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Show mtti Jjhtn VOL. 1. NO. womanhood of the country stand united for them. There is a power in combined enlightened sentiment and sympathy , before which every form of injustice and cruelty must finally go down. Harriet Beecher Stowe Society Anti-Polyga- of Utah. ARTICLE oxvt tt Jfife, and 2. Women who reside in Utah for any length of time, and who do not completely isolate themselves from contact with surrounding influences, cannot fail to. have the evils of polygamy brought to their notice, and their sympathies excited for the suffering and sorrows cf its victims, and their indignation aroused by the Mormon priesthood urging its practice. For a long time they felt that something ought, something must be done to put a stop to the cruel and debasing system, from year to year they have been deluded by the hope that Congress would take some decisive action in the premises. The Gentile press of Salt Lake City has rung out no uncertain tone; they have made valiant warfare on the assumptions and exactions of the priesthood, the one man power, the doctrine, obey counsel stultifying the oppression of the poor, as well as the gross sensualism of polygamy, and they have done much toward enlightening the people both in and out of Utah, as to the inner machinery of Mormon theocracy. But as polygamy is a sin most especially against woman, as it desecrates the home and fireside, and renders mutual confidence and equality between husband and wife an utter impossibility, it seems right and meet that woman should be its most uncompromising opponent. It is unquestionably true that nothing more fully attests the progress of a nations civilization than the position of its women. And it is equally true that at no period of the world's existence, has woman better shown her womanly nature than at the present time, and that her missionary labors and works of charity among those of her own sex have been most signally blest. But for years, although the women opposed to the system, felt as before stated, that something ought to be done, yet the way did not seem open for them to take any determined action. At last, in the fall of IS78, unusually glaring polygamous marriage aroused their indignation to siich a degree that they felt they could not remain passive any longer. A young English girl who became engaged to a Mormon elder, while preaching in Eng- - nsbattd.l evertt ITJoman have 1cr own SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, MAY, 2. To the Women oj America: Let every happy wife and mother who reads these lines give her sympathy , prayers and efforts to free her sisters from this degrading bondage . Let all the The Ladies' have I(h land, came with him to Utah in order to have their marriage solemnized in Zion. After arriving in Salt Lake City, he informed her that he was also engaged to two other young girls, sisters, who lived in the Southern part of the Territory, and that he intended to marry all three at the same time. He also informed her that the eldest of these sisters was to be the first wife, ZuZ tll second and the younger sister the third. Of course, she resented the idea of him going into polygamy, and was especially averse to being the second wife, but if he was determined to live his religion, she pleaded her right to be first, as they were old friends from childhood, and had been engaged almost from that time, though separated for a number of years, during which interim he had become" a convert to Mormonism. She was-s'persistent, that the matter was referred to the head of the Church, John Taylor, who decided that the eldest of the three girls must be first wife, and the English girl second. While the marriages were pending, she had become acquainted with some Gentile neighbors of the Mormon family whose guest she was, and to them she confided her troubles. They took a great deal of interest in her, urged her never to consent to that arrangement, and infro-duce- d her to some women who h experienced the horrors of polygamy, and they furthermore assured her that if she would renounce the man who wanted thus to degrade her, that the Gentiles as a unit would champion her cause. But she was very much infatuated with him, went throligh the Endowment House ceremonies, was married to him in that institution, and at the wedding feast, which was given byher Mormon entertainers, when she found the oMier girl recognized as his first wife, seemed to realize the position in which she had placed herself. By the intervention of these Gentile acquaintances the matter became of public notoriety, was brought into court and created such an intense excitement in Salt Lake City, that the ladies thought the time opportune for action. Consequently a mass meeting of women opposed to polygamy was called for November 7th, and at the appointed hour the meeting convened at Independence Hall, the building where the first evangelical meetings were ever held in Utah, and then, as now, the place of worship of the of this city. o PKICE CENTS. 