A VERY LIVELY MORMON MEETING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3540, 13 November 1882, Page 4

A VERY LIVELY MORMON MEETING.

Two Mormon elders who are now in Wellington called a meeting of the public at the Athenteum Hall'on Saturday night, when the -proceedings were extremely uproarious. From the reports that had appeared of a previous meeting which had not been announced, and to which admission was by invitation ticket, there was an expectation that a Saturday night free public meeting would not be harmonious. This became evident to the elders, who afc the last moment decided to charge a shilling a head at the door. This, combined with a continuous downpour of rain, kept the audience more select than it otherwise would have been, a number of roughs turning away after one unsuccessful attempt to rush the doors. A select body of policemen were in attendance to keep order. The chairman of the previous meeting having proved hostile, the elders decided not to have one on this occasion.

The business was begun by one of tho elders, a young man named Earr, going on tho stage and playing a schottischc on tho American lyre. He next asked for a fair hearing, and said anyone who interfered could not bcu Christian, lie then proceeded to give another schottischc and a very rambling address on the origin and principles of Mormonism. He stated tho Mormons were the people who were going to rule the world. The statement was received with uproarious laughter, which wa3 renewed and prolonged ■when ho wanted those who doubted his statements to go to Utah and judge for themselves. Anyone who drank was a Gentile and not a saint—(Great laughter, and a voice:—'Try him with a becr.'j Tlere a ventriloquist in the hall caused great diversions by making irrevelant observations in a feigned voice, the fun being chiefly caused by the efforts of two policemen tj find him. Then followed a loud uproar, during which (hero were many calls for Mr Dwan, a local auctioneer, (o take tho chair to keep order. Mr Dwan declined, and tho elder then staled that anyone going to Utah would be given a fair hearing, and that the saints would rather encounter ten thousand devils then such a gathering as that before bim, though Christ and tho Apostles had to '

bear with many such congregations as his audience. This caused another great disturbance, which was heightened when the elder said there were thousands of Mormon elders visiting such wicked and corrupt congregations as they were, bufc he asked that they might be forgiven, for they knew not what they did. The uproar was continued a considerable time. The elder stated that he claimed to be possessed of the same spirit as Saints Peter and Paul.— (Great laughter, and a Voice : 'No; the spirit of Hennessy.') The elder next said they could either believe or reject his doctrines, upon which there was a general exclamation 'We reject, them,' and he then said they were evil-designed beings. At this there was much hooting and uproar, followed by another loud demand for Dwan, who eventually took the chair, and asked for a fair hearing, as the elders might do good by inducing objectionable females to migrate. Tho elder said ho was not frightened by such a class of people as those before him. After another uproar, the elder said the vengeance of a just God would fall on them.—(Cries of ' Bosh.') He then again called his auditors wicked and corrupt minded, to preach the truth to whom was throwing pearls to swine. This worked up another uproarious clamour, when the elder said they had proved anything but Christians. —(A Voice: ' No ; we're all Mormons.') No, they were not Mormons, or they would not treat him so. He should go home, leaving them in the hands of a just God to eternal condemnation. — (Great confusion.) The rod would come.— (A Voice: 'Which end ?') He was one of the servants of God. —(Much uproar. * No, no,' and ( Where is your mate, old party ?') He would not answer any questions that night.—(Loud cries : ' Then what can you take our shillings for ?') After somo persuasion the elder said they would answer consistent questions, but would not throw pearls to swine. Answering a question as to polygamy, the elder said the Saints wore peculiar in many ways. They believed in marrying wives and raising a righteous seed. The questioner then appealed to the police whether the elder was nofc breaking the law, and was told by the chairman to consult his solicitor. The elder said he had nofc preached polygamy, and did nob want them to believe ifc ; he did not know that he should ever be a polygamist, as one wife was enough for him : the Saints built a separate house for eaeli -wife. Here there was gi-eat uproar and laughter. When the elder said he saw an evil power coming on and would not answer any more questions the uproar became tremendous. Amidst it a local saddler went on the stage, and after some derisive hoofcings and exclamations said he would read a revelation from the Mormon Bible authorising polygamy. This was succeeded by another loud and long-continued disturbance. The chairman then gave another version from ' Chambers's Encyclopedia' of the origin and rise of Mormonism, including the Mountain MeadoAvs massacre, and advised anyone who wished to get the real facts concerning Utah to consult some residents in one of the Wellington suburbs, the members of a party who had gone to Utah and had been able to get back. Having made a remark as fco the elder's veracity, some personalities between the two ensued. Tho elder said there were persons* in the town who could attest this statement, and on loud cries of ' Name !' he led forward the saddler before mentioned, who was asked by the audience, amid great hooting and laughter, how many wives lie (the saddler) had. In Utah there was only one policeman to 11,000 people.— (A voice : ' Their wives keep them lin order.') The saddler added that he was I not such a fool as to go to Utah. The elder here made efforts to leave the stage, bufc was prevented. He then, amid renewed clamor, called the chairman an evil-minded man, and said he would go, hoping the Lord would forgive them. This was followed by more uproar, laughter, and an exclamation in imitation of Bunthorne —' Oh don't go.' Someone then caused a sensation by shouting that the money-taker had bolted, whereupon the elder picked up his books and lyre, and was hurrying off the stage, when a man who wanted to ask questions came forward and drew him back by the coat-tails, causing great fun and uproar, which was continued for some time. Then there were loud calls for more tunes from the ' Yankee liars,' invitations to play ' The girl I left behind me,' etc. Another man began to read while the elder gesticulated and spoke, bufc nothing could be heard, the uproar being deafening. On the noise subsiding somewhat several theological questions were answered, after which there were angry calls ' Do you consider that a shilling's worth ?' The din again became overwhelming, and ifc was suggested that music had charms to sooth the savage breast. The elder played another tune, and the other elder then came forward with a stick, and among other opprobrious remarks said he should suppose there were not only all the lunatics of Wellington bufc of all the colony present. Many of them would not like fco go to Utah, bufc would like to have three or four wives move. Uproar followed. Eor some time there had been a continuous discharge of squibs and crackers, and the air was becoming sulphurious. The elders tried to leave, bufc could nofc effect a retreat for some time. However, after a prolonged uproar, the meeting broke up with hoots, yells, and squibs, the elders being subequontly hooted along the street.— Exchange.