The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
IN THE ENDOWMENT HOUSE.
A Graphic Description of the Mormon Mar
rage Ceremony.
lDenrer News.

A e,ranbtc Description of the Mormon Mar
rage Ceremony.
Denver News.]
a Mormon while in England courted and
won the affections of young, beautiful and
accomplished lady, native of London.
The couple were engaged, but the Mormon
kent DELAYING the marriage date, and hnaliy
dec lined to marry at all until the iady ha'
visited Utah. Her love for the man was SO
strong that she followed him to America;
Upon reaching Utah, to her horror, she y, Iouno
the man had already several wives. one a.
first declined to marry, butupon beng prom
ised by her future spouse that ne Wouiu pu'
away all other wives and hold her superior
III .be was induced to enter the endown-
ment house. and after going through the
many and complicated mysteries OF tins place,
became perfectly disguised with the Mormon
| seot and faith. and set to work to free herseil
fro,n the terrible clutches which now heid
bor Tn due course of time she was rescued
bv legal process. but her enduring love 1of
tho Mormon again induced her to take up
bar abode with him. This time she was
treated so cruelty that it was more than sne
oonld endure. and she abandoned her nus
band forever AZ.
| She now occupies a position on one OF tnt
Salt Lake papers. In court the lady testihee
| to many of the mysteries of the endowmen
house some of which may be related as Ioi
lows:
pEscRIBING THE CEREMONY
The endowment house ceremonies begin II
the morning and last nearly all day. In
candidate is placed in charge OF an ola iao.
who divests her of all her garments ana give
her new and peculiar garment which she
to wear all her life. 1t is never to De rehioV
cd from her person except when necessity re
m,ires. and then a limb at a time may be un
covered. The candidate is then anohhte
with oil. and must listen to the recital OF man
scriptual expressions with Mormon lhterpre
> tations After numerous other cerelioil'
the candidate is introduced intoa departing,
which is divided by canvas. upon one STU
q is the male candidate, on the other the ieina
|. candidate. In the canvas there are Nv
anertures sufficiently large to admit two pa
! Of arms. Through these holes, without seem
each other. the two candidates embrace, aft
which the canvas is withdrawn, and the ma
who heretofore had been scantily clothed,
invested with mantle. A circle Is IN.
K formed of men. eneircled by women on .
,, outside. During the ceremonies terrible oat
u are administered and have as penalty !
r yiolation-death. The lady receives a mar
from her husband which she is never to
. vulge. SIG a1i4t
e After all these ceremonies a performance
gone through. in which is supposed to appe
n the Almighty, the devil, ETC. iie. ia.ea9
n In this performance the men appear IN
e working clothes without regard to cleanlin
+ or decorum The whole ceremony is CLOS
IS by bringing the lady candidate before an
IS tar. where She takes more oaths of terri
r nature, and which also have for their pena
n. death. Her name is then entered upoi
IN book which has never yet been scrutlpIzed
er any one in the outside world ila 92s