A MORMON MARRIAGE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3237, 6 February 1879, Page 3

A MORMON MARRIAGE.

Annie Thompson writes to the Salt Lake Tribune a communication detailing the form of marriage ceremony performed at the mysterious Endowment House. The writer illustrates by describing the recent marriage of Miles and Miss Owens. She says:—lf the woman who now styles herself Mrs Owens Miles was an honest and deserving woman when she left London to emigrate to Utah with the Latterday Saints, and so soon after her arrival here, only some five weeks ago, passed through the Endowment House, I thirik there might be some palliation for her very peculiar and seemingly inconsistent conduct., When Caroline wen went ;to the Endowment House, she entered at the north door and gave her name to the recorder, she then passed inside to be washed, taking off her olothes until she was as naked as the hour she was born, She was then washed from head, to.foot; afterward she was covered with oil-and blessed by the holy priestess;; Her head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, neck, arms, heart, breast, baok and all parts of her body anointed. She then put on her new "garments and received her new name in a whisper by the officiating; woman who lied so beautifully in. court. Passing along, she came before the; Great Jehovah and Elohim, they being,in another room, and commenced reading the ritual of, the order, '• Let usgbdown and make man," &c, which is all too- tedious to mention. Miss Owen passed on froia one change to another, having her robes and her apron on to appear before the master of oereraonies to receive the oaths. Standing straight, as shown by the elder, bringing her right'arm at an angle, tlie'ri plaoing it across her throat as the terrible words : were, uttered by tbVi.'offioiatibg priest, then drawing and extending'her arm straight out and < bringing it baokv to aright angle, striking'it...'straight, ; i6 : jthe earthy interpreting the oaths an- spoken, that heir; throat should be out'ftf tf ear ; tp' ear, that her heart should be out. out,;arid that she bo disembowled.and herib vdybs buried in the. depths: of the. she should divulgeauything pertaining! to the ceremonies performed in that house. This is not all the oath by a great, deal, Miss Owens then received'all the grips, signs, tokens, &o. There are several,'.;pf these whiob. only the faithful can < : understand. Miss Owens then.passed on to the ; other degrees, prayer*' &c. Passing onward and upward she came to the vail or. arch, John Miles wason'she inside of the vail or arch, Caroline on'the outside. Then the'compass and square were cut over her heart. There was only a sheet to separate John from Caroline, and before she could get thrpugh'Bo where John was, she had to put ;her"fp,ot to his foot, her knee to his knee,'her breast to his breast, her lips .to.hisilijjs. Then John whispered in her ear andylolrl her the new name she had named' below. Nobody onear.th knows, what ithat 1 iiamo is but John and Caroline. ■; He; 'then brought Caroline through'the'vail'or arch to be married. Joseph F. Smith sat immediately opposite at the table,. John stood at the right and Caroline at the left, After the usual questions were put and answered, the, marriage was proceeded with and finished, John and ' Caroline walking tojthe sealing room, where Joseph F. Smith sat on the throne, and later stood at the door. Miss Owens walked around to the north side of the altar, and Miles remained on the south side. Joseph P. Smith proceeded with the ceremony. John and Caroline were kneeling when Joseph F. told them to clasp hands aoross the altar and kiss eaoh other, whioh they did. He then sealed them up to ever-' lasting life, to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection to receive power and to oarry out the laws, of protection for ever and ever. Amen.