walk ye in it." But these converts have been | land where the poor are lords of the soil, chiefly confined to the higher classes. Eng- where no cruel millowners can trample on the lishmen in the lower and less educated ranks rights of labor,' where social inequalities are are seldom allured to the Church of Rome; unknown, and where all the citizens are unitbeing repelled from it by a feeling of its anti-ed by the bonds of a universal brotherhood national character, and by the appearance of and a common faith. In the minutes of a reidolatry in its ceremonial. The bold pretensions cent" General Conference," we read that of a Protestant sect to more than Roman in-"Elder Taylor related a conversation which fallibility, satisfy their longing for religious cer- he had held with a French Communist, wherein tainty, without shocking their hereditary in- he proved that the Saints have done all which stincts. The power of such an attraction is the French Communists have failed to estabproved by the fact that even the Irvingite lish.” (XV. 389.) And certainly they may Church still possesses congregations in many appeal with just pride to the contrast prelarge towns, although its claims to miraculous sented by Nauvoo in its decay with the flourgifts have become faint and hesitating, and its ishing city which they abandoned. For M. members are not proselyting fanatics, but Cabet's Socialist (its present possessors have quiet and unobtrusive dreamers. The Mor- been unable even to preserve from ruin the monites are of a very different temper. Ea- farms and workshops which Mormon industry ger and impatient to propagate their sect, pe- had left ready to their hands. To such proremptory in their demand of obedience, un-mises of substantial comfort these skilful proscrupulous in their assertions, and unhesitat-pagandists and glowing pictures of the milleningly promising absolute assurance to their nial glories which are soon to dawn on " Zion;" proselytes. By their revelations, their mira- gratifying, yet surpassing, the aspirations after cles, and their prophecies, faith is changed into a "good time coming," which fill the dreams sight. So their organ tells us :of their democratic converts.

Latter Day Saints KNOW that the Lord has spoken in this age. They KNOW that angels do now converse with men. They KNOW that the gifts of the Holy Ghost are manifested in these days by dreams, visions, revelations, tongues, prophecies, miracles, healings. Latter Day Saints have come to a KNOWLEDGE of the truth. (XVI. 444.)

Secondly, the success of Mormonism is due to its organization, which has enabled it to employ the obedience of its votaries to the best advantage. The submission rendered to a voice which men believe divine, supplies a motive force of unlimited power; and when this is applied by well-constructed machinery, the results which may be effected are almost incalculable. When the energies of masses are directed by a single mind, wonders will be accomplished, even though (as often happens in military achievements) the service is rendered with sullen indifference or extorted by compulsion. But when the obedience is the obedience of the will, and when the unity of action is blended with a unity of heart and purpose, the results of such a concentration of moral force upon any given point are not more really surprising than the raising of the Menai bridge by the hydrostatic paradox.

Another, and perhaps not the least influential, aid to Mormon proselytism, is the adaptation of their materializing theology to the system taught by the extreme section of popular Protestantism. That Judaizing spirit which would supersede the New Testament by the Old; which imposes Mosaic ordinances as Christian laws; which turns even the new dispensation into a string of verbal shibboleths;* prepares the mind for the corresponding dogmas of Mormonism. But while the Mormon teachers fall in with this popular system, they carry out its carnal views to a more logical development. Thus they have pushed its Judaizing tendencies (as we have seen) into actual Judaism. And even while discarding the morality of the New Testament, they found their hierarchy on the most servile adherence to its letter; and maintain that any departure from its nomenclature in the designations of ecclesiastical officers is indefensible. It is instructive to observe how easily this formalism, which is usually regarded as preeminently Protestant, blends with their Romanizing attribution of a magic power to outward rites, an inherent sanctity to earthly temples, and an efficacious virtue to offerings for the dead; for, in truth, these several modes of substituting a formal for a spiritual religion, whether patronized by Pope or Presbyter, are only diverse manifestations of the same idolatrous superstition.

Thirdly, we may attribute the welcome which Mormonism has met from our working classes to the prevalence of discontent among the poor against the rich. The repinings of labor should have applied Lessing's term of Bibliolatry * We have often regretted that Coleridge against capital, which have covered England (a word sure to be misrepresented) to this tenwith strikes and Europe with barricades, are dency of popular religionism. Grammatolatry at once sanctioned and consoled by the mis-would have been a better word for that against sionaries of the "Saints." They invite their which St. Paul protests as n diakovía тoù yрáμhearers to fly from oppression to that happyμaros.

