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Mormonism in the East.
The Mormon, a weekly newspaper, established in this City some three years since as the organ of the followers of BRIGHAM YOUNG, is discontinued. The Mormons are now left destitute of a mouthpiece in the Eastern States. Two papers devoted to their faith still exist in the country – the Standard, published at San Francisco, and the Desert News, issued at Great Salt Lake City, under the direct superintendence of BRIGHAM YOUNG. The organ established in this City was started when Mormonism was a feeble affair in this region. The leader of the sect deemed it important that the elements already existing should find a freer development through the agency of an accredited sheet, and, under the orders of BRIGHAM YOUNG, President JOHN TAYLOR undertook the task of conducing a weekly journal, which has fulfilled its purpose, and now dies. The editor, a man of no small ability, had previously been assigned to similar labors. When Mormonism began to find a foothold in Europe, he was dispatched to Paris to found a Mormon journal, and was afterwards transferred to London for a like purpose. Thence, the journalistic enterprise was transferred to New-York. A few months since, President TAYLOR was recalled to Utah by orders from BRIGHAM, and his place in the Mormon establishment was filled by the appointment of Elder WM. I. APPLEBY, a gentleman who formerly held responsible offices in Utah, and in whom the Presidency of “the Church” in the Atlantic States is still vested. Mr. APPLEBY, now freed from editorial labors, will probably devote himself to a closer superintendence of the Saints, and the work of proselyting in the East may be said to have begun in earnest.
The fact that there are at present in this City nearly a thousand professed Mormons, is not generally known. Regular religious and ceremonial services are performed by these people. They have their church organization, meetings on the Sabbath and Conference gatherings, and are obedient to the will of BRIGHAM. The voice of that potential Prophet is not less effective in New-York, than on the borders of the Salt Lake. What he forbids is not done, -- what he commands is faithfully obeyed. The degree of the influence he exerts is amazing. Nor is it in the City alone that the indications of rapid growth are apparent. In New-England, there is a large force of the “Saints.” There has rarely been a more goodly show of earnest men and women than that which was exhibited a few weeks since in a Mormon gathering held in Connecticut; -- while the Presidency count with evident satisfaction upon the success of the missionary enterprises they are now conducting quietly but very perseveringly in that section.
The latest tidings from Utah, bringing a record of the violent action and bloody threats of BRIGHAM YOUNG, have a natural indorsement in the proceedings of the Mormons here. The tone of the members of the sect is uniformly pugnacious. Mildness is not the Mormon manner. Violent language and bluster are their leaders’ stock in trade. The course of recent events appears to have created a serious inflammation among the Saints, and their temper is not improving as they advance in years. We shall hear more from them presently, and that probably not of a pacific nature.
