Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-08
A Glimpse of MOrmOnism.

ing favorable impression. Subjoined are
the more interesting portions of her lee
ture:
Her parents were born in New York,
her farher joining the Mormon church at
% years. They had five children, she
being the youngest She was born Sept
13, 1874 In 1S4S she emigrated to Salt
Lake. She had never known anything
but the Mormon religion from her earliest
years; she believed it to be true because
her parents so believed it. At the age of
eight years, she was baptized by INNER
sion, and again when 16 years old, after
which she was received into the endow-
ment house. The endowments, or secret
rites of MormOnism, is sort of allegory
IN blank verse, paraphaSed from the Scrip
lures and Miltons Paradise Lost. There
are rooms fitted up with scenery adapted
to the performance of Il drama represent
ing the creation of man, his fall, the COM
ing of Christ and the priesthood of Joseph
Smith. In the performance Brigham
Young takes the part of Eloim or head
God while other prominent men repre-
sent Jesus Satan, Michael, and the Apos-
ties. Different degrees of the Aaronic and
MalChisedek priesthood are conferred, ut
each stage of which the candidate is re-
quired to take oaths of secrecy, accompa-
MED with barbarous penalties, should they
dare to violate them. They are also given
Il new name by which they shall be known
in the kingdom of God. The entire cere-
mony is profane and of little interest to
the outside world. except where the candi-
date takes "A solem oath to - bear eternal
hostility to the government of the United
States and avenge the murder of the proph
ct Joseph Smith In this ceremony the
women wear long robe which is placed
on the right shoulder, is gathered at the
waist with strings, and flows to the floor;
there is an apron of linen covered with
green silk and embroidered with fig leaves
the nearest approach to the paradisiacal
apron that is consistent with our climate.
The men wear cap of linen, similar to
those worn by stone masons The ladies
caps are of Swiss muslin. with a vail of the
same, which has 4 pretty effect. The in
tcnsely funny appearance of the men in
this costume j. Irresistible This is the
costume in which the MOrmOns are pre-
pared for the grave.
When she was IS Years of age, Brigham
Young sent for her to study for the stage,
and she complied although she was not
remunerated therefor She WAS married
in her nineteenth year to James l.. Dee;
was his only wife, and lived i'll constant
fear lest he should take a second. She had
two children by him and was treated most
brutallv. She then submitted to the wish
e. Of her friends and left him. A year
later. by the advice of Brigham and the
assistance of George g. Cannon, delegate
to congress, she was divorced in the pro-
bate court. She was secretly married to
Brigham Young, April !. 1865, in the en-
dowment house IIeber G. kimball sealed
them up in everlasting lives. She was
charged not to tell anybody, for fear the
Gentilcs would hear of it. and have him
arrested for taking NOR" wives in the face
of the law. After the ceremony, she went
home and didn't see Brigham for 4 week.
Her house was poorly provided for, having
barely the necessities of life. In the pres
ident'S household they have what is call
ed ration dav. Once a month each family
receives five pounds of sugar, one pound
of candles, "A bar of soap and box of
matches The lecturess cmphaticallv stat
ed that She never received 5000 a wear,
Us has been reported. The rule with all
the prophets wives-eXcept the favorite-
is that all food beyond the plainest fare,
and all clothing except what nature de
mandS for the protection of the person, the
wife is expected to provide for herself and
children. Brigham promises his wives
Il 900 a year pin-money and a good home;
but they get neither.
One of the most interesting portions of
this lecture is that which treats of Brigham
Young and his family. Brigham was 73
Years of age last June. He has 10 wives.
II of these are his own for time and ctcr-
nifty; the other four are proxy wives, be-
ing widows of Joseph Smith. The chill
dren of their union with Brigham are cred
tied to Joseph Smith. and goto swell his
kingdom. A All plural wives are known by
their maiden names, to distinguish one
from the other. The following is a correct
list of Brighams wives in the order oftheir
marriages Mary Ann Angel Lucy Deck
er, Mrs. Augusta Cobb, Harriet Cook,
Clara Decker, Emeline Free. Lucy Biglow,
Zina ID. Huntington, Susan Snively. Mar
garet Pierce. Mrs. Twiss, Emily Partridge,
Snow, Harriet Barney, Amelia Folsom,
Mary Van Cott, and Ann Eliza Webb, the
nineteenth and last Brigham has two
larger houses. called the Beehive and the
Lion House There is one wife in the Bee
Hive and six in the other. The rest are
scattered throughout the city and territory.
His three eldest sons have followed the
polvgamous example of their father. lie
has 4j living children; the most of them
are married. There are 30 girls and 16
boys in his family. His son John w. has
polygamy by discarding his
first and second wives, and retaining his
third. Seven of Brigham's daughters taste
the sweets of plural marriages. Two of
the seven call Hiram b. ClawsOn husband, |
two are allied to George Thatcher, and two
to Mark Croxall the seventh is the second
mate of Thomas Williams. Amelia Fol-
som is the only wife Brigham lives with at
present. He has forsaken all for her. Up
on this favorite wife is lavished all the care
and attention the most devoted monogamist
could possibly bcstow upon his companion.
At present he is erecting a mansion for her
that will cost ut least 100000. Brigham
loves her better than all the others: he is
afraid of her. and this is where lies her sue
cess over him. Amelia uses the vilest Ian
guage in her common conversation.