Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-09-03
Letter from Joe.

Ia the southwest corner OF Temple
block ~ the new Tabernacle ; in the
northwest The Endowment HOnse--
neither building worthy Of descIip-
ton INTELLECTUALLY. The New Tab
erriacle occupies a large space--ex-
tending frola near the west wall to
tho center o. the block then TO the
eastward j. the foundation Of the
new Tcmple-but little more than a
foundation M yet, although $500, 900
have been expended upon Il. The
Tabernacle is not Jet finished, but
near enough 70 be useful, while it
never can be- ornamental in this
world--it will have TO be horn or
built over again before il can ever
become u thing Of beauty; it may
be "a joy forever Jaw-y, l should say,
for there Is where Brigham and all
hands spout Sunday afternoons
This great structure can only be de-
seribed by reference to natural his
tory or formations. Take several
score OF bricks to answer for sup,
ports or piliars, stand them round
in a circle longer than broad, and
on top place a lid or roof like the
hall OF an egg-shell, aud you have
as nearly an idea Of the new Taber-
naclc az have. who have seen it
and crawlel over Il. Crawling sug-
gcsts that the building looks like a
great acknowledged something or
other abont ready to walk OIL or out
from under its she'll an armadillo,
land turtle, or what not, This great
Oyuiar conccrD might be compared
to big shiny bowlder sticking out
Of The ground alone like lndepend-
encc rock ; il might be likened to a
great many things, but space will
not admit. This Tabernacle will
scat abous ten thousand persons as
it is, and understand that galleries
are to be erected il necessary. The
summit of the structure is seventy
odd feet from the surface Of the
ground. Ia tie western end Of il,
there is "great organ in course
al construction fully as large rs
that in Boston, and sufficiently com.
plcted 10 be OF great aid TO the
choir. The material Of this instru-
mcnt is native, ANA the builder a
MormoD. The Saints can turn out
as fine mechanics and professional
men, and painters, and musicians,
as any people. for that laatter.
Aside from What this organ shows at
present, there IS no attempt at orna-
mcniatlon on the inside Of The build
Inc everything plain and substan-
ual. service is usually held in the
old Tabernacle IN The forenoon OF
Sundays. There ID as little ceremo-
ny about that Is the more puritan
ical could wish no counting of
heads. or tlF'atrical worship what
ever. Instead Of wine, water is
used a. yet Of the sacrament ; and
the bread, etc, is banded round rs
freely and uncercmvniously as a
plug oi tobacco or snul,box all
hands take sip or pinch or crumb
.--enll it what sou will all the same
10 mo.
The Temple. il ever finished, will
beia fine affair. | think /; unless they
iall into the shoddy style OF Ameri-
cans generally in public ailaics--top
II out with a variety OF cheap mate
rial. The Temple is designed In the
gothic style, and the finest granite
is put into It 50 far. But this insti.
tuition is intended by the leaders as
sort of side issue awOrk for rainy
days in fact, they joke abeat it as
though 1t never will be built. Ii