Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-04-29
VI 7 IiE II EhALDs
A Day IN the House OF the Saints.


Upon our arrival at the depot we
were besieged by the irrcpressible hotel
runner. Making our selection, we are
soon in The heart of the city, one mile
distant. After dinner we stroll through
the city, finding on all sides objects of
interest, made more 50 by the cordial
manner in which the Saints" enlight-
en- US in answer to our questions. The
city is bull. on southwest slope. The
streets are 1870 feet wide. On each side
next to the walk they have clear
stream of cool water, fresh from the
mountains, which in summer time must
be delightful in connection with the
nice shade trees on every street. On
every side we see the handiwork of
that remarkable man who held the peo-
pie in such subsection. We can only
wonder at his executive abilities, GER
tainly worthy of better cause. The
Tabernacle, Temple, Assembly Hall
and Cooperative Store are only part
of his great plans. The Temple, they
tell us, was commenced thirty-three
years ago. The walls are only about
two-thirds built; about thirty stone
cutters are constantly employed cutting
and polishing the stones, as they are
fitted for the walls, and yet the work
drags along. Its massive walls nine
feet thick look as if they might resist a
Wisconsin cyclone. 1t is estimated
that it will cost three million dollars
when completed 1t is not designed as
house of worship, but moro as a place
for conventions, for the use OF the ell
ders and dignitaries of the church.
From here we visit the Tabernacle.
which is in charge of Elder James
Latham, who never seems to tire of
showing the premises to visiting tour
lists. 1t is $50 feet long and about
80 feet wide. 1t has seating capacity
for ten thousand people. Perhaps the
most wonderful thing about it is its
almost perfect acoustic arrangement.
The Elder wished us to test it, which
we did, 10y one of the party going up
the aisle about 270 feet and dropping
common pin in his silk hat, which was
heard rs distinctly by us as if he was at
our side. He also whispered to us with
the same result. They are proud of
their organ, claiming it to be the Sc
cond in the world in size and finish. It
occupies a space 33x33 feet and 5S feet
high, is made entirely by home me-
chancs from native woods, with all the
latest improvements. They have
choir of 100 voices. They invited us to
stay over Sunday TO hear them, but
being the middle of the week we could
not wait. The Assembly Hall is a
magnificent building with seating
capacity of about 1000 1t is used
principally for Sunday schools. Their
evening services are generally held in
the ward churches, making it convent
ent for all to attend
We next visited the Cooperative
Store, building covering about as
much space rs from Bakers to Zeip-
ler's. They do an immense trade. We
learn from the obliging cashier that
their sales will amount to more than a
million dollars a year. There are prob
ably twenty other general stores in the
city, but they do not seem to be we'll
patronized,
From here we passed President Tay-
lor's and Brigham Young's residences,
conspicuous in their history and style.
the Tithing House. where one-tenth of
all the profits ofthe faithful are concen-
trated and consecrated to the work OF
building the Temple and supporting the
church work. Attending an Odd FELL
lows Lodge in the evening. / had the
pleasure of witnessing the initiation of
John w. Young, nephew of Brigham
Young, into the mysteries of the order,
made doubly interesting from the fact
that no Mormons are allowed member
ship in that Lodge. He is fine look
ing man of about thirty years of age
and. of course, anti Mormon. Inter
esting trials were in progress in the u.
S. Court. We could not stay to hear
them through. but listened long enough
to hear toices swear that they were
simply servants for the men prosecuted
for bigamy as their husbands. This they |
do to screen them from the penalties of |
the law. There's devotion for you.
What nextp
Salt Lake. April /. 1886.