Chapter I: Preface

The following pages have at least the merit of being addressed to a subject of living interest to the American people. Perhaps with the single exception of the labor problem, the Mormon problem is the most important question before the people of our country at the present time. It is a problem which has thus far been unsolvable by the moralist, the statesman, and the politician. It still remains a PUZZLE. No feasible plan has yet been hit upon for getting rid of it.

From the past failures to solve it, it would seem that the problem has either not been studied from the proper standpoint, or has been misunderstood. Accordingly, we instituted a careful study of the problem in all its different phases, and endeavored to conduct our investigation in a fair and impartial manner. In doing so we consulted the leading authorities, both Mormon and non-Mormon, and must here acknowledge our indebtedness especially to "New Light on Mormonism," by Mrs. Ellen E. Dickinson; "Illiteracy and Mormonism," by Henry Randall Waite; Professor Coyner's "Handbook on Mormonism;" Schaff-Herzog's "Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge;" and back files of the _Independent_, _Christian Union_, and _Deseret News_--all of which were freely used in the preparation of this volume.

It has the merit of being the product of about two years' careful thought and research. Most of the writings on Mormonism at the present day are the result of a few days' study of the subject on the field of Utah; but, apart from the insufficient time which such authors devote to the study of so knotty a problem, their minds are very apt to be warped by the people among whom their lot is cast during their short visit there, and they almost inevitably present a one-sided view of the question.

Thus, some have fallen into the hands of _the Mormons_; and they have returned from Utah delighted, and let fall from their lips naught but encomiums for the priesthood and apologies for the Mormon system. Many of our legislators have in this way been the dupes of the Mormon priesthood. On this subject the much-lamented _Mary Clemmer_ wrote the following pungent lines:

"Legislators constantly passing to and from California find Salt Lake City a most attractive stopping-place. The Mormon hierarchy, sly, cunning, astute, to the last limit of human nature, is ever sharply on the lookout for these potent summer visitors. 'Prophets' and 'apostles' board every train of cars that enters Utah bearing an important traveller. The freedom of the city, the hospitality of the show 'happy families,' who are never taken by surprise on an off-day of misery, is lavished upon the ingenuous guest.... The facts impressed upon his senses, as well as his understanding, are those of great industry, thrift, wealth, prosperity--of shrewd men and of seemingly happy women. Indeed, their supreme occupation while with him is to prove to him that they _are_ happy, while the men are equally busy in spreading before him the vast resources of both the Church and the Territory. This man, who is one of many men whose voice and vote tells upon human affairs, leaves the Territory at last deeply in debt personally for favors received and mentally somewhat dazed by the material profitableness of a religious system that he wishes to denounce, but does not pretend to understand."

On the other hand, many have fallen into the hands of _bitter non-Mormons_ during their brief stay in Utah; and their minds have been filled with horrible stories of the brutalities and crimes of the Mormon people. They have returned disgusted, and have uttered harsh tirades against the whole Mormon system and all who believe in it, declaring that it should be utterly exterminated, even by the sword. Of their utterances and writings the official organ of the Mormon Church, the _Deseret News_, in its issue of July 21st, 1886, reasonably complains. It says: "Salt Lake City is not Utah, and conversation with a little knot of anti-Mormons does not impart much accurate information on 'Mormonism.' The books that are written by tourists who come in by the cars, take a hack, a ride around town, a sniff at the lake, a glance at the Temple, and a guess at the situation, and who make up their data from other publications and the yarns of persons who take delight in filling up travellers with blood-curdling Munchausenisms, are not likely to correct the public mind on a subject about which there is more misinformation than almost any other.... And these books are not any less reliable than the remarks and tales and remedies that fall from the lips of men who spend a few weeks in a given locality in one Utah town, and then go to the world and air their great experience and knowledge about the 'Mormons' through 'a protracted residence in Utah.'"

It was our desire to avoid both Scylla and Charybdis--to treat the subject with an unbiased mind--to get the real facts, and then propound, if possible, a solution to the problem. We have not been in actual contact either with Mormons or non-Mormons. We have not been on the field of Utah at all, and believe that the value of this volume as an impartial study is thereby greatly enhanced. Furthermore, while we have avoided the narrow views of the subject which would almost inevitably have resulted from a personal visit to Utah, we have been in communication both with leading Mormons and non-Mormons on the field, and have in that way acquired all the _reliable_ information which could have been obtained by a _long residence_ there.

The result of our long and careful study, which was prosecuted while we were engaged in regular pastoral duties, was first given to the members of our own congregation in a series of lectures on week-day evenings; and while they have since then been enlarged and carefully revised, they still have the free oratorical style which, though inexcusable in a work prepared exclusively for publication, may be pardoned in an oral lecture.

The solution of the "_Mormon Puzzle_" to which we have arrived is given forth with the firm conviction that it is practicable, and if carried out in its various parts would peaceably overcome all the bad qualities belonging to Mormonism, which are the sole cause of the puzzle now before the people of our country. Nevertheless, we do not anticipate for our views the indorsement of the extremists on either side; but we believe they will commend themselves to the fair-minded people of our land; at least, it is hoped that all minds open to conviction may find something in these pages worthy of their serious thought. We only ask that the reader may adopt the precept of Bacon: "Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; but to weigh and consider."

THE AUTHOR.

PRESBYTERIAN PARSONAGE, ELKTON, MD.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

PART I. HISTORY OF MORMONISM.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

Alleged Origin of Mormonism--Joseph Smith's Early Life--Finding
the Peek-stone--Visited by an Angel--Received the Golden Plates--
Was Smith a Swindler or an Enthusiast?--"Book of Mormon"
Published, and Mormon Church Established--Smith's First Alleged
Miracle--Rigdon Joins the Mormons--Mormonism Compared to
Mohammedanism 25

CHAPTER II. HISTORY OF MORMONISM (_continued_).

