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very beautiful gold nugget； and a few days later
another Californian produced a cluster of smaller
nuggets which he had washed out of a panful of
earth and insisted on my accepting half of them。 I
was not accustomed to this sort of generosity； but
it was characteristic of the spirit of the state。 No…
where else； during our campaign experiences； were
we so royally treated in every way。 As a single
example among many； I may mention that Mrs。
Leland Stanford once happened to be on a train
with us and to meet Miss Anthony。 As a result of
this chance encounter she gave our whole party
passes on all the lines of the Southern Pacific Rail…
road； for use during the entire campaign。 Similar
generosity was shown us on every side； and the ques…
tion of finance did not burden us from the beginning
to the end of the California work。
In our Utah and Idaho campaigns we had also our
full share of new experiences； and of these perhaps
the most memorable to me was the sermon I preached
in the Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City。
Before I left New York the Mormon women had sent
me the invitation to preach this sermon； and when I
reached Salt Lake City and the so…called ‘‘Gentile''
women heard of the plan； they at once invited me
to preach to the ‘‘Gentiles'' on the evening of the
same Sunday； in the Salt Lake City Opera House。
On the morning of the sermon I approached the
Mormon Tabernacle with much more trepidation
than I usually experienced before entering a pulpit。
I was not sure what particular kind of trouble I
would get into； but I had an abysmal suspicion
that trouble of some sort lay in wait for me； and I
shivered in the anticipation of it。 Fortunately； my
anxiety was not long drawn out。 I arrived only a few
moments before the hour fixed for the sermon； and
found the congregation already assembled and the
Tabernacle filled with the beautiful music of the great
organ。 On the platform； to which I was escorted
by several leading dignitaries of the church； was the
characteristic Mormon arrangement of seats。 The
first row was occupied by the deacons； and in the
center of these was the pulpit from which the deacons
preach。 Above these seats was a second row； oc…
cupied by ordained elders； and there they too had
their own pulpit。 The third row was occupied by；
the bishops and the highest dignitaries of the church；
with the pulpit from which the bishops preach； and
behind them all； an effective human frieze； was the
really wonderful Mormon choir。
As I am an ordained elder in my church； I oc…
cupied the pulpit in the middle row of seats； with the
deacons below me and the bishops just behind。
Scattered among the congregation were hundreds of
‘‘Gentiles'' ready to leap mentally upon any con…
cession I might make to the Mormon faith； while
the Mormons were equally on the alert for any
implied criticism of them and their church。 The
problem of preaching a sermon which should offer
some appeal to both classes； without offending either；
was a perplexing one； and I solved it to the best of
my ability by delivering a sermon I had once given
in my own church to my own people。 When I had
finished I was wholly uncertain of its effect； but at
the end of the services one of the bishops leaned
toward me from his place in the rear； and； to my
mingled horror and amusement； offered me this
tribute； ‘‘That is one of the best Mormon sermons
ever preached in this Tabernacle。''
I thanked him； but inwardly I was aghast。 What
had I said to give him such an impression？ I racked
my brain； but could recall nothing that justified it。
I passed the day in a state of nervous apprehension；
fully expecting some frank criticism from the ‘‘Gen…
tiles'' on the score of having delivered a Mormon
sermon to ingratiate myself into the favor of the
Mormons and secure their votes for the constitu…
tional amendment。 But nothing of the kind was
said。 That evening； after the sermon to the ‘‘Gen…
tiles；'' a reception was given to our party； and I
drew my first deep breath when the wife of a well…
known clergyman came to me and introduced her…
self in these words：
‘‘My husband could not come here to…night； but
he heard your sermon this morning。 He asked me
to tell you how glad he was that under such unusual
conditions you held so firmly to the teachings of
Christ。''
The next day I was still more reassured。 A re…
ception was given us at the home of one of Brigham
Young's daughters； and the receiving…line was
graced by the presiding elder of the Methodist
Episcopal Church。 He was a bluff and jovial gen…
tleman； and when he took my hand he said； warmly；
‘‘Well； Sister Shaw； you certainly gave our Mormon
friends the biggest dose of Methodism yesterday
that they ever got in their lives。''
After this experience I reminded myself again
that what Frances Willard so frequently said is true；
All truth is our truth when it has reached our hearts；
we merely rechristen it according to our individual
creeds。
During the visit I had an interesting conversation
with a number of the younger Mormon women。 I
was to leave the city on a midnight train； and about
twenty of them； including four daughters of Brig…
ham Young； came to my hotel to remain with me
until it was time to go to the station。 They filled
the room； sitting around in school…girl fashion on the
floor and even on the bed。 It was an unusual op…
portunity to learn some things I wished to know； and
I could not resist it。
‘‘There are some questions I would like to ask
you；'' I began； ‘‘and one or two of them may seem
impertinent。 But they won't be asked in that
spiritand please don't answer any that embarrass
you。''
They exchanged glances； and then told me to
ask as many questions as I wished。
‘‘First of all；'' I said； ‘‘I would like to know the
real attitude toward polygamy of the present gen…
eration of Mormon women。 Do you all believe
in it？''
They assured me that they did。
‘‘How many of you；'' I then asked； ‘‘are polyga…
mous wives？''
There was not one in the group。
‘‘But；'' I insisted； ‘‘if you really believe in polyg…
amy； why is it that some of your husbands have
not taken more than one wife？''
There was a moment of silence； while each woman
looked around as if waiting for another to answer。
At last one of them said； slowly：
‘‘In my case； I alone was to blame。 For years I
could not force myself to consent to my husband's
taking another wife； though I tried hard。 By the
time I had overcome my objection the law was
passed prohibiting polygamy。''
A second member of the group hastened to tell
her story。 She had had a similar spiritual struggle；
and just as she reached the point where she was
willing to have her husband take another wife； he
died。 And now the room was filled with eager
voices。 Four or five women were telling at on