Open Letters to the Felt Family

October 22, 2008

Dear Felts and Allied Families:

Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star Vol. 33, No. 32, Page 505, published 8 Aug 1871

“An Honest Testimony”

     It will be remembered, by many of our citizens, that a few months since a clergyman of the Unitarian persuasion, Reverend J. C. Kimball, delivered a discourse in the Tabernacle.  He was from Beverly, Mass., and we have been permitted to peruse an article from his pen, headed “A Winter Trip Across the Continent,” which appeared in one of the papers of that place; and as it was somewhat of a novelty for “one of the cloth” to speak in a kindly way about the “Mormons,” and consequently refreshing, we present an extract from the article.

     It may be well to state that Mr. N. H. Felt is the “original Mormon” alluded to by the reverend gentleman.  Mr. Kimball, in conversation with Mr. F., expressed his gratification at witnessing the many good qualities manifested by the “Mormons” and said he would always speak well of them.  Mr. Felt jocularly told him that he was afraid he would be like a certain minister from Cheyenne, who stated publically here that when he returned from that place he would fire a big gun in defense of “Mormon” Christianity, but from him had never emanated the sound of a small pea gun in that direction.  The following is the extract—

     “Enjoyed especially my visit to Salt Lake City.  Had letters of introduction only to a Gentile there, not of much use for seeing the real curiosities of the place; but was so fortunate as to fall in, the morning of my arrival, with an original Mormon, formerly from Salem, acquainted with scores of people I knew at home and anxious to make inquiries about his old friends, who with great good nature invited me to his house, gave me introductions to the Mormon Elders, and showed me the Tabernacle, Temple, Theatre, Museum, house of Brigham Young, and not a few of the less material wonders of the city.

     Accepted an invitation Sunday morning to preach in their Tabernacle, ‘as full-blooded a Unitarian sermon as I pleased’ they said, ‘and the more so the better,’ as they meant to be truly liberal’ and ‘wanted their young folks to hear all sides.’  It was a lovely day, and I had an audience of over three thousand—men, women, children and babies, for nobody seemed to have stayed at home to rock the cradle or get dinner—as intelligent, attentive, good-natured and Christian a congregation as I ever spoke to in my life, joining in some of the same hymns we sing at home with the utmost spirit, and coming to the preacher afterwards with many kind and generous words about the service.

     Attended prayer meetings, Sunday concerts, theatre, day schools; visited the hot and warm springs, was taken out to drive, and introduced to a number of families where there were a plurality of wives.  Found the latter in every case to be intelligent, lady-like, ardently devoted to their faith, and apparently happy, in fact, just about the same as good women everywhere, and laughing heartily at the stories that are told of their misery and degradation.  The subject of polygamy was spoken of freely.  They listened with perfect courtesy to all I could say against it—there being just as much freedom to discuss it in Salt Lake City as in Beverly—and argued for it on the ground of nature, common sense, social happiness, morality and religion. 

     I must say, without liking the institution, I liked the men and women.  There is no doubt but that they have been awfully lied about.  Their city and all that I saw of them appeared the model of quiet, sobriety and good order.  Of course ministers always see the best side of things, are taken into the parlor and sitting room, not in the back yard, waste closet, and storehouse.  Judging, however, by what I saw, I came to the conclusion that if all the people with one wife would behave as well as these with two or three, it would be a much better world than it is now.”—Deseret News.         

     Now a word from the webmaster:  I think I have found a new working title for my NHF biography…”Nathaniel H. Felt an Original Mormon”  In the 137 years since this story took place, not much has changed in our Utah society; even if you disagree with me asking, “What about polygamy?”  I would point out how normal polygamous life appeared to the good reverend.  Can you picture the Sacrament Meeting of 3,000 souls complete with the restless children and babies?  I like his surprise as he said, “for nobody seemed to have stayed at home to rock the cradle or get dinner.” Mormonism has always seemed exotic to the Gentile world until it actually comes to visit and experience it; then Mormon society seems surprisingly pleasant and normal.  The one regrettable difference for me is the liberal way our ancestors wanted to learn about outside views vs. today with our sanitized correlation of media and a growing orthodoxy of thought; although we largely have the same old freedoms to explore ideas on our own, just not as a community.

     Photo #1 above is of the Tabernacle in 1871; it was in that same year that the Reverend visited Salt Lake.  My gg grandmother Mary L. P. Felt was married to William Silver who resided in the same ward as father Nathaniel.  GG grandmother moved her children to the neighboring 19^th ward about one quarter mile north into the new houses of the Marmalade district.

     Photo #2 above is of the Felt House at about the time my GG Grandmother Mary L. P. Felt (Polly) left the house for good.  I wonder what she did to provide for her 3 children between that time (about 1868) and 1871 when she married Brother Silver.  Please note the addition of the ell on the back of the house in about the year 1867 or 1868; I wonder now if it was added to accommodate her needs better.  We are wise to remember that she returned from the East with her doctor’s certificate about the same time and she probably felt quite independent.  In 1868 Polly was 33 years old while father Nathaniel was 52.  William J. Silver was only 3 years her senior in age.  Polly told her daughter that she married Silver to give her sons a better chance at a vocation…hmmm; neither one of the boys followed Silver’s vocation as a machinist or iron worker and both pursued the type of work NHF did; David Pile Felt took up newspapering, advertising and reporting while NHF Jr. became a merchant, newspaper owner, hotelier, theatre owner and advertiser. 

     Photo #3 above was Nathaniel Henry Felt's most recent Salem, Mass. home.  Please note the similar architectural features of both houses.

     Photo #4  William J. Silver was very busy creating a noteworthy empire after Polly married him and he was the man behind the creation of the 12 oxen under the temple baptistery in Salt Lake.  GG Grandmother never spoke ill of father Nathaniel to her children according to Aunt Dell who lived well past her 100^th birthday.  Cousin E. G. Price remembers Aunt Dell fondly to this day.  Silver’s skill was impeccable wasn’t it?  My cousin's mother told me Polly gave birth to two with Silver after her marriage, 1) William P. and 2) a girl named May.  She showed me the sad place where little May drowned in the foundry pool very near to the house and what sorrow Polly expressed at loosing the precious child.