The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-05-17


equal rights with the men polygamy
would cease at once, and in order to
demonstrate the fallacy of this reasoning
the women were Immediately enfran'
ehised.
So much for the good side of Mormon
ism, but it has bad side, and very bad
one, too-polygamy. The Edmunds bill
is breaking up the perpetuation of the
practice, but there are, even yet, many
polyganists living in Utah. The
DIVINITY OF PoLYGAMY
is one of the beliefs of the Latter. Day
Saints, and several revelations" on the
subject have been made to the apostles
of the church, the most famous of these
being the INSPIRED revelation" made to
"Joseph, the Seer" in Nauvoo, ILL.,,
July 18th, 1S43, in answer to his prayers
for enlightenment on the subject of mar
riage and the relation of woman to man.
Marriage, the Mormons hold, is not
merely civil contract, but sacrament.
"The Handbook of Reference" one of
the most sacred of books to the Latter
Day Saints, contains these words COPIED
by consent): "The first marriage was SOL
emnized by the Deity in person. Mar.
riage involves not only the free choice of
the partners in the union but the seal
and consent of the Almighty, and if this
is not secured the marriage is not
acknowledged in heaven. Secular mar.
riages are not acceptable to God. Celes-
tial marriage is eternal; that is, it is
binding after death and through all
eternity. A man with three or
more wives would have plural family
relations in the kingdom of heaven and be
suitable company for Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob and other ancient worthless,
who obtained the favor of God and held
communion with Him while in the flesh.
~ Ifa man raised from the
dead may have more than one wife
through successive marriages in this
world there can be nothing unholy in
that extended family connection. If it
is right in that holy estate why not in
this 2"
These are fair samples of the logic used
and The scriptures, the Mormon bible and
the revelations alluded to are the foun.
dations upon which the horrible super
structure of polygamy has been reared in
Utah. The Gentiles of Salt Lake City
claim that polygamy is not the feature
most feared by those who understand the
scope of the plans and the assumptions
of the managers of tie Mormonists. Here
it is boldly asserted that "the organiza-
tion is more political than religious and
that it boasts that its mission is to
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT
of the United States and place America
underline rule of its own priests" The
practice ofpolygamy has had its day, no
doubt, and there are scores of Mormons
who have never married more than one
wife. In fact, it is intimated that some
of these have found even one too many.
The Edmunds bill provides for the pun
ishment of any person VIII has more
than one wife, the penalty being six
months in the peniteDtiary and $500 fine.
The courts keep busy trying cases, many
of which are unsuccessful, and most of
the elders are too wary to be caugh ght.
Abuses still exist, but their days are
numbered, and it is only question of
time when polygamy will cease to exist
in Utah. Kate Field, the eminent
lecturer and writer, spent some months
here, and will soon give the wcr'd her
views on Mormon life, which she ives.
tigated. She will mention among others,
probably, the case of an elder here who
married young woman and subsequent.
ly became enamored of her sister whom
he married. He then fell in love with
the mother of the two girls and married
her He was tried recently but escaped
through some technicality in the pro.
ceedings. This is but one of the scores
of remarkable proceedings that might be
narrated If space permitted.
Ofsalt Lake City too much cannot be
said in praise. Its location is superb, its
climate is delightful and its attractions to
the tourists are many. There are 120
miles of streets each 1872 feet wide, bor-
dered with shade trees and a running
stream of clear water on either side of
the roadway-one of the most unique
effects imaginable.
THE MoRMoN's TABERNACLE
seats $4,000 people and is marvel of
architecture. The new temple, now
approaching completion, will have cost
$lO,OoO,OOO whom finished. The Nor
mons no longer control the city politics
absolutely, and life, is therefore, bearable
here-which was not the case under the
old Mormon regime. One Of the promi.
nent business men of the city said t-day:
"The Mormons are making many con-
verts in the South and East, but they are
losing their grip politically; the Gen.
tiles are gradually becoming power.
Polygamy must 60 and this they realize.
If the people who are proselyted knew
the true state of affairs they would not be
induced to come here. The light Of
truth will some day shine into this pest
hole of Mormonism and purify it. We
hope the day is not far distant
CHAs. Fl. WELLS.
An Elegant Substitute
Ecr Oila Sa1ta Pills and all kinds of