The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-27
METHODS OF THE MORMONS.
A Talk with an Ex-EIder of the Lat
ter-Day Saints.
Tho Religious Belief OF the Mormons-Tho
Iniquities of Brigham Young-Per-
sOnal "Reminiscences.

was induced, about thirteen years ago, to
company with his sister and brother-in-law,
joined the Mormon church at Salt Lake
City. He remained member up to 1874,
when, seeing the iniquities practiced by its
most honored members and its very head,
Brigham Young, he used every means in his
power to escape, which he succeeded in do
ing four years after he became a member.
II really don't know to this day." said Mr..
Coggswell to reporter, what induced me
to join that cut-throat gang. At first felt
satisfied; but when l was elected as elder OF
one of the wards in Salt Lake City. and was
admitted into the secret council, began to
see the iniquities practiced there and shud-
dered at the thought Of lending my aid, of
being cognizaut OF the terribly outrageous
deeds practiced there, and powerless to pre-
vent them"
How do you account for the large num-
Der of converts to the MormOa fath?'' asked
the reporter.
They are continually sending mission
aries to every portion OF the habitabie globe.
ttSae uci ttttto q AtoNO SoOh HAOh
mons RECRUITED from the people of England,
Scotland and Wales, but don't think ever
saw one from Ireland. But to continue:
These missionaries preach to them the doc
trine of Mormonism, omitticg, of course, all
references to polygamy. They, of course,
visit the down-trodden, low and ignorant
European classes who have been enslaved,
,;,Sl,t al ~
property, farms, and hold out the induce
ment of living under their own fig trees, and
all that sort of thing, and these people are so
anxious b lead better lives that they grasp
at most Ilything, and the result is that they
emisrate to America, their fare being paid
out OF what Is known as the emigration
fund Of Utah. At Castle Garden these peo-
pie are manipulated by man named
Stearns, the agent of the church, who ships
them to Utah Upon arrival in the land OF
the Saints, they sell them a few acres of land
which originally cost them about 81 per
acre for about SIS an acre, and give them a
number OF years to pay for it. The head of
the family goes to work, tills the soil, digs
away-he generally has a wife and large
family depending upon him for support
but he can never get ahead or succeed in
paying for his land"
How do you explain that?'
''1n the first place, one-tenth Of everything
he owns in the way OF property must go to
the church and is known at the tithing
money. The heads Of the church have their
eyes upon him through the bishops of the
different districts throughout the State, and
the very moment that the heads of the
church see that he has succeeded in making
q number OF payments and is going out of
debt the order comes from Salt Lake City
that brother so-and-so must take another
wife; should he refuse he will be forever
damned. In that manner they crowd him
with wives and children, weave the meshes
around him to such an extent that lac will
never leave the church, even If he hates it
from the bottom of his heart"
SHOULD they become tired of it, are they
allowed to leave the Terrtory?"
Not by any means. Only six years ago
1t was worth as much as your life to escape
from their clutches, especially il a man had
been behind the curtain; that is, in secret
session with the elders"
I'm what does the Mormon religion differ
from that OF ordinary Christian%
"They believe in the Bible all the way
through, from beginning to end and further
affirm that Joseph Smith was a prophet, who
appeared in the world for the purpose of
populating 1t in its last days with saints or
Gods chosen people, to prepare IL for the
second coming of Christ When he was
killed Brigham Young took his place. Since
the death of YouEg. John Taylor has occu-
pied the position at the head of the chnrch,
but he has not been pronounced prophet yet.
The Mormons in Utah believe that in course
of time they will govern the world. They
will first Occupy all OF the United States and
dispense law, counsel and religion from the
throne at Salt Lake. They are instilled with
an undyins hatred to the government of the
United States They are educated in living
lust inside the laws; they don recognize the
government in their hearts or actions. but
being in the territory of the United States
they are Obliged to behave SO that the law
cannot touch them. This rancorous bitter
feeling is intensified and transmitted from
generation to generation. They are as busy
as bees while the United States is actually
sleeping over this important question. The
Indians are all with the Mormons. While
was there l assisted in baptizing 800
Piute Indians, and can say, without fear of
contradiction. that the Mormon church. in
case OF necessity. can command an army of
100, 900 armed and drilled men at almost
moments notice When Brigham Young
was confined in Jail. for only four hours,
such howl was raised that the United States
government was compelled to liberate him
on short notice. Had they kept him over
night, the torches were all distributed and
ready 70 convert Salt Lake City into ash
pile, and know that the massacre of be-
tween 5000 and 10000 Gentiles would have
followed the confagration If the govern
ment at this day should send an army fully
equipped they could not enter the city with
any force they might bring against il"
"How are the religious services in the
Tabernacle conductedr'
"The head of the church announces that
brother so-and-so will preach to-day, and the
preaching generally consists of a mixture of
domestic, religious and political matter, and
to an outsider sounds very much like u BUSH
ness session."
Have women any rights there?"
"Women have nothing to say, nor the men
either, for that matter When the head of
the church opens his mouth they must
obey He holds them in submission, under
the fear of Gods wrath; all, mind you. un-
der the cloak of religion. The president
and his three counselors ar at the head of
every thing; below them is the council of
seven, then comes the council OF seventy,