Such are the principal causes which explain borgianism and Irvingism. It would easily rid the rapid growth of this singular sect. But itself of its more Antichristian features, by we do not believe them sufficient to secure its the issue of new revelations, which should permanent stability; for, in the first place, when supersede those of Rigdon and Brigham. The the necessity for increasing the population of abandonment of polygamy would do less vioUtah has passed away, the zeal for proselytism lence to the system than its introduction: for which it has bred must burn less warmly. it was originally forbidden; and its subsequent Secondly, that agglomeration of the sect upon permission might be explained as a temporary a single spot, which, up to a certain point, privilege, granted to the saints, martyrs, and gives strength and centralization, contains apostles, who suffered and bled for the faith. also an element of weakness; for it makes the The book of "Doctrines and Covenants" is Church of Mormon local instead of catholic, mostly of so ephemeral a character, that it and tends to restrict the converts to that small might easily be suffered to drop into oblivion. number who intend to emigrate. Thirdly, the Thus a belief in the Book of Mormon might success of the leaders in rendering the govern- be left, as the only distinctive symbol of the ment of Utah theocratic may ultimately prove sect; a belief which would not more affect suicidal. At present the democracy is merged their practice than if they believed in the hisin the theocracy. Even the members of the tory of Jack the Giant Killer. Legislature, nominally elected by universal But the decline of Mormonism which we suffrage, are really named by the President, anticipate is only matter of conjecture,—its and returned without a contest. But this rise and progress is matter of fact. Nor ought very blending of the two elements of sove- we to neglect the lessons taught by its success. reignty tend to confound the one with the In the first place, we may learn not to expect other. By a gradual change in the public too much from the extension of popular edusentiment, the Church might be swallowed up cation. Two-thirds of the Mormon converts in the State; the forms might remain while are men who have gained all which it is posthe spirit was extinct; the hierarchy of Apossible for the ordinary routine of primary intles and Elders might continue nominally struction to bestow upon the mass of the worksupreme, but might become a body o mere ing classes in the few years during which they civil functionaries; for it will be remembered can be left at school. This is no reason for that every ecclesiastical appointment is at relaxing in our efforts to advance the civilizapresent submitted twice a year to a popular tion of the poor. On the contrary, it is a vote. Thus even the office of President itself great reason for superadding some machinery might, without any revolutionary change, pass which may attract their youth to those founquietly into an elective magistracy. Again, tains of which their childhood can barely taste.* there is a possibility of disruption upon the Yet even when the most is done that can be death of every President. It may not always done, we must not expect too high a standard happen, as after Smith's murder, that the of attainment. The information gained by whole Church will support a single candidate. tired workmen in the hours of relaxation And (as we have already shown) the rules must needs be somewhat loose and smattering, which fix the mode of appointment are con- except in the case of the most powerful inteltradictory. Lastly, we are told by those who lects.

have resided in Utah, that the younger citi- Another lesson forced on us by the success zens do not inherit the faith of their fathers.* of Mormonism, especially concerns the teachA race is growing up which laughs at the ers of religion. Many victims of this miserplates and prophecies of Joseph. This is the able imposture might have been saved had our symptom of a natural reaction; the credulity popular preachers taught their hearers to draw of one generation followed by the scepticism the line of separation clearly between the of the next. Meanwhile, as wealth increases, religion of the New Testament and that of so will instruction and intelligence; and since One of the best means is by establishing free no educated man can really believe the silly libraries,' such as have been instituted in Liverfables of Mormonism, and only a small minor-pool, Manchester, and elsewhere, under a recent ity can be bribed to profess a faith which they Act. But if they are to do good, these establishdo not feel, the unbelief of the more enlight-ments should be careful not to circulate books ened must ultimately descend to the masses. first report of the Manchester library gives a list likely to corrupt the morals of the people. The When this happens, the theocracy must be of the books most frequently read: and at the violently broken up; unless it should be head of all we find 'Roderick Random!' We canpeaceably metamorphosed (as we have sup- not see the necessity of gratuitously supplying the posed above) into a form of civil government. population with a book which (if we may venture to alter a phrase of Johnson's) combines the morals In such a case, the residuary religion of of a pimp with the manners of a scavenger. Lord Mormonism would probably take its place Campbell, the other day, in sentencing a seller of among Christian sects, alongside of Sweden- obscene books to imprisonment, obseved with a noble indignation, that the crime was greater than that of a poisoner.

*G. 160.

