Year: 1873

Through all the vague popular impress
sion of the declining vitality OF Mormon
ism in Utah runs the general idea that the
Mormon women are certainly less satisfied
than formerly with their ignoble domestic
situation, and mu.t t vitaby supply po-
tent element of rebellion against the insti-
tutions of Brigham Young, and his sinister
priesthood in the near future. From sew
eral recent signs tending TO confirm this
idea may be quoted the Salt Lake Tribune's
account of n scene lately witnessed in that
city, on the occasion of local saints at
tempt to replensh his household by the
matrimonial plurality approved of his bar
barous faith. a few years ago ii would not
have been necessary for the intending po-
lygamist in question 10 trouble himself
m uch about the possible private objection
of his first wife TO the act ession of a Sec
ond but in these days Of the Pacific rail-
road there is steadily increasing Gentle
population and sentiment in the Mormon
capital, AMI his original helpmate required
endless argument to confute the heresies
which had been planted in her mind by
certain orthodox neighbors. Believing,
however, that he had finally reasoned and
intimdated her into the properly submis-
sive mood to perform the ceremony requir-
ed of her in the matter, he duly notified
his secondary intended to be present with
him in the Endowment House, as it is call
ed, on Sunday week, when priest of their
| Latter Day Church would unite them in
marriage. When the day came he was
much discounted to find the first lady dis
4, Il nj
| in her reception of his most urgent remon-
sirances. But he could not doubt that she
would yield at the very last it seemed in
credible that she should dare to do other
wise, and he went 10 the temple to meet
his bride in no greater perturbation of spir-
| ii than from the passing excitement of
temporary dispute. 1t is 4 part of Sec
oud marriage in Utah for the first wife to
avow publicly her unreserved consent 10
the ceremony, and, Of course, the ceromo-
NAL Of the present case could not proceed
| without this feature. Great, then, was the
cha1rin OF the bridegroom and the bride
when, at the summons of the priest, they
found themselves unattended by the nec-
essary third party 10 the contract. "The
man looked confused and dismayed,' says
| the Tribune, "the woman turned pale and
called for 4 smelling bottle. The former
statnmeled out something about the absent
lady being contumacious through the un-
holy influence of Gentle associations, and
asked if the ceremony could not go on with
out her. But here was a fatal block. A rub-


lie holocaust of the first wile's. natural
affections must be made formally In order
that the second wedding should be canon
ically sound, and after an interval of pain
fully hopeless waiting the defeated pair
were compelled 10 leave the Endowment
House unwedded." As before suggested,
such an incident would not have been pos
sible few years ago, under the old su-
preme authority of the priesthood over the
destinies and lives of all Mormondom, and
its occurrence was ominously significant or
a collapse in the power Of the Mormon rul-
ers. Ii shows, too, as the journal already
quoted adds, that with tie women OF Utah
lies the true potentiality of destroying the
barbarism by which they have been de-
graded to level with brutes, and that a
spirit to combine for a redress of their
griovous wrongs would overthrow Nor


monlsm more efieclualy and speedily than


any Congressional action or judicial proc


ess. Let it but have few examples of the
above kind and Brigham's rumored hegira


to new territory will be failure before its


beginning.