Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-08
THE TWIN RELIC.
THE SIN AND SHAME OF P0LYGAMY.
Address of Non-Mormon Women Of UtaR-
Some of the Evils Of the Institution
acknowledgements
Interference Wanted.

SALT lake CITY, November The
following was adopted at meeting OF
non Mormon women in this city to-day:
To Ms. Rutherford b. Hayes 0nd w
Women Of the United Stdts<: e
1t is more than thirty years since
Polygamy was planted on the shores Si
the great Salt Lake. During these years
Congress has utterly failed to enact sutf-
Cent or enforce the existing laws for the
abolition of this great crime, and We be
lieve more OF these unlawful and un-
hallowed alliances have been consume
mated in the past year than ever before
in the history OF the Mormon
Church. Endowment houses under the
names Of temples are being erected IN
different parts OF the territory, costing
millions. 1t is impossible To aScertan
the exact number OF OF pOlygamOus mar
riages, Tor they are contracted in these
endowment houses, an institution no
Gentle is permitted to enter, where the
and bound by oaths so strong that even
the apostatcS will not reveal them, and
To mention which witnesses on the wit
ness stand unbluShingly perjure them
selves, and in the jury violate all con-
sideratiOns OF the oath of duty. ConSid-
ering our surroundings, polygamy has
never taken such Il degrading and
dcbasing form in any nation or among
any people above the condition OF brTf
barianism as in Utah. 1t is degrading
to men and women, :; curse To children
and destruction to the sacred relation
OF the family, on which the civilization
of nations depend, and there are things
that can not be repeated or printed thai
reduces the system To the lowest form
of indcccncy. That it should be prac-
ticcd in the name, and under
the cloak Of religion, and that
an apostle polygumist with four ac-
knowledgcd wives is allowed to sit in
Congress only adds to the enormity Of
the crime and makes it more revolving n
our common Christian principles. Our
of pOlyganiiSts and members oi the
.htTIlbH dll'l lINN lliNt
thrown around polygamy every safe
guard in their power, and the right of
dover has been abolished To break down
the distinction between lawful wife and
cOnCubinc. The Mormons are rapidly
extending their settlements in Arizona,
Idaho, New Mexico and Wyoming
They have the balance OF power
in tw" territories, and are with
out doubt plotting ior it
in the other. We call upon the Christ
ian women oi the United States to join
us in urging Congress Ia empower its
courts To arrest the further progress of
this evil and to delay the admittamcc of
Utah into the Statehood until this is ac-
complshed; and We ask YOU to circulate
and publish our appeal in order to
arouse public sentiment, which should
be against an abomination that peCu-
liarly opprcsScs and StiglnatizcS woman.
1t is our purpose to ask names 10 Il
petition designed for Congress, amt We
nope also that every minister OF the Cos
pei will commend it to the women OF his
congregation, and that all Christian as
sociations will do what they can To obtain
signatures With cordial cooperation,
and the concerted action of the Christian
women Of our land, We may COntidcnt-
ly hope that the great sin OF polygamy
NAV be abolished.