Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-29
The MOrIulan Women.

,cln, NrIlrS rom Olau lat IulloWiDS aC-
count OF the Mormon women:
.How DO the Moymun wo,hen like and
beat poly Is The question most
people ash s4 to the institution. The uni.
vetssl testimony of ali but their husbands
is that il is 3 grlevous sorrow and bur
den; only cheerfnlIy submitted 20 and EN-
brared under religious fanslicism ana
self.abne CATION rare 10 behold and posi-
bic only 10 women. They are 'augh. 10
behave, and many Of them really 40 DE-
Iieve, that through and By il they secure
a higher and more glorious reward IN the
fnmfs world. Lord Jesus has laid hea-
w Trial upon me- said one poor swee'
woman. bull mean 10 bear II TO: bis
sake. and for, The glory he will grant me
in Liza kinedom.' This is the common
wall. the cUmmon solsce. Such are The
teachings of the church; and have 10
doub, both husbands and wives alike Off
en- honestly accept this view OF the obi
Gus practice, and seek and submit 10 Po-
lyQamy as really Gods holy service, cal
sulsled 10 make saints Of themselves aud
sll associated with them in the future
world. Sull good deal of human ma
lure is visible, both among the men in
embracing Polygamy and IN their Vives
10 submitting to II.
MIR. Young's testimony on this point
10 significant Other signs are not want
ing in the looks aad character Of The
men most often annOlnlel in the holy
bonds Of matrimnny, aud IN the well
known disagreement of the wives Of ma
ny families. In some cases they live
hsrmonou.ly and lovingly together; Oft
ener, il would seem, they have seperate
paris Of the same house, or even separate
houses. The first wife is generally the
recognized head OF society, and usually
assumes contempt for The others, regard
ing them as conrubInes, and not wives.
But it is dreadful state Of society to any
one OF fine feelings and true ms linCts; it,
Iobs married life of all its sweet senli-
men, aud CON paniOnship; and while II de-
grades woman. brulsllzes man, teaching
HIM to deepi and dOmineeI over his
wives, over all women. 1t breeds zeal.
Nusy, dIstrusl, and teOpts to inEdehiy;
bot the police system Of the church and
Ihs community is SO strict and constant
ina; it is claimed and believed that The lat.
ieT vice Is very rare.
The elfec, upon the children cannot
help being debasrg, however well they
may be guarded and educated. But il is
Q Ghiel failing, even scandIe 10 the Nor.
mons. that plenG(ully as they are provi-
ding children. who swarm everywhere as
did the locusls of Egypt they have. or,
glniZsd no free school system. Schools
are held in every ward 0t the city, snd
probably in every considerable village, in
buildings provided ior evening religious
meetings under The direction of the local
bishops, buta tuition fee is exacled for
oil who attend, and the poor are prsrtl-
Ssliy shat Oui. The anti. polygaBisis
should agilate at once and earnestly to
reform this eVi-it is a slroog point
against the dominan, party and weak
In the welfare Of the territory. Ii is g
point good and encouraging sign 10 learn
from intelligent sources tina, as the young
girls, daughters of Mormons, grow up to
aomanhood they are indisposed TO polyg-
amy, and seek husbands among the Gen
tiles rather than among their own faith.
1.-The soldiers al Camp Douglas, near
teis city, are illustrating one of the ways
IN which polygamy will fade away be-
fore the poPOisr principle. Two compa-
nies who went home 10 California last
fall took about twenty-five wives with
4 'hsm, recruited from The Mormon Cocks.
There are now some fifty or more wo-
Gen in the camp who have fed ih!iher
Eom IwOn for protection, or been seduGed
away from unhappy homes aud fractional
husbands; and all or nearly all find new
husbands among the soldiers: Only 10.
day man with Three daughters, living in
city. applied 10 Col. George for leave to
move up to the camp for residence. in
order. ss he salI, TO save his children
from polygamy, into which the bishops
and elders Of the church weIs urging
them. The camp authorities tell many
like stories; also, Of sadder applications. if
possible. for relief from actual poverty
and persecution in town. The Mormons
have no poor house, aud say they have
no poor. permitting mons by relieving sIt
through work or gifts. But the last win:
Ter was fo'long and so severe; with wood
al thirty and forty dollars a cord. that
there Was much real suffering, and the
soldiers yielded to extensive demands up
on the chafiTy that the church authorities
had-negiected 10 fulfil or sSsoldlely de-.
Biea."