AMONG THE MORMONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1265, 7 August 1880, Page 3

AMONG THE MORMONS.

A cobreSpondent of the Detroit Free Pras, who recently paid a vit«ifc lo Salt Lake City, writes to that journal as follows :—: — Our excursion arrived a'u Salt Lake about 10 p.m. I considered myself fortunate in getting n room to myself and a very nice bed. The city and its environs are in a valley. On two sides aio snowcapped mountains. Sunday morning I went out^ saw the sun rise over the mountains, and went into tho lato Brighatn Young's garden. I saw a good deal of the city, and ' after breakfast went to mass. After dinner we went" to the Tabernacle ; having waited to go with Mrs 0— — m and party, we got late, the doors were locked and no one Avas admitted until after the invocation (for they would' not ' be disturbed) ; then the crowd rushed in, Mormons and G-eutiles. I followed the crowd. There had been 125 seats reserved for us (for it was in the small Tabernacle, the largo one not being sufficiently heated) I did not notice the seats prepared for us, so I found myself in thegallery with the Mormons, seated on the front row, Avhere I could see everything, j The organ is back where the altar of our church would stand, and in front of that aie the saints; up high is a sofa where Brighara Young sits, with a long desk or counter, here two or three sit ; then down three steps a similar counter, wilh six or seven men behind it, then down five steps are twelve bishops, and before them another counter,' covered with a white cloth and on it six silver basket's, six silver pitchers and twelve silver cups, with two handles. When we first came in these twelve bishops were all standing and working their hands. I found they were " breaking bread ;" then ono held up his hands and said, ' ' Oh, God, bless this bread, that those who parta'< c of it may ieel the benefit in the name of Jesus." These bishops then passed their crumbs around ; first, one went among the saints, and others carried the baskets around, and all ,tho Mormons, men, women and children, partook ; and one # woman gave some of it to her baby. Then the baskets were all refilled and carried around. In the meantime, one of the bishops who was preaobing stopped in the middle of his discourse to bless the water ; they then filled the pitchers, and after the saints had partaken^ round wont the men with this, and one cup of whicn every one drank. When, the pitchers were empty, they returned and refilled them with water from barrels underneath the counter. It was not handed to Jthe Gentiles, but Ti little boy of the party got some of it and drank a long thirsty drink. They took me for a Mormon, being seated among them, and one of the women upstairs told me " tho«e were strangers ; that 125 seats had been reserved," &o. I asked her where, and she showed me. The sermon was all about '• Zion," and " the Lord .said He should build ahou^e," &c. ; how the Roman Catholics thought they were right, and the Baptists thought thoy were ; but Zion existed before any of them, and they were to build a bouse in the la&t.days; it was them the Lord meant, &c. The singing and music were very good, but I never s_aw such a sameness of faces, such homely common-look-ing people ; but all looked healthy. There was only one deformed person among&t tho immense concourse, and he was a hunchback. Well, from the .Tabernacle we went to Brisrhara Yoong's grave, up •i high hill, with a .stone fenco around the yard. The first thing that met our view was an old shed on a high pile of dirt — a most neglected-looking place. His tombstone is a large granite and an iron railing around it, gith an inscription. One of the Moimons came up, and we walked with him. I secured a few small pieces of the granite, thinking our young naturalist, Charlie H , Avould like them. Afterwards I heard that one of the saints came up and Avas quite angry because the atone had been chipped. We then Avent further up the hill and had a magnificent view of the cily. There is a. spring up the mountain that comes doAvn in a wooden gutter all over the city — the purest looking water — one can drink by the roadside. By the use of grates, Avhich keep the water in certain places, when they wish to irrigate the gardens in the city they open and it runs into all the gutters and yards. They have it connected Avith ho&e, Avith which they wash windows, sprinkle yards, &c, a"* we do. Every one has a pump and Avell in their yards, without expensive waterworks to pay for. The next day I Avent to the warm springs, far up in the mountains. There were tAVO big pools inclosed*. The water is very warm to the touch, blue as indigo, and thick looking, but still you could see the bottom. There Avere five or six steps into it, but I did not go doAvn. I drank a glass of J;he water ; it was warm and impregnated with salt and sulphur, but not enough to be disagreeable. I came doAvn again to see the Tabernacle, which is the most wonderful building I ever saw. It is built in the shape of a beehive, is 70ft in height in the interior, and SOft exterior, 230 ft x l."» Oft, the roof of shingles and self-supporting. It seats 12,000 people. The acoustic properties are curious. I went to one end and a person stood at the other and dropped a small pin and I heard the fall as distinctly as if dropped at my side. He then felt for it and I heard. He then whispered "do you hear me? and I ansAvered as low as I could, "perfectly ;" he repeated Avhat I had said — it was wonderful. The organ is very large, and they have evergreens and artificial flowers hanging from the roof that have been there for five years. They arc building a large temple for baptisms and different secret feoeiuties. The Avails are enormously thick of this edifice. To hear the Mormons advocate their doctrines is quite curious. They tell you how they arc belied; how "wiien tho fountain is pure the water is pure ; that they are a God-fearing and law-abiding people, no drunkenness among them." I went to the Beehive — Brigham Young's house — and asked a woman for a piece of paper to Avrap my flowers in ; bbc it gaA'e to me. Her room was very disorderly. On that side of the hoiv-e there were sixteen doors, eight aboA r e and eight below ; a front door, and nine doors on the other bide, and the house is sui - rounded by a high wall. I then wont to the Museum. Among other curiosities they had a whito silk apron, worked by Queen Elizabeth, and given to Brigham Young. He gave it to Ann Eliza, and she gave it to the Museum. I saw more than any one of my party. I Avent off on my own account and saAV everything but Camp Douglas, and that I did not get to. The vieAV was good from thore, but 1 had seen as many good vieAvs as I Avished to ; aud as to soldiers, I cm see them any day. The most of the party Avent around- in carriages, for Avhich they paid a good price, and saw nothing. I Avalked and saw everything worth seeing. I Avent through their co-opcrativo stqro, where you can buy anything you can name, jt is ai+ immense pjain .-quare brick building. After dinner we started for Ogden on tho train. The conductor Avas Brighams step -.son. His mother left his father at Otfften to live with Wrigham. He said he A\ f a-> "overv bit a Mormon and had six Avivus" Th 1 l.iilroad br'tweni these t.. r o citio i- owncl by the Mormons and, run by them,