The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-08-04
Mormon Life.

'"', WI" e'SNoih PeAiAeo AP0"hoA Noil"A VI
his overland trip to California, gives
through his paper some interesting facts
in regard to the Mormons. Although the
public are familiar with their practice,
and to some extent with their theories,
many portions of the account will be
found instructive. The letter we quote
begins as follows:
"How the Mormon women like and
bear polygamy? is the question most peo-
pie ask as to the institution. The univer-
sal testimony of all but their husbands is
that it is a grievous sorrow and burden ;
only cheerfully submitted to and embraced
under religious fanaticism and self-ab-
negation rare to behold and possible only
to woman. They are taught to believe,
and many Of them really do believe, that
through and by it they secure higher
and more glorious reward in the future
world Lord Jesus has laid heavy tri-
al on me- said one poor, sweet woman,
but mean to bear it for His sake, and
for the glory he will grant me in His
kingdom This is the common wall, the
common solacc. Such are the teachings
of the church and l have no doubt but
husbands and wives alike often honestly
accept this view of the odious practice,
and seek and submit to polygamy as rea-
ally Gods holy service, calculated to
make saints of themselves and all assOci-
ated with them in the future world. Still
good deal of human nature is visible,
both among the men in embracing poly
gamy and in their wives in submitting to
it. Mr.. Young's testimony on this point
is significant. Other signs are not want
ing in the looks and character of the men
most often annointed in the holy bonds of
matrimony, and in the well-known disa-
greement of the wives in many families
In some cases they live harmoniously and
lovingly together; oftener, it would seem,
they have separate parts of the same house
or even separate houses"
After noticing the effect of the system
in sowing distrust and jealousy among
families, Mr. Bowles shows that the Nor
mon Eden is by no means proof against
temptation, as will be seen by the follow
ing incident
"Of the I. S. soldiers at Camp Doug
las, two companies who went home to Cal
iforna last fall took about twenty five
wives with them, recruited from the Nor
mon focks There are now some fifty or
more women in the camp who have fled
| thither from town for protection, or been
seduced away from unhappy homes and
fractional husbands; and all, or nearly
ali, find new husbands among the soldiers
Only to-day man with three daughters,
living in the city, applied to Col George
for leave to move up to the camp for a
residence, in order, he said, to save his
children from polysamy, into which the
bishops and elders of the church were urg-
ing them. The camp authorities tell many
like stories also of sadder applications, If
possible, for relief from actual poverty
and from persecution in town."
A large proportion Of the recruits to
Mormonism, are from the poor English
laboring classes, who are brought in by
missionaries. Many nationalities are rep
resented among them, and as mass they
have the appearance Of mental weakness.
Of their religious exercises he says:
"The gatherings and the services, both
speaking and singing, reminded me of the
Methodist camp meetings fifteen or twenty
years ago. The singing, as on the latter
occasions, was the best part of the exer-
ises-simple, sweet and fervent. Daugh-
tiers of Zion,' as sung by the large choir
last Sunday, was prayer, sermon, song
and all The preaching last Sabbath was
by Mr.. Samuel W. Richards, who was of
Massachusetts orr gin, but has been Nor
mon leader and missionary for many
years. Beyond setting forth the superior
ity of the Mormon church system, through
its presidents, councils, bishops, elders and
seventies, for the work made incumbent
upon Christians, and claiming that its
preachers were inspired like those of old,
his discourse was rambling, unimpres-
sive eXhOrtatiOn. The BIZ
BILE, both New and Old Testament, is used
with the same authority as by all Protes-
tants; the Mormon scriptures are simply
new and added books, confirming and sup
plementing the teachings of the original
scriptures. The rite of the sacrament is
administered every Sunday, water being
used instead of wine, and the distribution
proceeding among the whole congregation,
men, women and children, and numbering
from three to five thousand, while the
singing and preaching are in progress
The prayers are few and simple, undistin-
guishable, except in these characteristics,
from those heard in all Protestant church.
es, and the congregation all join in the
Amen.
In compliance with the request of Mr..
Colfax, Brigham Young preached a SER
mon upon Mormon doctrines, which is
characterized as
"a curious medly of scriptural expo
sition, exhortation, bold and bare state
ment, coarse denunciation and vulgar al
lusions, cheap rant and poor cant. So
far as his statement of Mormon belief
went, it amounted to this: THAT God
IyaS q hnnon maforial hod,, I'll III