The Placer herald., 1858-04-03
Delusions Of Mormonism.

=
ing in different parts Of the country on the
Doctrines and Designs of Mormonism. II
a late address, he thus describes the process.
Of delusion in his own case:-
Nine years ago, in happy and comforta
BILE home in London, the Mormon faith frs,
reached me. But Mormonism in Europe
and America are two different systems. Al
its abhorrent pecuiarities were vehemently
denied. They seemed singular people, and
were represented as being singulary pure
and blessed. listened to their statements
Their earnest zeal and selfdevotion excited
my curiosity and enlisted my sympathies
Their noval dogmas and sophistry bewider-
ed my reason, and confounded my objections.
l was boy of fifteen. l judged it with a
boys Judgment embraced it with a boys
ardor. Three months after my baptism, l
was ordained a priest, and began preaching
the system as believed it, in various parts
Of England and France. In 1858, l sailed
from Liverpool to America, with four hum
dred emigrants, our destination being the
Salt Lake Valley. From New Orleans we
ascended the Mississippi to Keokuk, where
we united with the rest Of the Mormon emf
grants, $500 in number. Over the broad
plains of Nebraska we slowly wended our
way-the sun our pillar of fire by day, and
we followed his course to the West. One
golden evening in October, weary and foot
sore. we climbed ragged mountain-tor-
rents dwindled into silver threads, and look
ed like white snakes twisting among the de-
scendng foliage. Around us the snow clad
hils-above us the crimson clouds-before
us the Salt Lake Valley-the city of pro-
mise-the land of life! l remember how l
wept and shouted, how wives hung upon
their husbands, how fathers blessed their
children, how grey heads were bowed in
prayer. With one voice, we shouted Hosan-
nah! while the hills echoed it up to heaven,
and the mountain breeze waited ii down to-
ward our brethren, our city, our home. But
alas, for our error! Alas for our infatuation.
The mysteries of Mormon initiation are a
mere childish farce. The Neophyte is sum
moned into the Endowment House, there the
males are separated from the females, and
sent to different sets of rooms. lie is laid
in bath, washed and blessed all over in de-
tail, and then pronounced clean from the
blood of this generation. A new name is
whispered in his ear, and he is told that his
salvation depends upon his recoIecting it.
lie is then usllered into another room,
anointed and scented with oil, and again
blessed from head to foot lie is then cloth
ed in white linen garment, with symbolic
marks upon each breas; and right knee
Over this is placed a white linen robe, cross
ing the shoulder and reaching the floor, and
is tied around the waist with small Masonic
apron-a linen cap and shoes complete the
equipment During this investure, some
elders are heard in an adjoining room per
forming the first chapter of Genesis-that is,
creating the world One personating God,
issuing his orders, Jesus Christ and Michael,
pretend to execute them. The six days are
run through in about as many minutes, and
when the Creator was supposed to te at
work on Adam, the personator of the Deity
entered our room and began to knead us
into shape. He blew into our faces and
commanded us to see. We were ordered
to shut our eyes, and when we opened them
our wives stood beside us, as Eve stood be-
side Adam. They had undergone similar
treatment, and thus was the great drama Of
Creation most absurdly burlesqued. Now
we are rshered into the garden of Eden,
when the Devil, fantasticaly dressed, made
his appearance, tempting us at the same time
to pluck some dried rasins tied to shrub.
Our wives being instructed, did so, and we
shared the forbidden fruit. The Creator then
enters, drives out the devil, and curses u.s.,
but soon relents, and promises Saviour who
shall take the curse from us. In four differ
ent rooms we are made to make certain
covenants. In the first to swear with fearful
penalties to observe chastity of body and
mind. In the second we swear unlimited
obedience to Mormon priesthood, and antag-
onism to all other sects. In the third, we
swear invioable secresy, fearfully necessary
to guard the oath administered in the fourth.
In this latter around an altar, we are sworn
and threatened with most terrible penalties,
to cherish eternal enmity against the United
States Government, to destroy, and overturn
it, to battle its designs, and Illustrate its in
tentions, to renounce all allegiance and refuse
submission, and to teach our hate to our
children. and on our death-bed leave it to
them as legacy.
The lecturer now addressed few remarks
to those who might, however unlikely it may
appear, have become prejudiced in behalf
Of Mormonism. He concluded by saying
that he warred not with persons. If Nor
monism be true, Brigham's being bad man
will not make it false. If it be false, though
he lived as an angel, would not make it true
did not renounce Brigham Young but Nor
monism. l do not oppose him for he will
soon pass away, and leave only dishonora
BILE memory and blackened name.
~ Y. Evangelist
~ don't think its any use to vaccinate tol
small nox :" said backwoods Missourian, "fol