Mormons on the Way to Utah.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4484, 19 May 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

Mormons on the Way to Utah.

The Herald's Wellington oorres-i pondent writes: — "Included among the steerage passengers of the s.s. Penguin, which left^ _Welliußton_. yesterday afternoon, carrying mails, cargo,; and passengers, intended for transhipment at Auckland into mail steamer* en route for San Francisco, were fifty-five Mormons. Out of these only half-a-dozen ndults, and. the remainder composed of children, embarked at Wellington, the complement having been drafted from Southern dis-i tricts. The Wellington detachment of proselytes consisted wholly of members of the Scandinavian race, who, it seems, have been induced from whatever cause to accept the Gospel of the Latter Day Saints, at the instance of Elder Parr, a Mormon, whose visit to this city, some months ago, will be still remembered.. The /Wellington converts, or rather, perverts, hail from the Forty Mile Bush, and probably the representation that free grants of lands would be offered them on their, arrival in the State of Utah, had more to do with their conversion than the doctrines and practices of the followers of Joseph Smith. Certainly they were a dirtylooking lot, and their appearance pro yoked a general expression of opinion among those who witnessed their depar ture, that they would not be missed from New Zealand. Hundreds of people- collected at the end of the wharf and on board the steamer, to catch a glimpse of them, as well as to enjoy the fun which was held out in an advertisement appearing on the previous day, to the effect that Elder Farr "would be pleased to meet his friends and the public generally" when he would address a few farewell remarks on the benefits of " Mormonism." The steamer was announced to leave at 3 o'clock, and long before that hour crowds of people were seen streaming up the wharf towards the berth where the Pen gum lay, and those who were unable to find suitable accommodation on the pier went on board, and others took up a posi tion in the rigging, from which to view the proceedings. Elder Farr himself was observed on deck, in earnest conversation with a well-known saddler of this city, who, however, was not a passenger for the Salt Lake City, but from the first to last he did not lift his voice in public, to the sore disappointment of not a few who were all impatience to indulge in humorous sallies at his expense. In that he displayed his wisdom. iNot so easily deterred from addressing the multitude, however, was a i a fat, greasy looking saint, with a greyish beard, and who informed his hearers that he had joined the Mormons about three years ago. Mormonism, however, does not appear to have improved his outward appearance, and evidently inculcates a contempt for soap and ,clean clothes, besides teaching its adherents to eschew the ■ hairdresser. The saint, moreover, despised the rales of grammar, and set orthoepy at defiance. Whatever his faults, however, he was thoroughly in earnest, and, as he raised his left arm in patriarchal fashion, while giving vent to his peculiar oratory, his hand quivered with excitement, in accompaniment with the tremulousness of his voice. It was the old story ov«r again. The Mormons were " agoing to rule the Whole world, and those present could please themselves whether they accepted the testimony he was abearing to them. (A voice, 'I say, old feller, how many wives have you got ?") He bad only one wife, and she went onjboard this ? vessel." When he was in Utah he had occasion to be absent from his wife for some time, but he had never taken another wife, nor did he intend to feel the want of one—(laughter)—but the Prophet Isaiah- had said the time should come when seven women should take hold of one man. (Boars of laughter.) It was better for a man, however, to have several wives if he could support them •properly than to raise up a lot of children for other people to take oar^ of." (Ironical applause.) Calls were, subsequently made for Elder Farr, who was conspicuous by his absence. These were answered by a small boy, who said he he had " gone below for a drink.'' Presently the taint

found that he had enough of it, and drew to one side. A number of boys requested him- to " leave them a !cck of his hair to poison the rats with." Wi.cn tlie steamer cast off the converts wer; 1 fi-en sharing a bottle of pickled onions, while the saint with uplifted arms was exhorting them to pay no heed to the gibes of the profane onlookers, who sped the vessel on her voyage with three ironical cheers.