Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
TALK WITH A MORMON ELDER.
How the Crisis in Utah is Viewed in
i.e Eastern Churches.
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New Yew World.
There is a Mormon church in VIII
liamsburg, which is presided over by
Elder Henry G. Bywater, Mormon of
twenty-eight years standing. He is a
man Of from forty to fifty years Of age,
and is an engineer in one of the fac
tories near by. When asked Vast night
what effect he thought the death of
Brigham Young would have upon the
Mormon church, he answered unhesi-
tatmgly: Il do not think it will have
the least effect in the world. The
church will go on just the same as if he
were living, for it was not he who raised
the church to what it is now, but the
spirit of God working through him.
We are all very sorry to hear of the
death Of our president and prophet,
but we know that his successor, when
elected, will be inspired as he was and
Will be able to conduct the affairs of
the church, SO that even greater miracles
will be performed in the future than In
the past. It is hard for me to say who
will succeed him. If he has nominated
any one in his will, that one will be
elected without doubt. do not think
that he has. The person who is most
likely to be elected is his third son,
John w. Young, who was first council
OF, and as such is the head of the
church, so far as there is one The
presidency is divided between the three
first councillors these were Brigham
Young, John W., and Daniel H. Wells:
there are then four more councillors
called the quorum. Next to these come
the twelve Apostles These two bodies
Will elect the president, and then there
will probably be called a conference OF
the whole church, by which the cleo
ton will be ratified. AS [ said before,
do not believe that the church will have
trouble on account of losing the head,
but there may be an apostasy caused by
some few who will not be satisfied by
the result of the election. When Joseph
and his brother Hyrum were murdered
Sidney Rigdon thought that he ought
to be the leader, and he drew away
some Of the saints. But Joseph had
appointed Brigham before he died, and
he was the rightful head This was
afterward shown by his prophecies.
There was not one Of his predictions
which was fulfilled and he succeeded
in spite of the efforts Of wicked blood
thirsty men, who raised their puny
arms against the will of God. Now
Brigham Young is beyond their reach.
When | said that greater miracles would
be accomplished | meant to say that
our faith would continue to expand
We shall some time go back and live
peaceably IN Jackson county in Mis-
souri,, for the Lord has spoken it. But
this may not be for many years.
Brigham Young was probably worth
81 100000. He was a great Spectator,
possessed of very good Judgment His
first wife died of consumption; she had
two daughters; his second wife bore
him three sons. If his other wives had
as many children it would make good
many. Of course they did not all live
together. They lived around in farm
houses in different parts Of the country
with their children, and had man to
act as baillff; when the sons grew old
enough they took charge of the farms.
His children are pretty well scattered
now. One Of them graduated at West
Point, and is in the service of the
United States Two others are studying
music in New York. John w. Young
was in the railroad business until year
ago. and was connected with the great
capitalists Of America"
Mr.. Bywater said that the church in
Williamsburg would not take any special
action in relation to Brigham Young's
death. At the usual Sunday meeting
there will probably be prayers offered
for the future prosperity Of the church,
and also some commemorative address
ses will be made. When the election of
a new president is over it will be made
known officially to the congregation.
Mr.. Bywater said, in conclusion, that
the Apostles are inspired by God when
they vote for the PRESIDENT and that
the gift of prophecy will be given to
their choice The Mormon church in
Williamsburg has been established 35
years; for the last fourteen years it has
held its meetings every Sunday after
noon at 3 o'clock in Americas hall,
No. 176 Grand street, Williamsburg.
-Four or five years ago it had a member
ship of over four hundred, but now it
has fallen to about one hundred per-
sons, who come from New York, Brook
lyn, Hoboken and New Jersey City.
This decrease is the result of. the long
ing which all the Mormons have to 90
to Salt Lake City There is but one
other Mormon church in New York
state, a very small one on Long Island.
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