238 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



mimity ; and on inquiry I found that tlie trading trans- 

 actions of these people were so extensive that they were 

 positively rich; and that in no small degree. It was 

 asserted by outsiders likely to know, and of position not 

 likely to indulge in idle chatter, that the Lebanon settle- 

 ment alone was worth more than half a million dollars in 

 hard cash, besides their land, stock, and cattle. The saints 

 keep a banking account ; but I did not happen to be in- 

 quisitive enough to find out whether it was kept in the 

 name of an individual or was a joint-stock aifair. 



The community is governed by two classes of officers, 

 the religious and the secular ; and both may be of either 

 sex, though at the time of my visit there was no female 

 preacher — at least actively engaged as such. The religious 

 teachers are termed elders, the secular governors, deacons, 

 or deaconesses if females. There are always deaconesses 

 in direct charge of the women and girls ; and even in the 

 families living together I noticed that there was usually, 

 perhaps always, an old crone of viperish aspect present — 

 to see that the rules are respected, probably. 



There did not appear to be any desire, on the part of 

 the saints, to raise mystery, or conceal an}^ of their ideas 

 and doctrines, h'om inquirers ; at the same time there was 

 no eagerness to give information ; and the answers were 

 sometimes short, if not off-hand. I thought there was an 

 intention on the part of my informant to insinuate that 

 he thought me too inquisitive ; and this acted as a de- 

 terrent to much questioning on some subjects on which I 

 should have liked more information. Any person is at 

 liberty to pass over the ground of these people and ex- 

 amine their works ; but they certainly do not care to have 

 many visitors. Their principles resemble those of Quakers 

 in several respects, though, in my opinion, they lack the 

 religious genuineness of Quakers. Like the latter people, 

 they are enemies to warfare and all strivings ; and I think 

 that it is for this reason, because they will not resist evil 

 even in trifles, that they tolerate visitors. I may be wrong. 



