d to give him
such an impression? I racked my brain, but could recall nothing that
justified it. I passed the day in a state of nervous apprehension,
fully expecting some frank criticism from the "Gentiles" on the score of
having delivered a Mormon sermon to ingratiate myself into the favor of
the Mormons and secure their votes for the constitutional amendment.
But nothing of the kind was said. That evening, after the sermon to the
"Gentiles," a reception was given to our party, and I drew my first deep
breath when the wife of a well-known clergyman came to me and introduced
herself in these words:

"My husband could not come here to-night, but he heard your sermon this
morning. He asked me to tell you how glad he was that under such unusual
conditions you held so firmly to the teachings of Christ."

The next day I was still more reassured. A reception was given us at
the home of one of Brigham Young's daughters, and the receiving-line was
graced by the presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was
a bluff and jovial gentleman, and when he took my hand he said, warmly,
"Well, Sister Shaw, you certainly gave our Mormon friends the biggest
dose of Methodism yesterday that they ever got in their lives."

After this experience I reminded myself again that what Frances Willard
so frequently said is true; All truth is our truth when it has reached
our hearts; we merely rechristen it according to our individual creeds.

During the visit I had an interesting conversation with a number of the
younger Mormon women. I was to leave the city on a midnight train, and
about twenty of them, including four daughters of Brigham Young, came to
my hotel to remain with me until it was time to go to the station. They
filled the room, sitting around in school-girl fashion on the floor and
even on the bed. It was an unusual opportunity to learn some things I
wished to know, and I could not resist it.

"There are some questions I would like to ask you," I began, "and one
or two of them may seem impertinent. But they won't be asked in that
spirit--and please don't answer any that embarrass you."

They exchanged glances, and then told me to ask as many questions as I
wished.

"First of all," I said, "I would like to know the real attitude toward
polygamy of the present generation of Mormon women. Do you all believe
in it?"

They assured me that they did.

"How many of you," I then asked, "are polygamous wives?"

There was