New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-31
WHAT SHE KNOWS OF POLYGAaIY.
Mrs. STEM, Ouse's Narrative of the Work.
ings of the Mormon System - How
Houses are Managed - Brigham
YOung's Wives.

From A Lady's Life Among the Mormons,' by
Mrs. StenhOuse.
The author gives the following account OF
her conversion to Mormonism. She had
been employed as teacher in French con-
vent for number of years. On the return
to England she found her father and mother,
who had been Jealous Christians. strict
Mormons. She says of the events which LED
to her conversion:
Icould see no difference in my father and
mother. but certainly saw a change IN my
sisters. who now tOrsoOk all amtsemehts
suita ble to their age, and Thought OF noun
ing but going to church and making clothes
for the missionaries who were sent out
without purse or scrip All this inter-
ested me very much, and at my sisters re-
Quest [ went one morning to their place OF
worship. The sermon that l then heard
perfectly fascinated me. 1t was delivered
by an eloquent and enthusiastic young
Mormon elder, who felt, or thought he 1elt
that he was a servant OF God, sent 70
preach deliverance unto the people: tie
said that .!an angel % God had appeared
unto Joseph Smith and revealed to him the
everlasting gospel. There We're now.' he
said, Giving apostles ordained by angels
the same as in DAYS of old At first l
thought, this is. indeed glorious news, but
can it be true ," The reflection then came
that what the Lord had done already lie
could certainly do again. We were urged
to be .baptized for the remission OF our
sins" with the promise that We should re-
ceive the gift OF the Holy Ghost to witness
unto us that we did what the Lord com
manded". | knew that all this was accord
inc to Scripture, and | dared not REJECT II:
Indeed, | had no desire to do so. received
it gladly. 1t was lie to my soul 1t was
that which | had been desiring tor wears,
and | firmly believed that the Lord IN his
mercy had answered my prayers. l con
cIuiei to be baptized: and | had no sooner
| made up my mind to do so than l wanted
to have it done. Two weeks after my ar
| rival III England / was a member OF the
Mormon church.
GIVING A HUSBAND A SECOND WIFE.
After an extended account of the life and
| Mormon labors OF Mrs. Stenhouse and her
| husband, she proceeds to relate how the
| great ordeal of giving her husband second
| wife was passed through:
| As the time approach he'd for me to do this.
| | felt like a. condemned felon in his cell
| waiting in agony the day of his execution.
| | knew that my husband suffered also, now
| that it was so near: for he necessarily saw
| that it would make great change III his
! future life His freedom was gone. The
| dreaded day at length arrived. AS may
| well be supposed. | had passed very wake
! full and unhappy night, and felt very sick
| and nervous, for l was soon to become
a mother. and it seemed to me that l
had not the courage to go through that
| day However, l nerved myself to the
task. and silently made my preparations for
| going to the Endowment House. The
morning VI as bright and lovely, and calcu-
lated to inspire joyous hopes and happy
feelings. To me it brought nothing but
| fear and trembling. could not even trust
| to speak to ny children. for | was choking
with suppressed emotion: and they. not
| knowing how deeply l was suffering,
| looked at me with wonder in their innocent
| ewes. oh" | thought. surely my hus-
| band will at last understand the depth OF
| the love bear him. for were it not that he
believes the doctrine to be true. L would
| even now dash this bitter cup from my
| EDs," There was a darkness before 1uy
| epes, and struggle as | might, could see
| no ray OF light, no 9l!mmerlng OF hope. l
| was utterly cast down and brohen-hedrted.
| and felt almost as If the Lord had torsahen
! ne. | could not 90 to MY husband
| for sympathy for | felt that his thoughts
were with bis young Bride, aud that
nv sorrows would only worry him at a time
when he must desire 70 be at peace. The
| time at last arrived for us TO go 10 the En-
| iowment House" and there at the altar
| the first wife is expected to give proof OF
| her faith in her religion by placing the hant;
OF tie new wife in that OF her husband.
| She is asked the question by Brig ham
| Young. Are YOU willing to give this woman
| to Your husband. to be his lawful and
| welded wife. for time and tor all eternity .
| If YOU are. YOU will manifest it by placin =
her right hand within the hand OF Your has
| tand' did so But what words can de
scribe my feelings? The anguish of whole
lifetime was crowded INTO that one single
moment. When il was done. felt that
had laid everything upon the altar, ana that
there was no more to sacrifice. | had given
away nv husband. What more could the
Lord retlu re of me that | could do
The following is Mrs. Stenhouse's account
of Bri CHAM wives:
Very extravagant statements have been
published OF the number OF CHAM
Ioung's wives and children. How many he
has had since the time he courted Miss
Martha Brothertcn until now, it would be
dead; others have left him, and many prob
ably lMve been sealed to him who strayed
away like those OF Brother Heber, ana he
knew not whittier they went. OF Brigham 5
present family | AIN acquainted with lime
teen Of his wives. Before he was Mormon
he had wife and family. but Of that lady
know nothing. Two OF her daughters are
in Utah. His Mormon family begins with
his first legal wife, who is still Ivlng-Mrs.
Mary Angel Young. She is probably about
his own age. but is physically less preserved
and looks much older. She is a most excel
lent and anliable lady and bears traces Of
having had her full share of earthly
troubles. She is the mother of three promi-
nent sons, Joseph A. Brigham, Jr.. john
w. and two daughters. Alice and Luna.
Each of the sons has three wives. The first
daughter is the third of four wives III a
polTgamc household. The other daughter
Is the first wife OF a young man, and has Tor
a companion wife her fathers daughter by
another mother. The eldest daughter,
Alice. has also her hail-sister as an associate
wife in her husbands household.
The legal wife of Brig ham Young Is: l.,
Mrs. Mary Ann Angel. His PoIvgamic
wives are: ,, Mrs. Clara Decker; 3, Mrs.
Lucy Decker, sisters: /, Mrs. Emeline Free;
). Mrs Harriet Cook: 9, Mrs. Twiss; I. Mrs.
Eliza Burgess; s, Mrs. Susan Snively; .,
Seagers: IL. Mrs, Martha Bowker: T., Mrs.
Margaret Pierce; u, Mrs. Amelia Folsom
Il, Mrs. Mary Ann Van Colt Cobb. H. Mrs.
Eliza Ann Jay Webb. His proxy wives are;
10, Mrs. Emily Partridge; Il. Mrs. lima D..
Huntington Jacobs; IS, Miss Eliza K. Snow.
These were formerly scaled" to Joseph
Smith, and are now proxy" wives to Brig
ham. Also: H., Mrs. Augusta Cobb. who
was ''sealtd' to Joseph Smith since his
death. Besides these, there NAV very like
IL be other ladies' sealed" to Brigham, but
myself know personally no more than the
above named.
Mrs. Stenhouse's narrative is the first
really authentic account Of Molmoni>m We
have vet had. Her husband Is well known
to the New York press. and both she and he
were for wears engaged IL the building up
OF the Mormon system.