The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-04-02

practiess that seem rather startling
10 neople not Of the Mormon faith.
One Of these is the custom OF seal
ing" for the dead.
In this strange ceremony a living
man, perhaps already possessed OF
several wives In the flesh, Is united
in the bonds OF matrimony to the
spirit Of girl who died III single
blessedness This lnsures tho young
woman's salvation IN the future HE
There Is no limit to the number OF
spiritual brides = man many take IN
this manner For a man to we'd a
large number OF deceased women oy
this ceremony is regarded as hish'y
praisworthy one courageous mAh,
who occupies high position III the
church, has been sealed to joo
celestial brides during the past 10"
years. With him IL Is matter OF
religious duty. In the uext world
he will DO surrounded by this
aggregation OF wives, each OF whom
will have the right to claim htm as
husband
This celestial form OF marriage Is
not eonfned to dead women and ltg
ing men. 1t is frequently performed
while both parties to the contract
are still living on earth. Some
surprising results have sVentuated
from this peculiar custom which
permits a woman TO have two or more
husbands at the same time. A recent
case in point WAS that Of DE- John L.
Park, who died few years ago, has
ing a considerable estate. \ claimant
10 his fortune appeared 10 the person
Of Mrs Annie Armitags Park Hilton,
who asserted that she was widow %
he dead Mormon Al the ensuing
trial la the state courts IL DEVELOPED
that while young girl shes vas ssiled
with an illness that prom tsed h DO
fatal She firmly believed that hsr
chances for celestial glory would DO
greatly increased II She was wife,
even In name only, before her Death.
At her request DIR Park was sent Tor
! The girl was supposed 10 b. on hsr
leathbed marriage ceremony
was performed and the two we're
sealed" for eternity. subsequently,
! Miss Armitage recovered hsr health
. 40 no time did ahs live with Or
, Park, bat, Instead, married William
} Hilton, with whom she resided uhtls
( her spiritual spouse, DR. Park con
tiuued To a single state In defend
ing the suit she brought 10 recover a
widow : share Of the Park estate, b,
> vas set up that the ceremony os
; marriage vas not legal, "a IL ~as Tor
eternity alone The Mormon leaders
we're greatly DESTROYS that this con
) tention Of the illssality Of the ssal
{ ing" for etsrnlty should be-. sztablt,h
! sd, for this form Of marriage Il aeon
venient method oS lodging prosecu
. tton for polygamy. The trial court
$ held to the Mormon Wow. bat the
( supreme court OF tho state reversed
the verdict and declared Mrs. Hilton
p to b. the legal widow Of Or Park.
. To be- married In the great tsmpla
I at Salt Lake city Ia eonsiIsrsd a
. distinction among the Mormous.
/ The privilege IL granted only 90
D Latter Day Saints whose standing la
= the church Ia unquestioued aud Who
D are favored by the ward bishop
The doors Of the temple ara never
, opened Entrance Is gained through
an underground passagewaY that rou
meets With a smaller building about
a 100 yards away from tho main struct
ure. To this annex the bride and
groom repair, iIkiug with them
specially Designed .1rmerts A.,
soon "A they are within no sacred
portals Of tho temple they are
: separated, the bride being taken In
charge by ono u tho women Iarksry
Of the temple, while m older or ather
male church officer acts a. guide for
the groom. The ordinary clothing l.,
exchanged for the temple robes and
the ceremony commences.
Through all that follows thu brido
and groom do not soc zach other.
After being most thoroughly annolnt
cd from hair to soles with oil tho
journey through the temple begins
the bride being conducted ty rDuts
different from that travsrasd BIZ bor
intended husband
Throuhgout the great temple arc
art treasures, gathered from the fonr
quarters Of the earth. Iarye oil
paintings depict various scenes
associated with the Biblical history
OF the creation and the fall If man.
and there are other paintings which
illustrate various phases Of moro
modern life. Each picture contains
its lesson, which is duly act forth for