St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-12-18
The Mormon Monster.

by MRS. ELLEN L. DICKINSON.
In private conversation with Miss
Kate Field, the following notes were
made for the Congregationalist. Miss
Field has very recently returned from
Salt Lake City, where she spent eight
months. Her lectures on the Mormon
Monster, at Chickering hall in Boston,
have been listened to attcntiVrly 10y
appreciative audiences. She said to
the writer (who is the great-nicce of
Rev. solomon Spauldimg, VIII" wrote
the manuscript from which the book of
Mormon was madc). "Auy one who
imagines that went to Utah for the
purpose of originating crusade
against MOrmOnism is very much mis-
taken. 1t was by accident that foun.
myself in Salt Lake City. had no
more know ledge of the Saints than
have the fifty millions of people who
make up this country. The first day |
was there, several persons called upon
me. Among them was Il Cnngrega-
tional clergyman, Il rahid anti-polyga-
my writer, an anti Mormon editor of a
Mormon newspaper. and the sixth
wife of Il high priest and her pOlyga-
nous child. never felt such an at
mosphcrc since was born. There
was thunder aud lightning in the air,
and when the lightning would strike,
and where, was my constant thought.
This uncertainty almost upset my
equilibrium. | felt that there was an
irrcurc>Sihlc conflict in Utah. where
Mormon and Gentle cannot meet so
cially. because MnrmoniSm is utterly
opposed. politically. socially. morally
and intellectually, to the gcnius of our
institutions The Congregational rlcr-
gyman was the first to beat a retreat
then followed the auti-Mormun editor
of a Mormon paper. This left the
rahid anti-poll gamy woman, and the
poly gamous wife and child in full pos
session of the field (thi~ is not intended
rs pun.) Would You believe it
Those two women undertook to sit out
one another, and. after three mortal
vergcd upon warfare, which WAS STAYED
of hv me with smiles. which ! confess
were superficial. for ! sat upon thorn>
all the time, the polygamous wife re-
tired, and. thercupon, the anti-poiyg-
amy writer took possession of me, and
told such stories as to cNcit" my curl
osity. and make me determine to invcs-
tigate for myself.
Il was III Utah three months bctor,
venturing to form an opinion about
the status of the Mormon hierarchy
| should have been silent much Longer
had not the MormouS begun their ont
rageouS attacks upon Governor Muir
ray, whose reapp0in'ment then hung
in the balance. The Saints movet
heaven ANA earth to prevent this hon
est man from holding Office anothe
four years. Fortunately. Presiden
Arthur had too much sense to b,
affected by cahals, and We Gentle
have the satisfaction Of knowing tina
Eli H. Murray is the right man in til,
right place. President Arthur has Wol
the respect and gratitude Of all tia
loyal citizens of Utah by appointing t
the supreme court of the territot.
Judge Zane of Illinois. whose integrit
is unimpeached, who has already con
victed two polygami~ts. aud who prom
Uses tU do what few judges in the ter
ritory seem to have dono--administe
the law according to the laws of tn
United States, and not according t
the wishes of the poly galuy hierarchy
A great power for good is the Sal
Lake Tribune, Gentle daily, -edite
by c. {. Goodwin. one of the stronges
and ablest editorial writers in -tbi