1857-07-29-New York Times-The Mormons

The Mormons

New York Times, 29 July 1857

THE MORMONS.

Sabbath Services—Communion Ceremony—Speeches by Salt Lake Missionaries—A Hand-cart Song to "Oh Susannah," &c.

The Mormons do not all live at Salt Lake, as some persons seem to suppose, although one of the chief aims of Mormon missionary enterprise seems to be to "gather the Saints together in Zion,—in the valleys of the mountains," as they term their settlements in Utah. Members of this strange sect are found in our large cities all over the land,—but chiefly at the points where foreign immigration is most properous, or in the more populous mercantile centres of the Western States. "The Church" is located at Salt Lake, and the lesser associations scattered elsewhere about the land are known as "Branches." One of these Branches exists in our midst, and holds its meetings every Sabbath at the hall of Brooks' Dancing Academy in Broome-street near Elizabeth.

Happening in at this place yesterday afternoon, we propose to give our readers some account of what we saw and heard. We found assembled about two hundred persons, of which about half were women. It required but a single glance to show that the audience was by no means an intellectual one. Indeed there were few faces in the room indicating possession by their wearers of even an average degree of intelligence. Nor were there many American physiognomics present. As well as we could judge, nine-tenths of the audience were English, and of the poor and ignorant lower classes found in the coal and manufacturing districts of Great Britain—precisely the sort of people among whom religious superstition and fanaticism would be expected to thrive luxuriantly.

Our visit was well-timed, for we had opportunity to witness the administration of the Lord's Supper and also to see and hear a band of Mormon missionaries just arrived from Salt Lake. The form of communion service was not very dissimilar to that of the Presbyterian or Congregational denomination. The service opened with prayer and singing. Two brethren (deacons, we believe) were then called forward from the audience, who "brake the bread." While this was being done, somebody was admitted into the "branch," by certificate from another society, the congregation voting on the question of his admission by raising of hands. In a similar manner a certificate was voted to a retiring member who wished to go to St. Louis.

This concluded, the brethren who broke the bread knelt before it with their backs to the congregation, when one of them asked the Divine blessing upon it. The same ceremony was subsequently performed with reference to the wine. The sacramental elements were distributed to the audience by two young men, and offered to all without distinction, even the little eight-year-old urchin partaking, who we saw twirling a "Tee-to-tum" on the seat while the blessing was asking a few minutes before. No address appropriate to the ceremony was made—no explanation of the rites, no reference to the sublime scene or which these sacramental elements are designed to be the solemn symbols. The whole proceeding was gone through with as a matter-of-course affair—a form having no significance beyond the partaking of bread or wine at any public table. In this particular and in the administration to young children, was the only marked difference of the ceremony from that in the Congregational service.

The Missionary brethren, whose arrival I have already referred to, occupied seats at the left of the stand, and faced the audience so that we could scan their faces well. It was difficult to discover from their appearance, what had marked them out for selection as propagandists of the faith. The appearance of neither one of them indicated superior intelligence, and among the several who subsequently addressed the meeting, there were none who manifested the least speaking talent, while only one of the number failed to aspirate his "h," in genuine cockney style, or otherwise to outrage the English language most villainously. We refer to these facts only to show the calibre of the men who are sent out from Salt Lake to gather now disciples into the Morman fold.

After the administration of the sacrament was concluded, one of the leaders announced the presence of the several missionaries from the "Vallies of the Mountains," and introduced a Mr. MACKINTOSH as one of them, who spoke substantially as follows. We confess that our report of the speech is rather deficient in continuity of ideas; but as we lost none that were presented, the fault is with the speaker, who said:

I don't know that I am acquainted with any of you in this Branch. I have been for some time in the Western States and in New Orleans, but never before had the privilege of being where the height of civilization is. You down here think this is the most civilized place on the globe, and we in the vallies of the mountains think, that is. We have got pretty well tanned in coming across the plains and now we are here we find the weather very warm—at least, it seems so to us. There is a great difference in the climate here and in the mountains.

