Death Of Brigham Young

Brigliam Young, the head of the Mormon ohurch, who died a few days ago at Salt Lake City, -was boni in Vermont June 1. 1801. His father was a small fïirmer, and Brigham eujoyed very few advantages in the way of education. While yet quite a boy he was apprentioed and learned the trade of painter and glazier. During his early yputh he developed strong leligious proclivities and united with the Baptist church. It is even said that he oecasionally preached about the country as he traveled working at his trade. His earlier life is of but little public interest; he pursued his rather humille calling, probably diversifying it with an occasional turn at farm work, and made his way westward, stopping some time in various parts of Central and Western New York. He is reported to have worked a little while as gardener to William H. Sewará, and afterward resided for a time not far from Rochester, N. Y. In 1832 he was ordained an Eider of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Lat;er-Day Saints," having been converted ;o the Mormon faith a short time previously, and began his peculiar and celebrated career a%a prencher in the Mormon settlement at Kirtland, Ohio. íince that time he has been closely idenified with the rise, spread, and interior listory of this terrible religión, being 'or most of the timo practically the ' church" itself. The church had already been started as an organization in Manchester, N. Y. , and, in 1831, removed, with all its members, to Kirtland, O., under the leadership of Joseph Smith, inspired. as he said, by revelation. Grave suepicions of the integrity of some of the saints arose in the minde of their neighbors, and, on March 22, 1832, Smitk and a saint named Eigdou were tarred and feathered. It was at about this time that Brigham Young made his appearance among the saints at Kirtland. At the period of his accession the government of the church consisted of a Presidency, of which Smith, Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams were the ineumbents. His talents and shrewdness speedily made him prominent, and, in February, 1835, a further step in the organization of the hierarchy was made by the institution of the quorum of the twelve apostles, and he was ordained one of the twelvê and sent f orth with the other apostles to preach the new doctrines. His field of labor was the Eastern States, and he was signally successful in making converts. In 183(5 a large and costly temple, which had been for three years in procesa of building, was consecrated at Kirtland, and in 1837, Ore on Hyde and Heber C. Kimball were sent as missionaries to England. In 1838 the bank at Kirtland having failed, Smith and Eigdon fled to Missouri in the night, hotly pursued by their creditors. The prophets were soon snrrounded by the faithful in Missouri, and the colony throve for a while notwithstandine the enmity of the Missourians. This broke out at last m a flerce contest, and most of the saints, to the nuniber of 15,000, took refuge in Illinois. The town of Nauvoo was start ed, under a charter from the Legislature of Illinois. As early as 1838, it is said, Smith began practioally to oarry out his revelation of celestial marriage and plurality of wives, but it was not until 1843 that polygamy was publicly authorized. When the "reyelation" became public, a great deal of indignation was feit even in Nauveo, and serious disturbances took place, the result of which was that Smith and his brother Hyrum were thrown into prison at Carthage, 111., where they were mtadered by a mob, June 27, 1844. Smith's death caused great agitation and confusión among his followers. Sidney Kigdon and others aspired to succeed him, but tb e Council of the Twelve Apostles unanimously elected Brigham Young, and from that day to the day of his death the history of Brigham Young and Mormouism are one. In 1845 the Legislature of Illinois revoked the charter of Nauvoo, and the saints determined to emigrate beyond the Rocky mountains. Young sent out explorers, who returned with favorable reports of the great Salt Lake valley. In February, 1846, the first emigrants crossed the iee-bound Mississippi, stopped a year or two in Iowa, and then marched under the strictest discipline across the great wilderness. Brigham Young arrived in the valley July 24, 1847, and the main body of the Mormoufl in the fall of 1848. Salt Lake City was soon founded, fin emigration fund established, and settlers poured in from all oVer the world. In 1850 the Government of the United States admitted the new Territory under the name of Utah, and commissioned Brigham Young as Governor and Indian Agent. District Jndges were also appointed by the Federal authority, but these were regarded with great dislike by the President of the Ohurch, and the saints generally, and were flnally driven out of the country in 1851. Brigham Young was now suspended from his office of Governor, and Ooi. Steptoe appointed m his stead. He arrived in Utah in 1854, but found it prudent to withdraw from the country. The Mormon President said boldly at this time: " I am and will be Governor, and no power can hinder it until tlfti Lord Almighty says, ' Brigham, you need not be Governor any longer.' " During the ensuing years collisions between the church and Federal officinls became so frequent that the whole of the latter were forced to lenve the Territory. A new Governor, Alfred Cumming, was appointed in 1857, as also a new Superintendent of Indian Affairs; besides a forcé of 2,500 men was sent under Gen. Harney to enforce obedience to the national laws. Brigham Young attacked the supply-trains, and forced the expedition to winter at some distance from Salt Lake. Early next year negotiations were had, and the Mormons submitted to the Federal authority. A nominal regard fór the supremo authority of the General Government has Deen maintained ever since the time alhu led to, but it has been only nominal. There was and is but one law or authority recognized by the Mormons, and that that is the church, through its hierarchy. Brigham Young was assisted in the Presidency by Daniel C. Wells and Heber O. Kimball, with twelve apstles and two bodie of the priesthood, but while the doctrines of the church give these some authority, as a matter of tact everything and everybody over the length and breadthof the great Teriitoiy of Utah has bowed to the iron will of this man without education, without humanity- a man of low degree. Qüeen Victobia's maids of honor reoeive $3,000 ft ye&r and their boar4 Mid washing,