Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-29
LATTER-DAY sAINTs.
4 Day with the HOrnoas ia Salt
Lake City.
BY REV. ALBERT WILLIAMS.

BY REV. ALBERT WILLIAMS.
In the early gray Of the morning Of
the 18th Of October / was set down from
the overland mail coach at the Townsend
! House, the best hotel. | am told, in the
city, and good enough for any place.
After luxurious bath and ample justice
done 10 a Widespread breakfast, | was
fresh for the days observations
q Mine host" Townsend, originally from
Maine, an elder and man Of influence in
the community Of Mormons, very kindly
assisted me in the plan and order Of my
undertakings, to whom, and to Mr.. Web
eF, assistant editor Of the ErepiRg Iele-
graph; to the Intelligent and courteous
janitOr in charge Of the grounds in which
the tabernacle is situated, as also the
foundation walls Of the great temple to
be; and to President George A. Smith,
who has succeeded to the prominent po-
sitiOn occupied By the late Heber Kim
ball, and through vhom [ obtained my
presentation to the President, Brigham
Young; / am under special obligations
for the favors and information received
from them.
INTERVIEW WITH BRIGHAM YOUyG.
Not from motive of curiosity merely,
if at all, but simply to avail myself Of
the best means Of information, I sought
an interview with President Brigham
Young. Being presented at the business
Office of Mr.. Young, l found myself In
the presence Of several prominent Nor
mons, among whom were a brother of the
President, and Brigham Young, Jr. At
my entrance, the President, who was
standing engaged in eonversati0n'with
those around him. invited me to be
seated, and himself took a seat beside
me. l had no secret to draw forth from
the acknowledged and und0ubted chief
ruler Of the Mormons Ny only wish
was to gain for myself a better under
standing Of the leading features and in
fuences of Mormon institutions. Thus
the conversation soon assumed the char
aeter Of mutual inquiries and eommuni-
cations The history Of the settlement
of Salt Lake City was briefly given
that the emigration from NauvOo origin
ally had it in view to make this. and not
the Pacific shore, their destination that
when they first came here, sage-brush
was the only vegetation relieving the
dreariness of seeming desert and, by
bringing the waters Of the neighb0ring
hills down upon this barren plain, soon
"the wilderness became a fruitful field.
As truly desert, Mr.. Young remarked,
as the region to the west which | had
passed over, was the original site Of this
city. The visits Of clergymen at Salt
Lake 4 was assured are ever welcome,
that so a fair and better understanding
might be gained and diffused respecting
the Mormons, and the preaching of such
in their tabernaeles, was not only al
lowed, but encouraged among them. In
this connection Mr.. Young noticed the
fact Of the visit and preaching Of my
friend, the Rev. B. j. Lowe, Of Califor-
MIA. in 1864 as we'll as the donation
which Mr.. Lowe had caused to be made
of box Of bibles, which had been duly
distributed in the city
The Mormon population, Mr.. Young
said, will be increased this year by an
emigration Of FIVE thousand from abroad
but the fact of such increase is not no
ticed in Salt Lake City, for Immediately
upon their arrival the newcomers are
distributed throughout the immense dis
trict claimed as Mormon territory. ex-
tending from the north point Of Salt
Lake, in a wide belt Of 430 miles south
ward from Salt Lake City, 1t was
hardly to be expected that no allusiOn
would be made to the exile from Nau-
VOC; and accordingly enough was said
on that point to show that there Is re-
tanned in the fraternity lively remem-
brance Of that violent experience. Still,
must acknowledge that the Utterance
and spirit of these remarks showed none
of the vindictiveness and bitterness which
are actually charged against MormOns,
and Mormon leaders in particular. Nor
did Mr.. Young, as the suppOsItous
prophet of the Mormon dispensati0n-
fail to insinuate, when the conversation
assumed a more religious turn, his per
suasion of being favored with the gift Of
a supernatural illumination and, what
ever I might and did interpose rs a modi
feation and correction Of his peculiar
notions, l am more than ever impressed
with the conviction that, although other
means of influential control may be en-
| ployed, the religious element, in his
hands and according to his peculiar and
| foreible manner, Is the most potent ap-
plianee used in acquiring and maintain
ing his great aseendaney over so many
and. diverse minds. la estimating the
personal character and power of Mr..
Young, no one who comes in contact with
him can fail to accord to him the posses
sion of intellectual gifts to an extraOrdi-
nary degree, while, as compared with
others around him, as elders, bishops and
counsellors he is the undoubted peer Of
all.
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS or MORMON
DOM.
The face Of society, as it ordinarily
presents itself in Salt Lake City, in no
extraordinary degree differs from that
which is usually observed IN large COM
munities variously gathered and brought
together. Peculiarities there doubtless
are among them. Their general appear
ance, however, is much better than | had
imagined they are not the queer peo-
pie their anomalous association might
lead one to fancy them they seem a SUI
perior and more normal people than the
insane, wry faced, deformsd subjects Of
spiritualistic diabOlism l have sometimes
seen. For the time being, in looking
upon the outward aspect Of Mormon So
eiety, one may easily forget the fact Of
any special qualities Of mind, or modes
and habits of life, which may have made
any or the most of these people fit sub
jeets Of so strange a delusion, and, ind
ing in them, as compared with other peo-'
pie. greater resemblanees than differ
ences. NAV also lose sight Of the great
gulf which separates their organic asso-
eiation. and isolation from the rest of the
world. Salt Lake City is a busy hive Of