Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-01-15
BRIDES OF M0RMONDOM.
CURIOUS CEREMONY STILL IN
VOGUE AMONG THE SAINTS"
How the First Wife Presents All New
Coming Brides to Her Lord and
Master.

THE Mormon marriage cere-
mony is mystery to the
Gentle world. Until the
completion of the Temple it
was celebrated in the Endowment
House, frame building which stood
near the round house Tabernacle.
Under the Mormon code marriages
not celebrated in the Temple were not
binding, but many years ago an
amended vision was received by the
Prophet to the effect that such de-
parture could be permitted until the
completion of the Temple, ON the
ground that person would not be
damned for doing the best he could.
Then the saints rested easy and paid
their tithing-tbe Temple costing
them about three times its actual
value.
There is as much marrying among
the saints us there was before the pas
sage by Congress of proscriptive laws.
The ceremonial is secret, the most
terrible oath being administered. The
candidates for bliss swear eternal en-
nifty to the Gentle world because. n
Gentle mob of Missourians killed
their prophet and drove them hence ;
they swear never to reveal the secrets
of the Endowment House or Temple,
forfeiting their lives and agreeing
that their throats may be cut from ear
to ear as the penalty of such betrayal,
and they further swear enmity to the
United States Government and it's
constituted authorities. They claim
that the Government has ever perse-
cuted them.
The bridal couple, on entering the
ante-chamber, change their garments
for the mystic endowment robe--a
close-fitting undergarment made of n
continuous piece of cloth, something
on the style of that worn by dress re-
formers. Over this the attendant
places the "Temple robe" long,
flowing garment made of white linen
or bleached muslin. The robe is
gathered to band which rests across
the right shoulder, passes across the
breast to the left side, where it is
fastened by linen belt. The man
wears headdress something like that
worn by n restaurant cook. The cap
is of linen and is drawn tightly around
the head by a silken string, relieved
by bow knot in front. The endow
ment robe is never discarded, and the
faithful Mormon is buried in it.
The bridal couple are given Biblical
names which are entered in the church
register, and this is all the evidence
the Gentle courts would have, even if
they took possession of the records.
No one could be convicted on the sim
pie written entry that "Ruth and
Laban" had been sealed" They are
known only to the church people by
these names, which are never spoken,
even among themselves.
After being bathed they are anointed
from head to foot, typical of washing
away the sins of the world. Arrayed
in their mystic robes they are con
Quoted into typical Garden of Eden.
Under a scrub apple tree reclines the
Satan serpent. The character is i'm
personated by one of the elders who
dresses it according to his interpreta-
tion of original sin, which is some
thing like the stage Mephisto. AS Eve
walks into the garden the attention of
Adam seems to be conveniently di-
rected elsewhere, and the woman lis
tens to the apple story. The bride
proaches, hears the story from "God's
best work of creation, and finishes W
the winter apple.
Then there is stage thunder and
lightning, curtain is rolled bacl
showing wood scene typical of tn,
world at the creation; an elder mp
pears at the garden gate with u draw
sword and with few words of remon
STRANGE drives the guilty couple ont o
Paradise into the world of sin. There
is more thunder and lightning, an
odor of sulphur, with lime light
thrown upon the elder at the gate with
the sword.
The next scene represents the "happy
couple kneeling ut table in the cen
ter of n room furnished with modern
conveniences. Some of the so-calle6
apostles are present. The first wife
of the polygamist is the bridesmaid
and also gives away the bride by plac
ing her right hand in that of her own
husband, saying: Husband, to thee
/ give sister Ruth for wife" Then she
rises and stands behind the bride while
the marriage ceremony is read, which
is long or short according to the posi-
tion in life of the couple.
Usually man saves time and mar
ries several wives on the same "happy
day" The original wife gives away
each of the brides, and is an impor-
tant functioDary ON this blissful oc.
casion. If n fanatic in the Mormon
belief, she is proud of the occasion,
the belief being that the more wives IL
man has the better are his chances for
heaven, and the wife's chances are
thereby increased. As the creed it
that an unmarried woman cannot enter
Paradise they are eager to marry, tax
ing their chances for happiness in the
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