Furthermore, he cites a revelation made to Joseph Smith on celestial marriage, which certainly characterises a plurality of wives as the great privilege of the Saints. But, then, dense obscurity surrounds the transmission of this important document. Joseph Smith may have received it from Heaven; but how did Brigham Young get it from Joseph Smith? It is said that the paper on which the Prophet inscribed the revelation was snatched from him and burnt, but that Brigham Young was so fortunate as to have procured a transcript of it prior to its destruction. Be it noted that President Young makes no formal pretensions to the office of prophet. He is too much occupied with other matters, to have any leisure for prophesying. Besides, some experiments he once made as a prophet proved very disastrous. He has benefited by the lesson. What he now preaches is preached on the authority of Joseph Smith. The responsibility is thus shifted on to the shoulders of the deceased. It is obvious that the living priest has a great advantage over the dead prophet; because, while the latter printed his doctrines, the former claims to have been the recipient of other doctrines to be spread abroad at a convenient season. Several years after the Prophet's murder, Brigham Young thought that the convenient season had arrived for proclaiming polygamy

a dogma of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Accordingly, in 1852 he told the people that he had in his custody a revelation sanctioning plural marriage. The statement was accepted with satisfaction, and from that date uncompromising Mormons have regarded polygamy as the basis of their creed and the best part of their system.

I anticipate the query: How can liberty of speech be pronounced impossible throughout the Territory of Utah when two sons of Joseph Smith are thus permitted to beard President Young in his stronghold, to repudiate his doctrines, to denounce his conduct?' The answer I return is that which I have received from more Mormons than one. By Brigham Young, the sons of Joseph Smith are intensely hated. He would rejoice if they could be removed out of his path. He has refused to allow them to officiate in the Tabernacle, while according this privilege to the preachers of every other religious denomination. Indeed, one of the brothers told me that on the very Sunday when the pulpit of the Tabernacle was formally closed against both of them, it was occupied by a Methodist minister to whom free scope was accorded as an expounder of the Christian Gospel. Others, far less obnoxious than these two men, have disappeared in a mysterious way, or have been found shot to death by

bullets, or beaten to death by clubs.

Mormons are pointed out to whose charge these murders have been publicly laid, but no one has ever been brought to justice, nor is it believed that the culprits will ever receive the punishment they deserve so long as crimes committed at the instigation of Mormon leaders, and in furtherance of the Mormon cause, are regarded as highly meritorious. But the Destroying Angels dare not serve David and Alexander Smith as they served Dr. Robinson. As the sons of their revered Prophet, the people look upon them with respect, and listen to them with attention. That these men should go about unmolested, and preach undisturbed, is the only proof I have discovered of the existence of a public opinion in Utah. This discovery would have been far more welcome and valuable had the manifestation of opinion given token of a latent love of fair play and free speech, instead of proving the existence of an undercurrent of superstition in the uncultured and fanatical Mormon mind.

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IX.

MORMON MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES.

IN FEW American cities are the nationalities of England and Wales so largely represented as in the city of the Great Salt Lake. The English visitor who makes the acquaintance of Mormon bankers, merchants, journalists, and hotel-keepers is surprised to find them well versed in the domestic affairs of the Old Country, and he learns with increased surprise that by birth they are his countrymen. Nor are his country women less numerous, if far less fortunate. When questions are asked about the wives of distinguished and polygamous Saints, one of the answers is that most of them are Englishwomen. Of other European nationalities there are several representatives, those from Denmark and Norway being in the majority. Out of the 150,000 citizens of Utah Territory at least three-fourths have emigrated from Europe. As many as 4,000 European Latter Day Saints are said to cross the Atlantic yearly, in order to cast in their lot with their brethren

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beyond the Rocky Mountains. In no country has the success of the Mormon missionaries been so great as in England, because in no other country has the like liberty of action been accorded to them. Elsewhere, they have fared badly on account of the obstacles put in their way by intolerant mobs, or despotic Governments. The record of their missionary enterprise is a chequered story of struggle and failure.

Regarded as a whole, the labours of the Mormons to win proselytes supply the strongest proofs which can be desired of their indomitable energy and steadfast endurance. No sooner had the Church of the Latter Day Saints been established in the United States than missionaries were despatched to make converts to the new religion. England was the earliest field wherein Mormon missionaries laboured, and is the one in which they have reaped the richest harvests. In 1837, no less than eight Mormon Elders went forth to preach to the English people. They began at Preston, in Lancashire. Before many months had elapsed, they had disseminated their views throughout the United Kingdom, the result being that 1,500 persons were baptized into the community of the Saints. Three years afterwards, others, of whom Brigham Young was one, took part in advancing the mission on English