the strong young men to cultivate the land and to work in the mines-increase the property which will accrue to the church from the tithing system. One is struck with the dull expression on the faces of these peasants from the Old World. More women than men emigrate from foreign parts to Utah. The fate of these women who come thus to a Christian country can easily be imagined.

A special despatch to the Boston Herald from Salt Lake City, dated January 10th, 1885, states that some "high Mormons have recently returned from Mexico. They had reached the stronghold of the untamable Yayni savages, and made a conditional treaty with them. Within a few days John Taylor, Counsellor Smith, Bishop Sharp, and others have left Zion, and are known to be en route to Mexico; and it is believed they have gone to the capital to treat with the Mexican Government for lands and a charter like the Nauvoo charter. It is thought that the plan is to make a rendezvous for Mormons liable to persecution under the Edmunds law, and also to form a nucleus for a future empire in their favor. The Yaynis are terrible Indians who have never been subdued, the people of the northern Mexican States fearing them exceedingly.'

The prediction that the Saints would eventually make Mexico their final resting-place is not new. Time alone will show the destiny of these people.

In closing this brief history of Mormonism, we may state what the most recent students of its methods have learned in a few words, as follows: Mormonism was evolved from the crafty brain of Sidney Rigdon, who found a fitting and willing assistant in Joseph Smith. Between them they formulated the only religion that has been originated in America, from a romance written by a clergyman born in New England.

It does not seem probable that the Spaulding manuscript is still in existence. There are old men and women living who may know its fate. They may carry the burden of their sworn secret regarding it to the grave; but whether the manuscript which was so shamefully stolen was or was not destroyed, or whether it was ever returned to its rightful owners, the great scheme of the "LatterDay Saints," with its perfidies and crimes, cannot easily be expurgated from our national history.

It may be likened to some baleful plant that has been allowed to spring up and grow into a fruition of poisonous influences, and which cannot be exterminated save by one process—a general and thorough uprooting.

It has been the darling ambition of the Mormons since their settlement in Utah to have the Territory admitted into the Union of States; but to-day they seem as far from the realization of their anticipations in this respect as they were three decades ago, when they called their new home Deseret."

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CHAPTER XIII.

The "doctrines" of Mormonism-Analysis of the Mormon faith— Hierarchical organization-The "Book of Mormon"-Church polity -The faith of the Latter-Day Saints-Their modes of worship.

DOCTRINE.

THE Mormons are almost incredibly materialistic in their doctrines. Their idea of the Godhead is taken from Buddhistic principles. While they profess to believe in the Trinity, they say that God was once a man, who has advanced in intelligence and power; that now He may be called perfect; that He has still the form and figure of a man; He has even legs, from His appearance to Abraham, though He has the advantage over His creature that He can move up and down the earth without moving them.

Christ is the offspring of the "material" union, on the plains of Palestine, of God and the Virgin Mary—the latter being duly married after betrothal by the Angel Gabriel. Yet He is believed to have had a previous existence, and to have made the universe out of "unformed chaotic matter as old as God," and His worship is enjoined as Lord of all. The Paraclete is also material. There is, however, an older Trinity, that of Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael, which is Adam. Adam is declared to be the "god" of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ the "god" of Joseph Smith, and Joseph Smith the god " of this generation. Any Mormon by faith,

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obedience, and holiness may rise into a Deity, and peopling, and ruling a world forever.

The second article of Mormon faith affirms that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgressions.

The third article states that through the atonement of Christ all mankind can be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the (Mormon) gospel.

The fourth article affirms the ordinances to be: 1st, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, repentance; 3d, baptism (which takes place at eight years of age; they also baptize for the dead); 4th, imposition of hands by the gift of the Holy Spirit; 5th, the Lord's Supper administered kneeling (in which water is used instead of wine in the sacrament, which is taken every week).

The sixth article is, that the same organization exists now that existed in the Primitive church.

The seventh, that miraculous gifts-discerning of spirits, prophecy, revelations, visions, healing, tongues, etc.-have not ceased.

The eighth, that the word of God is recorded in the "Book of Mormon," the Bible, and all other good books.

The ninth article expresses the belief in all God has revealed, is revealing, or will reveal.

The tenth article affirms the literal gathering of Israel, the restoration of the ten tribes (the American Indians), the establishment of the new Zion on the Western Continent, the millennial reign of Christ on earth, and the transformation of earth into Paradise.

The eleventh article maintains the literal resurrection of the body to flesh and bones, but not blood, "the principle of mortality" (according to Smith).

The twelfth asserts the absolute liberty of private judgment in matters of religion.

The thirteenth declares it to be the duty of the Saints to be "subject to the powers that be," whether monarchical or republican.

The fourteenth is, "We believe in being honest, chaste, temperate, benevolent, virtuous, and upright; in doing good to all men, and that an idle or lazy person cannot be a Christian, or have salvation." *

ANALYSIS OF MORMONISM.

The "Book of Mormon" is a plagiarism of "Manuscript Found," written by Solomon Spaulding. The Mormon religion is a parody on the old Hebrew faith, in common with Methodisın, Millerism, Catholicism, Mohammedanism, spiced with doctrines of the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal Churches, as well as with the peculiar religious ideas of the Quakers and Shakers. The constant effort to imitate Hebraic customs and laws all through Mormonism is wearisome, nothing being formulated without some allusion to Biblical history.

Its originators and leaders have, many of them, been men of great natural intelligence, force, and persuasive eloquence. It is eminently a proselyting religion, and its greatest numbers of converts have come from the old world.

The commonly accepted idea of Mormonism is, that it is an institution based upon polygamy; but it was years after Mormonism was established before this system was more than whispered among the "Latter-Day Saints;" and if this enormous blot were wiped out from their his

*The articles of faith have been reduced to thirteen in number in the more recent history of Mormonism, but which of the number has been expunged the writer cannot learn,