BRIGHAM YOUNG'S WIDOWS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11320, 2 September 1899, Page 6

BRIGHAM YOUNG'S WIDOWS.

(New York Ucrald.) Brighatn Yoans'a n»tne again ruins in Ut»b. Mormons are hailinK him as the leader who was infallible and exalting the daya wnen he ruled almost as 8 hiog ia the mountain fastuesaes ho had chosen for his followers. It was like the celobration of the birthday of a great national hero on J ily Ist. when thousands of BTormona eatbe'-ed in fcho Ssltair pavilion, over ths Great Bait Lrte, to celebrate the nine'V-eighcb birthday of tbo man who led the Mormons to Utah, A salute of

forty rhiih had b;cn tired ii S&it L-tka , Oi!y for him iv the mo nlng, typical j •>i the number of subdivisions iv tbo .{ Mormon Church. Bauds hsd been | playing in the streets, a huge flag had been set flying from the Mormon temple, and finally the leaders in the Church and tl\o Stats gather, d with the family in a building built by the Mormon Church on the precise lines of the Mormon tabornaole. There was a unique banquet. On this occasion six of tho twenty-Bix wives of this raratn-koble man, betwcoi bixty ar,d oigtuy yoiirs old, eat as honored guests, with eight marriod dnusjhtore, niue tusrt'ed sons, and scores of graodchildren. Four of the surviviun widows were absent, three detained by illness and dMance. Sons and daughters who still lived were away also, being scattered far and wide. One daughter and son were living in New York City, a j daughter was in Canada, another on her ■ way to Eigland, and others laboring I for Mormonism in far away places, i Gr&ndohillren were Bcettered, from Major Young, in the Philippines Supreme Court, to his cousins serving as missionaries in Europe. Despite abeentees, however, tbero were more than three hundred riesotadents of the Mormon leader at the celebration. At their head was Apaatle Brigham Young, favorite son of the leader and fourth in line for the presidency of the Mormon Church. He had followed his father's ex»mple bf taking four wives, 2nd ninny of his des:endants aiiad in Bwollinc the numbers at the banquet. Worthy of note were the addresses, in which was shown the spirit of Mormorism. Apostle Young spoke of the ' Empire in Utah' oreated by hla father. Senator JUwlins, declared it would not be loDg ' before Brigham Yonng's statue will be placed beside those of the great national characters in the Statuary Hall at Washington ' and Governor Wella eulogizod him deolsring ' when Brigham Young departed, the world would lose one of its gratest ornaments.' Interest centres iv the womai who survives to tell of the syßtem of mar. riage which Brigham Young made a living principle in the Mormon Church. Nine of theaa widows are recognised by the Mormons, and [one is unrecognised because Bbc had not followed the teachings of their leader. Bare and absorbing romances are found in the life stories of these aged women so strangely bound together. Some of them acknowledged the nime of Brigh4m Young ' time ' only, expectto be called from their graves on the day of the great resurrection by their ' prophet,' Joseph Smith, and others, to whom they were sealed under Mormon rites for time nnd eternity.