New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-19
Nem9lork DAILY Gribm,te
CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON.


MORMONISM: It's LEADERS AND DESIGNS. BY JOHN
HYDE. jr. limo PIP. 3S5. w. P. Fetridge Co.
The purpose of Mr.. Hyde in the composition Of
this volume was not to increase the hostility of the
public toward the remarkable people whom he de-
scrbes, not to minister to morbid love of caumny
and scandal by connecting pquant dish Of person
aties but as far possible to open the eyes of the
honest believers of Mormonism who have not yet
found their way to the milennial metropolis OF Salt
Lake, by frank revelation Of the astounding enOr-
mites of which he has been the eyewitness, and
kindly warning to abandon the path Of perditiOn,
before they shall learn by experience the terrible
goal to which it leads. Mr.. Hyde is an intelligent
Eughshman who was entrspped into the system,
before he had the fantest inklng of its true eharac
ter. As set forth by its apostles in the British
isles, its most Objectionable principles were not
only ignored, but denied. They uttered not only
nep-ye, but po.tve falsehoods, in order to induce
belief Their eloquence, their fervor, even their
fansticism, made strong impression on the mind OF
young Hyde, when mere STRIPPING, and at the age
of fifteen, some nine years ago, he was baptized
into the seductive faith Filled with the new wine
of Youthful enthusiasm, his earnestness and zeal
attracted the attention Of the leaders of the sect,
and in few months from his first conversion he was
ordained priest and began to preach Mormonsm
"a he had received it from the missionaries with the
forked tongue He continued to perform this service
for over two years in England when in 1851 he was
sent on mission to France, and at the beginning
of 1853 embarked with band of Mormon brethren
at Liverpool for the purpose Of joining the "Salnts
in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. lie arrived
at that fair Paradise in October of the same year,
and was soon after initiated into the secret mysteries
Of the Mormon endowment. The following Spring,
having become pretty thoroughly Disguised with
all that he had experienced in the new moral
world, he determined to leave Salt Lake for Cali
fornia but could not find the means of carrying his
intention into effect. He informed the ruling
brethren of his views, and at length, in 1856, with
the hope of renewing the araor of his fret love,
they dispatched him on mission to the Sandwich
Islands. He accepted the appointment, although
in state Of great mental conflict. But during the
voyage on the Pacific, the scales fell entirely from
bis eyes, and he made up his mind not only to ab-
iure the Mormon faith, but to give frank aud
fearless recital of his experience to the world. The
result is the suggestive aId valuable work now pub
Eshed. 1t affords fund of Trustworthy informa-
tiop Judging from internal evidence, as well as
what we know Of the character Of the writer, aud
will be read with eagerpess by those who are Gu.
nous to learn the character of Of the strangest
FERNS Of human delusion. Some of its most i'm
portant statements, which We will proceed to con-
dense, will give our readers distinct idea OF the
position and character of the Saints.
The Valley of the Great Salt Lake is !, 6o' miles
from St. Louis by road passing over vast praries,
rugged mountain defes, precipitOus river banks,
and dreary and treeless wastes The lake is about
20 miles long from north to south, and 20 miles
wide from east to west. 1t is supposed that it
once filed the entire basin between the Sierra
Msdre mountains on the east and the Humboldt
ranges on the west, a space Of 500 miles from
Forth to south, and $50 miles from east to west.
In its present contracted dimensions, it forms
eopfous reservoir into which all the streams and
rivers OF the basin pour their melted SHOWS 1t
has no apparent outlet though it diminshes more
rapidly than can be accounted for by evaporation.
The specific gravity Of the water averages from
Lie TO liz. Ii the strongest natural brine in
the world holding in soluton over - per cent of
different salts. Or course the water, like that OF
the Dead Sea- which it strongly resembles, is very
buo, ant, although it is difficult to swim through it,
It produces immediate strangulation, excessive
smartDg in the eyes, nostrls, and ears, and leaves
sprofu.e deposit of salt on the person. There are
numerous salt boeres on the shores, producing
nearly gallon of clean dry salt from four gallons
Of water. 4 great mass Of coarse crystals is
thrown upon the shore, which are carted away by