Morning journal and courier., 1882-03-22
NEW HAVEN, CONN., WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH
Wednesday Morning, March 22. 1882
nIORMoNIs1I AS IT IS.

| | We hear great deal about the beauties
 and blessings of Mormonism from those who
 are interested in maintaining the system, and
 also from observers who see only the outside l of it. and who ascribe most of what is good in Utah to the religion of the Saints" But | the real hideousness of the system is occa- i sionally forcibly exposed. The latest exposi- tion of it is by the Rev. L. J. McMillan, su- perintendent of the Presbyterian mission in Utah, Idaho and Montana. In published letter he reviews the whole ground of the workings of Mormonsm in the relations of government to citizen
 First, in regard to the public schools. John Taylor, ''Prophet Seer and Revelator," is superintendent of public instruction in Utah. Though the school laws forbid the use of the school funds for sectarian schools, no teach CTS can find employment who are not Mor- mons, though they may not hold certificates from the proper examining board, and the Mormon Bible and catechism are openly taught. Mormon parents are not even al- lowed to send their children to superior Gen. tile schools though they may be perfectly willing to meet the extra cost, and children of Gentle parents expelled from the pub lie schools for refusing to recite lessons from the Mormon religious books. But the system goes further. Side by side with the United States courts exist the church courts. On Brigham Young's theory all the land was given to him by God to be parceled out among the faithful The church courts reg ister the decrees of heaven, and, however ob- durate a man may be, he is brought to acknowledge their jurisdiction. One who attempts to defy them, sells land to Genties or refuses to acquiesce in their decisions, is fetings of Satan" He may appeal to the land office, as in one case given, and his right to the land in this way be maintained, but the water master, Mormon appointee of Nor mon mayor, steps in and takes away from him the means of irrigation. In addition social ostracism awaits him and his, and star vation stares them in the face.
 Furthermore, no record of marriages is kept, and their validity and the legitimacy of offspring can hardly be proved even in cases where there is no polygamy. There is little or nothing to hinder the practice of tine most abhorrent vices, including incest, without even the form of a Mormon marriage. And it is impossible to rebel against the Church and live among Mormons. Upon this point Mir. McMillan says: 1.-The penalties for vot ing contrary to counsel the non payment of tithes, patronizing Gentle school, trad ing at other than the church store, or in any way aiding or showing countenance to Q non Mormon are terrible ever since the days of blood atonement. Social ostracism means much more than mere solitude among former friends. It means to be regarded as felon, and to be left to starve without possible means of earning livelihood"
 It is encouraging to think, as we have req son to, that the worst of the abominatons of Mormonism are at last to be vigorously at tackled by the law and it's forces. It Is as- tonlEhing that they have been suffered to go on unchecked, and almost unrebuked, so