it, the more probable appeared this
appalling hypothesis.

I have already spoken of my experience of Mormon life, and the insight I
had incidentally obtained into its hideous characteristics. I have said
that the _spiritual-wife_ doctrine was long since exploded--repudiated
even by the apostles themselves--and in its place the _many-wife_ system
had been adopted. There was no change in reality, only in profession.
The practice of the Mormon leaders had been the same from the beginning;
only that then polygamy had been carried on _sub rosa_. Publicity being
no longer dreaded, it was now practised "openly and above board." We
term it polygamy--adopting an oriental phrase. It is nothing of the
kind. Polygamy presupposes some species of marriage, according to the
laws of the land; but for Mormon matrimony--at least that indulged in by
the dignitaries of the church--there were no statutes, except such as
they had chosen to set up for themselves. The ceremony is simply a
farce; and consists in the sprinkling of a little water by some brother
apostle, with a few mock-mesmeric passes--jocosely termed the "laying on
of hands!" The cheat is usually a secret performance: having no other
object than to overcome those natural scruples--not very strong among
women of Mormon training--but which sometimes, in the case of young
girls of Christian education, had opposed themselves to the designs of
these impudent impostors. Something resembling matrimony may be the
condition of a Mormon wife--that is, the wife of an ordinary "Saint,"
whose means will not allow him to indulge in the gross joys of polygamy.
But it is different with the score or two of well-to-do gentlemen who
finger the finances of the church--the tenths and other tributes which
they contrive to extract from the common herd. Among these, the
so-called "wife" is regarded in no other light than that of _une femme
entretenue_.

I knew that one of the duties specially enjoined upon those emissaries
termed "apostles," is to gather young girls from all parts of the world.
The purpose is proclaimed with all the affectation of sanctified
phraseology:--that they should become "mothers in the church," and by
this means lead to the more rapid increase of the followers of the true
faith! This is the public declaration, intended for the common ear.
But the leaders are actuated by motives still more infamous. Their
emissaries have instructions to select the _fairer forms_ o