_The First Hegira_ from Palmyra to Kirtland--The First Temple--
Rapid Growth of the Mormon Church--Brigham Young and other
Missionaries Sent to Foreign Lands--The Name "Latter-day Saints"
Adopted--Smith and Rigdon Compelled to Flee from Kirtland--_The
Second Hegira_--The "Danites" Organized--Rapid Increase of the
Mormons in Missouri--Jealousy of the Missourians--Mormons Driven
across the Missouri River by a Mob--Their Property Confiscated--
Their Leaders Imprisoned 38

CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF MORMONISM (_continued_).

_The Third Hegira_--Sufferings of the Mormons during their
Journey into Illinois--An Account of the Murder of Mormons--
Influence of this Persecution on the Minds of Mormons at the
Present Time--_Nauvoo_--Its Location--Its Growth--The Second
Mormon Temple Begun--Other Public Buildings--Laziness Whittled
out of Nauvoo--Internal Dissensions Among the Mormons--Political
Troubles--Smith Nominated for President of the United States--
Warrants Issued against the Mormon Leaders--Constable Driven out
of Nauvoo--Civil War Threatened--Smith Asked to Submit to Trial--
Murder of Joseph Smith and his Brother--Rigdon Excommunicated,
and Brigham Young Made Leader--Consecration of the "Pride of the
Valley" 45

CHAPTER IV. HISTORY OF MORMONISM (_concluded_).

_The Fourth Hegira_--Young's Shrewd Plan of a Western Kingdom--
Nauvoo's Sad End--Journey of the Mormons to Council Bluffs--
Young's Forethought--The Trip of the Pioneers Across the
Wilderness--The Halt at Salt Lake Valley--Young Leads the
Remaining Mormons from Council Bluffs to Salt Lake--Their
Entertainment during their March--Folly of the Illinoisans in
Driving them out into the Wilderness--Probable Result of
Tolerance of the Mormons--Character of the Mormons--Life Begun
Anew in Salt Lake Valley--Salt Lake City Established--Mills and
Workshops Established and the Great Temple Begun--Increase of
the Mormon Population--Value of their Property in Utah--Public
Schools--A Final Brief Glance at their History--How the Mormon
Puzzle will not be Solved 54

PART II. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE.

CHAPTER V.

Mormonism a Theocracy--Manoeuvring for Office the Cause of the
Expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and Nauvoo--The "State of
Deseret" Formed--Lands Illegally Obtained--Brigham's Movable
House--Government Officials Compelled to Flee--Federal Troops
Sent--The Oath of Disloyalty--The Endowment Rites--The American
Flag at Half-mast--The Control of the Nation their Aim--The
Political Puzzle Stated--Its Causes--Necessity of Government
Action 67

CHAPTER VI. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE (_continued_).

_The Possible Remedies_--The Military Remedy--The Government
Responsible for the Situation in Utah--The Disfranchisement of
Polygamists--Federal Trustees for the Mormon Church Corporation--
Confiscation of Unlawful Funds--False Statements About Mormons--
Letters from the Two Bancrofts--The Dissolution of the Emigrating
Fund Company--The Federal Commission Remedy--The Woodburn Bill,
or Idaho Statute 77

CHAPTER VII. THE POLITICAL PUZZLE (_concluded_).

Objections to Proposed Remedies--_Gladstone_ on "Coercion"--A
NEW PLAN ADVOCATED--_The Abolition of Female Suffrage_--_A
National Colonization Scheme_--Natural Resources of Utah--
Superiority of the Colonization Plan over Others--_The
Establishment of National Free Schools_--Ignorance the Keystone
of Mormon Despotism--Public Schools in Utah used for Mormon
Purposes--Proposed Federal Superintendent of Schools in Utah--
Territorial Schools Too Few--Necessity of Government Action--
Prejudice Disarmed by this Plan--THE POLITICAL PUZZLE SOLVED 91

PART III. THE SOCIAL PUZZLE.

CHAPTER VIII.

Polygamy only one of the Mormon Social Evils--Their Social
System _a System of Bondage_--Contrary to Natural Law--Contrary
to the Spirit of the Age--PERSONAL BONDAGE of the Mormons--
Missionaries _Must_ Go on Duty--Dictation of the Priesthood with
Regard to Boarders and Rents--Immigrants Under their Control--All
Members Subject to Church Orders--Power of the Church over Daily
Business--Mormon Mining Contractors--MENTAL BONDAGE of the
Mormons--Converts Illiterate--The Mormon Church the Opponent of
Free Education--No Independent Thought--Excommunication of Henry
Lawrence and Others 107

CHAPTER IX. THE SOCIAL PUZZLE (_continued_).

MORAL BONDAGE of the Mormons--Implicit Obedience to the
Priesthood Enjoined--_Crimes Committed_ at their Command--
Murders--The Mountain Meadows Massacre--Lee's Confession--A
Mormon Carpenter's Confession--Theft--Falsehood--Perjury--Why
was Polygamy Promulgated?--Why is Polygamy Practised? 118

CHAPTER X. THE SOCIAL PUZZLE (_continued_).

_Reasons why Mormon Slavery is Maintained_--Hope of Earthly
Gain--Complete Organization of the Mormon Church--Prospect of
Promotion in Office as a Bribe--Fear of Earthly Loss--System of
Espionage--Apostasy Formerly Punished by Death--Mode of
Inflicting the Punishment--Social Ostracism--Religious Conviction
the Mainstay of the Mormon Social System 131