Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-10

THE HOME OF THE SAINTS DESCRIBED
BY A VIRGINIA LADY.
How New Converts Are Obtained-Bsauty
OF Streets and Public Buiidings-
Spiritual Plural Marriage.
rcorospondcnco Of the Richmond Dispatch.l

SAYS: thicagO IS q city, Dan fiahSise""
pleasure-resort, and Salt Lake phenome-
non,n and bis criticism ia cleyerly ex-
messed. There is a marked difference be-
tween Salt Lake and her western sister
cities in two things at least. She is old.
comparatively, and she is satisfied with
the last census report, which estimates
her population at 80 900, of which over one
half are Mormons.
In passing through Denver. and indeed
almost any western town outside Oh Can-
| fornia, one is impressed with pervaoing
sense Of newness. In Denver the paint
seems scarcely dry; even the trees are
new until an uninitiated eastern eye grows
weary and would fain exchange some OF
this superb infancy for the less gorgeous
middle age of the eastern ana southern
| States. But an eye thus wearled hDds am:
pie rest IN Salt Lake, and mind tond OF
| the mysterious and curious finds much OF
| interest.
"AvENGINa ANGELS"
Until about fifteen years ago there was
only a sparse sprnkling of anti-Mormons,
| or Identities" and " Liberals" as they
| are called here. The Mormon Church con-
| trolled everything--Church and State be-
| ing merged into one, end the sojourplng
| Gentle had best be wary, or be would
learn that "aYenging angels" were not
mere images created by the versatile brain
| of Robert Louis Stevenson. There. IS
/ little doubt that they reaped a full
harvest during the years OF Mormon
| supremacy. In 1890 the Liberals gained
| the possession of the city offices for
the first time in the history Of Salt Lake
| City, and there is now no doubt or their
permanent tenure.
RELICS MUST GO.
The changes and advances made during
| the last year give evidence OF good gov
eminent. But this very growth, 80 health.
| full and so necessary, is destroying mango
| the old relics which we would not have re-
main vet are doth 10 part with. Brigham
Young used great effort to discourage anti
| Mormon immigration and 20 prevent ms
| flock from mingling with the world outside
of Utah. So fearful was he lest tbs, con-
| trolling power over the well-planned city
| should be wrested from Mormon hands by
| the incoming of greedy strangers that ne
even forbade the search for or develop
| ment of minerals, which so richly fill the
surrounding mountains. He discouraged
! education except that cleaned from the
| weekly public reading Of the Bible or that
| learned from natures book. While he
jealousy watched over those already here
| he was busily occupied in bringing IN new
| converts. For forty years or more mis-
sionaries have been going from Utah 10
almost all civilized parts of the globe; the
Church meanwhile contributing agenerous
| "emigration fund.-" which is raised by O
tax laid upon the members. The result 10
that at intervals there il downpour into
this fair valley of foreigners, culled from
the lower grades of English. Scotch, Danes,
| and Swedes, with a sprinkling OF others.
GAVE HERSELF AWAY.
A respectable but back-sliding Mormon
recently told me that her husband sup,
ported her by "h'odd jobs Of work" and
that at the Tabernacle there is Railways
a h'usher, but he keeps very poor order"
doubted no moro her nationality. The
| number Of converts from provinces under
the control Of the ROmish Church - notice
| ably small. The newly-converted. acting
| under advice. sell their all before leay.
inc the old country" The proceeds of
this sale they put into the hands of the
| missionary, whom return promises them
home with land in Utah, and such
spiritual blessings az mortals seldom nope
for. They are strictly taught that they
come TO Utah in order 20 serve GOD l., IN
peace and not 10 accumulate riches. The
recollection of this early teaching grows
dim, however, after time. Probably the
force of example affects them, for notwlth-
standing the instruction given by the mis-
siOnary they find the Church officials (of
which there are many--president. the
twelve apostles, the bishops, the seventies,
&c., &c.,) conspicuously wealthy.
LAVISH EXPENDITURE.
This wealth has been generously spent
in the adornment of their Zion" and to-
day Salt Lake promises 10 rank among the
beautiful of American cities. 1t Il laylshly
laid out in blocks Of ten acres each. The
streets are 1872 feet wide including the
/ I he xrh oh these side
walks in many places in the portions al
lotted 20 residences having u row of trees
on each side. All of the streets have the
necessary irrigating bitches, and tits re-
freshing in summer 10 see the little rllls,
always clear and sparkling, dancing along
the street-sldes. The wealth of trees and
shrubs and consequent shade, of large
wards filed with luxuriant flowers, are
among the summer JOYS. As the city
covers tho site Of small but prosperous
farms one finds in almost every block rem
nants of the old orchards. The effect,
especially in the spring. is delicious, with
perfume and blossom filling the ar.
APARTMENT SUGGESTION.
A striking feature Of many old Mormon
lots, public and private, is the massive
| mud and stone wall sometimes twelve
feet high, surrounding the buildings. It's
said that thew were an early protection
against the Indians, but when an erring
GENTLE sees that these walls (Which could
only be afforded by the rich) enclose each
Individual house, nd when he further
learns that in those good old DAYS one man
not infrequently became possessed Of
another mans wife, he can but question,
"Why those walls and high IRON gates?"
PUBLIC EDTIcEs.
The first object shown to the sightseeing
stranger ts the ten-acre block containing
the Temple of the 4" Latter-DaY Saints" the
Tabernacle. the Assembly Hall, and the
Endowment House Within the walls OF
the latter the spiritual and plural !"
marriage of the saints" took place with
weird ceremonies. Into the mysteries of
this building no Gentle, venture to say,
ever penetrated, and no Mormon save
those participating in the rites. A full
account. however. has been Cleaned
from some of the "apostates," who du-
ring the years Of their allegiance TO the
church were deemed worthy of this mar
rage, which is considered one OF the
Church's highest privileges. SO this square
alone contains matter Of interest sufficient
to I'LL a separate letter. shall not attempt
to describe 1t here, but will cross the street
tc the "Tithing House." with its rock
wall sentinel. On the same block are the
"Bee-Hiven and the " Lion House." Every
Mormon must pay his tithe-one tenth of
all earnings, crops, and what not. IL was
to the tithlng yard that all of the hogs
were driven upon that occasion so memo
rable to many who are still living here.
THE HOG QUESTION.
In that day. as in this, the President OF the
Church was directed in his guidance of the
people by visions sent by the Almighty"
and tits verify true, a poor woman ex-
claimed 10 me, " They make God common"
However. proclamation was made that
the Lord, as of old had in vision seen
by the President, forbidden His people 20
eat swine's flesh. what shall We do with
our hogs?n was the cry Of the obedient
farmers far and near. Gracious permission
was given t. drive them into the tithing-
yard until further disposition could DO
made Of them. That winter hundreds Of
pounds of bacon were shipped to the East
from salt Lake, but the poor people never
learned what had become OF their hogs
The Beehive House" and the Lion
House" are two of Brigham Young's resi-
| daucaa The latter faces fhp street w fla a