The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-10
SECRET RITES OF THE MoRMONS
Ceremonies That Bind Them to the Faith
of Brigham Young.

of Brigham Young.
From the Indianapolis News.
The oaths to which Congressman-elect
Roberts has subscribed-the ceremonies of
his religion, the rites of the church to
which he has allied his faith, all tending
to secure unity in preserving the secrets
of the Mormons and to strengthen their
power In defense of any of it's members
who may come into controversy with the
laws of the nation or with the conscience
of other people-are of interest now that
so much opposition to the seating of
Roberts in congress has developed.
In such fear of the blood atonement is
every Mormon placed that it Is difficult
to secure from any apostate a statement
of these rites. Under a pledge that his
name would never be revealed, one told
of the ceremonies attending his admission
to full membership in the church and, in
cidentally, Of tho manner in which Rob-
erts became full-fedged Mormon. Car
rying their new garments, the candidates
of both sexes assemble at the annex of
the temple, where no Gentle is ever per-
mitted to set foot. Credentials from their
bishop are recorded in church books that
are never scanned by Gentle eye. After
a thorough washing they are anointed
from head to foot with olive oil, prayer
being continued during the process. The
candidates don the endowment robes,
tirely removed
In every garment is a triangular slit
over the heart. a slash over the abdomen
and another over the right knee, as re-
minder that should he violate the oaths
of the temple the testator's heart would
be turned out and he would be disem-
boweled and disiointed. The celestial
name of each, which is never to be re-
vealed, except from wife to her husband.
is whispered, and they are ushered into
the Garden of Eden" where the Biblical
story of the temptation and fall of man,
including the serpent and the apple, Is en-
acted. The grip of the lower priesthood is
given each candidate and he takes an
oath to obey the laws of the Mormon
church in preference to those of the
United States. should the two conflict.
The candidates are ushered into the
portion of the temple representing the
world, where in succession representa-
tives of the other creeds seek to convert,
with satires on the creeds they represent
the travellers. The devil urges the half
fiedged Moromons to live a life of pleas
ure and Is dismissed with contempt An
| oath of chastity is taken by both women
and men. The women take an oath to
obey their husbands and a priest appears
| with the announcement that the gospel
| has been restored to earth. as foretold
| in a revelation by. God to Joseph Smith.
| Until recent years the candidates were
| at this stage sworn to avenge the death
| of Joseph Smith and his brother Hymen
| on the American people and to teach this
| spirit of revenge to their children. The
| informant believes this oath is no longer
| administered. The grip of another priest
| hood is then given the candidates, who
| are then shown through the prayer circle
room and instruction room. In the for
| mer the men kneel at the altar in circle,
with the women, yelled, behind them.
| The final stage is the admission to the
| portion of the temple where they are per-
| mitted to view the beauties of the world
| to come in a heaven on EARTH" which,
| the devout Mormon believes, was, like the
| rest of the temple, designed by divine
eyes and hands and revealed to the archi-
tects through his prophets of the Mormon
| faith.
The marriage ceremony is similar, up to
| the point where the candidates enter
heaven, In it the woman yields obedience
as to a god to her husband-elect. Some.
| times certificates are given. The first wife
of the man must 'go through the tenn
pie as the ceremony is denominated
| with each succeeding wife her husband
| takes. few women have refused to do