The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-07-19
tcorrespondcnee s. +. chroniele.l
POLYGAMOUS SAINTS.
Gossip About Ce1es-
tinl Marriages.
SALT LAKE CIry, June 25, '72.

SALT LAKE Crry, June 25, 70.
A general impression prevails
throughout the United States that the
Mormons are inclined to relinquish
the doctrine and practice of polya.
my, and that this moral improvement
has been induced by the experience
the people of Utah have had in
the Celebrated "lascivious cohabi.
ton" trials wherein Brigham Young
and other high dignitaries of the
Church figured. Nothing could be
more erroneous than this impressi on.
The Mormons have not the remotest
intention of doing any such thing. If
they were to give up polygamy they
would lose the great binding force
that keeps them together.
PRONUNCIATION OF THE FAMOUS DOC.
| TRINE.
The doctrine of " Celestial Marriage"
as it is finely and delicately termed
by the Saints, was promulgated on
the 18th of July, lS43, in Nauvoo,
H., by the great Mormon prophet,
Joseph Smith. 1t has been ascertain
ed, however, that Mormons practiced
polygamy, or celestial marriage, long
| before the doctrine was given to the
public. 1t was to hide the adultery
practiced by the first Mormons that
the revelation was put forth. Joseph
Smith, himself, had several wives be-
fore he had his revelation on celestial
marriage. One was his legal spouse,
but the rest he married spiritnall, be.
cause they were afiinities. Some OF
his followers thirsted for spiritual
wives, also, but they were mot holy
enough in the sight of the Lord" to be
honored with such blessings They
took umbrage at this and became
jealous of the Prophet. A division
arose and some of the oldest and
most devoted Mormons were cut off
from the Church. While Joseph
Smith lived he did not permit any
man in the Church or out of il TO con-
| troll his actions. He was often heard
TO say that he would rather be the
only Mormon living than have "sticks"
in the Church. BY "sticks" he meant
followers who could be easily driven
away when things did not exactly
move to suit them.
JOSEPH AND BRIGHAM TAKING A Pc
MALE HEART.
Whenever the present apostates
from Mormonism wish TO be merry at
Brigham's expense they tell good
story of the way himself and Joseph
tried TO tame female heart. The in
cident occurred in 1872, year before
the revelation on polygamy was Civ
en-. This corroboraies the statement
that the Mormons practiced polyga-
my before Smith publicly proclaimed
il doctrine of the Church. But TO
the tanning process. The lady in
| question was Miss Martha A Brother.
ton, n handsome young Englishwo-
man. Brigham met her at Nauvoo
and fell in love at first sight. He was
a married man at the time and had q
family. Martha did not reciprocate
Brigham's passion, and so Joseph,
was called in to assist brother Brig
ham. Martha was invited 10 call at
the private office OF Joseph, which she
did. After some preliminary conver-
sation the subject was broached.-
Joseph said it would be all right if
Martha married Brigham, and de-
clared that he (Brigham) was "the
best man in the world" next to
himself. The Prophet then left, and
the next movement of Brigham was
an attempt TO kiss Miss Brotherton.-
The story does not say whether
Brigham was successful or not; but
he certainly made the attempt. Mar
tha asked time to study over the seri-
Gus matter of marrying another wom-
ans husband, which being granted,
she escaped from the Mormons. To
this day the incident delights the
Mormon women, and they tell it with
that quaint and relishable zeal eharac-
teristic of the gentler sex.
MoRMoN YOUNG GIRLS OPPOSED TO
PoLYGAMY.
There can be no doubt that the
great majority of young Mormon girls
| are opposed 70 polygamy. They have
lot their own way always, and SO are
often compelled to give themselves
up to this degradation. But those
born in Utah are very rebellious, as
are the young ladies who have in any
way been favored with the society of
respectable Gentle women. The
| principal converts to polygamy are
taken from the females who arrive
from England, Wales, Norway and
Denmark and other foreign countries.
The English and Danish make the
least objection. The strongest de-
tenders Of the Mormon men, especial
ly those who are Americans, prefer
English women for polygamous wives
to any other. The reason is that
they are strong, healthy, active and
firm in faith. An American Mormon
does not like to marry an American
wife in polygamy. Indeed, he might
like to do 1t well enough, but such a
wife usually makes things mighty hot
for him. She will have her own way.
The first wife of Mormon, that is of
a Yankee Mormon is, generally speak
ing, an Americans woman. While
thus gossiping about male Mormons,
am struck with the strange fact that
nearly all
THE LEADING MoRMoNs ARE YANKEES,
Il