BOOK OF THE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1933, Page 1 (Supplement)

BOOK OF THE WEEK

AN IDYLL OF MORMONISM

(By

U.S.)

“The Proselyte,” by Susan Ertz. Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., London, per A. J. Fyfe Ltd., New Plymouth. Price 7/-.

With the exception of a few missionaries who are working among the Maoris it is probable that no one in New Zealand could give a true and coherent account of that curious mixture of dogma and pioneering known as Mormonism. , Miss Ertz tells in “The Proselyte” something of that weird mixture and its effects upon the common folk who believed in the new “Zion,” that was to arise at the end of the pilgrims journey to a portion of the United States where contamination with and persecution by ' the unregenerate might be avoided. It must be confessed that the one article of Mormon faith, the permission of a plurality of wives, is almost the only one that has had wide publicity. Yet in her story of the Mormon city Miss Erty shows that the plural marriage system was not wholly a failure from the point of view of the Mormon church or of the Mormon State. “Plural” wives seem to have lived together in amity but as Zillah observed in one such family “they succeeded in their difficult relationship only by the practice of the most rigid discipline, each one disciplining herself, and her heart and tongue, and the husband disciplining them all, not harshly, but with stem, just impartiality and respect.” And this in the country that boasted of being “the land of the free 1” Isolation was the greatest factor in making possible such a comm-unity. When the railway reached Salt Lake City the' doom of polygamy was certain without any aid from the Legislature in far away Washington. For the story is of those terrible days of emigrant “trains” of pilgrims from lowa City to Utah. Jdiss Ertz shows with fine discrimination how the combination of fanaticism and love of pioneering kept hope alive and endeavour possible even if Death stalked openly among the emigrant trains. “The Proselyte” is the story of a work-ing-class girl whose parents are driven by horrid circumstances from Sussex to London. There they meet a convert to Mormonism, an old man, who introduces them in turn to a young Mormon missionary, Joseph Hewett. Without funds, dependent upon the charity of converts for food and shelter the missionaries had been sent tb convert England just about the time the war clouds were breaking in the Crimea.

Zillah Purdy and Joseph Hewett fall in love. Her father is attracted by the Mormon creed, her mother is more cautious. Joseph denies the reports that Mormonism permits polygamy, and the description of his feelings when he discovers his error, and that his church does endorse “plural” marriage, is an exceedingly fine piece of analysis. In the end Joseph squares his conscience, and makes it submit to church discipline. He goes to Switzerland to proselytise and Zillah goes to a country-house in Sussex as nursemaid for three years. Then she and Joseph marry. The life of a Mormon missionary was certainly no luxurious idling. The young couple nearly starved, and Zillah’s first baby is bora dead because of his mother’s malnutrition. However, things improve before the second child is born arid at length Joseph receives instructions to accompany a party of "converts” who are to emigrate to Salt Lake City. Zillah feels the break’from familiar things and people tremendously.. She senses, too, the patronising semi-cUridus pity with which she and her fellow converts are regarded. Joseph Hewett commands respect all through the story. His pluck arid endurance proved themselves in the pinpricking experiences of the emigrants in New York just as they were to shine in the more awful experiences ahead; The trek of the emigrants.'began in early autumn. '.Plans miscarried, the departure from lowa City was belated and winter caught the emigrants after marrauding Indians, had done their best to bring about disaster. The story of that emigration is an epic. Short of food and. shelter, those folk from sheltered homes .died in their tracks with scarcely a growl about the organisation that had so badly failed them. Joseph, Zillah and their baby came through, though when relief came and responsibility was lifted from Joseph Hewett’s shoulders the . reaction set in and he nearly died.- 1 • He and his family are cared for in a “plural marriage” home. Thus early does the author take the reader into the portion of Mormonism that has been most discussed. Indeed that is ' her method throughout. She says, in effect, this is how the Mormons lived and died in the days when they really believed they were the “chosen” of the Almighty and that in Salt Lake City they were building a new and fair Kingdom of God. The Hewetts found life in Salt Lake City was far from unbearable. They had some years of quiet peace. More children were' born,, and then came i Joseph’s disastrous experiment with a j second wife. An enemy had also undermined their peace. Joseph is sent to! found a new settlement afar off, and : ond^iagain the home-loving Zillah must' trefc lifita the wilds. It was a sad ex- ! perience; It cost the life of their eldest! son. The Indians gave the outpost no ' rest and ' ultimately the survivors were j brought back to Salt Lake City. Joseph’s courage and leadership has been noted by Authority and it seems as though the days of his wanderings are over. ■ They begin again, however, and from a very simple cause. They end in tragedy, though the volume closes with a note of courage.

This study of Mormonism is mostj . fascinating. Though it tells of days that : are long since past and of conditions that ' no longer exist Miss.Ertz has succeed- : ed in creating anew the atmosphere of those far off times. What Mary Johnson did so successfully for the “Old . Dominion” of Virginia Miss Ertz has , done for the Mormon State. Both settle- . ments had their share in the evolution of a mighty nation. Yet they were made . up chiefly of humble and ordinary folk. They were people who lived, suffered, ; rejoiced, worked, loved and hated much as do the common folk of to-day. They . had their limitations and some traits , that were .very unlovely. But they had • their moments of high purpose and real heroism also. Most of all they showed a dogged acceptance of duty towards each ; other and the church that was State as • well as church to them that awakens sympathy and kindles admiration. I A fine series of gift books for chil- : dren. Leather' bindings cellophane 1 wrapped at 5/- each. “The Water Babies” I by Charles Kingsley; “Alice in Wonder- • land,” by Lewis Carroll; “Robinson ■; Crusoe,” by Daniel Defoe; “Grimm’s Fairy Tales; “Robin Hood,” by Henry ; Gilbert; “Tales from the Arabian Nights.” 1< All obtainable from A. J. Fyfe, Ltd., ’ j “The Book People,” Phone 1397, New {i Plymouth.* | i