Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-24
ADAM AND EVE.
BlaspHemous Representation Ofths Creation
Worse than the Naked Drama-- Mormon
LoOseneSs.
Short Shirts fer IVatiOn-EndOwmeHt
Ceremony.
Trnm the New York world.


at Camp Douglass, l was informed by
INV hostess that there was a woman
then in the camp who had formerly
been a Mormon, and had passed
through the endowment ceremony.
She had left her husband in cOnse-
uuence of his having taken other
wives, she being the first, and was
employed as q laundress by the fami-
lies of the officers. Aware that true
account Of the manner in which this
rite of the Mormon religion, cores
pOnding. perhaps, with the EluSynian
and other Pagan mysteries, was con-
ducted. l expressed a wish to have
some conversation with the woman
upon the subject. Ny hostess at once
dkpatched a messenger, and IN hall
an hour afterWard she made her ap-
pearauce. She was a large, somewhat
stout and cOarse-lOOklng, EngiiShWO-
man, apparently about thlrty-1ve
wears of age, and not OYerburdened
with good looks. Having requested
her to be seated, l informed her that
1 wished 10 obtain some information
concerning her experiences in Nor
monism. and more particularly with
regard to the Endowment ceremonies.
She seemed no ways backward IN Civ
in me the information l required,
and Immediately entered upon mar
rarive o1 her history after joining The
MOrmOns.
~ and my husband" " she said,
ssioined the RIOrmOns IN the town OF
Birmingham, in England, during she
winter of 1862. We at once COM
menced making preparations to gath
er up to Zion with our money and
such light articles OF property as we
could conveniently carry. In the
spring Of 1868 We were ready, and took
massage for New York in vessel
which was specially chartered for the
voyage by the Mormon agent, IN COM
panv with a large number of our peO-
pie. Upon arriving in New Ork. L
remember that my husband was
counselled TO place his sOverelgns in
the csre Of the Mormon agent there,
after retaining sufficient TO purchase a
few things needed for the trip. We
were going by a church train 10
Omaha, and the Arrangement was that
our fare To that place upon the cars,
with our passage money across the
plains. should be deducted, and the
balance, several hundred dollars, be
uaid to my husband at Brigham
TOung's Office at salt Lake City. When
he made application for his money af-
fer arriving here. a bill of extra
cha -ges was presented TO him, tenth
mart was deducted for tithing, and he
Iras informed that he might have
some land, cattle, horses, a wa
con. etc. Tor the balance, but
they could not pay him the money.
He was finally forced 10 take what ne
could get, but he never obtained one
cent in money. That Is the way IN
which Brigham turns large portion
of his surplus property into money,
by imposing upon those who are per
suaied 10 come here. lie serves them
as the spider does the fly, first catch
ing them in the net, and then sucking
their LIES blood OuJ of them. After
We had been in the city several
mon ths. a teacher of the ward IN
which we lived called upon Us one
dav. and informed my husband that
the biShop haa put down our names
as candidates for tl5e Endowment cere-
monies. and that we were to appear at
the Endowment house upon the sue
ceeding Saturday morning AZ CLOCK.
We were further informed that il
would be necessary for Us 10 borrow
the endowment clothes required rOm
some acquaintance who had already
been through the ceremony, and my
husband was to carry with hlm
clean shirt for purposes which Will ap-
pear anon. We were particularly
charged 10 carry basketful OF cooked
provisions, not FOR ourselves to eat but
for those who OlliCiated in the affair.
Having consulted a female friend upon
the question of what l should need,
sae advised me 10 procure some white
cloth and make a sacque 70 cover the
upper portion of my body. At I
O'Clock precisely upon the morn
ing of the appointed day we
presented ourselves at the door of the
Endowment house, equipped as di-
racted, and We're admitted by the jani-
tor, a man named John Lyon, who is
celebrated among the MOrmOns Rs q
poet, he having once written and
published a book of poetry. We
found ourselves in a small ante-rOOm,
with seats arranged about the sides,
and a tall desk at one end. There I
were several persons present, each
with q bundle, a basket, and a bottle
of olive oil, which we had also been
directed 10 provide. A solemn still
ness pervaded the apartment, for
none of Us clearly knew what we were /
about 10 20 through, and feeling Of
uneasiness would occasionally creep
over US. Through a closed door, on
the right Of the desk, we could Occa-
sionally hear the plashing of water
and the sound Of voices. Presently a
man entered and seated himself at the
desk, arranging pens and ink and
opening a large book before him.
Each person was then called up in
turn and questioned as to his geneal-
oev. The names Of his father, mother,
Grandmother, and all his other rela-
tives, 50 far back as his recollection
could extend, were required, and the
answers carefully entered in this book.
our bottles Of olive oil were also
handed 10 this individual, who placed
them in a row upon the top Of his
desk. Everything being now pro-
nauncpd ready we were required 10
take OF our shoes, leave them with
Our baskets in the ante-rOOm, take our
bundles, and pass through the door to
the right of the desk into another
room. This proved to be a large
bathingrOOm with bath tubs on one
side. into each Of which two streams
of water. one hot and the other cold,
were running. Here / was separated
from nay husband, the women being
% shered at one end Of the room and
lie neen at the other. A large curtain
III tbick- stuff was now drawn across
tl,a room II. ibich served to separate Us
cornpletelv FROM the men, cOncealiEg
them from our view. We were then
told 70 undress by Mss Eliza snow,
the Doetess. and another woman ON
ciating with her whose name L 90 not
now TecOllect. l was the first one
ready. and was placed within the
hathing tub, and my body washed
from the crown of my head to the
soles of nav feet by Eliza Snow, who
repeateI some formula during the
operation. to the effect that l was
washed clean from the blood Of this
generation. and should not, il l re-
ntained faithful, be made a p3rtaker
in the plaques about to scouFge the
earth. Having been washed and pro-
N, punced clean, i was then Wiped uIy
- my head anOinted with olive oil,
,,oure,. out into the hand OF MISS
snow fr,. .m a large horn held by an
attendant This horn was explained
TO be the horn Of plenty, which, like
the widows cruise OF on, should new
er fail as long as the ordinance should
continue to be admin 'stered. hy
eyes, ears, nose, mouth, ana otner
portions Of my body, were itkewlse
anointed, that my eyes migh De
quick to see, my ears to hear, and my
mouth to speak the things Of eternal
life. and my feet be swift 10 run in the
Ways OF the Lord. was then given
an article called,a garment to put on.
- = -. .,.-ainln Of lraas nNnrn hN