Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-07-13

well attended. The Catholics alone
have a bishop and six priests, and yet
not too many 10 attend to the epir-
itual wants of their people,"
Temple Block, or the "Sacred
Square," OF the Mormons, covers an
area of ten acres, surrounded by
hign wall, inclosing the Temple, the
Tabernacle, and the Assembly Hall.
Until the finished Temple was reared
in "zion." the Latter Day Saints,
like the Hebrews of old, worshiped
in d Tabernacle. When the great
elliptical and arched roof of the Tab
ernacle becomes visible it bears cu-
rious resemblance to a mammoth tur-
tie and no aiter-impression can make
1t beautiful, though as a rarity 1t 10
unequaled. There are forty four
sandstone piers, three feet by nine in
bulk and from fourteen to twenty
feet in height, ranged In an oval. The
space between nearly all OF them is
filed by large double doors, and
above these are windows, each with
forty small panes. Upon these piers
rests q huge oval dome, shingled
without, and said to be one of the
largest seif-supporting arches in the
world. The interior Of the building
is a colossal ellipse, $50 feet long by
15O wide, and eighty feet In height
from the floor to the top of the roof.
A gallery $50 feet long extends around
the building, except at the west end.
The Tabernacle will seat from ten to
twelve thousand people. Against the
west end looms the organ-one OF the
largest and sweetest toned in the
United Sates. Its front towers have
an altitude OF forty eight feet. 1t re-
quires four blowers, and It's dimen-
sions are thirty-three feet. On each
side OF the organ are seats for the
choir, comprising several hundred
persons. In front and below the orr
gan are three long pulpit desks, with
crimson cushIons. The highest IL for
the President of the Mormon church
and his two counselors, and the otker
churchly dignitaries occupy the low
er ones. Lowest Of all is a large
stand, on which are placed the silver
ice pitchers and two-handled cups Of
communion service. The acoustic
properties of the Tabernacle are re-
markable.
On Sunday morning the Mormons
attend service In their ward meeting
houses; at p. m. all Salt Lake assem-
bles In the Tabernacle. For the
country people 1t is the festal day
that illumines the work-day week.
Dearly as a Scotch covenanter does
the Latter Day Saint love to be har-
angued. At the end OF a three
hour speech bis ardor is unabated. So
Temple Square is tangle Of vehicles
on Sunday afternoon, and the Tab
ernacle mass of people, Eve or six
ordinary congregations being hidden
away in ite immense audience room.
Many OF the doors (Which really form
the side walls) are open and the
atmosphere is cool and breezy. A few
slender pillars, painted in imitation Of
marble, break the vast space; below
are the oak-grained benches, crowded
as the communion service is held,
while a two-hour sermon is preached.
At Its close the twenty doors are
closed and the great organ rolls out
its rich melody as the choir concludes
the service with the fine music for
which the Tabernacle is Justly FAM
ed. The doors are again opened and
the vast throng pours fourth and dis
appears beyond the walls OF the Tenn
pie Block. "Assembly Hall" stands
near the Tabernacle. II is construct
cd Of granite and is imposing, though
1t gives the Impression of being too
much bepinacIed. 1t was complet-
cd in-1ss0 az cost OF s90, 900, has q
fine gan,and win accommodate 5000
persons. The auditorium is disfgur-
cd by some very inartistic frescoes.
On the outer walls are carved the
moon and its phases, the stars and
sun, till the Temple might be fam
cied an astrologer's tower. Very Inn
pressive is 1t in Its square and solid
grandeur. None but members Of the
Mormon church are ever admitted
within the doors Of the great struct-
ure. Its secrets are zealously guard
ed. The temple is one Of the wonders
of this continent. r. M. WHITE.