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Show DEMANDING REFORMS. Indications arc that in certain quarters quar-ters in this community t lie 10 has been nnd is an awakening to the neccssit.y for somo radical reforms in tho practices prac-tices which have hitherto distinguished one sect from all others here. One of the principal items of agitation we find is in respect to the ceremonies performed per-formed in the Mormon temple. The Tribune is advised of this in its knowlodge of several conversations that have o.ccnrrcd between gentlemen of good standing in the Mormon church; and this "paper abuses no confidence when it proposes to givo a brief summary sum-mary of these, in effect. Wo feel that the gentlemen will rather welcome this short statement, for the reason that it may help their cause 1)3 giving it wider xmbliciLy than Lhcy could gain b- personal per-sonal advocacy alone. It is contended In' these men that tho time has now .arrived when tho endowment coremonies performed in the Mormon temples should be so revised as to eliminate from them everything of a gruesome and barbaric nature. They realize that wo arc no longer liv ing 111 a savage ago or under conditions condi-tions thnt prevail in untamed communities; communi-ties; that there is no ntfcessili for men to band themselves together as in protection of themselves against the blood' onslaughts of savages; that there is no need for the administration of such oaths as maj- have been deemed compulsory in barbaric times in order to secure faithful adherence to conditions con-ditions of membership in such combinations. combina-tions. All these things are of .1 past that should be forgotten as completely as possible, pos-sible, and it is altogether wrong to perpetuate per-petuate not only their mcmor but their raclice, in what is regarded b- participants par-ticipants as a holy rite of heaven's appointment. ap-pointment. No good can be accomplished accom-plished by this, but rather it tends to brutalize the mind a thing altogether opposed to puro religious thought. Meantime, this now movement verifies veri-fies tho contention that blood' oaths are administered in the cndowniont ccr-emorlas: ccr-emorlas: but while those who have made this contention will be pleased to know thai evidence is forthcoming that they told the truth, they will be infinitely more gratified to learn that there is a prospect that the da' is close approaching when the cause for such charges may bo removed. We trust thnt the movement shall meet with a j highly -deserved success, for it will make certain men better citizens, and will therefore be of benefit to tho State and tho Nation. |