DXXXI. LIVING AGE. VOL. VI. 11

the Old. But on this point we have already in its responsibilities doers of the Word, said enough in the foregoing pages.

and not hearers only. Surely if, among Finally, if it be humiliating to confess that the millions who worship in our churches, we this fanatical superstition has made more will not say one in five, but even one in fifty, dupes in England than in all the world besides were thus animated to exertion, their achieveyet the instrumentality by which they have ments in rescuing their countrymen from the been gained also contains matter of encour slavery of ignorance and vice might at least agement. The same principle of organization redeem the future, if they could not remedy which has been so powerful in the cause of the past. Meanwhile, if the great national error, might do good service to the cause of institution of the church seem to fall short truth. Amongst the Mormons, as we have of its high calling, and to do but half its seen, one in five participates in the ecclesias task, we may console ourselves with the recoltical government. Let us suppose that in lection that it works in fetters, and that vital like manner the religious laity of the Church circulation may yet be restored to organs of England were invested with official func frozen by a forced inaction. For it can never tions. Let us suppose that they were made be more difficult to loose than to bind; and to feel themselves members of a living though it might be impossible to create, it is body; essential parties to its acts; sharers easy to emancipate.

A MATIN-SONG.

BY JAMES PAYN.

BARE the head to the windy morn;
Suffer the rout of locks unshorn;
Into thine eyes let dew be blown,
From clover-field and fairy down;
Into thine cars the summer leaf
Her secret tell, that clasps no grief,
Her life has been so blithe and brief.
Listen to that the laverock sings,
Poising high on her unseen wings;
For at the golden gates she is
Of heaven, and all its harmonies;

CHAPTER XX.

DOUGHTY DEEDS.

said
you

!

And she sings us the self same-song,
Fresh from lips of the angel throng.
Before the dull world wakes below,
Set thy feet to the mountain's brow,
To the height of the star-set throne
Whereon the red morn sits alone;
Slake thy glance on the fields and farms
Folded round in the river's arms,!!...
Or copse, or down, or simplest sight
God hath given for man's delight;
Steep thy thought, till thine eyes grow dim,
And thought and tear shall be prayers to Him.
Chambers's Journal.

Jonly had the sense to stay where they were,, I could have cut out work for them that would have lasted the whole spring and summer through. I have a good mind to take that hairy captain's invitation, and go down by and by to run upon the Common, as he says. How the donkeys. would scamper before us and how Rosy apple's cheeks would glow with the exercise, her bonnet falling back upon her shoulders, and her veil streaming upon the wind!"

"WHAT! only at breakfast, Fancourt?" Adolphus, as he entered the hermit's cell; are usually livelier in the morning than that." "I have already breakfasted," replied his friend-"I think I have. O yes, long ago but I fancy I have been dreaming awake, probably visiting some of my château en Espagne. You "I tell you what, Fancourt," said Adolphus know we have nothing to do this morning. Isn't surlily, "I have more to do this morning than it odd how habit steals over one I fancy every to listen to such stuff. I have to go to hear my now and then that I want to go and dawdle away doom from Claudia; and I came to the Albany the forenoon with the Simpleton's; and they are just to steady my nerves by having some talk just now at Wearyfoot Common, with their day beforehand with a man of the world. :: I know it half over, and Sara, perhaps, lounging on the is absurd to feel put out by such a business. You garden-seat she told me of, overhung with-no, would ask the question as calmly as if it were not with shadowy foliage at this season, but only to ascertain whether she were disengaged with spring-buds and thinking, thinking for a quadrile; and when refused, you would wonder what she is thinking of!-London, I shouldn't wonder, the Picture Exhibition, the beasts and beastesses in the Park Gardens, the Whispering Gallery ".

express mildly your desolation, and your good wishes for her happiness with another, look interestingly sad at her through your eve-glass, then inquiringly at the window to see whether it rained, settle your kids upon your wrist, pick up your hat from the floor, and saunter bowingly out of the room. Now I can't come it in that "How should I know, when we are all at sea line I'm not up to it; and Claudia has such a in this way? It's a horrid bore to have to think way of looking at one-she sees into your very of how to pass one's day. If those people had marrow? I wish I hadn't been such a fool as

"What is all that to you?" said Adolphus impatiently" you are in a dream still, and don't know what you are saying!"

to ask an interview; a letter would have answered the same purpose. You will at least walk with me to the door, and wait till I come out?"

Yes, and I will give you a few hints as we go along."

What I want you specially to tell me is how to bring her to the scratch if she wants to fight off, with the excuse of her uncle's death, and so on. I must have the thing settled this morning, that I may run down to the Hall by to-night's mail-train. That beggarly vagrant, it seems, is to be off presently for Australia, so that my last lingering doubts in that quarter are at an end, and the field is fairly open. I thought Sara looked sorry when we parted-didn't you?"

The young man was extremely insolent to me yesterday."

