The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-15
AMONG THE M0RMONS.
Rev. NJ. B. Hyde's Lecture Last Evening on
His Observations in Utah Territory.

Rev. n. B. Hyde, pastor of Hall-place n. E.
Church. last night lectured to his congregation
on the subject of Utah and the Mormons." The
audience was large, and the lecturer engaged
their close attention. He had himself spent
some months in the country and among the peo-
pie whom he was describing and this fact added
to the interest of his statements. During the
first portion of his address he related some Of
his personal experiences IN that re-
gion, which were of q decidedly humorous
nature He praised the climate and soil of Utah
Territory, which. ne said, had the resources of
empire While there were abundant fertile
valleys, there was also some grand mountain
scenery. and it had, indeed, been styled 1.-The
Switzerland of America" The chief part of the
address, however, was devoted to a discussion of
the Mormons and Mormonism, and Mr.. Hyde
stated that the observations he made had been
verified, in most instances, by personal observa-
ton and inquiry While there wers s, 900 Indians
in the Territory, and many gentiles. the mass
os the population Mormon Outside of
their religion the latter had many characteristics
distinguishing them from other people They
were 3 class who lived fast and they had re-
spect for any one who did not believe in their
methods. They wanted fast trains. liked fast
horses, believed in a fast gospel, and insisted
fast preacher The public was familiar with
the general outline of Mormon history. and to
extent with the tenets of their religion. In
deed, there was hardly saction of the country
In which 1T was not possible 20 find some
man who was favorable TO some of the forms of
Mormonism. After stating that few features
OF the Mormon religion were similar to those of
Christianity, for example the belief in resur
rection, ne proceeded to denounce mary of the
tenets of the Mormon faith. Their exaltatIon of
q man their god, In the case of Joseph
Smith, was, he said, idolatry and blasphemy.
Another thing that the Mormon Church Taught
was salvation through baptism by proxy That
is, man could save the soul of friend. either
dead or living. by going into the water and being
baptsed for MIN. 1t was said that Washing
ton, Webster. Clay, and host of others.
had been made MormOns in this way Another
vicious doctrine taught was that of human
rfce for the remission OF sins. There
certain sins of an objectionable character which
could only be atoned by the shedding of blood.
Among these was the revelation of any secrets
of the Endowment House. The idea of the En-
dowment House had undoubtedly been borrowe
from the Masons, and onS Of the founders Of
Mormonism must have been familiar with Ma
sorry. The Endowment House was an import
ant feature of MormOnism. In 1t all marriages
were performed, and of it the outside
world were told nothing. 1t WAS known,
however that the story OF Adam and Eve was
dramatized in this place by characters in nude
condition. Regarding the doctrine of salvation
by sacrifice of human life, the lecturer said it
was easy to to what the practice of IL would
lead-the destruction of everybody outside of
the Mormon Church.
The practice of polygamy was then discussed,
and its demoralizing and degrading features
planned The religion taught that woman de
pended on man for salvation, and thus it was
that man would sail away to heaven, with If
teen women c1inging TO him for salvation.
The women there were necessarily degraded
and dispirited. 1t common observation OF
visitors, "How stupid the women look!" The
speaker said he bad been in at least hundred
polygaEnist homes, and he never a wife who
was not cross eyed or a husband who was not
bald-headed. The MormoH leaders OF to-day,
he said, were men of great sAgacity and fore
sight. but the rabole was ignorant. although In
dustrious and generally honest Most of the
latter were from England Scandinavia and 9TH
err foreign countries. whence they had fed from
more or less persecution.