A Mormon Bishop in California.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 265, 14 November 1885, Page 3

A Mormon Bishop in California.

Tun Mormon Church has its eyo on California. At least, H.B. Claweon, one of tho thirtyono bishops who nreHido over the Mormon wards in Salt Lako City, is so much takon with the advantages of this State that ho is a confessed advocato of the migration thither of tho Utah followers of Brlgham Young's faith. Mr Clawson-—ho drops tho title of bishop in his everyday intercourse abroad —said that tho idea had occurred to him as ho was coining here through his State. His purpose in coming, he stated, was to attend to personal business. Tlio removal of tho Mormons to iiomo pi co whoro they would bo more leniently treated than in Utah ha 3, howovor, been seriously entertainod for some timo by tho dignitaries in tho Mormon Church. Mr Clawson said that Mexico was ono of tho soots looked favourably upon. Tho bishop" boing an authority in tho Church, and having as a matter of courso inside knowledge of any contemplated movements on tho part of tho Mormons, his statements, suggestions and hints were accepted by his hearer as representing the opinions that tho Mormon rulors entertain. The information that ho gave as to what was ictondod so far as California is concorued, followed his warm uttorances against what ho called tho persecution to winch adherents of tho Mormon creed are now subject by tho Federal officials in Utah. Ho conofomued tho policy now being pursued there to stamp out polygamy as a mistaken one.

"Politicians ought to see," he said, " that tho timo has come when a different courso should be pursued. California ought to extend a holping hand to us and invite us to come and locate hero. It would bo a good thing for this State. What it needs is now colonies of industrious, pcacoabla Bottlers. California should invito us to come hore."

" But why can you not como without an invitation?"

" And bo subjected to tho same treatment as wo'ra rocoiving now '! No ; that would not do. Vi hat we aro looking for is to como with a promise that we will be dealt with fairly. Wo don't want to bo liablo after removing hero to bo hounded, pursued, and arrested aftor removing to California.

''. How is tho invitation to booxtended?"

' ■ By the Legislature or tho pooplo in some way. Wo will have more right in tho State than a Territory, as you are aware, and the migration of 150,000 intelligent, well-be-haved people as the Mormons would go very far towards building up California." Tho feeling between the Gentiles and the Mormons, he stated, has been much intensified by recent occurrences in Utah. They nover mingled together to any extont or had many interests in common, but now they are^at sword's point. Regarding the placing of the national flags at half-mast on the Fourth of July, he declared—

"No insult was intended to the flag. I say that positively, because I am in a position to know. Noither was the Church responsible for tho lowering of tho flags. The flag was raised on the theatre in Salt Lake which I own, but the man in charge afterwards lowered it without my knowledge. When I heard of it I ordered it raised atonco. Still, that signifies nothing, as tho theatre) there is regarded as neutral ground, where nono of the bitterness and difference that exist in tho Territory is given expression. The roason of the halfmasting was that we felt we had nothing to rejoico over. Wo folt wo had cause for sorrow instead."

Mr Clawson went on, with an occasional burst of indignation, to demonstrate that by making the Edmunds law apply to Mormons who already have sevoral families, and compelling them to forswear all but tho first wife and her childron, the Government, instead of winning the rising generation from Mortconism, is increasing their hatred for the Gentiles. "If the system is wrong," he said, " it will dio out by itself. If it is not wrong, laws like that cannot wipo it out."

Mr Clavvson is now nndor indictment in Salt Lake City for polygamy, and saya that when ho is tried in Uctobor he will not fight the charge. President Taylor and exDelegate Cannon qre also to bo indicted when enough eyidenco against them is obtained. "The idea," exclaimed Mr Clawson, "of arresting and prosecuting a man 80 years old, as Taylor is, for polygamy !" Bishop Clawson was one of the earliest Mormons, having settled in Salt Lake City in 1540.—" San Francisco Chronicle."

Variety of Food.— Simplicity of diet has been preached ; the prophet eating thelocust bean and wild honey-the Hindoo with his rice-nomad races living on cheese, milk, and goats-flesh, have been held up as examples worthy of all admiration. The poor, the uncivilised-, and those who would rend the body for the soul's faults, use from necessity or choice, simpln diets; but as a rule when man can pet a complicated diet he eats it. A man in this climate to do what he has to do well requires to have at least twice a day a certain amount of complicated pabulum floating down the intestinal canal, and the amount must be a little in excess of what the body requires. The reason why the diet should be of a complex character is because if several kinds of albuminous matter are present and one fails to be digested another succeeds ; if several kinds of"iat are present, if one is unabsorbed another is taken up. And the reason why there should be an excess of nourishment taken is because the digestive organs are never perfect; there is always waste.— Leisure Hour.