To us, if you call it insolence. But his remarks were applied to the conduct of which he supposed us guilty, and would you give them force by making them true? Write at oncethere is not a moment to lose!"

"I really do not know what conduct you allude to," said the peer, with vexation:" fellows in the position of Oaklands are more frequently than otherwise kept dangling for many years before being placed in independence for life. What is your interest in this young man? Why should I hamper government for him at a time like this, and by the very fact bind myself to their fortunes in opposition?"!

"You hamper nobody, for you have received the promise of government, and they expect you to claim it; and as the reward is for service already performed, if it binds anybody at all, it is Mr. Oaklands himself, and more to you than to them."

Here a servant came in with a visiting-card: Mr. Scacole was in the drawing-room.

Yes," said Fancourt musing come along." Lord Luxton and his daughter were at the time in consultation as usual, though on an unasual subject. It was far on in the forenoon before the young lady was visible; her father had had time to go out to hear the news, and he had made several business visits, and been to his club, before he returned. When he did return, however, Claudia was at her post. The tempest "What do you mean to do here?" said Lord of the preceding day had swept away, and left Luxton, when the man had withdrawn, and in a her as calm and sunny as ever. More sunny: tone that shewed he was not sorry for the diverthe light of her eyes, which yesterday morning sion-" the question is of more importance than was hot and feverish, was now a steady and ex- the one we are discussing. Mr. Seacole is far ulting blaze. Her cheek, too, was a shade warm-beneath the match to which your station, personer than usual; and her father's anxieties respect-al appearance, and talents enitle you; but "ing her were dispersed at the first glance. Still, "But, nevertheless, you would be content to he made no allusion to the scene that had taken see your daughter the wife of a small country place: he, in fact, was never at perfect ease with squire, mean in abilities, undistinguished in per his daughter; there seemed to be something be-son and in mind. You would have her chained tween their souls which rendered impossible the down to a rank from which it would be impossiordinary familiarity of such near relationship as [ble for her husband to rise, and where the noblest existed between them. use to which she could put the talents you give her credit for would be

The crisis, Claudia," said he suddenly, after the glance that reassured him," is more rapid than we supposed-all will be at an end tonight!"

"To-night!" and she flushed scarlet.

'To suckle fools and chronicle small beer! "You are bitter this morning, Claudia; but how is it that your humor passes over Mr. Oak"Yes; the minds of ministers are made up. lands so indulgently? Does mere genius make They will be beaten on a question not neces-up for everything in the world to which you have sarily a vital one, and, in order to escape a worse overthrow, will take she opportunity of going out-in the confidence of being rescated crelong by a new parliament."

66

To-night!"

"This arrangement is secret. Everything will happen accidentally; up at the last moment they will be supposed to be as secure as a rock for some time to come."

been accustomed? Do you consider his station or that of Mr. Seacole the higher?" The peer spoke with asperity, but Claudia answered calmly.

"I consider his station," said she, "if he were once placed on a vantage-ground from which flight would be possible, to have no definite limit at all. The one is a country gentleman, and never can be more; the other may be anything to which ambition may impel, to which courage "That is well!" and her breath came freely. and resolve may lead, to which genius may soar. Then there is yet time; do you not know what If I were his wife "—— The peer started almost is to be done?-you have to redeem your pro- from his seat. "Do not be alarmed, papa." conmise to Mr. Qaklands! The appointment, al-tinued Claudia, with one of her most brilliant though respectable, is only a stepping-stone, and smile-flashes, "we are talking, you know, only a government in the position you describe will hypothetically. If I were his wife I should not have no delicacy in filling it. But there is not a moment to lose; your claim, which, you know, they are prepared to allow, must be in the proper hands before five o'clock. Come "-and she hastily placed writing materials before her father, and stood by his chair with her eyes rivetted on

be satisfied with being the mistress of a little country mansion, and, if Heaven so willed, the grateful mother of a booby to inherit it! My husband's name would be heard in more than the divisions; his voice, though soft and melodious, would ring through the House, and be listened to like a trumpet by the nation; he would Upon my word, Claudia," said the peer, "I not follow his fortune, but make it what he willed think you are too precipitate in this matter.-and what she willed, papa, who whispered in

his.

46

his ear, not counsels, but suggestions to receive | ey. Only take care for your life that no accithe stamp of fate from his intellect; or who sat dent delays the delivery of this letter beyond silent at his feet, and looked up-up-up to her five o'clock!" Claudia then bade her father husband as to a god!" Claudia did look up with good-by till dinner. her idolatrous eyes, and there was a nobleness in her expression at the moment which almost touched even the cold hard man of the world.

