Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-10-14
Utah.

slider the marked peculiarities Of their religious
belief, and their voluntary exile, years ago, to
the Salt Lake and its then drcary wastes
Their history is but another illustration Of what
men win suffer for the sake Of religious liberty
in its fullest sense. For, charity should induce
US to accord to these misguided aud infatuated
people, sincerity at least. However strange
that belief may be, they have shown their
faith by their works.
Our attention has been called 20 the Normons
by very interesting letter recently published
in the " Chronicle" at Washington, and evil
IDENTIFY written by close observer-oue who
is familiar with human nature in all its varied
phases. and looks beneath the surface Of things.
The writer left the Union Pacific Railroad
at Uintah Station. 1,O24 miles westof Omaha,
and 80 miles by Stage-road to Salt Lake City,
the great centre and heart Of mormouism.-
This wonderful lake is about 100 miles long
and forty wije-its depths 50 profound that no
plummet has vet sounded them, and its waters
so dense that YOU cannot sink in them. IN
this valley that twenty years ago was barren
sage waste, these peculiar people located them
selves. They transformed its arid area into
smiling productive farms and beautiful or
chards loaded with rich and luscious fruits, fine
cattle and numerous focks Of sheep attest the
well-applied skill and industry Of the Saints
The towering mountains that rise majestically
around whose tops are covered with snow, af-
ford fountains 10 supply the numerous canals
cut for irrigatiugthe plains. These branch of
into lateral rills conducted around and through
fields, orchards and gardens, supplying the
moisture necessary for vegetation, in that eli
mate where ram does not fall rs here. All our
fruits are raised in the greatest variety and a
buudance. Grapes especially are Of the finest
flavor and grow in luyuriant masses upon the
vines. Clad in their own homespun fabrics
these industrious people are almost entirely in-
dependent of outside Geutiles, as they term all
others
The location Of the city is at once picturesque
and beautiful, proving the wisdom as well as
taste Of its founder Seated at tie base Of the
foot Of the hills its suburbs extend up their
slopes, giving it apparently a much greater
size. It is rectangullrin plan, divided in ten
acre squares. with wide streets and sidewalks
kept neat and in thorough repair. There are
many handsome residences Of stone, but the
principal attractions in the way Of architecture
are the two tabernacles, built Of hewu gran
tie Of light color The foundation walls Of
the temple are laid In a massive thickness
Of ten or fifteen feet The quarry from which
the granite is obtained is twenty miles distant.
and the stone is hauled thence by oxen. This
building is l9s by l2O feet, and viii take ma
ny years before it is completed, at the present
rate Of progress.
The writer gives an Interesting account Of
an address made in one of the taberuacles by
John Q. Cannon, Editor Of the Desert Ncrs.
who has thus carly been elected [. 5. Senator.
a man Of education and culture. and deemed
by far the ablest Of the mormoas. His main
point in favor ofpolygamy was. that it promo
ted coniuCal fidelity in men and domestic puri-
ty generally. The entire absence Of prostitu-
ton in Utah is ajluccl as an evidence Of it
The gist Of hi' argument was, that human ma
ture is 80 depravei that religion does not re-
strain the passions, and therefore that they
must either be stated by leygl indulgence or
find criminal Qualification.
Thus it viii be seen that the very fouuda-
tiou Of mormon religion rests in disbelief of a
cardinal doctrine of the Bible-that is, the
power Of divine grace 10 bring the entire man
under its control Ifreligion does not mean
this, it means nothing. The Savior's daily life
and conversation was q practical. living proof
ofits power The apostles their immediate
successors in the faith, and elonc line Of car
nest christians from that day to this, have kept
their garments uuspottei from the world, PROV
ing the truth of scripture.
Again, if the mormous have a higher and
supplemental revelation 90 the Bible, having
more light than the Geatls5, they would be
expected to possess more Of the christian viz
tues, and We should therefore see in Utah the
noblest examples Of christian manhood. and
womanhood, also. Ifthey DO exist there out
siders have as yet failed 90 see them and pro-
claim their excellence t1us. We are rather in