In the meantime, would the United States Government be wise to interfere with Mormonism, apart from polygamy, even were it inclined and were it permitted to do so? Prophet Taylor, speaking of the plural marriages of his people, praised the Government of Great Britain because, although it suppressed the suttee, "it has not only tolerated but legislated to protect in their institutions upwards of 240,000,000 of its polygamic subjects in India";' and the Prophet was plainly of the opinion that the United States Government should do as much for polygamy under Mormonism. Yet, polygamy aside or, rather, if polygamy dies, as die it must — and political and financial influence aside-or, rather, if those influences were withdrawn, as withdrawn they will not be under capitalism-what would be the position of the United States Government in regard to Mormonism? At this late date, it is rather idle to suppose that the Mormon Church is really a "treasonable organization," at least in the spirit of that term. There can be no doubt but that it was at one time actively "treasonable," and that the oaths of the Endowment House pledging vengeance upon the slayers of the prophets struck close to the heart of the nation. But, as in the case of the treasonable Ku Klux Klan in the unreconstructed Southern States, "an oath must have its day," and all oaths, like all profanity, lose their force by repetition. The tendency of ritual is toward empty form. Few Mormons must now take those "obligations" literally, and the Mormon hierarchy has financial interests at stake that make it more than satisfied with things as they are. The only interesting facts about the Endowment House ceremonies are the manner in 1 North American Review for January 1884. which the telling of them served to prevent alien-born Mormons from naturalization when economic forces were against Mormonism, and the manner in which that telling failed to bar Apostle Smoot from the Senate of the United States when economic forces were with his Church. It is true that the Mormon Prophet considers himself a business-agent of the Almighty; but only a few years ago George F. Baer, a member of an accepted Protestant sect and the mask for Mr Morgan in command of the United States Anthracite-coal Trust, publicly declared himself as, in his mine-owning capacity, the delegate of God.1 It is true that Utah's industries are largely under the control of the Mormon hierarchy; but it is also true that all the nation's industries are under the control of a capitalistic oligarchy which is the hierarchy's superior partner. is true that the Utah courts are the puppets of the hierarchy; but it is also true that practically all the nation's courts are the puppets of the oligarchy. It is true that the hierarchy controls the politics of Utah; but it is also true that the oligarchy, its partner, controls the politics of the nation. It Belief in God or gods has little to do with the form or practice of any religion. Religious forms are the spiritual results of the economic conditions prevailing at the time of the religion's beginning, and religious practices are modified by the modifications of the economic conditions that prevail during the time of the religion's existence. The civilization of one period of 1 Baer was then, and probably still is, simultaneously president of coal-mining companies and coal-carrying railways. Although this combination was contrary to the law, Baer calmly admitted it on the witness-stand and remained scot-free. the world produced a ruling class that, fearing the encroachments of the classes below it, brought forth Brahminism to prevent such encroachments. The civilization of a later period produced a prosperous bourgeoisie that, developing the nervous ailments attendant upon prosperity rapidly acquired, brought forth Christian "Science" to cure such ailments. The civilization of the early part of the nineteenth century produced an economic oppression in crowded centres of population that needed free land in a new country and brought forth Mormonism. When social evolution or revolution ends caste in India, Brahminism will cease. When capitalism, reaching its expiring state of perfect development in the United States, raises a few more of the bourgeoisie to the capitalistic class and forces the many back into the ranks of the proletariat, Christian "Science" will end. When the same stage of development in the same way results in the completed division of Zion, Mormonism, in which the hierarchy is already exploiting instead of benefiting the laity, will pass away. Until that time it will, in one form or another, remain. BIBLIOGRAPHY Anti-Mormon Almanac for 1842. Articles of Faith, The: A Text-book for Mormon Schools, by James E. Talmage. Atlantic Monthly for April 1864 and December 1869. Blood Atonement as understood by the Saints, by C. W. Penrose. Book of Mormon, The. Bradstreet's Review for 3rd November 1894. Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, A, by John Corrill. Christian Observer, The, for 1852. City of the Saints and Across the Rocky Mountains to California, The, by Richard F. Burton. Congressional Record, The. Corianton, a Nephite Story, by Elder B. H. Roberts. Danites in the Sierras, by Joaquin Miller. Death of a False Prophet, The, by Samuel Wright. Debates of Congress, Benton's Abridgments of. Deseret News, files of. Dialogue between Joseph Smith and the Devil, Anon. (New York, 1844.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon. Doctrines and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The Book of. Does the Bible sanction Polygamy? by Elder Orson Pratt and Dr J. P. Newman, with additions by George A. Smith and George Q. Cannon. Early Days of Mormonism, by J. H. Kennedy. Economic Influences upon Educational Progress in the United States, by Frank T. Carlton. Exposé of Mormonism, by John C. Bennett. False Star, The, by A. D. Nash. Fifteen Years among the Mormons, being the narrative of Mrs Ettie V. Smith, a sister of a Mormon High Priest. Golden Bible, or the Book of Book of Mormon, The: Is it from God? Anon. Great Salt Lake Trail, The, by Col. Henry Inman and Col. William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill "). Hampton's Magazine for January 1911. History of all the Religious Denominations in the United States, edited by John Winebrenner. History of the Bible Christians, by Rev. William Metcalfe. History of Education in the United States, by Frank T. Carlton. "History and Idea of the Mormons," from The Westminster Review for January 1853. History of Joseph Smith, junior, by Mrs Lucy Smith. History of the Saints, by John C. Bennett. History of Utah (1840-1887), by H. H. Bancroft. Homiletic Review (Rev. Dr S. E. Wishard) for March 1903. Journal of Discourses, The. Kimball, Life of Heber C. Kingdom of God, The, by Orson Pratt. Letters of Orson Spencer, The. Life and Confession of John D. Lee, The, Anon. Life in Utah, by J. H. Beadle. Littell's Living Age, vol. xxx. M'Clure's Magazine for 1911 (Hendrick's articles on "The Revival of Polygamy in Utah"). Maxwell v. Cannon (Papers in the case of George R. Maxwell v. George Q. Cannon for a seat as Delegate from Utah Territory in the Forty-third Congress). Millennial Star, The, files of. Missouri Persecutions, The, by Elder B. H. Roberts. |