MRS FANNY STEN HOUSE ON MORMONISM.

Evening Star, Issue 4045, 12 February 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

MRS FANNY STEN HOUSE ON MORMONISM.

(From the Melbourne Argus, January 24.)

A lecture exposing the evils of Mormonism was delivered by Mrs Fanny Stenhouse, in the Athenaeum Hall, Collins street, recently. Before commencing her lecture, Mrs Stenhouse gave a sketch of her. personal history, in order to prove to the audience that she was in a position to speak of the inner life of the saints in Utah. She informed the audience that she was born in Jersey, and from her childhood her mind Vad a strong religious bias. When about fifteen years of age she went to France as a teacher of English, whore she remained for six years. On her return she found that her father and mother, together with her sisters and brothers, had joined the Mormon sect. At that time there was no mention made of polygamy, »nd though at first prejudiced against the sect, she at last joined it, and a few months after married Mr Stenhouse, who was then one of the most prominent elders of the new religion. They went to the Continent, and gained over many proselytes, particularly from Switzerland. She then accompanied her husband to America, and after remaining some time in New York, they proceeded to Utah, where she remained for 16 years, and during that time had very frequent opportunities of seeing and conversing with Brigham Yc»»g. They became so intimately acquainted that Brigham Young's eldest son married her eldest daughter. The question had often been asked of her—if polygamy was such a frightful thing, why did not the women break away from it? But it must be borne in mind that most of the women were sincere believers in the religion, and until the railways were constructed it was most difficult to get away. There was another reason. The saints took the precaution never to allow their wives to have possession of any money. For herself, she had got all her family away from the place with the exception of her eldest daughter. One great cause of the success of the Mormo» missionaries iu Europe was owing to the ministers. If the missionaries could only gain over a minister, his flock was almost certain to follow. When polygamy was first mentioned, it was not spoken of in the opeu manner it is now. Marriage was described as merely a human invention, and the saints were considered to be too good to be bound by human laws. From this to polygamy the step was easy. No unmarried person could by any possibility enter the Mormon heaven. Bachelors were rigorously excluded, while old maids were by special favor allowed just inside the gates. Spiritual marriages were often made with persons who had died many centuries ago, merely for the purpose of bringing them into the kingdom of heaven; and others were christened for those who had died before Mormonism was thought of, ior. the same purpose. One benevolent old lady was christened for Henry VIII., but she declined to contract a spiritual marriage with him because his character was not of the best. Another was christened for the Empress Josephine, because in the next world it would be such an excellent thing to have an empress under obligation to her. At first it was expected that only those who could support more wives than one would indulge in polygamy ; but some keen-sighted Yankees turned the religion to profit, and often married half-a-dozen wives and employed them in a way to make their labor remunerative, while the lazy husband would " do nothing but just walk round and boss the lot." When out among the Gentiles the missionaries were not allowed to marry for fear they would select the most eligible. The whole flock were to be brought to Siou, so that the brethren who remained at home might have an equal chance. The wealthy elders would often drive out some distance to meet the caravans, and, strange to say, they would see the very girls whom the Lord had revealed to them in dreams to be their wives. On these occasions the well-to-do elders had the choice. The young men were told to stand on one side, and give the old men a chance. Mrs Stenhouse gave a very graphic description of the horrible "atonement of blood," and also related some amusing anecdotes of Mormons giving their experiences. The system of domestic management adopted by the Mormons was also fully described, from which it appeared that the most rigid economy is practised in the Mormon households. One of the most extraordinary features connected with Mormon life noted by the lecturer was the readiness with which the saints married their mothers-in-law. Mrs Stenhouse has a very poor opinion of Brigham Young. She doubts his honesty very much, and is of opinion that from the first he never overlooked his own interest. One anecdote gives a very insight into the man's charapter.

Brigham Young was employed by the prophet Joseph Smith to collect tithings, but as' Brigham Young did not pay in much tithings, and his private fortune rapidly increased from no apparent j cause, the prophet ventured to remonstrate ! with him. Brigham Young was highly indignant, and reminded the prophet that it was written, "gThou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn," to which the prophet replied that it was nowhere written that the ox should eat all the corn. The description of Brigham Young's , house and the system of managing his affairs proves that though he may be a very illiterate man he must have a great capacity for organisation. Mr Stenhouse gave a description of the ceremony when a husband takes a second wife, and described the evil effect of the institution on the minds of the children growing up in Utah. She was very attentively listened to throughout, and very frequently applauded. The anecdotes, with which the lecture abounds, were extremely amusing. •