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Show AND MORMON DIGNITARIES. 177 of rank. Teachers and priests, a lower class of officials, then distribute the emblems through the congregation. Fasting on Sunday morning before going to " meeting " is enjoined upon all the members, and they are expected to contribute the value of the breakfast thus saved to chari table purposes. The exercises in the Bowery I would not have supposed to be of a religious character if the hymns and prayers had been omitted ; and those of the ward- meetings partake much less of worship, though they are called religious meet ings. They are presided over by the Bishops, who explain to the people the most successful ways of raising poultry, cattle, etc., and settle any little disputes that may have oc curred during the week about their irrigating, water, etc. Should a sister have been seen taking butter or eggs or any article to Camp Douglas, to realize a little cash from their sale, her Bishop is very likely at the next ward- meeting, to give the sisters a lecture about being too intimate with Gen tiles, and to refer very plainly to the conduct of the offend ing one. The grand religious occasions of the year are during the sessions of the semiannual conferences in April and Octo ber. These meetings are for the transaction of church business, by the Bishops and others, when their presence in a collective capacity is necessary, but the laity are also as sembled to elect officers and attend religious services. During the sessions, which continue for four or five days, there is service morning and afternoon of each day at the Bowery, but the extensive accommodations it affords are very inadequate for the occasions. The people collect in vast crowds, and stand patiently within sight, but not with in hearing of the speaker, reminding me of the scene at an inauguration of a President in Washington, when a large proportion of the crowd are unable to hear a word that is said, but appear very much interested in. the gesticulations of the speaker. Conference days the city is crowded with people. Every variety of vehicle to be observed at a coun try camp- meeting may be seen standing about the streets, |