,
and looking only to the spread Of the true
ialth, and the extension Of spiritual wifeism.
We are sorry to say that this hattering picture
Is only the distant view Of the heavenly scene:
nearer approach shows that there are per-
secutions tor opinions sake, bitter heartburn
ings, aPostacy, and reputation OF the doc.
trIne OF Poygamy, which the ProphetJoseph.
srrnamsd Smith, introduced as one of the
dIvine institutions. a writer who has been
among them says, more discordant sct of
harinonies than they, were never combined.
a very short acquaintance with them, with
some knowledge Of their history, exhibits n
very curious accumulation and loss of men,
oers constantly going on in the Mormon COM
munity. 1t seems to require about as much
WORK to keeo the converts after they are
made as to make them. Many of these new
born saints very soon lose the sodawater en-.
thusiasm which is first experienced. and fall
away; and many who have zeal enough to
gon the great journey towards the modern zion,
cool of, and lodge. like drift wood, by the
way. Each emigrating body tapers off some
thing like the army Of Peter the Hermit in
the first great crusade.
The Mormons have, in reality, more back
sIlders and apostates, and for the length of
time since their commencement, are divided
into more sects, than any religious denom-
nation known.
From this picture, which we have no doubt
is true one--for the papers from the Great
Salt Lake are full Of the fulminations of the
faithful against backsliding crew. headed by
the GLADDEN. Bishop, who mpiouslv and i'm
pudenty assumes to he the Lord in second
coming and also against other apostates to
the faith-it would seem that the fanaticism
under which the Mormon doctrine spread so
rapidly, is in danger Of running itself out for
want Of the prosecutions which aided its
growth so materially in the settled States.
Without the outside pressure OF persecution
to hold it together, there is not sufficient ad-
hcsivcness in its internal constitution to keep
the fabric from falling to pieces. Indeed, any
society which adopts principles so repugnant
to the general sentiments of the civilized
world as those which form part Of the re-
ligious faith Of the Mormons, must necessari-
ly be restricted within a narrow circle of
ND ha 6 4
the advancing footsteps of better Christi
anity, and of more refined principle of moral
and social existence; it must recede precise.
ly as barbarism flies before civilization, and
darkness before light.-Ledger.