Polygamy; or, The mysteries and crimes of Mormonism, being a full and authentic history of this strange sect from its origin to the present time. . ired to confess his most secret sins,and these confessions were written down, signed by the partyand filed away for future use. By order of Brigham Young, acatechism was prepared to serve in the secret examinations, soshockingly indecent in character that, since modern ideas pene-trated Utah, every copy has been collected and destroyed. Thearrival of the hand-cart sufferers only added to the prevailingmadness. Surely, said fanaticism, God is angry
Polygamy; or, The mysteries and crimes of Mormonism, being a full and authentic history of this strange sect from its origin to the present time. . ired to confess his most secret sins,and these confessions were written down, signed by the partyand filed away for future use. By order of Brigham Young, acatechism was prepared to serve in the secret examinations, soshockingly indecent in character that, since modern ideas pene-trated Utah, every copy has been collected and destroyed. Thearrival of the hand-cart sufferers only added to the prevailingmadness. Surely, said fanaticism, God is angry with hispeople, or his promise to temper the winds would have heldgood; and in an amazingly short space of time most of the new-comers were as insane as the rest—for all Utah was pervadedby an epidemic madness. Jedediah Grant and Orson Hyderanged the Territory, breathing out threats against dissenters,and teaching bloody doctrines in figures of speech. The NewTestament was laid aside; Hebraic precedents only were cited :Phinehas, who killed his brother and the Midianitish woman;Jael, who slew the heathen ; the king who massacred 144 POLYGAMY; OR, THE MYSTERIES and the priest who hewed the transgressor in pieces before theLord. Marrying and giving in marriage went on constantly,as fast as the officials could put the Saints through the Endow-ment House ceremonies proper to plural marriage. Everyeligible woman in the Territory was appropriated, and girls oftwelve and fourteen years were sealed to old elders. Of course this fierce spirit did not continue long till bloodwas shed. Blood is what the student of religious fanaticism al-ways looks to hear of at a certain stage: redeeming blood,* sanctifying blood, atoning blood, or imputed blood; but always blood ! At first obnoxious and doubtful men weremerely ridiculed and denounced in the meetings; next theywere grossly maltreated, and then actual killing began. Thosewho merely lacked in zeal or failed to confess themsel
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectmormons, bookyear1904
