The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-22
THE CITY OF THE SAINTS.
What a Savannah Visitor Heard in
the Tabernacle.

known that relation of 1t is hardly neces
sary in an article of this kind. Ii is the
common property Of our country and every
school boy can relate the history of the old
pioneers who, in lS47, penetrated into the
western wilds seeking seclusion and safety
from modern civilization, where they could
worship God in their Own peculiar way.
Here. for many years, they enjoyed the
freedom for which they came. worshiped
according to the dictates of their cuncience,
cultivated the soil. built homes, and laid
tue foundation OF the city which is to-day a
marvel OF progress and prosperity.
1t was not long, however, before the pro-
gressive sons OF the east, seeing that the
land was goodly one, made inroads upon
the City OF the Saints" and to-day, while
they are largely in the minority, they are
nevertheless the controlling power in the
city's affairs The democrats aud repub-
ncans make common cause in all cleo
tions to oppose Mormon supremacy. The
municipal officers are all Gentiles. This
| name is common to all without the Mormon
church, and even n Hebrew here is termed
GENTLE. The Mormons are an extremely
secluslve people, living within themselves
IheY have every avocation and profession
in life filled with the followers of their
faith, and 1t is seldom that they deal with
an outsider. They encourage agriculture,
but have little TO do with mining.
This is said to be due 10
turn the eyes of the outside world upon
them and be instrumental in bringing the
stranger within their gates, thing not by
any means desired. The population Of the
city at present is about 10000, and the
streets are beautifully laid out aud adorned
with double rows OF trees, while running
water flows upon both sides of the streets
| just at the edge of the sidewalks There is
considerable wealth among the saints and
their dwellings are by far the handsomest
here Tho majority of the houses are small.
one-story affairs, and while plain, are
nevertheless very comfortable. It is a
matter of great difficulty to obtain habita-
| tions, and many hundreds are living
In tents ON the outskirts oi
the city, while the young attorneys convert
their Offices into sleeping apartments for the
night. The laborer is master of the situa.
tion here, and can obtain any price he de-
mands for his work. The streets are con-
stantly crowded, and there is but little
| douot in oil minds that Salt Lake City "a
destined to become great city.
IN THE TABERNAcLE.
On Sunday had an opportunity of at
tending the services in the great Mormon
tabernacle which has been 50 often and so
well described that no description is here
necessary. The tabernacle was comfortably
| filled with about 5000 peoples
mixture of every nationality, which
while rough In appearance wai
extremely orderly and attentive
to the service of the strange creed. Tn,
music (Which | consider even more beauti
ful than that heard at Westminster Abbey
or st. Peters at Rome, consisting OF
choir of $50 voices. is excellent, and fall
with charming sweetness upon the cal
| from the immense oval dome, which is q
| perfect home of echoes. Service began at Z
o'clock and lasted until about O'Clock. The
seat which l occupied was in the extreme
rear of the great building, and yet was
able to hear every word uttered as dis
tinctly as though had been seated directly
beneath the speaker himself The sermon
upon this occasion was | think, the
strangest that | ever listened to. There
was no text; at least, none was announced,
and the discourse was strongly indicative
| Of the troubled surface of the times
1t Is unnecessary perhaps TO say that the
Latter-Day Saints have no great love for
our country or its laws. They hate the
government and look upon its recent treat
ment OF them as the greatest imposition OF
modern times, They scof at our coastitl-
tion and claim that its greatest aud most
| glorious privilege is denied them. namely,
that Of religious liberty and freedom. They
look upon their misfortune as martyrdom
| to the cause, and receive consolation and
comfort in the belief that divinity will soon
interpose in their behalf ''God has told us
that he would sorely test his children" said
the speaker, "and trust that the Latter
Day Saints may be able to stand the
test No telling how great our affifction
in its persecution. Its fendish lust for gain
has prompted it to lay hold of places which
we have dedicated to the service OF our God,
and, later, we ourselves may be robbed OF
our inheritance and driven from our homes
to live our remaining DAYS amid the noun
tain and desert wilds." In speaking of the
new temple, which is in the course of con-
struction, he said; "Isuppose the next thing
we will be called upon to surrender will
be our temple. II the government wants
it. suppose they will get it, but before it
desecrates the house of the Lord, | want
the last stone on the temple laid,
| the last stroke of the artists
| brush finished, in order that the sacrifice
may be complete, and the oppressor's dam
nation the greater. This nation has not
yet seen the mighty hand of God uplifted
It has not seen the outpouring Of the spirit
The day is not far distant whom it shall ~
The speaker ended his discourse by extolling
the virtues of the Mormon creed and en-
treating the saints to be steadfast in the
faith of their fathers, and ready and willing
to make any and every sacrifice for their
God. He closed by saying: "Remenlber my
friends that Gods ways are not our
ways" and L found myself
secretly repeating these words: "You have
spoken truthfully; most assuredly Gods
ways are not your ways" Their perfect
faith and hope is beautiful, but it is indeed
pitiful to see to what state their religion
has reduced them. AS far as our country is
| concerned, they do not know the touch of
patriotism. Their chief attention and
pride are the practice and service of their
faith, and they seem to be totally ignorant
Of the fact that a man serves his God who
serves his country we'll