Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-14
The morn,ons.

rToh tho NoW AVfh 4Iipuhos Oopeomoot ''1
The zeal and business talent displayed
by the Mormons in obtaining converts to
their faith suggests lesson worthy of
consideration. In England aud other
parts Of Europe there are Mormon mis-
sionsries, who spend their time and
money in establishing churches and en-
couraging those already founded. The
disciples of Brigham Young are far from
wholly trusting the Mormon Providence
with their work. Every human effort is
put forward before spiritual aid is looked
for. The first thing to be done by mis-
sionary is to make converts. 1t matters
little how poor they may be; all persons
are received When once a man adopts
new faith, his first impulse is to seek
,hose of like belief, and it is for this
reason that when one becomes Mormon
he st once turns his spiritual eyes toward
the Zion Of the West Yesterday after
noon 429 of these people landed at Cas-
tie Garden from the steamship Minnesota
About half of them are women, and l29
are children under years Of age. Fully
forty per cent. are under twenty. A few
are from Switzerland, Denmark and
Germany. Besides the president of the
company, there are nine missionaries
accom- panying the pilgrims. The men
are chiefly mechanics and factory opera
lives, and few are oolliers aud farmers
They expressed themselves pleased with
the Journey thus far, though some com
plaiaed of the inferior quality of the food
served on board the ship. They said
that the cooking and provisions were
much better at each end of the voyage,
than when the ship was fairly at sea.
The passage occupied eleven days and
six hours. II has been frequently as
serted that the European Mormons, as a
class, are Ignorant and poor. This can
not be said Of those who landed yester-
day, for q majority of thsm are able
to read and write. There we're modest
appearing maidens combing their long
yellow tressss, while their brothers and
sisters played hide,and-seek behind the
benches. The mothers seemed happy
and hopeful, and the fathers chstted
gayly about pounds, shillings and pence,
while their companions we're coming in
from the ship. The fret thing on landing
was to get lunch and to apprise anxious
friends of their safe arrival. They talked
earnestly and confidently of the wonders
beyond the mountainr. A bright-eyed |
girl of fourteen said that she had several
brothers at Salt Lake livisg with their
wives. She declared that they had but !
one apiece. She did not know exactly
what they believed in, but she was sure
there was nothing wrong in their creed
or religion, for her beloved father and
mother were followers of the same faith,
and her little sister and infant brother
we're soon to become the shining lights Of
q new generation.
Au intelligent factory operative said
Ihst they had saved money year BY year
hat they might, st some future day, own
he house 10 which they lived. They
we're no fanatics, but followers Of the gos-
pol preaehad by Christ and his disciples.
There are as many prophets now as in the
DAYS of Moses. They believe implicitly |
in the teachings of the Old aud New Tes-
tamen,s, and they differ from the Pro-
lestsnts because they practice what they
preach. Inreply to an inquiry for Bible
authority touching polygsmy, be said
tnAt IN tne lh6t ohgs ocfcu "Oucu VIII Il
hang on 10 the skirts Of one man. Poly
gamy is not only holy bur Godlike
principle, for those who practice it carry |
but the prophecy OF old 'vhen the Lord
said thai the seed Of Abraham should be-
come ss numerous as the sands on the
seashore. 7la hNtt
The Mormons do not approve offs man
having more than one wife unless he is
able TO support them. The emigrants
10 not expect to sncceed pnless they
work. This has been told them by the
elders. Some Of those in the old coun-
ny who were not able to bring their en-.
ire families, sent their wives, promising
hat as soon as the required amount OF
money was obtsinsi they would follow.
others left their wives and children,
With the hope tina, after few months
'pent in fruitful county money enough
sould be earned 70 bring them over also.
Most OF the emigrants expect 70 20 to
arming on their arrival 10 Utah; some,
,owever, will follow their trades. A
srgs proportion Of them have friends
" relatives uho have gone before They
.xp act 10 leave for Omaha this evening
IA the Pennsylvania Central railroad
A Chicago policeman is 10 trouble. A
ook sues him for breach Of promise