Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-24
THE MORMON CHURCH.
Interview With Brigham young's
Daughter,
Who Talks InteIigently With a Wheeling
Gentleman in the Southwest
RascaIity in Settling
the Estate.

| these columns from time to time. MT.
returned the first part of the week, and
reporter, yesterday, had an interesting
chat with him about the country he had
visited and the people he had seen, With
their manners, customs and characteristics
His trip was not a skimming passage from
place to place, but q tour Of observation
and what he saw can be reflected from hi;
mind, with great precision. One OF the
most interesting occurrences OF his Tip wa
a conversation he had with a daughter oil
Brigham Young, the late President OF the
II met her" he said, Eat Albuquerque
xbere her husband, Mr.. McA., is interest
| ed in a ranch. She is about 81, / should
| iudpe, and very pretty. l was forcibly I'M
messed with her clear, sound intelligence
and quick reasoning faculties, as well as
| with her evident knowledge of the system
| of government of the United States.
yentured TO observe:
az have heard Mrs. McA., that you are a
daughter OF the late President Young, Of
| the Mormon church; have you any OBJ
| lection to talking with me on that sub.
ject? :,
"Oh. no, not the least in ths world
am proud of my father, and it is always
agreeable to me to hear him highly
spoken of, as often do. Not long since !
metalgentleman in Denver, OF national
reputation, who told me that my father
was generally considered, by thoughtful
people, TO have been remarkable man.
He said that those who disapproyed OF the
use he made of his talents, and deprec'
lated the work he accomplished, yet were
compelled to admit that that very work
gave proof of his executive ability, his IN
tellectual superiority, and his great force
of character. OF course l like to hear
him thus spoken OF, though can see the
evils of the Mormon church,:
"'Then are you no longer a Mormon"
Ono, indeed, / am no Mormon now
al believe there are two sects OF the
church at present; are there not? the polyg
amists and anti-polygamists?
"'Yes, believe they make some distinc'
ton of that kind; but don't think the
anti polygamists amount to much. At any
rate, know that all the apostles and dig
nitaries of the church are polygamists.
Moreover, il is inculcated by the apostles
as one of the articles of faith and deyout
polvgamists consider il a duty. That was
one reason why my husband and | left. l
lived in constant and mortal dread lest his
fathers influence would at last compel
him to marry again. This would have end
ed my happiness So We gathered what we
had saved from my fathers estate and came
10 Albuquerque
"How long have you lived here
"'About two years here and on the rancho
"You speak OF your husband and his
fathers influence over him. l had guessed
that your husband was Christian, or rather
Gentle, and thus / accounted for your
leaving the religion OF your father
"'No, my husbands father is now one OF
the Apostles, living at Salt Lake, and my
husband and were raised as children to.
gether, in the church. We were married
very young, he being eighteen years old,
and only sixteen. We loved each other,
and this was the main cause OF our leay-
ing. But even from my fathers death,
though was then only twelve years old,
began to think for myself. | had child's
impressions of my mothers unhappiness;
she was only fourth wife, and she had
ample cause to feel deserted and neglected,
and she drank to the dregs the bitter cup
of misery which is held to the lips Of every
| Mormon WIFE who has any womanly SEN
sibility. Have you ever read Ann Eliza's
book?
"'NO, have not
"'Well, while there are exaggerations and
and especially is 1t true where it speaks of
the wives and mothers, and OF the auto
cratic authority and rigid rule Of the Apos-
ties over every individual. Still, since the
death Of my father less respect is enter.
tanned for this authority, particularly
among the young and better educated
classes. They manage to get hold Of the
prohibited Gentle papers ana books, they
read and think for themselves, talk freely
to eac h other, and have clear notion !of
how their church is esteemed by the out
side world, as well as daily realization CT
the incongruties of its inner workings.
believe the church is losing ground every
day, and that it will soon disappear Only
one thing can stay its ultimate extinction,
and that is persecution by the govern ment
OF the United States
az am surprised to hearyou say that the
church is losing ground. Do We not hear
of the influx of converts from Europe, and
don't you think the general impression is
that the church is growingH
1.-The agitation going on in the news.
papers and in Congress seems to imply a
growing dread. But that is probably based
on the coming of converts from abroad. A
knowledge of the true condition OF the in
ner life of the church would surely cause
no additional alarm. And as to these new
Mormons, they are evidently from the
most ignorant and vilest classes OF Europe.
They ought to be prohibited from coming
into the country
Then you believe the Government
ought to leave the church alone to work
out is own destiny, and prohibit the com.
ing of any more Mormons from abroad, as
in the case of the Chinese
"'Yes.
What are the immediate effects Of the
adoption of repressive measures on the
part Of the Government against the
church,
1T tends TO stop the course of those
who are backsliding, or gravitating to.
wards complete emancipation by arousing
a certain feeling of pride and local patriot.
ism. Besides, they ieel that such policy
is contrary to the principles Of absolute
freedom of thought and religious belief on
which the Government is founded. And
it gives an additional weight to the ap-
peals and celebrations of the apostles.
preachers sermonsare on the text
Of fidelity and constancy OF faith
in the creed, as surmise
is the case in most churches OF to-day; and
all the marrow and vitality Of the text is
given by policy of persecution.
well" continued Mr.. Ferguson, II had
long conversation with her In regard to
her fathers estate. According to her &C.
count a great deal of rascality has been
practised. The estate was worth about 81,
0OO,0 and John Taylor, who succeeded
Brigham as President, was one of the exec
utors. Her brother, John W. Young was
the other. A great deal OF the property
went to the church, il is said, but she be-
lieves Taylor got it. There were forty.pine
heirs and seven OF them brought suit against
the executors and got so, 600 each as a com.
promise. Others signed paper withdraw.
ing all claims, but some Of these signatures
are invalid, and probably this lady's is
among that number. She might recover in
a suit, but said her husband, would not
care about her beginning an action"
Hoods, scsrfs, ribbons and any fancy
articles can be made any color wanted with
the Diamond Dyes. All the popular colors.
WATER WAITS.