THE AUCKLANDER ABROAD.

Inangahua Times, 30 July 1880, Page 2

THE AUCKLANDER ABROAD.

» AMOXff THE MORMONS. Salt Lake City is beautifully situated. As I stood at the foot of the lull from which Brigham surveyed the valley which at his feet, I did not at all wonder that he issuod the prophecy that this was the spot which the Lnrd had chospn as the site of the New Jerusalem. The Vallay of Salt Lake is about fifty miles by thirty, and is bounde 1 on one side by Lake, and environed by tnountiins ringing from five thousand feet in height The atmosphere was peculiarly dry and clear, and through the clear air the snowolad hills stand up in sharp outline, and seem so near that it is hardly possible to realise their distance. It is a beautiful sight at all timos, and one which no traveller should miss, but who can now conjecture how beautiful it must have looked to that weary band of pilgrim?, as ragged and hungry, at the end of six months' of hard, sickening travel, their eyes rested upon the spot of which the prophets wrote, saying ' The house of the I Lord should be built upon the top of the mountains 'P When Brigham and his followers first took possession of this valley, there had been no rain for years, and the rich soi', being impregnated with salt, grew nothing but a low sage scrub. Some Mormons claim that the present fruitfulness of this valley is a miracle wrought in answer to prayer. This, however, is bunkum. A less keen and practised eye than that of the great Mormom leader could easily see that the land was a ri<rh alluvial deposit ; that the soil only wanted the salt washed out of it. and the snows which melted and ran down the surround* ing mountains could be easily guided into channels through the valley. This is what was actually done, and those who accept Ihe miraculous theory -must have a ' nig swallow.* Tha present condition of this valley is a splendid testimony to Mormon industry. I'hpy began here 34 years ago, among these lone mountains, many hundreds of miles from the nearest civilisation, with no roads nor railway near, and surrounded by untamed Indians. They hove been driven from their homes in Navoo, leaving farms, bouses, and nearly all. their worldly good 9 behind. It is nqid that when they arrived at Suit Lake, the whole parly could not muster £200 in cash. For seme years after their beginning they had no cash currency, but lived by barter. A writer facetiously says, describing their then condition ;-.. '■ A farmer wishes to purchase a pair of shoes for his wife. He consults the shoes maker, who avers h : s wi'lincness to furnish the s?>rne for one lnnd of wood. He lias no wcod, but sells a calf for a quau* tity of adobes, tlu- adobes foe an order on "the merchant, payaMe in goods, and the

tr^ods and the order for a load of woo and straightway the matron is shod. Seven watermelons paid for a ticket to the theatre. The tuition of a child cost 73 cabbages per qnarteW. squashers per day were a dressmaker's wag-ss, and the annual subscription to the newspaper was two loads of pumpkins. A bottle of soothing syrup for the baby was purchased with a bushel of beans.' One can woll beliye, on looking at Salt Lake City to-day, that, in whatever respects the Mormons may or miy not be consistent, they carry out the profession of industry which their chosen symbol — a beehive represents. The city is laid ofF at right angles, with wide, straight slreets, planted on hoth sides with trees. It contains 25 000 inhabitants, of whom one^fifth are Gentiles. Many of the sores and warehouses are very creditable buiMing?, and there are a good many really handsome , residences in the suburbs. The Tabers nacle is a wonderful building, "When ! first seen it is disappoinfing. having a plain exterior, and looking too low for the area it covers. In shape it is like balf an egg, cut in two longitudinally, with the [ round side up, with low, brick walls, an^ shingled roof. The interior ig more pleasing. At the principal end there are raised seats for the apostles, bishops, nnd elders, and behind this an enormous onran, said to be the second largest in America. The seats on the floor rise towards tha back, and there is a deep j gnllery all round. It is seated for 12.000 bearers, and is so arranged that, in case of need, doors swing outwardly on all sides of the building, and it can be cleared in three ininu'es. The acoustics of the t>V>ernacle are so perfect that, as I proved by experiment standing at one end, I could heir a pin dropped at the other. The sorest possible whisper can be heard in every part. There was foo much echo once, but this has been cured by hanging fpstoons from the ceiling, which. al«o have a very pretty effect. A handsome marble temple is being built on the same Mock, in a style of architecture which ran only be called " Mormon," and with walls nine feet thick. This is intended • for the secret and mysterious rifps of the Church, such as the 'ealing of wives, baptism for the dead, &o. The cify is divided into 21 words, efl<*h ward consisting of a block of a piven size, and containing a school-house and a bishop. The schooNhouse is for day and Sundaysscbool, for Sabbath evening preaching, and for dancing. The Mor* mons, unlike most o'her spcN, believe thoroughly both in the theatre, and the dance, and open both liy prayer. The | duty of the bishop is to collect ti'hes, provide for the poor, pet work for the unemployed, and keep a sharp eye generally upon the morals of his ward. Among other gool Mormon institutions is one which enjoins them to fast on the firs' Thursday in each monih, and to aive th^ food thu* saved to the poor. One of the duties of the bishop is to collect and diss tribute this, as may seem to him best. The righteous souls of the Saints are sorely vexed by the inroad* of the Gen tiles, Many of these kpep the best shops Hnd live in the best houses in the city. They are attracted partly by the ro!i mines in the neighborhood, and partly by opening for trade. Some of these are apostate Mormons, and are called " buss ters." They leave the Church for rea» sons which operate everywhere, but one special reason operates here, viz., tithing. The tithe is strictly enforced, and a« saints become rich, and the tenth amounts to a considerable sum, they often resist, and then apostatise. One can hardly wonder at this, for the powers of the Church are irresponsible ; they publish . no balance-sheet ; the sums they receive j are enormous ; and the well-krjown fact that Brigham Young died worth millions of dollars, which were invested in Eng'ish securities, has no doubt fended to goad some of .his devotees info rebellion. The term " Gentile " here includes all non»Mormons, though they happen to be .Jews. Between the two classes there is very little friendship, and no social intercourse. It is very difficult to obtain from' either party a just and impar!i<l ; acconnt of the other. The Gentilc3 complain that the moral? of the Mornmns ye so rotten that Sal: Lake is not a fit place to bring no children, and speak of tlipm* selves as only tolerited b?cau<e their spares dnre not murder ani c-innot b mish them, The Mormons wail becansn{ the encroachments to which they are. subjected, until an impartial visitor henr» ing both sides finds it difficult to believe either. One thing is quite certain, thnt Mormon girls have a pronounced regard for Gentile husbands, and mnke no secret of the fact thai a trhole Gentile is more to their taste than a fifth of a Mormon, But this brinsrs me to Mormon social an. l religious questions, the discussion of which T must reserve for -mother pnpvcr. >