The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-03
ANN ELIZA.

Another Trip Through MOrmOndOm-
Startling Expose OF the Evils or the
MultifArious Wife System.
On Tuesday night Mrs. Ann Eliza Young, nine
teenth wife of Brigham Young, lectured in St.
Louis Mrs. Young said that pOlygamy among
savages and Turks does not shock us. 1t harmO-
nzes with their religion and condition. But poly
gamy in the United states mas revolving effect on
the American mind. Considered geographically It
is entirely intruder; considered historically 1t
is an anachronism; in the light OF Christian ideas
it is an ugly excrescence. POlygamy Is no lgment
OF the fancy it Is no creation Of the story telers.
1t is . prevalent social custom among 100000 OF
our citizens 1t has been preached among them
for more than 20 years. She proposed TO speak Of
the
ORIGIN, SPREAD, EXTENT
and evils Of the system, OF which she had been q
witness, and Of which she had been victim.
P0lygamy Is q part OF the Mormon faith, but did
not originate with them, The Book of MOrmOnism
itself condemns it. 1t ordains that men shall
have but one wife, and OF concubines none.
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 he had to proceed with
great caution in making known his views. His
brother hestated, and his wife, as might be ex-
Of polygamy was dated July Il, is4s but the prac-
tice had been carried on without that sanction Tor
months, If not for years. before. 1t was deemed In
expedient to make IL known TO his followers, and
1t was only his immediate friends and strong be-
levers who were let into the secret. 1t pandered
fatuared by their prophet and his teachings. They
were told that
ETERNAL PERDITION
was their doom for noncompliance. The laws Of
Illinois, however, were against 1t, and the GentileS
surrounding Nauvoo would not tolerate the prac-
"a Mormon n
deny that they practice polygamy. In January,
1883, when the number Of Mormons had reached
IN se @esn@e Ssy Saa e
Salt Lake CITY, and IN that place the practice Of
polygamy was open, notorious r., and nnrestrained
the practices OF David and Solomon, 1t was
claimed that the
PuRE SAVIOUR
OF the world had an affection for Martha and
Mary; that they were his wives, and that the mar
rage at Cana, Gailee, was OF his bridal feasts
the Mormon leaders have been utterly unscrupu-
lous in dealing with the marriage relation.
!" an as ts va 20
gamy Hence the theory was started that there
were myriads Of spirits oatlng through the air in
then became the duty OF the faithful to provide
bodies for these incorpOreal shapes. The family
relation does not terminate here, but is continued
In eternity, and those who have the largest num-
Der OF descendants will be entitled TO the highest
honor Women are told that they are saved only
y
will be cut on for time and eternity.
THE FIRST WIFE
had to stand at the altar ana join the hands OF her
husband and his second wife. Sne must choke
down the feelings OF anguish she could not Danish.
No stOiclsm lapse OF time could soothe the pain
OF her heart, and she walked the earth q sorrow
stricken, broken-hearted woman. She could not
love man under such system. AOrmons claim
that man can love half dozen women as a
mother can love the same number OF children.
That was not SO, as any would say who had the
slightest knowledge OF the female heart
In speaking OF prominent Mormons the lecturess
alluded to George O. Cannon, the delegate elect to
Congress, VINO had four wives 1t was the custom
to speak In Utah OF my women" and sometimes
my heifers;" another elder had spoken In the
pulpit of Ibis cows" POygamous husbands re-
garded their wives very much as cattle, and some
times depended on them for support.
The ectureSs described the heart burnings the
strife, the unspeakable misery Of the system.
From her account 1t had not a single redeemng
feature but was horribly cold ana repulsive
throughout. In conclusion the fair speaker
avowed that whatever might be her future she
would never regret q step that had brought her
freedom OF conscience and action. (Applause)