The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-24
MORMON LIFE.
Mormon Life-The Faithful Still Prac-
tice Polygamy on the Q. T. 454 q

Mormon Life-The Faithful Still Prac-
tice Polygamy on the Q. T..
North YAKIMA, Wash, July IA, 'O2.$
In my last letter I mentioned my
visit with the Mormons, and thinking
it may interest you will attempt to
give you description of those peculiar
people as found them. III. -.... ~:
Ispent four months last winter at
Oneida, Idaho, village about a hun
dred and forty miles from Salt Lake
City, where all the people we're Nor
mons, and consequently had a good
chance to learn something of the pecu-
liarities of a people who believe them
selves to be the chosen ones of God,
and who believe that Joseph Smith, or
Joseph the Prophet" is second to
Christ only, and that Brigham Young
was given Divine aid to lead his people
from the bondage of sin as Moses of
old delivered his people from bondage.
had heard different stories about
the Mormons, one was that they were
a licentious people absolutely ignoring
moral laws, embracing religion with
out semblance of Christianity. Then
again [ heard that the Mormons were
strictly honest, that honesty was the
great principle of their religion, and
that dishonest person could not be
tolerated in the church. I had also
heard that the Mormons were all poor
in worldly goods, that they gave up
most of their income to the church.
Now had come among them and was
going to learn them as they were. I
laid aside all prejudices and attempted
to learn what could of a people about
whom so much has been said.
My first acquaintance was an old
Scotchman, who kept small hotel
where [ spent the first night of my
arrival. I spent the evening with the
family, and I shall never forget the
change that came over them when they
learned that I was not a 'sLatterday
Saint" and their great surprise at
learning that I had never seen any
Mormon people before, and was so
ignorant of their religion.
During the evening two missionaries
called on the family. They were in
troduced to their two daughters-in-law
who were staying there for the night.
The Scotchman, Mr.. H. shall call
him, said ''Brother S. this is Sister
H." and they shook hands warmly,
then he turned to me and said, ''this is
Mrs. Dunn" he made stiff bow, NUT
tered something which I couldn't quite
understand, and turned his back to me.
During the evening I ventured to
sound Mr.. H. on books. learned that
he could quote the Bible and he took
pains to quote passage in the Bible
upon which was based the theory of
Mormonism. AS I am not very con-
versant with the Bible myself will not
attempt to quote it exactly, but it was
something about an angel restoring
the Gospel to the world. The mission
aries joined freely in the conversation
and attempted to give me history of
Mormonism. That Joseph Smith was
holy martyr who tried to give the
Word of God TO people who had been
too corrupted to receive it, and that
his life and death was type of Christ
Himself. Finding that I could not
we'll express my ideas without that
which would seem to them proclamation,
ventured to change the conversation
by asking Mr.. H. If he read Burns"
shall never forget how his face
frightened on my mentioning the man
so loved by all Scotchmen! He could
talk Mormonism because he believed
it his duty, but when [ spoke of his
tavorite poet his eyes fairly shone with
pleasure.
Did I love Scotch poetry? Why
should I be interested in the poet of
his own hearth. quoted some lines
from Tam O'Shanter," The Cotter's
Saturday Night 1.-THE Iva Dogs'
and he became so enthused that he
joined with me in quoting my favorite
lines. Then he asked his daughter to
get him his ''Burns," and he proudly
displayed a morocco bound volume of
Burns poems, with a picture of his
dearly loved bard.
At my request he read ''Tam O'Shan-
ter" ''Death and DR.. Hornbrook,"
1.-The iva Dogs" and his Address to
; the Toothache." 1 can hardly tell
which OF US derived the most pleasure
from his reading, he for finding one
who thoroughly appreciated and en-
joyed the Scotch humor and wit, or T
for hearing my favorite poems of
Burns read by real scotchman just
as [ imagine Burns himself would have
recited them.
During the evening after that be-
1iouo ho +lo% -