The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
A MORMON MARRIAGE.
| Mysterious Scenes In the Celebrated En-
dowment House at salt Lake.

Annie Thompson writes TO the Salt Lake
| Tribune detailing the form of marriage cere-
mony performed at the mysterious Endow-
ment House. She says
IT the woman who now STYLES herself Mrs
Owen Miles was an honest and deserving
woman when she left London to emigrate to
Utah with the Latter Day Saints, and so soon
after her arrival here (only some five weeks
ago. passed through the Endowment House,
think there might be some palliation for her
very peculiar and seemingly inconsistent con-
duct.
When Caroline Owen went to the Endow-
ment House she entered at the north door and
gave her name to the recorder. She then
passed inside to be washed, taking off her
clothes until she was as naked as the hour
she was born. She was then washed from
head to foot; afterward she was covered with
oil and blessed by the holy priestess She
then put on her new garments and received
her new name In a whisper by the officiating
priestess, the woman who lied so beautifully
In court. Passing along she came before the
Great Jehovah and Elohim, they being in an
other room, and commenced reading the ritual
Of the order, Let us go down and make
man. etc, which Is all too tedious to men
tion
Miss Owen passed on from one change to
another, having her robes and her apron on to
appear before the master Of ceremonies to re-
ceive the oaths. Standing straight, AS shown
by the elder, bringing her right arm at an
angle, then placing 1t across her throat as the
terrible words were uttered by the officiating
priest, then drawing and extending her arm
straight out and bringing It back to a right
angle, striking 1t straight to the earth, inter-
preting the oaths as spoken, that her throat
should be cut from ear to ear that her heart
should be cut out. and that she be disem-
boweled and her body be buried In the depths
OF the sea. etc, II she should divulge anything
pertaining to the ceremonies performed In
that house.
This Is not all the oath by great deal.
Miss Owen then received ali the grips, signs,
tokens, etc. There are several of these which
only the faithful can understand.
Miss Owen then passed on to the other de-
grees, prayer circles, etc. Passing onward
and upward she came to the veil or arch
Miles was on the inside of the veil or arch.
Caroline on the outside. Then the compass
and square were cut over her heart. There
was only a sheet to separate John from Caro-
line.
Then John whispered in her ear and told
her the new name she had named below No
body on earth knows what that name Is but
John and Caroline. He then brought Caro-
line through the vefl or arch to be married.
Joseph +. Smith sat Immediately opposite at
the table. John stood at the right and Caro-
line at the left. After the usual questions
were put and answered the marriage was
proceeded with and finished, John and Caro-
line walking to the sealing room, where Joseph
/. Smith sat on the throne and later stood at
the door. Miss Owen walked around to the
north side Of the altar, and Miles remained
on the south side. Joseph +. Smith proceed
ed with the ceremony. John and Caroline were
kneeling when Joseph T. told them to clasp
which they did He then sealed them up to
everlasting life, to come forth in the morning
OF the first resurrection, to receive power for
ever and ever. Amen.