The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1905-10-12

In spite of the fact that the Reed
Slnoot agitation Is practically forgot
ten, the Mormon question" is still
being agitated. Miss Marian Bon
sail Is Writing for the Housekeeper a
series Of articles In which she claims
10 expose the bare mendacity OF the
whole system of Mormonisni. In the
September issue the writer, after ex-
planning as much as she was able to
gather OF the mystic and deep
shrouded secrets OF the religion gives
the following account of what the
church ritual really is:
1.-THE ceremony proper is in reality
burlesque upon tie opening chapters
OF Genesis. 1t is regarded by the
mass of Latter Day Saints, however.
with a reyerential awe, and the
memory OF 1T is treasured 10y them as
the most sacred and wonderful event
I'm their lives. To persons of intelli.
genct 1t has sometimes proved so
revolving that they have become
apostates because Of 1t. The charac-
tiers OF Eloheim, Yahovah and
Michael are assumed by Mormons OF
high standing in the church. Their
voices are heard In conversation, a
crude paraphrase OF the scriptural
account of the creation. In which
the space is perceived to be good,
ana they decided to launch a planet
therein, which is to become the
world.
The part Of Eve Is taken by a
Mormon woman and the part OF the
devil by Mormon man.
The temptation In the Garden OF
Eden is portrayed with theatrical
display. After Adam makes his APP
pearance and has teen persuaded to
eat of the forbidden fruit. Eve and
himself, and also the spectators, don
green silk tig leaf aprons. This
dramatic scene Is Supposed to END
the first degree, and the spectators
are taught certain grips and pas
words. 1t Is easily seen that 10y
their means any two members OF the
Mormon church could make them
selves known to each other as Nor
mons, under any circumstances
without giving any signs of unusua
communication.
1t is not, however, the account oI
{ hn artI6nnnCc M hA nj. 81 al
the account OF how the people hav,
subjugated themselves body and sou
TO Joseph Il. Smith, direct repre-
sentative of God, which makes Nor
monism thing to be feared. No
the religion itself, but It's conse
quences are to be dreaded or thes'
results Miss Bonsall says:
"Greater and more terrible thar
all else, from the standpoint OF Amer
lean woman, it leads TO tne practic,
of plural marriage. 1t is possible
that one may mention the manifest
Ia contradiction OF this statement
say that the manifesto Is purely
blind to the eyes OF Gentiles and tn
government. Granted, there is n,
higher example than the hierarch
of the church. President Smith, a
we well know, Is living at the presen
time with five wives. OF the !
apostles, there have taken wive
since the manifesto, Apostles Teas
dale, Cowley. Taylor and Abram Can
non, deceased, and Apostle Woodruff
deceased. One OF the few admis
sions Of Reed Smoot during the Nor
mon investigation at Washington wa
that he had brought the unlawfu
marriages OF Apostle Taylor to tn
attention OF President Smith. Thes
men, however, retain their ecclesi
astical Office with regulations OF vi
dimmed lustre. There are only fou
OF the present II apostles who an
not known TO be living In polygamou
relations with several wives. Eide
Henry S. Tanner, judge In one {
the Salt Lake City courts and SUI el
intendent OF the Sunday schools c
the church OF Latter Day Saints.
openly charged with having marie
two young women as plural wiYe
since the manifesto. Charles Il
Merrill, son OF Apostle Merrill. hs
taken Il plural wife since that declal
alton was issued.
At least three OF Apostle Merrill
sons are living In polygamy. Apost
Merrill himself has seven wives an
As children. Brigham ii. Robert
whose election from congress Is we
remembered, is living with thrt
wives. and registers himself as liviu
with his last known plural, Dr. Ma
garet G. Shipp, in Salt Lake City.
Think mothers OF girls, what
would mean to raise your fresh your
daughters IN state branded In II
eyes OF the world with this curse;
state where the daily pewspape
discuss the subject constantly; whe
] plural marriage Is a common subje,
of conversation; where girls a
gaLed at curiously by travellers
possible daughters Of polygamol
mother: where they are frequent