A MORMON MARRIAGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 236, 14 February 1880, Page 2

A MORMON MARRIAGE.

\ A, correspond .nt of the Louisville GouHer-J6urhal;wr;ites we got through we saw Joseph E. ViSmilh sitting at a table recording the names .of those who were candidajes for marriage. He wrote the names in U lx)ok (the existence of which marriage register this truthful apostle has sihce ' cleniedb t-d that a polygamou'vmarriage might not b« found but), and; thenihe . wrote tin two n mes on a piece of paper, to be taken--into —the'-ee»lmg r rroem—to--4)& officiating priest, ap r ..thafc he might, know whom he was marrying. After having given this slip cf paper to the priest (Daniel Wells) we r knelt at a 1 ittle wooden altar (they were all alike at the Endowment House). He then asks the man if he'ia willing to take the woman to : wife, and Woman if- : she. i.s willing to take him for. her husband. They having both' answered yes, lie Tells the mao he must look to God,, but fjhe woman must look to her husband as her God, for if he lives his -religiop the spirit of God will he in him, and she must therefore yield him unquestioning pb» edience, for heisagod. unto ; her, and then concludes by .saying that he having authority from on high to bind; and loose here upon earth, and . whatsoever he hinds litre shall be botlnd in heaven, seals the man and woman .for. all; time and eternity.' He then;tells? the; mail ami woman to each, other acroii the al tar, the man kneehng oh 1 the north , side sind the woman on. tliesouth,- arid so it is finished . Sometimes hajgg.--witnesses, sometimes n >t; iffthey f %k . any trouble may:arise: from a m>rriage or that the Woman is inclined to bo a little perverse* they dmve no. witnesses ne tber do they give^r^Tfiage’certificates anil, it occasion requires it ami it is t<> shield any ol.tiieir polygamous brethren from Being found out, they will positively swear that they t|id not preform the niar*riage at all, so that the women; in this

church have • but a very poor outlodk for hOng considered 'honourable' 'Wives* . When tne marriage ceremony was over vve came but of the; “ sealing room,” .. .and .1 crossed “ Heaven ” into the ladies* dressing room, where, afte" h«v-.. ing drrased, and my husband haviug'parel ■■ the ftes, ive took our departure,t;>getner ■ wit!) that of the “Holy Spirit.’* It was 330 pmi. when We left, I gone there at eight o’clock in the morning. You can probably imagine -how fatigued one feels .after listening patiently all the time to their, .incessant talking. Certainly at the end- of the time cine feels like taking in' nourish- ’ nieiit rather than listening _ to-' the- • promptings of the “ Holy Spirit^*, v