Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-10
LOCAL iNTELLiGENCE.
MORMONISM.
AS VIEWED BY A PRESBYTERIAN.


Ngious. Social and Political Phases
OF Brigham YOunE's People.
An audience Of about 200 including
many Of the local clergy, assembled in the
Presbyterian church last evening to hear
Rev. Duncan ]. J.McMillan,a young Presby-
terrain minister, ,-whO has been doing mis-
sionary work in Utah for seven years, lee
ture on Mormonism. The services opened
with the Coronation hymn; the lecturer
spoke for about an hour and twenty min
utes he was listened to very attentiveiy
and after his address the audience was dis
missed with prayer, hymn and the long
metre dOxology.
Mr.. Mcmillan, who is fluent though
not an eloquent speaker, addressed him.
self first to the religious phases of Nor
Donism. 1t is a native American institu-
tiOn, and Our country has beaten the world
in developing an original type of heath
enism. Dishonesty has always pervaded
it aud religious enthusiasm has cemented
the organization until it now numbers
200, 900 souls recruited from Protestant
Christianity. The Mormons believe in
many gods, ono for each world ; Adam is
ours he was given its lordship for good
services elsewhere he brough. Eve here,
and Mormon priests who die in the faith
ucTc dE0 tlcVdLcu tiuu
polygamic bliss hereafter. The Moymon
lily driven Westward by good people. Its
doctriue of " blood atonement," accord:
ing to which there are two crimes for which
no blood except that of the offender, not
even Christ's, can atone. These sins are
apostasy from Mormonism Or refusal to
accept it. Brigham Young had preached
that the proper thing to be done to such
offenders was to cut their thrOats and send
them to glory. That doctrine had been
practiced. The lecturer gave a graphic ac-
count of tho massacre of the emigrants at
Mountain Meadow, and many other muir
ders alleged to have been committed by
the MOrmOns in accordance with the
blood atonenent" doctrine and under
the inspiration of Brigham Youns's in
junction that dead men tell no tales.
Women are taught that they are raised
from the dead and saved only thI ouSh
their husbands; the exaltation of the
men, and hence of tue women, de-
pends largely on polygamy. The first
marriage is by the office of the law or
the church subsequent ones are either
celestial and polygamous, for time Or
spiritual for eternity. In the latter case
the unions are mostly with other mems S
temporal wives. Mr.. Men. described at
length the splendid endowment temples
being erected by the MormOns, in which
their secret rites are held, and where
the polygamous marriages take place, be
yond the possibility of outsiders seeing
them Or obtaining the necessary evidence
to convict the offenders of polygamy. The
Mormons arc enjoined that perjury is JUS
titiable for the protection Of Mormon in
terests. Illustrations were given to prove
that the members of the church are, as L
| class, ignorant, the priests coarse and un-
lcttered, but shrewd, crafty and with good
business talents.
sketched as deplorable. The women gen.
clare it a bar to domestic happiness. Their
remonstrances only excite the angry Opposi-
tioh of their husbands one Andres cpt
his first wife's throat because she objected
to his new wife Mrs. Henroid hanged
herself in despair another woman whose
husband had deserted his wife for her two
sisters wore out her life in fishing and
gardening and was buried in rough pine
box without the grace of church rites.
Men marry their half-sisters step mothers
and one had sealed to himself 4 daughter,
mother and grandmother, keeping all three
generations in the ono house.
| Mr.. Mcmillan gave his own personal eX
perience Of seven years life and work in
| Utah somewhat in detail. He had gone
| there for his health. Before the railroads
brought an influx of new people to Utah
there was no development in its mining
wealth. Those who ATTEMPTED it were
"sent to hell across lotsI by Mormon
murderers. With the Gentiles came capi
| tai, miners and missionaries, who were
doing good work establishing schools
and churches. The Congregationalists
Methodists, Presbyterians and others
were there. When he first looked upon
the beauties of the valley he selected Mt.
Pleasant for his home. He found no lodg-
ing place except in tho postoflice. He
heard Mormon lecture, assailing the
newcomer Presbyterian preacher, but next
morning the Mormon called upon him aud
cordially welcomed him to Utah, invited
him to preach. gave him church and audi
dence. This bishop was uncultured and
ignorant, but MIR. Mcmillan had respect
full audience. At the conclusion Of his
address patriarch Of the church arose
and abused him, but number of mem:
bers followed him out, encouraged him,
raised $685. for church and school, and
since then the missionary work has steadily
progressed. Though often discouraged, he
had received aid from the East, the first
contribution which ever cheered him
coming from a member of the Lancaster
Presbyterian church. Brigham Young
had come to Mt, Pleasant and assailed the
missionaries, deriding the federal govern
ment's attempt to enforce its laws, de-
nouncing the " Presbyterian DEVIL and
advising that he DO shot like wolf. The
rabble had stoned the preacher S
house, and ono night he caught
a fellow coming in the window,
but his invariable experiences was that no
bold man had cause to fear open attack
from any number OF Mormons. They
never assail ! man prepared for defense.
At public meeting he had spoken in de-
fiance of threats against his personal
safety he had been ready, in the event of
attack, to cover the Mormon bishop with
his revolver. The missionaries have 80
schools in 400 miles 1000 Mormon chill.
dren are under instruction 10 churches
and II ministers are at work. For the
Mormon problem the gospel of Christ is
the only remedy.
Politically the spread of the Mormon
church threatens danger. 1t is overunning
Idaho and Montana, and New Mexico and
Wyoming it seeks to control Nevada and
Colorado, and with four senators, six rep
resentatives and six delegates in Congress
it would hold the balance OF political
power in the country. The govern
ment should regulate the cancerons
| evil There shonld be no interference