Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-09-19
SALT LAKE CITY
AND THE MORMONS
Continued from First Page

of the castings, enameling, gliding,
etc. makes the whole surprisingly
grand.
On the east side of the corridor are
two assembly rooms, and on the next
floor above, three large rooms, all of
them beautifully decorated and fur
nished at great cost, description of
each being impossible. One of the
apartments on this floor is worthy
of special notice. 1t is between the
other two, elevated a few feet above
the others, and approached by a stair
way of white and gold. The room is
circular in form, with domed ceiling
encicled by jeweled windows admit
ing softened light of varied hues.
The walls are artistically paneled, red
silk velvet forming borders, and the
floor is inlaid with inch-square blocks
of hard wood, polished, a pattern of
great beauty. On the next floor is a
corridor on each side of which are apart
ments for the different church officers.
Ascending by granite stairway to
the next floor, is found the general
assembly room, 20xS0 feet. grand
and beautiful room. with gallery on
each side, seating 1000 people. AS
elsewhere about the building here is a
profusion of art and beauty, and upon
the roof of the Temple is broad
promenade, from which a beautiful
view of the surrounding scenery may
be obtained.
The Tabernacle, just west of the
temple, is one of the architectural
wonders of the world 1t is elliptical
in shape. like half of prodigious
egg-shell, cut in two lengthwise. and
is built wholly of wood, iron, glass
and stone. 1t is 250xl50 feet, 70 feet
high. The interior presents the APP.
pearance of an oval arch without any
center support, being one of the largest
self-supporting arches in America,
and probably the largest in the world
composed wholly of wood. the fasten-
ings even being made with wooden
pegs instead of nails. The bents of the
roof are composed of lattice truss
and rest upon forty four stone pillars,
The gallery, which extends around
three sides of the building, is $50 feet
long and 30 feet wide. The building
has seating capacity of 10, 600 people.
hos txra fu mid
and 10, 600 people can pass out in three
minutes, in which respect this
structure has no equal in the world.
Another feature which rivals the
world is its famous acoustic properties.
Standing at one end of the building,
one can hear the dropping of pin in
the other end, over 200 feet away, as
easily as when standing close by.
fhe great pipe organ in this taber-
nacle is also pronounced by musical
critics the finest in the world, being
unequalled in variety of construction
and quality of tone. The original
organ was constructed over thirty
years ago, entirely by Utah artisans
and mostly from native materials.
1t is 30xS3 feet in size, 50 feet high,
has 10S stops and over 5000 pipes 1t
comprises five complete organs, four
key boards in addition to the pedals.
Free recitals are given on Tuesdays
and Fridays, which are always heard
by large number of tourists visiting
the city. \ chorus choir of 800 vote e.
occupies seats on the sides of the
organ during services, and the music
of the organ and the voices is beauti-
full indeed
The Assembly Hall near by is of
white granite, Gothic architecture,
l2Ox6S feet, and seats 5000 people,
and contains another fine organ, built
by Utah artisans This building is
used for overflow meetings.
On the block lying east of the Ten
pie Block is the Tithing Office, where
the fittings of the church are col
lected, and supplies purchased and
distributed to the needy. Every
Mormon is supposed to contribute his
title regularly TO the church. In the
immediate neighborhood are the
publishing houses, official residences,
university, business college and other
buildings of the church.
We would like to give description
of the Mormon religion, their beliefs
and methods of living, but are unable
to because we did not have the oppor-
tunity to investigate it sufficiently to
be competent to do so. y few facts.
however, may be of int rest.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter-Day Saints is generally considered
the most perfect ecclesiastical organ
iaztion in the world Its adherents
number about 5000, coo. Many of them
are proselytes to the faith gathered in
from different parts of the world, but
the great majority are Americans.
The vanguard of the Mormons reached
Salt Lake valley July "a, IS47. after
being driven out of Nauvoo, H., and
pilgrimage across the country filled
with adventure and privation.
The country was then an uninviting