persons of bad character, and summoned them to appear in the police court as soon as they landed on the Rock. Elder Stevenson who had been born there maintained his right to remain; Elder Porter, however, was ordered to leave. The Governor prohibited Elder Stevenson from preaching Mormonism. He, however, remained over a year and baptized several amidst threats, prohibitions and constant opposition. He also endeavoured to open up the work in Spain, but was not permitted by the authorities.' In no British possession does the success of the missionaries seem to have been greater than in Malta. What the Mormons say about their doings in that Island has a special interest for English readers. As the official account is not long, I shall give it unabridged :— In 1853, Elder James F. Bell was sent from England to Malta, where several were baptized. Upon the breaking out of the Crimean war, the interest in the work was broken off, still a few of the soldiers in the British regiments that landed there obeyed the Gospel. There originated from this mission three branches of the Church, viz.: one in Florianna, Malta; a second, called the "floating branch," in the Mediterranean, which consisted of sailors belonging to her British Majesty's ships the Bellerophon, Trafalgar, Vengeance and Britannia; a

third, the expeditionary force branch, in the Crimea; the latter consisted of brethren belonging to the 30th, 41st, 93rd and 95th British regiments. A few of the members of these branches lost their lives in the Crimean war.'*

The great success of the Mormon missionaries in England and Wales is partly due to the fact that the people to whom they appealed were for the most part grossly illiterate or fanatical. While the success they have had is not a matter for national congratulation, yet the toleration which was afforded to them, standing out as it does in contrast to the intolerance and inhumanity of which the missionaries were the victims in nearly every other land, is an honour to this sea-girt home of free thought and free speech. The Elders enjoyed fair play in England. The result has been that their zeal prevailed, and converts were multiplied. If the consequence is distasteful, the fault lies on the shoulders of those who have neglected the paramount duty of educating the people. Owing to the large number of converts who have gone from England and Wales

These details explaining the missions of Mormondom have not, as far as I know, been previously published in England. They have the merit of being authentic as well as novel. I have compiled the account from that contained in a pamphlet published in July 1869 at Salt Lake City. Its author is President George A. Smith, the Official Historian of the Church.

:

to their earthly Zion beyond the Rocky Mountains, Salt Lake City bears a close resemblance to an English settlement in America. Those who have been instrumental in gathering together this multitude of English men and women are all native-born Americans. New England is the mother of Joseph Smith President Brigham Young is a genuine Yankee; both being natives of the State of Vermont. The ablest and most trusted colleagues of the President are his fellow-countrymen. Indeed, not the least extraordinary among the mysteries of the Mormons is the circumstance that, while the nativeborn Americans are in the minority, and the people elect their leaders, the men certain to be elected, and as certain of re-election, are nearly always Americans by birth. While several of the Mormons are emphatically strangers and foreigners in this land of freedom, yet it is indisputable that in its inception and its growth, its organisation and its energy, Mormonism is thoroughly and entirely American. If the very existence of Mormonism be a cause of grief to England, its wider spread and increasing strength imperil principles dear to every patriotic citizen of the United States. In its present form it is a despotism. Brigham Young is the embodiment of that one man power' which Americans view with the deepest aversion and consider

as utterly antagonistic to the principles of genuine Republicanism. Yet a fear of persecuting men for what they allege to be their religion makes many hesitate and hang back who would otherwise be swift to act. On the other hand, it must be difficult for American statesmen to sit unmoved at the spectacle of the laws made by Congress openly violated, wilfully derided, and treated as utterly impotent within the Territory of Utah. As a subtle and triumphant conspiracy against the harmony of the Union and the supremacy of Congress, Mormonism is an evil too momentous to be regarded with indifference or neglected altogether.

X.

MORMONISM ON ITS TRIAL.

Two attempts, differing in character and aim, have been made to control and temper the intolerance of dominant Mormonism. Seven years ago the United States Government established a military post within a few miles of the city, and in a position well suited as a base for offensive operations. It was hoped that the presence of soldiers at Camp Douglas would tend to inspire confidence among the dissatisfied and timid inhabitants of the Valley, while acting as a check upon the conduct of the Mormon leaders. These expectations have not been fulfilled. The leaders themselves make merry over the policy of the Government. They say that the camp does no harm to them, but that, on the contrary, they make money by supplying the troops with stores on most remunerative terms. The other attempt was made about three years ago by a missionary society connected with the Episcopal Church in America. A mission was established in Salt Lake City. The missionaries were deputed to labour among both the Gentiles and Mormons resident there.