Evening journal., 1888-06-30

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 fulfil her destiny in this life, and
Is sustained and eheered 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
"The condition Of Mormon women" f"
continued Mr. Caine, "has been systenat-
ically misrepresented. From the founding
of tho Mormon church the spirituality Of
women, which is so largely developed,
has contributed in a marked degree to the
growth and spread of the gospel as re-
Vealed to the Latter Day Saints. The
constaney, the heroism, the self sacri-
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
ment what they have had to endure. It
has not been mere privations incident to
expulsions 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
o.. how many instances have there been
of women forsal1ing 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 be living in?'
"But, said I, were they not and are not
the Mormon women Of today less intel
hgent than the average American
women?"
Il think not, replied Mr. Caine. "Our
women, ever since the days when Joseph
Smith began topreach the new and wonder
ful 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
New York, eastern and western Pennsyl-
vania, Of Vermont, Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut, Nav Hampshire and Of north
eastern Ohio"
1T is said that majority of the Nor
mons are foreigners"
'That is altogether false; there is a
smaller percentage of aliens among them
thar is to be found in the population Of
many states and territories. We have as
good a school system as any territory can
boast There are fewer Mormons who
cannot read and write than among the
people Of many northern states. The per
centage Of illiteracy in Utah is precisely
that Of the state Of Connecticut.
How about woman's rights in Utahf"
The Mormons were among the first, "
replied Mr.. Game, "tO dignity womankind
with the right Of suffrage. Under the
laws Of the territory married women can
hold real as well rs 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 a
young ladies' mutual improvement 50.
ciety. Some Of the ablest exponents Of
the rights of women are Mormon wives
and mothers. The Woman's Exponent.
edited and published by Mormon women.
Is bright and able voman's- journal"
'.How do the Mormon women recard
the anti-polygamy movementi'
"The majority Of our women, like tbs
great majority Of Mormon men have never
been In polygamy. They bciiove. ns All
Aormons do. that tho revelation to Jesepl
Smith concerning celestial marriage cam,
direct from God, and that in certain cases
and under certain circumstances, pluralit,
OF wives was pormissive. The nature o.
woman is the same the world over. Onl,
religious conviction Of an overwLelmin1
character can constrain any good woman
to have her husband S affections shared b,
another. But that conviction Of religious
duty and self sacrifice will enable woman
TO curb her feelings and endure unself
ishly, and even with cheerfulness, so grea
trial, there can be no doubt Some q
the best, the purest, the noblest womei
that ever lived have been Mormon plura
wives"
'Is celestial marriage and plural ma,
riage one and the same thing?n | asked.
Certainly not. Celestial MARRIAGE
simply our marriage ceremony. and thos
who are married according to it are bonn
to each otker for all eternity, and not fo
this life only. OF course, plural maj
} riages1a always celebrated according /
the celestial rite. But celestial marriage
are not necessarily plural marriage.
There are marriages among Mormons, fc
time and not for eternity, but all 200
Mormons ahould be married for eternit
as well as for time"
~What, Mr.. Game, said I, 'sis the rel
ersl effect Of the Mormon religion in maj
ing good citizensg'
''AVell. yen can look at the facts Wa
r the reply 1T Is forty-one years sin,
!.