The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-05
Is Mormonism Likely to survive4

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with the full light Of the nineteenth century,
they ask Can it be possible that such reli-
gion oan attract votaries from all classes
And, alas, history too well teaches US that it is
not only the ignorant Glasses who are attracted
by new doctrines and new teachers. That a
man like jos Smith should be the founder of q
large and apparently growing scot ought to
surprise no one who remembers that Joanna
Southcote attracted by her impostures some Of
the most intellectual of the people of London,
and history is full of examples of like kind
Intellectual people are attracted by Spiritual
ism. No intelligence is proof against super
stition. Lord Bacon believed in astrology,
and plenty Of great men believed both in
astrology and witchcratt. No two sects can be
more opposite in their views than Mormonism
and Shakerism-the one allows marriage to an
unprecedented extent while the other does not
approve of marriage at all; yet it is a curious
fact that both sects are composed of indus
trious, thrifty, and careful agriculturists and
pains-taking housekeepers. The founder of
the Shakers was poor old English woman
named Ann Lee, now called Mother Ann.
Coexisting with these scots is another call
ing themselves Perfectionsts. The chief seat
of their societies is at Oneida Creek, in New
York State. 1t seems to be somewhat imita-
tive of some of the French Communistic
organizations. 1t resem bles Mormonism some-
what that instead of man having many
wives, the sooietistic nature of the system
enables them entirely to dispense with mar
riage. A community of goods, they say, i'm
plies community of wives. Brother Noyes,
who appears to be the Brigham Young of the
party, maintains that it is blunder to say
either that man can only love once in his
life, or that he can only love one object at
time; hence, in the so-caled Billie family,
living at Oneida Creek, the central domestic
fact of the household is the complex marriage
OF its members to each other and to all. It
is in no measure OF ridicule that we venture
thus to speak of what might be termed the
eccentric scots of this country; it is chiefly of
Mormonism and its vitality that we at pre-
sent have to de. Occupying a territory of
their own selection, apparently pros
porous after having undergone many
prosecutions, it presents strange prob
lem as to whether it will continue to flourish,
or whether it will not rapidly sink into disso-
luton. Compared with Shakerism, it appears
at great disadvantage. Whatever may be
thought of Shakerism, no charge of immortality
was ever brought against it. Many persons
ideas may revolt at their opposition to mar
riage, but of the purity of their lives no doubt
has ever been raised. OF the other scot we
spoke of it is yet too new, and its numbers are
fnn fayu m lutio 20 pba
ther it is destined for short life or not; but
Mormonism is large community, and has
attracted attention in other countries than our
own, and it obtains accessions from foreign
countries continually. Now, will the advance
of the Pacific Railroad through their territory,
thus making it nearer to the population of the
States, strengthen Mormonism or weaken it
This would depend, in great measure, on the
successor to Brigham Young. Mohamedan
ism, as is well known, continued
to flourish even more successfully
after Mohamed's death than during his
lifetime. 1t is true that Brigham Young is not
the original founder of Mormonism; but there
is every reason for believing that he possesses
more personal influence than Joe Smith did.
To compare Young with Mahomet would
indeed be absurd but the comparison as to
the duration of their personal influences might
be made. And here we say is the problem: -
Would the completion of the Pacific Railroad,
by infusing large practical old-fashioned
brought-up people into the midst of Mormon
ism strengthen that organization or weaken
it? 1t would seem that Mormonism could not
be strengthened by the accession of such a
population as must necessarily flow to their
settlement, in addition to which there is to be
taken into consideration the vast immigration
from Europe, principally Germans-at least
the Germans most generally settle out West
With such institutions the Germans have very
| little affinity. A sturdy, intelligent race, no
new-faDgled notions are likely to lead them
astray from the paths of their fore
| fathers. These circumstances must be
taken into account when rejecting on the pro-
bable continuance OF the Mormon institution.
1t therefore seems as if it must be weakened
by coming in contact with the people We have
Just spoken of. Another eau 50 for their de-
cline might happen in the failure of new
leader, in the event of Brigham Young's death,
to possess the personal influence which this
man undoubtedly possesses. Should feeble
leader arise in his place the chances would
seem to be that their decline might be as much
hastened by this cause as by the influx of a
population from the States, not to speak of