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the Methodist camp-meetings of fifteen or twenty years ago. The singing, as on the latter occasions, was the best part of the exercises— simple, sweet, and fervent. ' Daughter of Zion,' as sung by the large choir one Sun- day morning, was prayer, sermon, song, and all. The preacher that day was apostle Richards; but beyond setting forth the superiority of the Jlormon Church system, through its presidents, councils, bishops, elders, and seventies, for the work made incumbent upon Chris- tians, and claiming that its preachers were inspired like those of old, his discourse was a rambling, unimpres- sive exhortation. . . . The rite of the sacrament [of the Lord's Supper] is administered every Sunday, water be- ing used instead of wine, and the distribution proceeds among the whole congregation, men, women, and chil- dren, numbering from three to five thousand, while the singing and the preaching are in progress. The prayers are few and simple, undistinguishablo, except in tliese characteristics, from tliose heard in all Protestant church- es, and the congregation all join in the Amen." (Comp. Qu. Rev. cxxii, 486-488 ; OUivant, p. 54, and Appendix A, p. 1 19, 147; Eae,p.l06 sq.) When the Temple is com- pleted, it is intended, as the founder ordered, to establish sacrifices and every ordinance belonging to the priest- hood as thej' existed prior to Moses's day {Compend. p. 177). There are also some secret ceremonies, of which very different accounts have been given. The most im- portant of these are the " mysteries of the Endowment
IToitse," where the marriage ceremony is performed. Stenhouse tells us that " within its portals are performed all the rites and ceremonies that hold Mormonism to- gether," but he reveals nothing, probably because he is bound by oaths to terrestrial secrecy. He indicates, how- ever, that tlie importance of these secrets has been overes- timated. Mrs. Stenhouse gives a detailed description of her own experience in the Endowment House, and it con- firms the statement of an intelligent gentleman who, when interrogated shortly after passing through the house by- one who had been there — " I went in expecting every- thing; I came out with nothing." (Those desiring full details may consult Mrs. Stenhouse, Tell it A II, ch. xxv.) V. IJierarchical Organization. — Mormonism is a pure theocracy; its priesthood, who rule in matters tempo- ral and ecclesiastical, make up about one fifth of the male members. They are recognised because of the declaration made by prophet Smith as "the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time" (Compend. p. 176). They are divided into various orders. The highest is the Fiist Presidency, composed of three, harmonious in representation upon the earth with "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" in heaven, and the successors of Peter, James, and John in
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Design of Salt Lake Temple.— [From Steuli'
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the Gospel Church. Of these, the first is primus inter pares, lie is elected by the whole body of the Church, and possesses supreme authority. "Throughout all Mormondom," says Stenhousc, " the highest rauk of the priesthood is sacred, and all councillors are but aiiLs. The theory is that a presitlent is nearer to ' the throne' than his councillors, and though the latter may speak and difTusc their measure of light, at the moment the president is ready to decide what should be done, the I>ord will give him direction" (p. 500). The second of- ticc in puint of dignity is that of Fat riarc/i, ■whose sole duty is to administer blessings. He is appointed by the Cluircli for life. Then follows the council of "The Twelve," whose functions are of great practical impor- tance. They ordain all other otficcrs, elders, priests, teachers, and deacons; they baptize, administer the sac- raments, and take the lead in all meetings. Next come the Sevoitics (of whom there arc many). They are un- der the direction of the " Twelve Ajjostles," and are the great ]ir(>pagandists, missionaries, and preachers of the body. The lifth order is that of lliijh-priests, composed usually (if men advanced in years. Their duty is to officiate in all the offices of the Cluirch when there are no higher officers present. After these come the Bish- ops, who are " overseers" of the Cliurch chieflj' in secu- lar matters, attending to the registration of births, mar- riages, and deaths, the support of " literary concerns" (such as newspapers and magazines), house -visituig, and the settlement of private grievances. The duties of the Elders are not very precise ; they are charged with the conduct of meetings, and exercise a general surveillance over the Priests, who correspond to the " fixed ministry" of other sects ; i. e. they preach, ex- hort, and expound the Scriptures. The lowest orders are the Teachers and Beacons; the former are simply assistants to the priests, elders, and bisliops, and act as catechists; the latter are Church-collectors, treasurers, etc. The whole priesthood is divided into two classes. the IMelchizedek and the Aaronic. To the first belong the offices of apostle, seventy, patriarch, high-priest, and elder ; to the second, those of bishop, priest, teach- er, and deacon. The latter can be held only by " literal descendants of Aaron," who arc pointed out by special revelation. Besides these office-bearers, there is also the Standing High Council, to settle difficulties among be- lievers. This consists of eighteen (at first twelve) high- priests, appointed by ballot, with one or three presidents, being the first president alone, or with his assessors. After the evidence has been heard, and the accusers, accused, and a certain number of councillors, from two to six, according to the gravity of the case, have spo- ken, the president gives his decision, and calls on the other members to sanction it. Sometimes a case is re- heard ; in special difficulties recourse is had to revela- tion. Every " stake" and separate church is govcrued by its own " High Council," with a similar constitution and procedure, and with an appeal to the Supreme High Council, (ieneral affairs arc managed by Confer- ences, held April G in each year. At these, which some- times last several days, the first presidency and other office-bearers are sustained in office bj' vote, always luianimous, of the meetings ; vacancies are filled, reports on various subjects are read, prayers are offered, ad- dresses delivered, hymns and anthems sung, etc. (sec Mill. Star, passim ; Burton, p. 367 sq. ; Qii. Rer. cxxii, 488). "This great net- work of priesthood, which cov- ers everything, and the influence of whicli [)crmeates everylliing," says Stenhouse, " is the key to the power of their jircsident over the Saints iu Zioii. Througli the priesthood lie can sway them at liis will. . . . As seen in all the Conference minutes, the pcojile are, by their own free voting, made responsible for everything that is done, and when once they have [as they are obliged to do by fear of persecution or excommunication], by uplifted liand before heaven, expressed their wish, it becomes their duty and obligation to sustain it" (p. .")GG). In theory, the Mormons recognise the right of private