Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-02
How the Mormons Celebrated the Fourth
of JuIV,
Correspondence of the New York Herald

Correspondence of the New York Herald
GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, July 6, 1867
For some days preceding the fourth every eft
fort was made to decorate the principal street
with trees and mountain evergreeus. The
principal merchants on both sides of Main
street seemed to vie with each other in the
taste they displayed in planting the tall frs be-,
fore their stores, and in the fine bunting"
that spread over them the stars and stripes
"The Church, erected magnificent bower
on the north end of the Tabernacle, within the
enclosed temple wall, to accommodate the as.
sembled thousands and protect them from the
oppressive heat of noon. Fifty men were en-
gagged for several days in its erection, and a
hundred and fifty wagon loads of evergreens
were spread over the huge skeleton of a build.
ing. Al sunrise national salute was fired at
the county court house, and at the City Hall,
which was the signal for raising the national
flag on the principal buildings.
AT the general assembling, Elder Orson
Pratt officiated as chaplain, invoking the Di
vine influence to be with the assembled thou
sands who had met to celebrate the birthday
of American independence. Grateful for past
favors, special blessings were solicited for all
men in authority, that they might ''rule in
righteousness The governor then came for
ward and spoke to the assembage as follows:
81 do not rise to address the people, but to eX-
press my sympathies with the enthusiasm they
have manifested upon the return of our ma
tional sabbath. Two hundred and fifty years
ago the victims of religious and civil perSecu.
lions found an asylum upon the western shores
of the Atlantic. Eighty four years ago gov
eminent was inaugurated which secured to
every man the right to worship God according
/ TO the dictates OF his own conscience. That
day sprang into existence the text book of
iiberty--the Declaration of independence.
On that day was established the foundation
of that temple of civil and religious liberty to
which all have been called, and may worship
by its altar Thirteen years ago band of
weary pilgrims merged from yon mountain
height, to seek home in the wilderness of the
valleys of the mountains. 1t was, indeed, a
wilderness to-day it blossoms a rose, and
may it be to you perpetual inheritance"
(Great demonstrations of applause.l AT the
conclusion of the governors address, Hon. A.
Darlington addressed the people in an eloquent
manner.
The absence of applause, cheers, and great
enthusiasm in all Mormon reports, requires a
word of explanation to readers outside of
Utah. The Morm0ns are accustomed TO seal
their appreciation of addresses in their meet.
ings by the simple "amen," which admits of
very little variety of expression. So schooled
have they become to this habit that the best
executed piece of music, which elsewhere
would "draw down the house." would pass
away with hearty "amen," if it had even
that much. SO their orators may speak,
please, and fairly electrify them, it is always
the same and forever "amen" They know
nothing of such lung exercise as finish up with
a "tiger."
The county authorities got up very pleas.
ing change OF entertainment in the new coun-
~ court house The gentlemen who escorted
MS eXcellency to the bowery came i'll for gen
erai invitation to u well got up luncheon, not
over ory. Capt p. T. Turnkey, assistant qnas-
e.iui"ster at Camp Floyd, accepted the gen
el", lnHi'atloil to federal officers both civil
anu 'ili',Ia'y, ana arrived during the proceed
Inss ~ .ne oowery' The captain, after their
participated in the hosptalties IF ~ :, ~
trates, where avery agreeable bonr ,as ,in'
in refreshing the inner man, and in lsieu
their devotion to the Union in the hrintost Y
toasts. "
In the evening the large room of the cou,.,,
court house was finely illuminated and threw,
open to all the county, city, and territorial Of.
icers and their ladies', who might wish to tor
inmate the celebration on the light fansastic
toe The governor and his lady, ex-governor
Young and his counselors and one of the
Twelve Apostles, were present a part Of the
evening. BallOs Hall was crowded with Sc.
lect company, and "Brother Townshcad's"
dancing hall was occupied by the Gentle por.
ton OF the community, who embraced the
occasion" to show their skill in the terpsch
corean art, aud do all the other things worthy
of the fourth of July.
The city all day presented very lively