A MORMON MARRIAGE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1540, 25 January 1879, Page 3

A MORMON MARRIAGE.

Annie Thompson writes to the Salt Lake " Tribune" a communication detailing the form of marriage ceremony performed at the mysterious Endowment House. The writer illustrates by describing tho recent marriage of Miles and Miss Owens. She says :—lf the woman who now styles herself Mrs Owens Milc3 was an honest and deserving woman when she left London to emigrate to Utah with the Latter day Saints, and so soon after her arrival here, only some five weeks ago, pas-ed through the Endowment House, I think there might be some palliation for her very peculiar and seemingly inconsistent conduct. When Caroline Owen went to the Endowment House, she entered at the north door and gave her name to the recorder, she then passed inside to be waahed, taking off her clothes until she was as naked as the hour she was born. She was then washed from head to foot; afterward she was covered with oil and blessed by tho holy priestess; her head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, neck, arm?, heirt, breast, back and all parts of her body anointed. She then put on her now garments and received her new name in a whisper by tho officiating priestess, the woman who lied so beautifully in court. Passing along, she came before the Great Jehovah and Elohim, they being in another room, and commenced reading the ritual of the order, " Let us go down and make man," &c, which is all too tedious to mention. Miss Owen passed on from one change to another, having her robes and her apron on to appear before the master of ceremonies to receive the oaths. Standing straight, as shown bv the elder, bringing her right arm at an angle, then placing it across her throat as the terrible words were uttered by the officiating priest, then drawing and extending her arm straight out and bringing it back to a right angle, striking it straight to the earth, interpreting the oaths as spoken, that her throat should be cut from ear to ear, that her heart should be cut out, and that she bo disemboweled and her body be buried in the depths of the sea, &c, if she should divulge anything pertaining to the ceremonies performed in that house. This is not all the oath by a great deal. Miss Owens then received all the grips, signs, tokens, &c. There are several of these which only the faithful can understand. Miss Owens then passed on to the other degrees, prayer circles, &c. Passing onward and upward she came to the vail or arch. John Miles was on tha inside of the vail or arch, Caroline on the outside. Then the compass and square were cut over her heart. There was only a sheet to separate John from Caroline, and before she could gel through to where John was, she had to put her foot to his foot, her knee to his knee, her breast to his breast, her lips to his lips. Then John whispered in her ear and told her the new name she had named below. Nobody on earth knows what that name is but John and Caroline. He then brought Caroline through tho vail or arch to be married. Joseph F. Smith sat immediately opposite at the table, John stood at the right and Caroline at the left. After tho usual questions were put and answered, the marriage was proceeded with and finished, John and Caroline walking to the sealing room, where Joseph F. Smith sat on the throne, and later stood at the door. Miss Owens walked around to the north side of the altar and Miles remained on the south side. Joseph F. Smith proceeded with the ceremony. John and Caroline were kneeling when Joseph F. told them to clasp hands across the altar and kiss each other, which they did. He then sealed them up to everlasting life, to come forth in the morning of the first insurrection to receive power and to carry out the laws of protection for ever and ever. Amen.