When Lord Luxton was alone he brooded with growing vexation upon the circumstances in which he was placed. The conduct of Claudia Can it be true that it is really woman's nature seemed to him to border upon insanity, and so and destiny, as the Eastern apothegin asserts, to new was the idea of her forming an attachment look up to somebody? If so, it might be easy entirely irrespective of interest and ambition, to solve the mystery of Claudia's character, for that he almost conceived it to be some morbid till now she had never fallen in with a spirit at illusion dependant upon the state of her bodily once stronger and purer than her own. She was health. But what if the young man-this young too much behind the scenes in fashionable and man who treats me with so much insolent conpolitical life, the only life she had ever known, tempt-does attain to the position from which to be deceived by its glitter and assumption. she fancies he may arrive at greatness!—the idea She had seen the actors off the stage, disrobed that suggested itself here was so wild that the of that tinsel finery, and that rouge rubbed from peer started from his chair iu terror. I will detheir sickly cheeks, which had given them so lay that letter, thought he, at all hazards, if it be much grandeur and beauty in the glare of the still possible. Let five o'clock strike before it is footlights. In Robert Oaklands she had beheld, delivered, and I am safe. Claudia herself, when for the first time in her life, intellectual power she recovers, will thank me; and if she does not, united with lofty principle; and not in contact-she can hardly find much fault with so natural for here, alas, was the grand distinction !—with an accident. He rung. the low materialities of office and station.

But come," said she, starting, "let us turn for the present to the real and practical, for there is not a moment to lose. You must keep your word-you have now no excuse for breaking it, to say nothing of the dishonor; and the unexpected fulfilment, even of a direct promise, will acquire a character of generosity sufficient to bind forever to your interests an ally worth all the country squires in the kingdom." It was with a very bad grace Lord Luxton consented; but his daughter had acquired a mastery over him which he could not resist, and he at length commenced the missive.

"Send Slopper here."

"He has gone out on an errand, my lord." "The other, then; I want to send after him." "He has gone out with the carriage, my lord." The peer gave a growl of vexation. "I think Mr. Poringer, my lord," added the man, "knows where Slopper has gone to."

"Who is Mr. Poringer?"

"I beg pardon, my lord-Poringer, Mr. Sea cole's man. He brought a note from Mrs. Sea cole which he was to deliver immediately into Miss Falcontower's hand, and I heard him tell Slopper on the steps that he would follow and

walk down with him."

"Send him here." The very man!-thought Lord Luxton; he is the enemy of Oaklands-so Claudia said of his master, and, judging by the falsehoods respecting the fellow's origin, so say I of the man.

"You could overtake Slopper?" said he when Mr. Poringer entered.

"I think I could, my lord."

66

Claudia, in the meantime, proceeded to her interview with Adolphus as if it had been part of the ordinary business of the day. Perhaps she was a little more abrupt than in ordinary business, for she could not trust implicitly to her father; and even while listening to a proposal of marriage, her ears were engaged in the additional task of watching lest any unauthorized footstep should pass down the stairs. The peer, 'He is carrying a letter to the Home Office, however, proved to be a man of his word, for he which, on second thoughts, I wish delayed a knew whom he had to deal with; and he was all little. Perhaps I may speak to you on the subthe more likely to be honest on this occasion ject again, for I want to make some further infrom the circumstance of Claudia cutting the quiry respecting Mr. Oaklands before altogether little affair she had on hand so short, that al-committing myself in his favor. The letter must though it terminated in the way Adolphus wished, it was with a flushed face and an imprecation at the tip of his tongue he rejoined his friend in the street.

The note written by Lord Luxton was in the proper form; but when Claudia was determined to do a thing, she did it thoroughly, and in this case she added one from herself of a more private nature, and enclosed it in the same envelope. She then rung for Mr. Slopper, whom she in some sort honored with her confidence, as he was her ordinary attendant with the carriage, and committing the letter to his charge, gave him strict injunctions to deliver it immediately into the hands of him to whom it was addressed.

"Stay," added she, "there is still abundance of time; but if you choose to ride, there is mon

be delayed till past five o'clock. If you can manage this without mentioning my name to Slopper, so much the better, for all servants have not your discretion; but mention or not mention, the letter must be delayed. You may want to take some refreshment together-there is money."

Soh!" thought Mr. Poringer, as he strode more rapidly than usual, but as noiselessly, down the stairs-"a sovereign from Lord Luxton !then the service is of consequence. And no names mentioned!-then it is confidential between me and him. And that Boy is to be kept out of the Home Office-that Boy as found me on the Common-and made an image of me in wood-and set Mrs. Margery against me-and carried it on till this day, till she has refused to be the landlady of a house where the lower