Page:The City of the Saints.djvu/327

Rh By an angel's strong hand to the earth it was brought From the regions of glory, where long it lay folded; And holy ones here, for the arduous work taught By the priesthood unflinching and faithful uphold it; Its crown pierces heav'n, and 'twill never be riv'n, 'Till the rule of the earth will to Jesus be given. For the ensign of Israel’s streaming abroad, And ever shall wave o’er the people of God.

'Tis the emblem of peace and good-will to mankind, That prophets have sung of when freed by the spirit, And a token which God has for Israel designed, That their seed may the land of their fathers inherit; Many nations will say, when they see its bright ray, To the mountains of God let us hasten away; For the ensign of Israel's streaming abroad, And ever shall wave o'er the people of God.

Its guardians are sending their ministers forth, To tell when the Latter-Day kingdom is founded, And invite all the lovers of truth on the earth, Jew, Christian, and Gentile, to gather around it; The cause will prevail, though all else may assail, For God has decreed that his works shall not fail; Oh! the ensign of Israel's streaming abroad, And ever shall wave o'er the people of God.

Patriarch Morley pronounced the benediction, and the first day's conference terminated.

The crowd on the Sunday far exceeded that of the preceding day. The streets around the Temple Block were literally filled with people and carriages. The Tabernacle could not hold a third of those who were anxious to hear. Every seat and standing-place was occupied long before the opening of proceedings. As soon as Brigham reached the inside vestry, he sent out some of the apostles and elders to preach to the outsiders, sufficiently distant from the Tabernacle as not to disturb each other with their preaching.

I have already filled so much paper that I fear trespassing too much upon your columns with the details of the second day at the present time, as Brigham was very explicit on the subject of plurality of wives, and it was the only time I ever heard him on the "peculiar institution."

Altogether it was a great conference, and, as the foregoing exhibits, the apostles enjoyed a particular free and easy time of it.

In its territorial status an anomaly has been forced upon the Mormon population. It must receive officers appointed and salaried by the federal government, viz.:

A governor, with a salary of $2500 (£500) per annum, payable quarterly.

A secretary to government, $1000.

A chief justice to the Supreme Court, $2500.

An associate $1000.

$1000.

A district attorney, $400.

A marshal, $400 (not including perquisites).