The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-05-13
Mormon Marriages.


The Formula OF PoIyg amy Rt salt Lake
Within the same inclOsure, and about
fifty feet from the tabernacle, is the en-
doWment-houss, where the members of
the church receive remissions for their
mauy sius, aud blessings for tn ir good
deeds this is called their endowment.
This Is also the place where the celes-
tial marriages" are performed, and one
may combine business with pleasure
and do both at the same time. Whether
the orthodox go often or not, they must
go early to seek their endowments and
wives. Mondays of each week are set
apart for the plebeians, and Wednesdays
for the aris. .ocracy. As early as half
past six o'clock in the morning are seen
women and men elastic youth and tot
tering aPe-an heading toward this
Mecca of MOrmonism, each carrying
little halt concealed parcel; this con.
tains their endowment clothes, which,
Of course, they must put on before they
can receive their endowment blessings
or get married. This endowment suit
proper is what might be called shirt
and pants made into one garment, some
thing like what we used to wear when
we were wicked little boys, excepting
that these are not buttoned mp at all.
This straight jacket is made of cheap or
coarse material, according to the power
ty of the sinner. Emblems of the cross
are worked over the heart and right.
knee. A large flowing robe of white
muslin is thrown over the endowmenter,
and then he is put through the mill of
Zion. But if he also wishes to marry,
he must, before putting on his attenu-
ated pants and night shirt, take bath
and be anointed with olive oil, bottle
of which every intended Benedict brings
with him. Formerly the celestial mar
riage occupied several hours, and was
very ceremOnious but since so much
marrying is being done, it is rushed
through IN more practical and bust
ness-lke manner, thus affording an OPP
portunlty to marry oftener.
CELESTIAL MARRIAGES.
1 have been given an account of the
'' celestial marriage" which / send you
for what it is worth. 1 am 10th TO be-
ieve that the ceremonies are so revolt
ing as they are pictured by my inform
ant, and indeed I place little reliance
on the story. Still it Is Valuable as
showing how the people here look upon
the peculiar institution,
After being properly bathed-which
typically washes away the sins of the
world-the victims are anointed from
head to foot with olive ell, which the
bride and groom must furnish. This
oil is poured over them from a small
horn, called the horn of plenty. They
then don their endowment clothes and
ascension robes, and are led into a typ
ical garden of Eden, in the center of
which is a shrubbeTy tree about three
feet high, from the green boughs of
which are suspended lunches of grapes;
no apples are in sight. Reclining at
the foot of this tree is his Satanic mai
esty, or the serpent, as the case may be,
clad in black cloth tights. TT is char
acter is generally assumed by Councillor
Wells, because of his peculiar fitness
for that role-pessessiDg q reddish and
sharp face and large, hooked nose, re-
sembling the makeup" of " "Zamiel'
in the Black Crook. This character
serpent Immediately commences a fir
tation conversation with Eve. At
first she slowly shakes her head finally
she hesitates, and then, of course, she
is slost-typically. The "Savior" BRIG
ham Young) appears, and scene"
occurs. Eeveral have happened in fam
lilies since. Their robes are taken off
by a servant in waiting, (an extra char
acter rung in, and aprons of genuine
fig leaves are given them, which they
put on, and are driven from the garden
by the "Savior" brigham Young) into
an ante-room, where they are married.
They are then united for time and eter-
nity-death is only temporary separa-
tion.-SGn Francisco Chronicle.