9 1 south of Salt Lake City, lives a good Danish Saint who of course lives his religion and has several wives. It was the duty of one of tho plural women to work on the farm and take care of the cattle and the mules. When not engaged in other saintly avocations it was the husbands custom to sit on the fence, holding a horsewhip in his hand like a slave driver, and oversee the up individuals, but to expose the workings, and the debasing effects of the system. The first incident shows in what estimation tho majority of, the men hold the women, and to what depths of degradation woman when she was at labor in the field. If she failed to perform the work according to his ideas or instructions, he used to lash her like a rcfractorv horse or mule, in fact he often whipped her semore verely than he would his animals, for he held a mule in far higher estimation than he did a woman. ITe could get another wife any timefbut Ocit cost money to get a mule. casionally, when there was not en ougli to keep her busy on the farm, he hired her out as a house servant, and always collected her wages himself, asking quite a high price for her services. She happened to he hired to a neighbor of mine, and one davt when he came for her wages he demanded an extra dollar a week because he had to hire a man to do her chores in the held. This Saint believed ;n polygamy, because when one woman wore out or outlived her usefulness as a laborer, ho could easily replace her with a fresh one. A few miles further from my house, iu what is called Mill Creek, lives another saintly polygamist whose three wives arc held to the strictest account for every pound of butter, every chicken or egg on the place, and woe to the adventurous one who dares dispose of either without the consent of her lord and The first wife who is old master. and crippled with rhumatism once longed for a cup .of tea, a luxury forbidden to the women, who were required to keep the word of wisdom, although the husband fre- Meeting of the Ladies' Anti Polygamy Society. ' - tale-beare- rs Uk ed These incidents have all been furnished us cither by the participants or eye witnesses of the !We leave scenes they describe. our readers to judge for. themselves as to the holiness of this divine ordinance. Eds.) 10 In Sugarhouse Ward, two miles icy of tho Standard, not to show Con-grcgationali- system. 7: 2. 1880. quently indulged in that and other material comforts. She, watched an opportunity when he was absent and traded a few eggs 'for the wherewithal to make the coveted beverage which she enjoyed jlas she ThYhud)and, thought, in secret. found it out a Ian in however, The Beauties of Polygamy. polygamy has no lack' ofand he dragged tho poor old (Under the above title we shall woman to the creek, plunged her relate a variety of authentic inci- under the water and held' her thepi dents, illustrating" the loveliness of until bethought her sufficreithy puncelestial marriage ished for her sin" in breaking the the so-call- or. word of wisdom, as well as for meddling with his eggs, and until she promised never to repeat the ofI have suppressed" the fence. above cases, names in both of-talthough I could have given them, because I understand it is the pol- he the system can reduce a woman who allows herself to bo place in such a But more anon of the position. Beauties of Polygamy. At the regular monthly meeting of above society, held oil Tuesday afternoon, April 6th, after the usual business was transacted, the followiug preamble and resolutions were presented and adopted unanimously: y Whereas, the Ladies of is Utah about to lose a Society faithful and efficient officer, by the removal of the Recording Secretary, Mrs. M. Chislett, from the Territory, therefore be it Resolved, That the members of the society desire to express their high appreciation of Mrs. Chisletts services, and of the manner in which she has discharged the duties of her position. Resolved, That during the two terms for which Mrs. Chislett has filled the office of Recording Secretary, everything pertaining to that office has been attended to with the utmost fidelity and accuracy. Resolved, That the society, while deeply regretting the loss of so faithful an officer and so valued a member, takes pleasure in commending her to the new friends she will make, and to that position in the community to which she removes that her virtues entitle her, and that the best wishes of every member of the society will accompany her. Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be entered on the records of the society, and that they be y Standpublished in the Anti-Polygam- Anti-Polygam- ard. In response Mrs. Chislett made a few remarks, thanking the ladies for their kind appreciation and expressions of She urged them to continue regard. in the labor they had entered upon, and said that although she was removed from immediate' connection s with the society, yet her influence and ' prayersrvould always be for, its sud- -' cess.' She lelt assured that1 if the work Was, drily .prosecuted with determination and.igor that God would their efforts with triumph. The'pVembers of the society were very njimli affected, each feeling it a very "sad occasion, it being the last time they should, meet with Mrs. Chislett in the association, but the parting lost something of bitterness in the remembrance that all were still bound by the same tie of devotion to the cause, which absence could not sever. The entire society united in wishing' Mrs. Chislett alike good-byand God speed. - m t - event-uallcpf- . e, wn |