Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-02

with the spaces between used for doors and
windows, constitute the wall. This roof
springs from the pillars in one unbroken arch,
and makes ceiling G5 feet from the floor at
the highest point. It's outside shape might be
well represented by cutting an eggshell
through the middle, lengthwise and placing
one half with the hollow side down.
The interior is very plain, being devoid of
all ornament. wide gallery is carried all
around At the end toward which the seats
face stands a huge organ, said to be sur
passed in size by only one or two in the coun-
try. In front of it and on either side is space
for a choir, then come four rows of seats,
descending in successive heights to the level
of the floor. The highest are occupied by
Brigham Young and his councillors, the 9TH
ers by the Apostles, Bishops and Missiona-
ries, each order embracing about twelve men.
The day of our visit CHANGED to be the first
day of the semi-annual conference, so that
we enjoyed unexpected advantages for seeing
and hearing. At an early hour the people
began to stream into the city from the sur
rounding settlements, in Uncovered wagons
which they established along the streets,
serving to make these their homes during the
days of the meeting. Our party join the
throngs making their way towards the gates
of the enclosure surrounding the Tabernacle
We are quite respectable in number and GER
tainly in leadership, having marshalled our
selves under the care of the reverend Secre-
tary of the American Board of Missions, who,
happily for US, CHANGED to be making the
same journey as ourselves, and had turned
aside to see Mormondom. Within the same
enclosure are the foundations OF the TEN
pie" This editiee commenced fifteen
years or more ago, and is intended to be
most magnificent structure. The material is
a fine granite brought with great labor from
the mountains, twenty miles distant. WORK
upon it has been performed at intervals, and
it may be doubted whether the Mormons will
remain here undsturbed long enough to com
pete it. We are received with all courtesy
and conducted to eligible seats. band of
music outside entertains the people
until the hour of service. The Iaber-
naclc will seat ten thousand persons, and
on the occasion of our visit may have been
half filled. Doubtless at later period of the
conference, the building was crowded. The
audience itself is, of course, regarded by
every visitor with a high degree of curious
interest Such mass of stupidity and ugli-
ness our eyes had never beheld. 1t Is gener-
ally known that Brigham gathers his subjects
to large extent from the lower classes in
Europe, and the prevalence of the foreign
element was very apparent. The counter
ances of many of the men were precisely
such as we see in the illustrations given us
by the English and German papers when they
would represent stoid clod-hopper. Some
looked as if they had just stepped out of the
pages of Punch. As to the female portion of
the audience, there is need of the pen OF
Dickens and the pencil OF Leeeh to adequate
| ly represent the grotesque attire and the
| varied uginess of feature. In all the assem-
| bly, the eye did not rest upon single face
which had any trace of comeliness Added
to original homeliness were the traces of care.
disappointment and misery. After seeing the
sort Of persons who are drawn into this COM
munity and the effect of the system even as
depicted in outward appearance, aversion is
made intense, and the desire earnest that
some method may be soon found and applied
for breaking up or banishing from our fair
land such an abominable organization.
! The services commenced with the giving
out of hymn by Brigham, which was sung
| ,bo;r f,ir vi. no II
ment of the great organ. Prayer was then
offered by George A. Smith, one of Young's
counsclors, in which particular mention was
made of ..thy servant Brigham" and of absent
missionaries, and applications made for
eight" for revelations" for the ''blessings
| of life, and that the power of the oppressol
might be br,ken," the latter phrase probably
referring to Uncle Sans inconvenient watch
and restraint. An address was made by this
same Smith, who spoke with a fair degree OF
| fuency. for half an hour, uttering very little
| that was offensive in sentiment lie spoke OF
the history of the Mormons and their leading
principles, emitting all reference to polyg-
amy. esquire Wells" Brigham's second
counsellor, followed. He is accounted an able
man, but his speech on this occasion was far
! from tending to confirm such an opinion 1t
was vague, rambling and repctitious, deliver
ed, too with such an appearance OF embarrass-
mcnt as to make it at times painful to the
nearer. Perhaps his mind was dscomposed
by the accompaniment TO his voice produced
by some scores Of infants, who had been
brought in their mothers arms. He managed
to utter some things that forcibly reminded
us where we were, saying, for example, that
the saints alone had any just idea of God, and
that all other men, though calling themselves
Christians, knew no more of HIM than the
heather. He protessed his readiness to prove
this allegation from the Scriptures, but kindly
forbore the labor as superfluous. The con-
Guiding remarks were by Brigham, who con-
fined himself to observations upon some
points of conduct connected with the service
n 1 Il. II 4 Il u,