I won't detain you long, as there are others here to speak. I may have opportunity to appear before you again, as my mission is to the United States, and I suppose I am near my journey's end. But among my brethren who came with me, are several who are going to Europe—some to England, others to Italy, and Denmark and to Canada. These may not, for a long time, have another chance to be with you. I suppose you want to hear about Utah. The people there get along by industry and hard work. They enjoy the spirit of the Lord and are at peace with each other, and, for what I know, with all the world. We wish peace and good will to all men, and that the light of the Gospel may be in their hearts; but if they won't have it, we feel to let them alone.

We have set an example of how to go and preach the Gospel. We have taken our hand-carts,—about seventy of us—have put into them our cooking utensils and provisions, and have traveled on foot, rolling them along over the plains, a distance of eleven hundred miles. This is evidence of our sincerity. We have started to preach the Gospel. We started without purse or scrip, but have wanted for nothing. A way was always opened for us. Once or twice we got nearly out of food. The first time, just when we were wondering where to obtain our next meal, seven buffaloes came along, and one of the brethren shot two of them. The next time we were in similar straights, an elk was chased in to us by wolves, and we just had to kill him. And so we had a plenty to eat and got fat, until now that we are here we are getting lighter, I think.

I am thankful that I have had the privilege of coming here with a handcart. It is an example for you which you should profit by. The problem is solved that the journey can be made across the plains with the hand-carts. We done it and are all alive and well. None of us have been sick. We all feel first rate in health and first rate towards the work of God. For sixteen years I have been in the work, and generally in positions where I have had plenty to do. I believe it has been good for me, for it brings me often in connection with the people of God. I know that the leaders in the Church are pure men and no hypocrites, and I know Mormonism to be rue, whatever unbelievers may say,—and that it will flourish. They evils which people think are now coming upon us will be the very opportunity for us. I would want no better time to thrust in the sickle and reap—no better time to pitch in even here in the Eastern States.

We say in the mountains that there is Heaven, and we call this here something lower; but there are folks who think this Heaven, and call the mountains the other place. We know that we have the spirit of Heaven there; we know that JOSEPH SMITH, "that imposter," was the Prophet of God, and we know that BRIGHAM YOUNG, "the awful man," is his legitimate successor. Why, if he was to ome here, I believe he would be more notorious than the President of the United States. He is a good man: I have been in his employ for years, and never was better situated in my life. I suppose he thought it would do me good to send me off on a mission.

In the valleys of the mountains you know a reform is commenced, and you know what that means. He who stole is ordered to steal no more, and he who lied to lie no more; and all are made to cease their evil doings of all kinds. We have come down to bring you some of the fire kindled there. I am happy to see so many of you here assembled, and that you live in the spirit of religion. I won't lengthen my remarks, as my brethren, who are going to cross the water, may have no other opportunity to speak. May you continue to enjoy the light and peace of the Gospel; Amen.

Each speaker closed with a benediction to which the congregation responded Amen!

ABNER YOUNG was the next speaker. He felt to be thankful that he was here, and that he had the privilege of declaring his testimony. He was thankful too that he was here a good ways on his journey, and would be just as pleased if his destination was here as he was that he was to go farther. He knew one thing among a great many others that he knew—that he was the servant of God, who had called him, was the preserver of his life, and does all things just about right. I suppose, he continued, the Gentiles call me a fool, but I don't care what they call me, nore care what they think of me. I just calculate that God is my friend and will take care of me while he wants me to live upon earth, and when he calls me hence it's all right. While I live I expect to testify to the truth of Mormonism and the purity of my brothers and sisters in the valleys of the mountains, and to give the lie to the slanders circulated about them. I have been one of those who came across the plains with the hand-carts—not because I was so poor that I couldn't get a donkey,—but I done it as a testimony to the children of men, that it might be a stimulus to others. We done it for your sakes, that we might touch you to do it for your own sakes.

