Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-12-05
A GRAPHIC ENDOWMENT
M ystesioss Scenes In the Celebrated RnScw.
ment House - Salt Lake.

Il
Annie Thompson writes to the Salt
Lake Tribune detailing the form of
marriage ceremony performed at the
| mysterious Endowment House. She
says: "If the woman who now stylea
herself Mrs. Owen Miles was an hon
est and deserving woman when she
LETT London TO emigrate to Utah with
the Latter Day Saints, and so soon
after her arrival here (only some Eve
weeks ago) passed through the En-.
dowment House, l think there might
be some palliation for her very pecul-
lar and seemingly inconsistent con-
duct.
"When Caroline Owen went to the
Endowment 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 un-
til she was as naked as the hour she
was born. She was then washed
from head to foot; atterward she was
covered with oil and blessed by the
holy priests her head, ears, eyes,
nose, mouth, neck, arms, heart, breast,
back, and all parts of her body an.
nointed. She then put on her new
garments and received her new name
in whisper by the officiating priest
IS, the woman who lied so beautifully
in court Passing along, she came
before tho Or at Jehovah aud Flo.
him, they being in another room, and
commenced reading the ritual of the
Order, 'Ilet us 90 down and make
man. etc., which is all too tedious to
mention.
"Miss Owen passed on from one
change to another, having her robes
and her apron on to appear before
the master OF ceremonies to receive
the oaths. Standing straight, as
shown by the elder, bringing her
right arm to an argyle, then placing it
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 it straight to the
earth, interpreting the oaths as spok-
en-, that her throat should be cut from
ear to ear, that her heart should be-
cut out and that she be disembowelled
and her body be buried in tho depths
of the sea, ETC., if 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 all
the grips, signs, tokens, etc. There
are several Of these which only the
faithful can understand.
"Miss Owen then passed on to the
other degrees, prayer circles, etc.
Passing onward and upward she came
to the veil or arch. This being pre-
vious to her marriage. John Miles
was on the inside OF the veil or aroh.
Caroline on the outside. Then tho
compass and square were out over her
heart. There was only a sheet to
separate John from Caroline, and be-
fore she could get through to where
John was she had to put her foot to
his foot, her knee to his knee, her
breast to his breast, her lips to his
rps hcu Johfi Wuispcicd ia nef
ear and told her the new name she
had named below. Nobody on earth
knows what that name is but John
and Caroline. He then brought Caro-
line through the veil or arch 70 be
married. Joseph +. Smith sat imme-
diately opposite at the table, John
stood at the right aud Caroline at the
left. After the usual questions were
dut and answered, the marriage was
proceeded with and finished, John and
Can oline walking to the scaling 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 re-
NAMED on the south side. Joseph +.
Smith proceeded with the ceremony.
John and Caroline were kneeling,
when Joseph F. told them to clasp
hands across the altar and kiss each
other, which they did. He then sealed
them up to everlasting life, to come
forth in the morning of the resurreo-
ton, to receive power and to carry
out the laws { procreation for ever
aud ever, Amen"