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Show ANTI-POLYGAM- 10 The Women of Utah. NO. 2. A Tho true secret of-- , the anomalous condition of ,! women amorg the Mor&ons is simply because it has been Mormon 'policy to degrade her to the position she occupied among barbaric nations in the dark ages, before the light of civilization raised her to be what God intended at the creation, mans equal, companion and helpmate, not his beast If this of burden i!or his slave. policy had not been rigidly enforced, polygamy would never have gained the prominence it has, nor ever have been established as an essenBut tial doctrine of the Church. in order to accomplish this end and give the innovation a permanent place among the dogmas of the new religion, it was necessary to make woman believe that she was an inferior being, whose only chance ot salvation, whose only opportunity of entering the gates of Heaven was as a satellite to add glory to some male Saint. Any unfortunate or rebellious star who declined tho honor of being attached to the illustrious train of one of Israels all good Mormons chosen kings are going to be kings in the next world was destined to roam forever through realms of darkness, or as the prophet less poetically expressed it, if the women would not submit to polygamy they should I have heard good be damned. Mormons say that these are Brigham Youngs ov,Tn words, often re- peated in council and sometimes m the public Tabernacle. It is also said that in certain cases the word damned lias been interpreted as a for murdered, synonym and that the thraet has been carried into execution, and that there are also instances where the destined victim has anticipated her doom, and precipitated it by her own hand. It is not exaggeration to declare that the annals of this terrible system will never lie truly transcribed until they are written in letters of blood! During the first few years after the religion of Joseph Smith had begun to spread and gain disciples, theocracy was not so firmly established, neither was any difference manifest between man and woman, both seemed to be earnest, sincere seekers for truth, determined if possible to find in the new religion what they fancied was denied them in the old. The principles taught appeared to be pure and good, be- j i STANDARD. Y as averse to becoming plural wives as were the first wives to having their rights invaded and their homes desecrated, but where flat- scandal becoming so notorious as to tery failed to cajole or threats to inthreaten his influence and compro- timidate, special revelations were mise him as a leader and teacher of obtained to suit special eases. An religion, he .pretended to have old lady, a Nauvoo Mormon, told this revelation commanding the the writer that she knew well ayoung whom a prominent aposSaints. to adopt the system of celestial marriage in order to cover tle had become infatuated. He was The writer determined to have her as a plural up his own iniquity. was intimately acquainted with the wife, but she was as determined in Wearied by his imwife of an apostle who lived in Nau- her refusal. voo at that time, and she has re- portunities she told him one day, peatedly said she was aware that half in joke, that she would never such a revelation was contemplated marry him unless she was specially some weeks previous to the date on commanded by Heaven to do so. which Joseph avowed he had re- A few days after she was sent for On the to attend a private .meeting of sevceived it from Heaven. other hand, the sons of Joseph eral of the high priests, and was Smith most positively deny that there informed that a special reveltheir father had anything to do ation had been sent from Heaven of the ordering her to become the plural the with origin system, and assert that the wife of the apostle. The poor girl idea was conceived in the brain was astonished enough, but still she of one J. C. Bennett, and in his had firm belief in the honesty of he practice the principle was first in- religious teachers, and although she troduced into the Church. They did it reluctantly, she did marry emphatically deny that he ever him, being afraid to disobey what preached or practiced any other she thought was a direct command than the monogomist system of from God. My informant quesmarriage, notwithstanding all asser- tioned her as to how the revelation tions to the contrary. It is certain came and to whom it was given, that Emma Smith, Josephs wife, but the girl acknowledged that she never believed in or received the had such explicit faith in the church revelation, and her sons are authorities, she would not have dared the leaders of what is termed the ask these questions even had they Josephites, a party who believe occurred to her mind. Years afterin the original principles of ward, when she had outgrown her as first taught by Joseph, delusion, she said to my friend, without the debasing doctrine of how could I have been so blind polygamy, which they condemn as and foolish, how could I have let those wicked men dispose of me, severely as the Gentiles do. It is not my province at the pres- body and soul, as if I had been a ent time to enter into any discus- calf or a dog! Whenever I think sion upon this point, but no matter of it, I hate and despise myself for by whom the revelation origi- my folly, for in my case folly was nated, it is certain that it did not worse than crime! This poor girls meet with a verv enthusiastic experience in polygamy was 'just at first, and by very many, what might have been expected, for it was viewed with abhorrence, for she was soon discarded for another there were men among them who favorite, who did not need any dearly loved their wives, and who special revelation in her case. It of the honor of their may be