Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-06

siass, IL the TEACH .,s @'"" MI W
nhusycb tho nd JOHN T. GAME.
monitions of mothers, all tend to develop
the true biblical idea of the marriage
state The true Mormon woman consid-
ers herself an integral part Of the commu
nifty, and Is inspired with an earnest pur-
pose to fulfill her destiny in this life, and
Is sustained and cheered by the unwaver
ing belief that In the life to come her re-
ward will correspond to the part she has
sustained in the preparatory state of ex-
istence.
1.-The condition Of Mormon women"
continued Mr.. Game, has been systemat
ically misrepresented. From the founding
Of the Mormon church the spirituality OF
women, which Is so largely developed,
has contributed in marked degree to the
vealed to the Latter Day Saints. The
consistency, the heroism. the self sscri
fcing self abnegating characteristics Of
the good and noble woman have, in no
age and among no people. been more con-
spicuously displayed. Regard for mo-
nent what they have had to endure. It
has not been mere privations incident to
explosions from one settlement to
another eliminating In the unparalleled
pilgrimage from the banks Of the Missis-
sippi to Salt Lake valley. and the dread
full experiences Of the first years In that
desert region Above and beyond all
mere physical discomforts and sufferings
there rested the weight Of the worlds re-
proaches, the sneers. the contumely, the
pointing Of the finger Of scorn.
And during all the years from the
days OF the Saints, sojourning at Kirkland,
note hou
of women forsaking their church. dis
avowing their belief In the gospel revealed
to Joseph Smith, Of complaining of their
lot, OF seeking to escape the slavery they
have been represented TO b living inf'
But, said I, were they not and are not
the Mormon women Of today less intel.
Hgent than the average American
women?"
II think not" replied Mr. Caine. "Our
women, ever since the days when Joseph
Smith began to preach the new and wonder
full things which had been revealed to him,
have been Of the best stock of New Eng
land, New York. Pennsylvania and the
Western Reserve Of Ohio. They were Just
as intelligent, just as refined. Just as well
educated as the average wives. mothers
and daughters of the farmers Of western
sania, of Vermont, Massachusetts,. Con-
nscticut, New Hampshire and of north
sasSern Ohio"
IN is said that majority Of the Nor
mons are foreignersr'
THAT Is altogether false; there Is q
smaller percentage Of aliens among them
than Is to be found in the population Of
many states and territories We have as
good school system as any territory can
boas. There ape fewer Mormons who
:spsr6t read and write than among the
people Of many northern states The per.
centage of iliteracy in Utah Is precisely
that of the state Of Connecticut"
How about woman's rights In UtahT'
THE Mormons we're among the first"
sephed Mr.. Game, TO dignity womsnkind
With the right of suffrage. Under tho
lava Of the territory married women can
hold real as well as personal property in
their own right, sell and convey the same,
and engage in any kind Of business indie
pendent of their husbands. There Is not
= settlement in Utah which has not .
young ladies mutual improvement 30.
'-iety Some Of the sblest opponents Of
the rights Of women are Mormon wives
,sDo mothers. The Woman's Exponent,
edited and published by Mormon women,
is bright and able wOman's Journal"
How do the Mormon women regard
che anti polygamy movement
The majority of our women like the
great majority of Mormon men. have never
been in polygamy. They believe. as all
Morpons do, that the revelation to Joseph
Smith concerning celestial marriage came
direct from God, and that in certain cases,
and under certain circumstances, plurality
nf vyivaG waa rerrni Sliya Tho MAIN 70 30
woman is the same the world over. Only
religious conviction of an overwhelming
character can constrain any good woman
TO have her husband s affections shared ty
another. But that conviction of religious
duty and self sacrifice will enable a woman
70 curb her feelings and endure unself
ishly, and even With cheerfulness, so great
trial, there can be no doubt Some OF
the BEST, the purest, the noblest women
that ever lived have been Mormon plural
wives.
lis celestial marriage and plural mar
image one and the same thing9" | asked.
Certainly not. Celestial marriage Is
simply our marriage ceremony, and those
who are married according to 1t are bound
10 each other for all eternity, and not fol-
ehis life only. OF course. plural mar
riagesDare always celebrated according to
the celestial rite. But celestial marriages
are not necessarily plural marriages
There are marriages among Mormons, fol
time and not tor eternity, but all good
Mormons should. be married for eternity
n well as for time"
What, Mr., Game, said |. lis the gen
egal effect Of the Mormon religion in max
ing good citizensf"
well, you can lock- at the facts, wal
the reply, 1T is ~ none years since