NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2156, 16 February 1880, Page 2

NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

THE MOBMOK MOVEMENT. The new Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City which has been three years in course of erection, was opened on Saturday Jan. 30 by the Saints. Before the close of the service Apostle President Taylor' attacked the enemies of polygamy, severely censuring the nation for opposition to the choice institution of Mormonism, which, he maintained, was a divine institution, saying the Lord had told him so and made him become a polygamist. Now he wanted to see whether Heaven or Uncle Sam was going to prevail; for his part he was going to stick to the Lord. He averred that polygamy was the true exercise of the Latter Day faith, and defied the United States to abolish it. He averred that no nation on earth could prevent it, nor all the nations combined. The tabernacle was crowded. Ho called for an expression from the audience, which embraced five thousand people at least, asking them to raise their right hand before God if they sympathised with him in his defiance of government interference. The enthusiasm was intense. All hands but one went up. Mothers even lifted aloft the hands of their children, Apostle Joseph T. Smith followed, speaking in the same strain and existing the same defiant attitude.

QUARRELS AMOXCt THE APOSTLES. Delegate cannon seems to have accomplished little with his associate apostles, for they are as defiant as ever Before he left for Washington he said to a gentleman that he was satisfied that cither polygamy must go or that the Mormons had to go. The delegate is in an awkward position and he realises it. He has to speak sense among sensible men in Washington, while his apostle chief indulges in rebellious rubbish. There has been current for two weeks a report that the apostles are seriously divided on general church policy, and that Delegate Cannon was called from Washington to take part in an important deliberation. The chief apostle wants to step into Brigham Young’s shoes, and bo President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator of the whole Church. Apostle Smith claims that as the nephew of the founder of Mormonism he is entitled to the highest position. Apostle Orson Pratt claims that he is the oldest apostle, and that Taylor is only at the head because Brigham had a grudge against him, Pratt. They are in a nice

muddle. THE SAINTS IN TROUBLE. Commenting on tnc Mormon movement the New York “ Herald ” of Jan. 10 says:—The whole affair now simmers down to the question. Shall President Hayes and Congress submit to this impudent bluff, or shall they advance with civilisation and sweep off this foul blot of barbarism from the domain of the United States ? Mil PARNELL IN AMERICA. Mr. Parnell the Irish Agitator addressed a crowded meeting at Madison Square Garden on Sunday evening Jan. I. The following are a few extracts from his speech. The cause of the present distress is the unequal and artilicial system of land tenure which prevails in Ireland. The effect of that cause is, of course, the distress; and while we take care to do the best we can —and the best we can will be but little —to relieve distress, we must also take care that we take advantage of the unexampled opportunity which is now presented to us for the purpose of sweeping away the bad system. In ’l7 and subsequent years, when the great Irish famine took place, America came forward first among the nations with unexampled liberty. Put did that liberality prevent the famine? Did it prevent millions from dying of starvation or the pestilence which followed? (Cries of “No! No!”) Did it prevent the banishment of many more millions? Did it prevent the scenes in Ireland of these years —No! No charity that can be given b} r America will avail to preventlrish distress. That must be the duty of the British government, and we must sec that we shame that government into a sense of its obligation. (Great applause.) Where, where is the process of charity to end ? Are we to be compelled continually, every. ten or twelve years, to appear as mendicants before the world? (Cries of “No! No !”) Then I say to the people of this country, “ If you wish to rescue us from that position, help us in destroying the system which brings it on.” America subscribed, and subscribed in those years The people of Ireland living iu this country have been subscribing ever since. A voice—lt all goes to the landlords. My friend in the crowd has anticipated me by telling you that it goes to the landlords. Yes, your hard-earned savings that you have sent with such true devotion to your fellow countrymen over there have gone in payment of excessive rents and in bolstering up this terrible system. I said just now that we must shame the British Government into a sense of itt obligations to Ireland iu this matter (Hear, hear.) But I regret that they have shown their usual want of recognition of these obligations up to the present. What was the Irish Chief Secretary's reply to those avlio waited upon him and urged him to establish fuel depots through (he wastes of Ireland?—for 1 must explain to those who are not acquainted with Irish matters that almost all Ire-

land is dependent for its fuel upon the turf that is cut in the bogs. This fuel, owing to the excessive rains during the whole summer, is in a state of mud. It is entirely unlit to burn ; and, in addition to the pressure of hunger, we have added the pressure of cold. Well, Mr Lowther —(hisses) —when he was asked to establish fuel depots—and I only mention this as an example of the way in which our rulers over there treat this grave question—said : —“ Oh, they have fuel enough to hum bonfires in honor of the release of Mr Davitt.” (Applause.) Because a few dried or half dried furze bushes were lighted on the Irish hills in honor of the release of Davitt, this paltry excuse is put forward, gravely put forward, by the responsible Minister of the Crown.