Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-29
For the bill. Against il. Absent.
Polygamy Defended.

| Letter from q Mormon EldeT.-aao chance for
young men to get acices-old elders nsonopo-
| lizing the damsels-girls do the counting in
| Salt Lake.
| Correspondence of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The doctrine of polygamy, as sustained by
this people, does not universally obtain among
Christians cordial reception. To the mass
who have trained in the school of modern
| Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic it
is naturally repulsiye; and this because of edu-
cation and tradition. Whether it is more hon.
orable for man to have ten wives. publicly
married, and publicly supported, or to have
one wife, and plurality of secret mistresses
| Nor this alone. If these "mistresses" we're
his exclusively, it might seem less unpardona-
BILE; but this is not the case, and adultery
most atrocious follows
| will tell you a MYSTERY. Your marriages,
effected by priests andmagistrates, are not bind.
ing after death. But those sealed by the power
of the Eternal Priesthood, are offull force after
men are dead because whatsoever is sealed
by this power on earth, is also sealed externally
in the heavens, &c. Man is an eternal being,
and if obedient to the laws of his God, his
progress and increase will be eternal.
AS to myself, / have as yet married but two.
This is a small beginning, but the day of small
things must not be despised. You may believe,
however, having myself but two wives, and the
majority around me have more, that i feel
somewhat slim; but wait awhile. Your "wo-
| man worshippers" in the State, (''sin and mis-.
cry" as you well remark) trow, would scarce
ly be willing, even if they had the privilege-to
choose "wife No. 2" who should share their
husbands time, affection, &c. But there it
often happens that women court for their hus-
II L. al j.. III
and Of course are very successful. So all the
| men have to do is to invent means of support
ing them.
What think you? Our young ladies, accom-
plished and beautiful often choose man with
ten or twenty or forty wives, in preference to
an attractive young gentleman who has not
one thus showing their good taste and regard
for age and experience. If one Of your most
polite, fashionable, and fascinating young gen.
temen should come here he would find It very
| difficult to get wife and il he succeeded at
ALL she would in all probability be one whom
our gray headed and infrm old men would re-
| fuse.
| AS to ministerial modesty," l have faint
recollection Of the term, and of its Specification;
but, indeed, had almost forgotten it, and as.
sure you that among US it has become obso-
| ete, and in our --latest Edition of the English
Lexicon" it is omitted We talk Mormon
English, which allows us to speak freely, but
there is now and then modest" person in
our assembly, who has sometimes occasion to
ego out"
But you will not fail to see that we Law no
small stress upon our peculiar doctrine-poly-
gamy--and it is, therefore, matter of solicit
tude with every man to preserve peace among
his wives. 1t is true as you say, "with but one
wife, it is difficult for some people in the States
to live amicably." But when you consider that
| it is the desire Of every woman to have a nu-
merous progeny and the husband to have
many wives, on the ground that their glory is
enhanced thereby, here is powerful incentive
10 order and union. Besides, il is the Mormon
belief that the husband is the head of the wife,
and her lord and saviour, and unless she is
obedient and submissive to him, she cannot be
saved; here is another consideration that vastly
tends to cement the husband and his wives
There are other influences that operate in the
same channel, all Of which conduce so enectu-
ally to subdue the self-will and waywardness
of women, and | will venture there is more hui
manly here in the family Of man who has
ten wives, than in the mass of families else
where, where one wife presides mistress Of the
house, husband, and children.
There are instances of from six to ten wives
inhabiting one dwelling, and living amicably;
though for the most part each wife has her
own house, and rules her own children. The
children are under the mothers care until they
arrive at muturity, or at an age when the father
needs their services.
With regard to President Brigham Young,
he governs his family, numerous though it be,
in manner worthy Of imitation, and is our
"model man" in this, as in all other respects;
and would that the whole world would receive
him as their model, and follow his example
and counsel. With his wives he marks the
conduct Of a man of God, awaiting himself Of
the right to take whomsoever he pleases and
give likewise. His wives, like other women,
dress according TO their own taste-"bloomer"
if they please; and every one is respected &C.
cording to her integrity and virtue, without
partially or hypocricy. However, partaking
Of his spirit, President Youngs wives are wor-
! thy examples of their sex throughout Christen-
dom, of purity and intelligence.
"The babies" are properly cared for, you
may be assured; for esteeming our children
our glory; / need scarcely say that no pains
are spared to increase their number, and bring
them up to the truths which their parents
cherish. And we have a mighty host Of "ba-
bes" growing up in these valleys who will