The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-12-07

SATURDAY.
The Mormon Endowment House.
How PoLYGANous MARRIAGES ARE SoLExSIzED At
SALT LAKE CRY.

Annie Thompson writes to the Salt Lake Tn
5une a communication detailing the form of mar
rage ceremony performed at the mysterious
Endowment House. The writer illustrates By
I describing the recent marriage OF Miles and Mics
Owens. She says: If the woman who now
! styles herself Mrs. Owen Miles was an honest and
deserving woman when she left London to emil
CRATE to Utah with the Latter-day Saints, and 50
soon after her arrival here (only some Eve weeks
ago) passed through the Endowment House, /
think there might be some paIllatlOn for her very
peculiar and seemingly Inconsistent conduct.
When Caroline Owens 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 until she was
as naked as the hour she was born. She was
then washed from head to loot afterward she
was covered with oil and blessed by the holy
p~riestess her head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth.
neck, arms, heart, breast, back and all parts OF
her BODY anointed. She then put on her new
garments and received her new name in q whis-
per by the officiating ~priestess, the woman who
lied SO beautifully IN Court. Passing along she
came before the Great Jehovah and E!ohim. they
being in another room, and commenced reading
the ritual of the order, Let US 60 down and
make man. etc., which is all too tedious to
mention.
Miss Owens passed on from one change to an
other, having her robes and her apron on to ap-
pear before the master Of ceremonies to receive
the oaths. Standing straight, as shown by the
elder, bringing her right arm at an angle, then
placing it across her throat as the terrible words
were uttered by the officiating priest, then draw
ing ard extending her arm straight out and bring
ing it back to a right angle, striking it straight
to the earth, interpreting 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
disemboweled and her body be buried in the
depths of the sea, etc. if she should divulge any
fhinn narfaInInD 70 tho aarpunOnIpS nprfpFmp6 IN
that house.
This is not all the oath by a great deal. Miss
Owens then received all the grips, signs, tokens,
etc. There are several of these which only the
faithful can understand.
Miss Owens then passed on to the other degrees,
prayer circles, etc. Passing onward and upward
she came to the vail or arch. This being previ-
Gus to her marriage, John Miles was on the in
side of the vail 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 Caroline, and before 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 lips. Then John whispered in her
ear and told her the new name she had named
below. Nobody IN earth knows what that name
is but John and Caroline. He then brought Car
oline through the vail or arch to be married.
Joseph F. smith sat Immediately opposite at the
table, John stood at the right and Caroline at the
left. After the usual questions were put and an
swered, the marriage was proceeded with and fin
ished, John and Caroline walking TO the sealing
room where Joseph f. Smith sat on the throne,
and, latter, stood at the door. Miss Owens
walked around to the north side of the altar and
Miles remained on the south side. Joseph f.
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 first resurrection to receive power and to
carry out the laws of procreation for ever and
ever. Amen.