The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-06-08
HOW MoRMoNs PROPOSE.
How a Mother Acts When Asked TO
Give Her Daughter In Marriage.

Give Her Daughter In Marriage.
Mrs. Hudson describes graphically
what she saw and heard in a Mormon
household during a significant visit
from the elders of the church. Below
is an extract;
Three men were ushered into the
room. One was tall and OF strong
well-marked features and dignified
presence. The others were stout and
florid and rather nervous in manner,
brothers apparently.
Without waiting for n formal intro
duction, one of these motioned incon-
sequently toward me and said, as she
of the Lords people?'
The woman offered them chairs with
n slight inclination OF the head, that
might have been taken either for an
swer or for an invitation to be seated.
Was she afraid? l could not tell.
The men paid no attention TO the in
vitation for the moment and ignored
my presence. They had come upon
urgent and important business, they
announced, and would state it at once.
IL was their duty 20 bear a message
to her, one that specially concerned
her.
yes" said the tall and solemn el.
der, 'it is indeed nothing less than
revelation received by the head OF the
church last night. IL concerns both
you and your daughter"
"My daughter" gasped the woman
in scarcely audible tones, and | saw
one hand grasp the back of n chair
convulsively.
Your daughter who has now grown
to womanhood," continued the elder,
"and owes her allegiance to the
church"
What is the revelation?' the wo-
man forced her drawn lips to ask.
Through the grace of the all wise
Father IL has been revealed to his dis
ciple, Brigham Young. that your
daughter, Clarlsse, should become the
third wife of Elder W. here pres
ent with us"
An awful silence ensued, and then a
convulsiye movement in the woman's
throat. as II her voice refused TO utter
a sound, attracted the attention of all.
and the men bowed their heads that
they might not see.
Ranged along the wall in a solemn
row sat the brother Of the bridegroom,
his mother his daughter and the
mother OF the bride. Clarisse's moth.
or was but the ghost OF herself OF yes
terday; then strong and erect and con.
tent; now trembling in her chair as IL
she would again fall TO the floor. her
appealing eyes unhcodcd. for her
daughter had been placed so that she
could not see her mother
Almost as quickly as the company
was seatcd-no time being permitted
for scenes, that were dislikod by the
head OF the church-tho voice Of Brig
ham Young rang ont loud and conf
dent Addressing the first wife, he
said: Are you willing 20 give this
woman TO your husband 60 be his law
ful wife for time and for all eternity?
II you are YOU will signify it by plac-
ing her right hand within the left
hand OF your husband"
The broken. wrctchcd wife reached
across the altar. and lifting the deli
cate hand OF the girl with her own
work.stiftenod fingers laid H. in the
broad outstretchcd palm Of her hus-
band Thus was the plural marriage
cossccratcd and the holy institution
of Christian vedlock desccrated, In
Christian America.
Long afterward ! knew that | had
witnessed one OF the tragedies In what
was known among the Mormons as
the Reformation and among the Gen
tiles as the Reign Of Terror.-Lippin'
colts Magazine.