"Yes, brother, I knew Brigham Young in Nauvoo, when we were driven out
across the plains, I knew that he was God's own man, and I followed
him, with sure faith in my heart. If you like, sir, the meeting's just
on, and you might walk down with us?"
"I will, thank you," returned Dr. Cadman pleasantly, and the three
walked down to the Temple, the old man greatly pleased with the
visitor, and "the visitor" greatly amused with the thought of walking
down the street with "Mormons."
"There's nothing very bad about them," he decided to himself. "Just
easily lead, and simple-minded."
When they reached the Temple gate, the old man turned to him kindly.
"Sorry, but you'll have to throw that cigar away, brother. They don't
allow smoking on the Temple grounds."
Cadman flushed, and looked at his freshly lit cigar doubtfully.
"Well, here goes!" he decided. "It's worth it to see a real 'Mormon'
congregation."
As they entered the grounds, a group of about fifteen men, women, and
children surrounded them.
"Where have you been?" exclaimed a chorus of voices, accosting the old
couple, joyously. "We've been looking for you the city over. Hurry or
we'll not get a front seat."
George found himself proudly introduced to the old couple's children
and grand-children and then hurried off by the entire family to the
tabernacle.
That night he wrote to a New York cousin, the following letter:
"My dear old pal:--Such a pleasant trip, all the way through! I've
separated from the party, however, for the way they traveled, didn't
suit me. They reminded me of a lot of bees, sipping the honey
momentarily from each flower that they passed. On a trip like this, I
like to study my own dear America. I decided to stop off a few days
at the Indian reservation,--that settled it--since then I have been
traveling alone.
"You know Mrs. Hester of the party? Exclaimed she, 'Those frightful
Indians, Dr. Cadman! How can you care to look at those awful people a
second time!'
"And now--those frightful 'Mormons' I find very interesting! I meant to
spend one day here at Salt Lake City, but this first day has been so
interesting I mean to spend more.
"I must tell you about my experience today.
"I was gazing at Brigham Young's monument, when I was accosted
by a very plainly dressed old man, and his wife. After a little
conversation, I went to their tabernacle with them, and on the way was
introduced to their family,--big enough for five separate Eastern homes!
"But, Will, the tabernacle service was a great surprise to me. The
singing, speaking, music were all uplifting. There's something wrong
about those Anti-'Mormon' lecturers out home. These people are dead in
earnest, and I'll wager they're sincere.
"If I were religiously inclined, I'd say, 'The spirit is more in this
Church, than in the churches of the world,' but--as I'm not religious,
as you know, I simply feel a great respect for these people and a
reverence, a little foreign to my nature,--when in their tabernacle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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