theocratic government. In all the past, wherever theocracy prevails, society is benumbed as by the electric touch of the torpedo. It necessarily draws the line of caste between the People and the Priests,—the subject and the ruler. It moulds all classes and ranks after the same artificial type; it represses all those counter-influences which ruffle the face of society, and prevent stagnation; and over-awes investigation necessary to progress, by parading always before the mind its own Heavenly sanctions. “A certain portion of truth,” says Mr. Guizot on this point, “is doled out to each, but no one is permitted to help himself,—immobility is the character of its moral life; and to this condition are fallen most of the populations of Asia, in which theocratic government restrains the advance of man.” In Mormonism, this influence is rendered more intense by its claim of progressive revelation. Not content with crowning itself with the awful majesty of a Divine origin, it asserts the high gift of perpetual intercourse with the Deity. With all the avenues of private judgement and personal discovery of truth thus effectually closed, the miserable victims of this pious fraud, “obedientia fracti animi et abjecti et arbitrio carentis suo,” yield in passive submission to the assumptions of a crafty Priesthood, or to the stronger will of a single tyrant.
On the other hand, Mormonism has striven to engraft upon this stationary and inert civilization of antiquity the progress which so peculiarly distinguishes this age of discovery. The most liberal arrangements are made for education. Besides the primary schools under public control and inspection, the outline has already been drawn of a thorough University course. All branches of knowledge are to be taught; all living spoken languages are to be studied; the natural sciences are to be diligently prosecuted; practical astronomy, engineering, mechanics, the science of agriculture,—in short, all that can be learnt, whether for the purpose of ornament or use, are to be embraced in the extensive curriculum of study. A new feature of the system is the institution of a Parents’ school for heads of families; so that at no point in life is education necessarily arrested. Even here, however, the fanaticism of the sect breaks forth. Scientific revelations from Heaven are to be enjoyed, no less than religious: and by
