The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-15
Exposure Of Mormon Life by an Authentic
Witness of its Evils.


Exposure Of Mormon Life by an Authentic
Witness of its Evils.
Mrs. Ann Eliza Young, nineteenth wife OF
Brigham Young, lectured in St. Louis recently,
and the following report is made as to her dis
closure of the multifarious wife system:
|. Mrs Young said that polygamy among saw
ages and Turks does not shock US. 1t harmo-
nizes with their religion and condition. But
poygamy in the United States has revolving
effect on the American mind. Considered
geographically it is entirely an intruder; COLI
sidered historically it is an anachronism; in
the light of Christian ideas it is an ugly excres-
cence. Polygamy is no fgment of the fancy !;
it is no creation of the story tellers. 1t is a
prevalent social custom among 100000 Of our
citizens. 1t has been preached among them
for more than twenty years. She proposed to
speak of the origin, spread, extent and evils OF
the system, of which she had been victim
Polygamy is part of the Mormon faith, but
did not originate with them. The Book OF
Mormonism itself condemns it. 1t ordains
that a man shall have but one wife, and OF
concubines none.
When the followers of Joseph Smith collec-
ted at Nauvoo he found his influence extending
80 that they were ready to receive any utterance
from him as of divine authority. The idea of
polygamy was repugnant to many and ne had
to proceed with great caution in making known
his views. His brother hesitated, and his wife,
as might be expected, openly rebelled. The
revelation in favor of poiygamy was dated July
12. I849. but the practice had been carried on
without that sanction for months, if not for
wears, before. It was deemed inexpedent to
make it known to his followers, and it was only
his immediate friends and strong believers who
were let into the secret. It pandered to the
appetites of men, and the women were infata-
ated by their prophet and his teachings. They
were told that eternal perdition was their doom
for noncompliance. The laws of Illinois,
however, were against it, and the Gentiles sur
rounding Nauvoo would not tolerate the prac-
tice. It was the custom at that time and as
late as 1850 for Mormon teachers III Europe to
deny that they practice polygamy. In Janua,
nv, 1853, when the number Of MOrmons had
reached 10000, the revelation of polygamy was
made known. In the meantime they had re-
moved to Salt Lake City, and in that place the
practice of polygamy was open, notorious and
unrestrained. Not content with pointing to
the patriarchs, and the practices of David and
Solomon, it was claimed that the pure Saviour
of the world had an affection for Martha and
Mary; that they were his wives, and that the
marriage at Cana, Gallilee, was one of his bri-
dal feasts. The speaker gave several anecdotes
to show that the Mormon leaders have been
utterly INSCRIPTIONS in dealing with the mar
riage relation.
allow lust to stand as the controlling motive of
polyeamy. Hence the theory was started that
there were myraids of spirits floating through
the air in want of bodies to fit them for higher
spheres. It then became the duty of the faith
full to provide bodies for these incorporeal
shapes The family relation does not termi-
nate here, but is continued in eternity, and
those who have the largest number of descen-
dants will be entitled to the highest honor.
Women are told that they are saved only by
being Joined to man, and if she rebels she
will be cut off for time and eternity. The first
wife had to stand at the altar and join the
hands of her husband and his second wife.
She must choke down the feelings of anguish
she could not Danish. No stoicism, no lapse
of time could soothe the pain of her heart, and
she walked the earth sorrow stricken, broken
hearted woman. She could not love man
under such system. Mormons claim that
man can love half dozen women as mother
can love the same number of children. That
was not so, as any would say who had the
sllgnteSt knoWleuSe VI tue IeuaIo hesi''
In speaking of prominent Mormons the lee
turess alluded to George @. Cannon, the dele
gate elect to Congress- who had four wives. 1t
was the custom to speak in Utah of "my wo-
men," and sometimes my heifers;'' another
elder had spoken in the pulpit of "his cows"
Polygamous husbands regarded their wives
very much IS cattle, and sometimes depended
on them for support.
The lecturess described the heart burnings,
the strife, the unspeakable misery of the sys-
TEN. From her account it had not single
feature, but was horribly cold and
repulsiye throughout. In conclusion, the fair
speaker avowed that whatever might be her
future, she would never regret step that had
brought her freedom of conscience and action.
(Applause.) =.