imagined what kind of a life were jealous mothers and sisters. These men, she had, when she said these words notwithstanding their blind devo-tio- n in speaking of her husband, the all Apostates maintain that Joseph Smith, while in Nauvoo, entered into criminal relations with a number of his 'female disciples, and the . i i- - l . - girl-wit- X) y Mor-monis- re-cepti- Words f ' of Advice for the Benefit of - t m, on to their leaders and their religion, could not so readily believe that Heaven could either command or sanction the practice of a system alike so dishonoring to the sex and against every principle of civilization morality. Some of the stronger minded and purer hearts made a brave resistance, but before long they too succumbed to the revelation andChurch authority, and when once the downward path is entered upon, descent is easy. Then it was that the crusade commenced against women. From the very first all the women had considered the revelation in its true light a cloak to cover iinoral-it- y and in many cases they were lief in the divinity of the Savior, equality, brotherly love, charity, and other tenets of revealed relig- One Apostate, an old Morion. mon, said to the writer, the Saints were all they professed to be in the early days. They fed the hungry, strongly supported by their husclothed the poor, feared God, and bands. But the authority of the loved their neighbors as them- Church was so complete and the inselves. fatuation became so uncontrollable It is generally conceded by all that the women soon perceived that Monnons that polygamy was not the struggle would be a terrible one, tenet of the and almost certain to end in their an original Church, but there are conflicting defeat. statements in regard to its origin. They did not yield without makGocd Monnons declare that Jos- ing a desperate resistence, but all eph Smith received a revelation that wickedness could suggest or from. Heaven, revealing the doc- tyranny devise was brought to bear trine of plurality of wives, almost against them. The maidens were happiest day I spent for twenty years was the day I saw Jiimlaid ill the grave. Truly, this doctrine of polygamy is a damnable one for women. Atiiena. men. : Wo- - , j ; , , to-da- A TRUE LADY. Wildness is a thing which girls cannot afford. Delicacy is a thing which cannot be lost or found. No art can restore the grape its bloom. Familiaritq without confidence, without regard, is destructive to all that makes woman exalting and en5 ' nobling. The world is wide, these things are small; They may be nothing, but they are all. Nothing? It is the first duty of Good a woman is to be a lady. breeding is good sense. Bad man- ners in a woman is immorality. Awkwardness may be ineradicable. Bashfulness is constitutional. of etiquette is the result of circumstances. All can be condoned and not banish men or women from the amenities of their kind. But unshrinking and aggressive coarseness of demeanor Ig-noran- ce self-possesse- d, may be reckoned a State's prison of fence, and certainly merits that mild form of restraint called imprisonment for life. It is a shame for women to be lectured on their manners. It is a bitter shame that they Women are thp umpires need it. of society. It is they to whom all mooted points should be referred. To bo a lady is more than to be a A ladvi is always in her prince. right inalienably, worthy of respect; to a lady, prince or peasant alike bow. Do not be restrained. Do not have impulses that need restraint. Do not wish to dance with the prince unsought; feel differently. Be sure you confer honor. Carry yourself so loftilv that men will look up to you for reward, not at you in rebuke. The natural sentiment of man toward woman is reverence. lie looses a large means of grace when he is obliged to account her a being to be trained in propiroty. A mans ideal is not wounded when a woman fails in worldly wisdom; but if in grace, in fact, in sentiment, in delicacy, in kindness, she would be found wanting, he receives an inward hurt. Gall Hamilton. XI X. In Love ivith a Portrait. A picture by Millais proved tlm At a recent tea party at New means uf getting a young lady a N. the all ladies wore Y., and aristocratic husband. samplers for aprons, wealthy A Mr. Armstrong, formerly an op upon each of which the legend ulent merchant in London, but rePolly, put the kettle on, was cently reduced in circumstances, had rudely inscribed over a freely con- two charming daughters, and before ventionalized teakettle. The form of invitation was so clever that we his bad fortune overtook him he enMr. Millais to paint their porreproduce it. The lines were in- gaged closed in the design of a teapot. traits. The pictures "were considered not only remarkable likenesses They were as follows:' but admirable works of art. The We hope on Thursday next to see young ladies were represented as A few young friends at seven to tea, And trust that youll at once agree Night and Morning. Owing to Mr. Armstrongs misfortune these One of our honored guests to be. Teapots and teacups rare have we, two pictures were, with the rest of Which youre expected when you see, his household effects, brought undTo praise with proper ecstasy. er the auctioneers hammer. The The all to E,M Ilochelle, old-fashion- v teacups belong owns the teapots. So you see A sort of joint affair 'twill be, Of Oolong, Hyson and Bohea, Teacups and teapots I. and E. Remember then that youre to be On hand at seven P. M. to tea, And share our modest little spree, Ot. Thursday next, R. S. V. P. I, wealthy and well connected young ' gentleman who purchased one of the portraits, fell in love with the lovely face it represented, and never rested until he had sought out, been introduced and was finally married to the beautiful original. ' |