Well now we have had a good time. I have traveled on the plains for ten years, and never had so pleasant a time and easy trip as this. When I crossed with oxen we were always afraid the Indians would come down upon us and rob us of our animals, and leave us to starve on the plains, without our ever thinking of taking off a pair of wheels and making a hand-cart. I think now I could do that, if I had occasion. We used to stand guard for half the night for fear of the Indians, and had to chase our animals in the morning, losing a great deal of time. Now we get up in the morning, get our breakfast, roll along the hand-carts until we are tired and hungry and want our dinner, and then on again until night, when we lay down in our blankets to sleep in the pure air. This we enjoy and fat under,—but since we have got down here in this climate, a man wants a prop under each eyelid to keep awake in meeting or anywhere else. I say this for your encouragement—that each of you may go and get a hand-cart and start off for Zion. I tell you the day will come soon when you will be glad to flee to the valleys in the mountain, because the judgments of God will soon sweep over the nations with the busom of destruction. I know—for God has said it—that famine and pestilence are coming upon the earth, and we go to proclaim it to the people of God that they may gather together and be saved.

The speaker expressed the hope that when he got back from his mission to Europe there would not be left in this city a single person who bears the name of Mormon. I know they say they are going to break up the church of the Latter-Day Saints, but they are not going to do it. Every time they strike it it will roll over and double every time. If they want to make it that great church which it's bound to be, just let them kick it and thump it.

The speaker denied that there would be any collision with the United States Government. The only possible chance for a rupture with the Government would occur if the President should send out there a hot-blooded fool to oppress the people. When he left Salt Lake he had never heard that the Mormons had rebelled;—but when he got down to the States he learned that BRIGHAM was in open rebellion, and had a band of Danites who were murdering people by scores. This he declared false as hell and the spirit from which it emanated. He referred to Judge _______, "such men as bring prostitutes to sit on the bench with them, and when they won't be permitted to do so any longer, come back and preach that the only thing to be done with the Mormons is to sweep them off the face of the earth." That couldn't be done, no how."

ELDER GREEN was introduced, but said a very few words only.

BROTHER BRAINERD was the only speaker whose American nativity seemed at all certain. He declared that the recent accounts of Mormon outrage emanated from the bowel of hell, from fiends to human shape, such men as Judge DRUMMOND and his associates, who make up lies out of whole cloth and without a shadow of truth, which they roll as a sweet morsel under their tongues, choosing to believe a lie and be damned. He also eulogized the hand-cart plan of emigration, urged the Saints to start at once for "Zion," and asseverated stoutly his knowledge that JOSEPH SMITH is the Prophet of God and BRIGHAM YOUNG his lawful successor.

Elder ________, whose name we could not catch, was rather a young man, "an Englishman by trade," he says, who has been seven years in Utah. He said: "I esteem it a privilege to be here among the people of God. I am a Mormon Elder, without horns or hoofs—although many people have such an idea of us that they think they must see a horn sticking out of us somewhere." After a few additional remakrs, expressive of his faith in JO SMITH, BRIGHAM YOUNG, and the Book of Mormon, the Elder closed with a hand-cart song, which he said he composed just before he left Salt Lake City, to sing on the Plains. It was set to the tune of "Oh, Susannah," to which he sang it, the audience catching and joining in the chorus. We could not hear the words of the song distinctly enough to take them down, but their general drift may be inferred probably from the following elegant couplet, which we did succeed in hearing:

"We'll thank the day when we was called,

Our hand-carts with to go."

The chorus, several times repeated, is as follows:

"Then cheer up ye Elders,

We to the world will show,

That Israel must be gathered soon,

And oxen are too slow."

Brother BRIGHAM H. YOUNG, who followed the song, said but little. His appearance is far from prepossessing, carrying conviction to our minds that he spoke the truth when he declared that he had done his share of the "rough work in the mountains."

Brother TOMPKINS was the closing speaker, and denounced the stories of Mormon outrage thus:

"I say it's a lie. The people in the valleys of the mountains are the purest and the (h)oliest in the world—and that is the Gospel of the Lord which I have to proclaim to the world. God lives and we are His people. BRIGHAM YOUNG is the best man on the face of the earth—the best father to his children, the best leader of his people. I say in the name of the Lord that our people are the best people on earth. There is more virtue and purity in the house of BRIGHAM YOUNG than in all the earth beside."

This speaker also denounced Judge ________, accusing him of drunkenness, and of taking a prostitute from Baltimore into the Territory with him.

The exercises were closed with a benediction.