1861-03-31-New York Herald-An Hour Among the Mormons

An Hour Among the Mormons

New York Herald, 31 March 1861, p. 8

The Mormons in Williamsburg—Projected Exodus to Utah—Reinforcements Expected from England, Scotland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany and South Africa—Portrait of Elder Jones—Worship of the Mormons—Sermon by Elder Jones, Etc.

Over in Williamsburg there has been for some time a company of Mormons who are awaiting the arrival of a sufficient number of immigrants from Europe to form a caravan, and proceed to the promised land by the Great Salt Lake, there to form settlements among the faithful. At present the numbers from over the water are comparatively few, but they are augmented by Americans, and they expect that between the 15th of May and the 15th of June ensuing, they will be sufficiently increased to commence their toilsome journey towards the setting sun, across the arid waste that intervenes between the place of their present location and that to which their every aspiration points. The immigrants who have embraced the strange faith of the Mormons, and who are ready to show that faith by their works, by obeying the requirements of their religion that they shall settle in Utah, are expected in great numbers from England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, and even South Africa. England, however, takes the lead, as she has hitherto done, in point of numbers. In the absence of the new comers, and of the knowledge of the means of the persons to compose the expected caravan, to enable them to meet the expenses of their long and arduous journey, and the subsequent settlement of such as shall arrive safely at its end, the plans of the travellers are not yet perfected, neither is the exact route agreed upon. It is believed, however, by the chief men among them, that they will take the route of one of the great Northern railroads to St. Joseph, Missouri, and that there they will make the necessary purchases, and enter into final arrangements for the longer and more fatiguing journey through the wilderness that will lie before them.

Among their chief men at present in Williamsburg is Elder Orson Pratt, who is only inferior to Brigham Young himself in authority over the saints. Elder Pratt is a large sized man, apparently very strong, and in the full vigor of manhood. The other elders are William H. Miles, John R. Coxhall, and Joshua Taylor, natives of New York, together with a Scotchman, named Nathaniel V. Jones. They are all fine looking specimens of manhood, particularly Mr. Jones, who is the emigration agent of the company. He must be at least six feet two inches in height, and is very broad shouldered and stout, without the slightest inclination to corpulency. His countenance is very open and pleasing, and possesses that ruddy complexion so prevalent among his countrymen. His eyes are a clear hazel and his hair and whiskers jet black. Altogether, Mr. Jones' physique denotes great muscular power, and, in an open conflict, he might prove a dangerous opponent.

This band of Mormons are in the habit of assembling at the Odeon three times every Sunday for the purpose of public worship, when the room is open to all comers. Last Sunday afternoon a sermon was preached to a tolerably large congregation by Elder Jones. The elders all occupied seats on a raised platform at the head of the room, and immediately in front was the choir, consisting of a number of young men and women. One of the former accompanied the singers with a violin. The music, both vocal and instrumental, was very creditable. The tunes were lively, and seemed to be taken from choice secular songs, on the old Puritan principle, perhaps, not to let the devil have all the best tunes. It was noticed, however, that, contrary to the usual run of religious meetings, the men exceeded the women in number. During the service several of the men, who appeared to be casual visiters, went in and out while the female portion of the congregation kept their seats. Many of these latter, by the way—apparently English girls—were of the order colloquially known as "strappers," and fully capable of tackling a men of ordinary size in fair fight. Woe to the unfortunate wight of a Mormon who shall receive too many of them into his harem, unless, indeed, he shall be something of the weight and power of Elder Jones. In features there were a few good looking, but the great majority were simply so-so.

The exercises commenced in the ordinary manner common to non-liturgical sects—with singing and prayer, after which Elder Jones commenced his discourse, taking his text from the exhortation of St. Paul, to prove all things, and hold to that which is good. He proceeded, with a very slight Scotch accent, to show that there was a good as well as a bad principle in all religions, and that it was the duty of Christians, in examining the different systems that prevailed, to hold fast the good and reject the bad. He contended that all men embrace certain principles, in accordance with the influences by which they happen to be surrounded. It was thus that the heathens embraced their religion, as the Christians embraced theirs, and that therefore it would be gross injustice for a Christian to judge the religion of a heathen from his own standpoint. The same fueling should actuate us in judging of the diametrically opposite system of religion professed by our next door neighbor to ours. We are both striving for the same end by different means, and as we are honest in our belief we ought to give him credit for similar honesty. Still, he did not believe with some people that God would unconditionally save all mankind: but if we would follow the counsel of Paul—prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good, we would attain the truth. He then went on to argue that a belief in God and the Saviour was not incompatible with our human nature, but in perfect accordance with it; but it was because we neglected the means put into our hands to obtain the truth we were led into error. The law of life which was implanted to us taught us how to perpetuate our existence here, and to live throughout eternity; but as it was because we neglected the study of, and the obedience to, these laws, instead of human life reaching to nine hundred and sixty years as formerly, it now scarcely averaged twenty-five years. So it was that we were unable, like Christ, to have power over death and hell, as it was with individuals, so with nations. It was the disobedience of God's laws, physical and spiritual, that caused the United states to be in a condition of punishment. After many more arguments the Elder concluded by exhorting his hearers to seek the truth, which, if they found, even by the aid of that dark and benighted people, the Mormons, they should hold it fast, and God would bless them.

A hymn was then sung, while a collection was taken up to defray the expenses of the room, and after a prayer by Elder Pratt the audience separated.