The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-30
DEFENCE OF MoRMoN1sM.

OGf ENOG We 04OAsaAN&~AoAAs
ELDER pRArr's DISCOURSE UPON THE WELFARE
AND FAITH OF THE CHOSEN yAIrHruL-BAD
PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Elder Orson Pratt. Of Salt Lake City, preached to
small audience in Americas Hail. Williamsburg, yes
terday afternoon He has lately come East TO stir up
the Latter Day Saints In this ncgnborhood and having
accomplished much or little as the case may be, re-
turns to his people Tuesday. The audience, which
was small, disrespectfuy slept through tho major part
OF his remarks. aud only opened its eyes when in
closing after having talked an hour and half. ne
touched upon the always interesting and fresh topic Of
polygamy.
The first portion OF Elder Prats discourse was con-
fined In the main to quotation OF those portions OF
Scriptures which tho Mormons hold justify their be-
ieving that that tract OF territory lying west OF the
Rocky Mountains dcstincdby G cd in the beginning
OF time TO contain his chosen people, after which he
told tho familiar narrative OF the angels vsi to Joe
Smith, and of how Joe Smith was only OF q dozen
gentlemen to whom the angel showed the plates and
engravings from which the book of Mormon sub.
sequcntly prepared.
MORMON MARRIAGES..
sand nov" said Elder Pratt, closing the Bible with
bang and running his hard through his snowy hair
81 will tell you just what is belief in regard to
marriage" At this announcement several people
who were sleeping woke up with start, all OF whom
the Elder ignored, keeping his eyes fixed steadfasty
upon the HERALD reporter 1--WE believe
that marriage Is divine ordinance, and do
not believe, as all other denominations apnear
TO do that II Is administered only Tor life.
There Is no "until death you do parr' In cur
Church. We marry according 10 the Scrptures When
God married Adam to Eve He married them for eter-
nifty or course this was so. How could he have IN
tended otherwise when Adm and Eve were at that
time immortal aud would have remained SO had they
not transgresseds The marriage of Adam and Eve
was intended as pattern for TO follow. Very we'll,
then"tEder Pratt breaches easy, conversational
style''If marriage is intended TO be for all eternity,
here at once Is the first argument Tor y plurality OF
wives. You OF other denominations believe, and very
properly, that when mans wife des he has right
solved by death, after death all wdowers who
married Oh earth will be poygamists Now,
why shouldn't he BE- one oS aarsns And them
there jacob; he had twelve Children by four wives
and he was said 10 be a man beloved OF God. But not
to mention these precedents and return 10 the argu
menL Suppose a man, as IL often the case marres
another mans widow, and neither OF the men have
had or have any other wife, this VIII make trouble at
once, for whose wife Is tho woman to be IN heaven
II these men had been polygamis's this difficulty could
'.For what" continued Elder Pratt very sharply
was the ordinance OF marriage given by God TO man.
put Tor the increase OF the species and how IN this
view OF IT, can there be too many wives for q mani
Now there Is such a thing marriage for time
when woman who IL a widow marrcs again; but this
and the reason OF marriage as have just defined it."
Elder Pratt was indeed q little vague this
a widow to take unto herself second husband, but ha
managed to convey the idea that was altogether and
Of one two ladies, who at ths point arose and left
tho meetin3.
THE LAND or UTAH.
II have few words now" he continued sst0 say
about Utah. was among the first pioneers OF 1S47 to
set foot upon the land in which our capital city now
stands 1t just the sort OF desert place of which
latter days and knew the moment reached 1t that
there was where God intended Us TO pitch tents
| was right, for God has bossed US ever since.
1t is but thirty years ago since we went
there, we, the saints, gathered as the SCRIPTURES
and the South anu to day We have 200 towns and VII
lagos in Utah and the adjoining Territories God pros
Idaho and Arizona. According to Davld's prophecy,
since We located in Utah God has put springs Ia the
land have seen springs started uo by God from the
dry land for our benefit and our comfort am
sorry to say that lately in these last years strangers,
who call themselves civilized, have come into our
midst These civilized (thore was an exquisite
touch OF irony In the Elders pronunciation OF the
ndjective) people have introduced shiftlessness,
drunkenness aud a hundred vices into our midst.
There may be 10000 or 1900 OF these civilized
people Utah, but there are 100000 of
the saints, and yet these 10000 people think 1t very
hard that they cannot have all the offices anu every
thing TO say In tho government OF the Territory. AL.
ready Utah is oppressed and down trodden as Is no
laws, rather the Legislature which CONTROL but
the Governor OF the Territory, who Is appointed in
saints, has tho power I" veto any measure we may
propose There ~ not State IN the Union but
whose people by two-thirds vote can pass
any measure the bead OF the Governor. Yet we,
made Utah and the vast majority OF its nhab-
itante, practically are powerless. Yes my friends,
and it Is becoming worse for there is combination
Ring in Salt Lake City that in order that 1t may obtain
entire contro, Is striving to prejudice the entire
couItry against an innocent and inonensive
the telegraph and the mails TO accomplish
their wicked purpose; through the columns oil tho
New YORK HERALD they Try to pull US down; but my
friends God is with US aud they will not prevail What
do you suppose they want now They want TO take
the right Of jury service they want to hurt ands
modest in every way. And every day this ring IL
STRIVING to stir up people, that Congress may be
led 10 aDridge our rights more and moro"
SPIDER
Thus far Elder Pratt had boon speaking directly to
the HERALD reporter, looking terribly and
never rcmovi NJ his eyes. he now turned to
congregation and said:-"My friends, ,ou who
Latter Day SAINTS, let me in closing mako appeal
10 you. Tho time IL coming when anarchy will
triumph this country and the States be
10 1t that you have joined tho
gathering OF saints IN Salt Lake City. l
know Of what speak The OF
the present political parties is bound to make war In
this country to say nothing Of the Impending conflict
between capital ana labor We want you in our midst
before this hour The SAINTS from all quarters
Of the world, the Prophet loretold gathering
join US. say to you wind up your business rs soon
eau with credit and honor and hasten TO join us
in Utah.n
A PASTOR FIRED AT IN CHURCH.