The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
SALT LAKE CITY, August IA, IS,

great stronghold OF polygamy and pronounce the
law OF condemnation before the faces Of ten thou
sand people. Brigham Young and his counsellors,
the apostles. the bishops ana the elders sat in their
places ana listened to the Doctor While he poured
into their ears the Divine denunciatlon or their sys.
tenn. More than half the audience was composed OF
women, and 1t was evident that most OF them were
In sympathy with the Doctor during the whole OF
sthe discussion when he pointed out from his Scrip
tural standpoint that monogamy is the Fundamental
and the only form of marriage which, instituted by
God himself In Eden, approved by all the prophets
and gorihed by Christ anu His apostles, has ever
had the Amighy's smile and sanction. AT the close
OF the debate desperate effort was made In the
closing prayer by one Of the apostles to counterfeit
the influence Of Or. Newmans arguments by not in
reality prayer to the Lord but argument to the
people In favor OF pOlygamy. The proceedings this
afternoon were opened by the choir singing the
1S7th hymn In the Mormon Hymn Book com.
mencing:-
Hosannah to the great Messiah,
The long expected Saviour Kingl
A ana sass sns cs.rsi .s sii by Gre
Prayer was then offered by the Rev. Dr. sunder.
land, after which the choir sang the Forty FIRST hymn
beginning
Spirit Of Faith come down,
And make al, =. % sSs SoaSeaa known.
And witness with the blood
Elder George O. Cannon one Of the Twelve Apos-
ties at the request OF Judge Snow, one Of the UNI
plres read few Of the conditions agreed upon for
regulating the discussion, In order that persons in
the audience who had not been present on the pre-
viOus days might understand them. lie also stated
that in order TO allow the speakers to finish their
concluding sentences, in case such were not COM
peted when their time was up, one minute more
would be allowed them for that purpose.
CONCLUDING ARGUMENT OF PROFESSOR PRATT.
Professor "a
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-We have assembled
ourselves In this vast congregation, in the third
sion of our discussion upon very important instu-
ton of the Bible. The question, as you have already
heard, is, ''DOes the Bible Sanction Polygamy ~
Many arguments have been adduced, both on the
eide Of the affirmative and also on the side OF
the negative Of this question. This afternoon one
hour allotted to me in the discussion to bring forth
still further evidences which viii close the debate
far the Affirmative is concerned then to be fol-
lowed by the Rev. DR.. Newman, which viii finally
close the discussion.
Polygamy Is a question, or, in other words, an In.
sttuton of the Bible; an institution established as
] have already shown, by Divine authority, estab-
lisned by law, by command; and hence, of course,
must be sanctioned by the great Divine law
gver whose words are recorded in the Bible. There
Ia one particular item which wish to bring forth In
the commencement OF my remarks this afternoon.
Yesterday 1 was challenged by the Rev. DR.. New
man to bring forth any evidences whatever to prove
that there more than two polygamlss' families
In all Israel during the time of their soourn In the
wilderness At least that Is what l understood the
gentleman to say 1 shall now proceed to bring
forth the proof The statistics Of Israel in the days
OF Moses show that there were OF males over twenty
years Old plumbers i.,46) 603,5 $780, This will be
found In the passage to which / have referred.
All the number from twentyyears old and up.
wards Of the male population isput down at e03,55o
souls. 1t was admitted yesterday afternoon that
there were 100000 Of the Israentes. Will grant
Mr. Newman's assertion-2, SOC, 900. shall also take
the position that TIE females among Israel were far
more numerous than the males; mean that por-
ton Of them that were over twenty years Of age.
For this reason l assume th1s:--From the birth OF
Moses down to the time that Israel were numbered
some eighty years had elapsed. The destruction OF
the male children had commenced before the birth
OF Moses; how many years before that l know not
The order OF King Pharaoh was to destroy all the
male children by drowning them. All the people Of
his realm were commanded to see that they were
destroyed and thrown into the river Nile. How long
period this great destruction continued is
unknown; but II we suppose that one
male child to every $50 persons was de-
stroyed every year II would amount to the
number Of TO- 900 persons deshoyed--I mean infant
males. This would soon begin to tell in regard to
the difference In the number OF males and females.
Ten thousand each year would only be one male
child TO each 25o persons. How many would this
make in eighty years Moses then being eighty
years OF age. 1t would amount to 100000 females
above that Of males But do not wish to take ad-
vantage IN this argument by assuming too high a
number We will split the difference and say 1t was
one-hall that number. instead OF 500 COO win
say 400 600 more females than males, owing to the
great destruction that was ordered among them.
This would be one male destroyed each year out OF
every 500 persons. The females then over twenty
years of age would DO 003,550, plus or
added to 100000 surplus women, making In
all 1,oo35o0 females over twenty years OF age.
The children therefore, under twenty years to make
up the $500, 900, would be s92 &C., the total popua
Zion Of Israel being laid down at 100000 people.
Now, then, for the number OF families constituting
this popua!ion. The families having first born
males over one month old Chambers ILL.,, 43) num-
beied 22,275. -Smiiies having no male children
one month Old supposed to be In the ratio OF three
to one. The lalio might, perhaps, be far different
from this but judging from what we here In our
own country and among different nations, there
may have been some families with only females
some families without any children at all, some
families where children were less than month old;
but II we take them three to one the
number womb be 7,i24 additional families hav-
tug no lirst born males Add these 10 the 22,273
with first born males AID we have the sum total Of
.a697 families in israeli Now, in order to favor the
lononamists argument. and give them all the