fallible and erring like ourselves, may have a better chance to gratify their libidinous desires? What is their sensual gratification compared with the great interests of the common weal? Polygamy was first practised by the priesthood-by the priesthood it has been supported. They have rendered it fashionable, and if its existence be prolonged to futurity, it will be through their influence."

Another one remarked, in language almost equally strong:

"Our females can never take the rank and position among us that properly belong to them, while polygamy is tolerated. Deprived of their legitimate influence as wives and mothers of families, they lose that self-respect which is one of the strongest safe-guards of female virtue, become indolent, careless, and reckless, and it is needless to say that the consequences to the whole community are most disastrous."

And again :

"The experience of ages may be trusted. Polygamy is a curse, a mildew that has blighted every region it has touched since the creation of the world. It presents no new phase, but from the first to the latest periods it has been destructive of the happiness of individuals, the peace of families, and the welfare of communities."

It cannot be believed that many women sit down satisfied under the existing state of things. Womanly nature must rise at times superior to the influence of priestcraft, and

though powerless in themselves to effect the change, they will be useful and efficient auxiliaries of reform.

Hence, we may confidently expect that the Mormons of a hundred years hence will be very different from those to-day, and that future generations will redeem, in some degree, the errors of the past and the present.

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

(a.) There may be instances of such perverted feelings, though we must hope, for the honor of human nature, that they are of rare occurrence. Married life has its sorrows and evils, but nothing that equals the immorality and crime where a shameless system of polygamy prevails.

(b.) This refers to the general external appearance, and every one knows what a vast amount of domestic misery, or social dissatisfaction, may be hidden under a smiling exterior.

(c.) These old people had never belonged to the Mormon Church, consequently no Mormon elders attended at their funerals, and they were refused a place in the Mormon cemetery.

(d.) This egotism is a peculiar trait of the Mormons; they are excessively fond of talking of themselves, and the questions, What do you think of us? How do you like our country? What do you think of our institutions? are incessantly asked of a stranger.

(e.) In Mormondom the murder of wives is not made a subject of newspaper comment, but the silence of the newspaper is no proof

807

that such crimes do not actually exist. Was there ever a despotic country where the press even hinted at the actually existing state of things? and Mormondom, in its domestic institutions, is a despotism of the very blackest kind, and will probably remain so for some time to come, the efforts of the Federal Government to the contrary notwithstanding.

(f) The better class of English emigrant Mormons should not be confounded with the inhabitants of Brickville. Some of the former are quite as amiable men as it is possible for Mormons to be; while the latter, even in their own country, belonged to the class of loafers and vagabonds.

(g.) There are two elders bearing the name of Snow; the one numbered among the Twelve Apostles bears the sobriquet of Lorenzo; the other's name is Erastus.

(h.) The Mormons are extremely fond of recommending their practices and opinions by the history of Christianity; and they dwell with great stress on the fact that one or two chapters, and many of the sentences and sentiments, contained in their bible, are faithful copies, word for word, of the Bible of the Christians. I was once somewhat amused while listening to a conversation between a Mormon elder and a Baptist clergyman. The Baptist boldly declared that there was not a word of truth in the Mormon bible.

"Not a word of truth," repeated the Mormon. read it ?"

"Never."

"Have you ever

The Mormon turned over the leaves of his book to a chapter the exact counterpart of one contained in the Bible of Moses, and presented it to his opponent, inquiring what he thought of that.