El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-22
\ ALT LAKE CITY is a place TO
y visit A visit should be made If

a
~ one would begin to appreciate
the solid worth and the sham, the viz
tue and the depravity, of the Mormon
system.
According to an authorized account
which it gives OF itself, 1T traces its
history back to a colony of Jews that
set forth from Jerusalem 600 years B.
c., sailed from the Persian gulf and
turned up on the west coast of South
America, where they BECAME the pro-
genitors- of the indian races
This would seem to allow very little
time for the development Of the racial
peculiarities of the indian and takes
no account of the extinct Aztec civiii-
cation; but such incidents are a negli-
gible quantity to one who is extempor-
izing history for a purpose.
The original colonists and their
descendants maintained the prophetic
office and one of the latest of. their
prophets, named Mormon. 1000 years
wrote out the history OF the people and
of Gods revelations to them. including
that of the gospel OF Christ
For reasons that are not quite clear,
his son Maroni concealed these records
In a hill somewhere in western New
York, but subsequently revealed then,
to Joseph Smith.
This is rather ragged history, but.
such as 1t is, brings us down to the
time when 81 years ago, later
prophet, Brigham Young, with 146 fol-
lowers, came through the canyon that
opened out into the superb valley, in
the midst of which is now situated
Salt Lake City. and declared that here
should be the abiding place of his peo-
pie. This city, with a theoretical area
Of 1900 square miles. could have had
10 lonelier site selected for it.
1t is environed on three sides with
mountains and the fourth side filled in
with Salt Lake. The valley is one o.
surprising fertility. and so abounds in
every variety of resource as to render
it almost Independent of outward sup
plies.
The city, not only in it's location but
In its entire construction, bears the
marks of Brigham Young's genius and
1t is to this as much perhaps as to his
character as a prophet that is due the
enthusiastic and reverend regard with
which his memory is cherished
The Distinguishing feature of the
city is. of course, the temple, which is
almost 200 feet long and 100 wide, It's
greatest height being 222 feet. In less
than six years after the arrival of the
first pioneers the edifice was COM
menced in the midst of a wilderness
covered with sage brush and was 40
years in building. The total cost was
100000 No Christian is allowed to
enter it, and none but the elect under
stand perfectly what transpires there
or what sort of doctrine is taught
there.
The tabernacle is the building into
which visitors are allowed and where
public services are held every Sab
bath. Mr.. Roosevelt once spoke in the
tabernacle. and 1t is reported that Mr..
Taft. when in Salt Lake City, made
himself persona grata to the Mormon
dignitaries.
People in political life are subjected
to very severe temptations.
The tabernacle is capable. of seating
5000 persons. Not more than an eighth
part OF that number was present the
morning we attended the service. The
first 40 minutes were occupied by
prelude rendered on the big organ,
which has over 100 registers and has
cost about s125,00O. The special feature
of 1t which impressed -us was it's enor-
nous capacity for sound. although, I'M
der the hands of an organist who
played upon it instead of performed
upon 1t, it would certainly be capable of
an infinite variety of effects
The musical demonstration was fol-
lowed by half hour discourse by DR..