St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-20

WOrlU, HnulnS converts TO Cnelf IalIn among
a score of peoples. Forty years ago they
throngad the towns and cities of the United
States and Canada, of England, Wales and
Scotland, and of the European countries;
and the ceaseess streams of converts who
focked to Zion bore testimony to the success
of their efforts. A permanent fund was
founded to aid poor converts who desired to
join their brethren in Utah, ard the manage
ment of foreign missions usually Allotted to
one of the apostles, WAS for years post eager
ly sought after, not only for the honor it con-
ferred, but also because OF the opportunities
it afforded for personal gain. More recently
Mormon missionary work has been mainly
confined ON this side of the water to the
ignorant whites of the South, and beyond the
sea to the people of Denmark, Norway and
Sweden. The number of converts has in con-
sequence greatly fallen off, but the occasional
arrival in Salt Lake City of band of immi-
grants, who are quartered for few days in
a house set apart for the purpose in the
tithing yard, before being distributed among
the various settlements of the territory
shows that Mormonism is faith that has not
yet lost the power of drawing new adherents
to its standard, although these new adherents
are, as rule, ignorant, credu;ous and simple
minded
MILFORD Woodruff, fourth president of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
is New England Yankee of Revolutionary
ancestry. He was born in Connecticut in
1927, but he carries his years so well that one
not knowing his age would set him down as
under sixty. His sturdy frame is still erect,
his voice strong, his step firm and quick, and
there is scarcely a wrinkle in his square, reso-
lutte face. He looks like General Grant and
possesses much of the Sg-eas' captains firm
ness and force of character.
President Woodruff joined the Mormon
church at Kirkland and is the last of the
twelve apostles chosen by Joseph Smith. He
was long missionary in England and for
forty years has been one of the leading men
of Utah. 1t is the custom, when the presi-
dency of the church becomes vacant through
death, to appoint to the place the Oldest of
the apostles, and it was in this way that, on
the death of John ". Taylor, in 1887, MILFORD
Woodruff became the recognized head of the
Mormon church. Inferior to. Young in ex-
ecutive capacity and to Taylor in learning and
scholarship, he is still NAM Of ability and
force, and were he thirty years younger might
have an abiding influence on the peculiar
people of whom he is the leader. But he is
very old man whose race of hfeis almost run,
and he had hardly been inducted into the
presidency before his followers began to can
vass the claims and merits of his possible
successor. s-7. a e dpfrz
Public opinion has finally fixed upon
George L. Cannon, one of President Wood
ruffs first counselors, as the coming man.
Cannon, who in personal appearance closely
resembles the philanthropic George W. Childs,
of Philadelphia is an Englishman sixty-six
years of age. He was almost born in Nor
monism, his father having become a convert
to the faith when he was twelve years old.
Brigham Young, who early recognized his re-
markable qualities, made him one of the
twelve apostles when he was only thirty-two
years DID, and a little later placed him in
charge of the European missions of the
church Under his direction in five years
$4,000 converts were sent from Europe to
Utah. From 1864 to 1872 he. was private
secretary to Brigham Young and editor of
the Dessert Ners. From 1872 to 1880 as dele
gate in Congress he had charge of Mormon
interests in Washington. In 1880 he became
one ofthe first counselors to President Taylor,
his uncle by marriage, and was continued in
the same Office by President Woodruff. Can
non is far and away the ablest man in the
Mormon church No one is more thoroughly
acquainted with its thousand details or more
clearly realizes the strength and character of
the opposition with which it has to contend
Contact with all classes and conditions of
men has given him a thorough knowledge of
the world, and a suaye and courteous bearing
which strongly and favorably impresses all
who meet him for the first time. Cannon is
born diplomatist and in many respects the
exact opposite of President Woodruff. The
latter, d religious enthusiast who believes
implicitly in his faith, is direct, straight
forward and truthful; Cannon, the man of
affairs, is astute, plausible and full of guile
He is in every way fitted by talent and train
ing for the position he is to fill. Already, as
President Woodruff is, said to be guided
mainly by his advice, he is the power behind
the throne. ; a,f ,,,-,- ....r, .--
On week days outside OF the great build
ings which cover the Temple block, the hustle
about the tithing yard and the coming and
going of people at the Gerdo House, the Off
cial residence of the head of the church, one
sees in Salt Lake City few evidences of the
power and numerical strength of Mormon
ism. But on a Sunday all is changed.
Promptly at three o'clock every Sunday after
noon services are held in the enormous,
oddly-eonstructed tabernacle, which was
built from plans devised by Brigham Young
and is capable of seating 10 900 people. Long
before the hour named the outpour COM
mences and in a short time every seat in the
the vast elliptical shaped, oval-roofed build
ing is filed. In the faces of the assembled
throng the student Of physiognomy can find
material for the studies of lifetime. Homely
people, with sharp, deep-set eyes and long
noses predominant. Few of the women are
good looking and not rone in thousand is
really handsome. What one would term
strikingiy looking men are equally rare. It
is easy to see from what sources Mormonism
has, in the main, drawn its followers
Fully as interesting as the worshippers
themselves is the interior of the great taber-
nacle in which they worship. At the rear
end of the building stands the second largest
organ in America, built wholly by Mormon
artisans. To the right and left OF the organ
are 200 seats, assigned to the members of
the great choir. In terraced pews in front
sit the higher members of the Melchizideck
priesthood, from which the apostles are
selected. In the centre Of this throng is a
raised dais, upon which sits the president of
the church. In front Of the president are
ranged the apostles and still further forward
the bishops and elders. To the rear stretches
away row after row of seats, built in amphi-
theatre fashion. The gallery alone seats
3 (l00 neonle There arc a Score of axitc and