Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-06-07
The Growth Of sIorrnoni.m.

! 1t is curious feature in the progress Of this
Sect now establishing itself so firmly midway on
the path between the Western States and our
Pacific possessions, that it carries on its proseyt
ism most earnestly abroad, and that the greater
portion Of the Increase which is peopliag Utah
| with the Saints" consists not only Of converts
but also OF immigrants to this country Amid the
Ignorant and the oppressed of other lands il finds
the most ready believers of its immoral tenets.
and the easiest tempted BY the promises il holds
out ofreligious and political independence. Great
Britain has furnished the field in which these Of.
forts have yielded the largest return, and there
as We learn from an interesting article in the last
number of the Edinburg Review, the increase of
the sect has been surprisingly rapid. The emu
merailon Of the last half yearly British census,
likes The number of "Ssints" in July, 1853, at
$1,000, and the communion then comprised 10
High Priests, 2,57S Elders, 1854 Priests, 4I6
Teachers, and 034 Deacons, whilsSethe;r organ,
the "Millenial STAR" was sustained by weekly.
circulation Of rs 900 copies. Their INST numef-
Gus church was at Manchester, which contained
2,l66 members; the next that Of Glamorganshire,
which contained 1888. In note to the article
in the Review we are told:
"In England and Wales there were, in 1851,
reported by the Census officers, as many as 222
places Of worship belonging to this body, most Of
III EN-, however, being merely rooms The MN.
Der Of sttings in these places (making an allow
ance for So, the accommodation in which was not
returned1 was 30,783. The attendance on the
Census Sunday (making an estimated addition for
9 chappels, from which no intelligence on this
point was received) was Morning, 75l7; After
noon, III ,4Sl; Evening, 1858. The preachers,
it appears, are far from unsuccessful in their Of
forts to obtain disciples; the surprising confidence
and zeal with which they promulgate their creed,
the prominence they give 10 the exciting topics of
the speedy coming Of the Saviour, and his person.
al millennial reign, and the aitIactveness to ma
ny minds of the idea Of an infaJbIe church, rely
ing for its evidence and its guidance upon Teve-
ations made perpetualy 10 its rulers, these, with
other influences, have combined 10 give the Nor
mon movement position and importance with
the working classes, which, perhaps, shculd draw
to it much more than it has yet received the at
tention of our public teachers"
The greatest number of converts are obtained
from the working classes. and the Review attr.t-
utes their success to the discomfort prevailing a
mong kat class, and to the agrarian and sensual
spirit Which the dogmas of the sect encourage and
promise to crafty. The net increase Of Mormon
population in Utah has been estimated at three
thousand five hundred per annum and Of this in
crease three thousand is supplied BY emgration,a
fact that shows how slow is the growth Of the de-
fusion among our more intelligent and less easily
deluded countrymen; who, however, better of
than the English industrial classes, are also less
susceptible to the temptations of the earthly Par
adise which the Mohnon teacher holds mp to the
proselyte. This increase is rapidly bringing the
population of Utah up to the number required to
enttle it 10 apply for admission into the Union,
when the question, already forcing itself on public
attention, Of determining whether We shall, by
that admission, sanction the practice Of poygamy,
will have to be solved. We cannot believe that
a confederation of at least nominally moral and
Christian States will ever consent to the incorpo-
ration among them, with equal privileges, of
community which, by hybrid politico-eclesiasti-
cal organization, itself an anomaly in republic,
recognises and encourages this abominable prac-
american.