The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-11-14
Address of the Nom Mormon Women to
Mrs. President Hayes and the
Women of the Nations.

The following was adopted at meet
ing of non-Mormon women in Salt Lake:
" To Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Women of
the United States.
@ 1t is more than thirty years since
polygamy was planted on the shores
of great salt Lake. During these years
Congress has utterly failed to enact eff
ficient or enforce existing laws for the
abolition of this great crime, and we be-
lieve that more of these unlawful and
unhallowed alliances have been consum-
mated the past year than ever before in
the history of the Mormon Church. En-
dowment houses, under the name OF
temples, are being erected in different
parts of the Territory, costing millions.
1t is impossible to ascertain the exact
number of polygamous marriages, for
they are consecrated in these endow-
ment houses, an institution no Gentle
is permitted to enter, where the brother
hood and sisterhood are sealed and
bound by Oaths 50 strong that even apos-
tates will not reveal them, and to men
| tion which witnesses on the witness
stand unblushingly perjure themselves,
and on the jury violate all consideration
of oath and duty. Considering all our
surroundings, polygamy has never taken
such degrading and debasing form in
any nation, or among any people above
the conditions of barbarisms, as in Utah.
1t is degrading to men and women, a
curse to children, and destructive to the
sacred relation of the family, upon
which the civilization of nations de.
pend; and they are things that can not
be repeated or printed that reduce the
system to the lowest form of indecency-
that it should be practiced in the
name and under the cloak of re
ligion; that an apostle with few
acknowledged wives is permitted to
sit in Congress, only adds to the enorm
ity of the crime, and makes it more re
voting to our common Christian prin
ciples. Our Legislature is composed al
most entirely of polygamists and mem
bers of the Mormon priesthood, and they
have thrown around polygamy every
possible safeguard in their power, ane
the right of dover has been abolished t.
break down the distinction between law
full wife and concubine. The Mormon
are rapidly extending their settlement
into Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico ant
Wyoming. They have the balance 0
power in two territories, and are with
, out doubt plotting for it in others.
L" We call upon the Christian womel
of the United States to join us in urgin
Congress to empower its courts to arres
the further progress of this evil, and t.
delay the admittance of Utah into state
hood until this is accomplished; and W,
: ask you to circulate and publish our az
2 peal in order to arouse public sentiment
l which should be against an abominatio
that peculiarly oppresses and stigmatize
to petition designed for Congress, an
r we hope also that every minister of tn
| Gospel will commend it to the wome
of his congregation, and that all Chri
tian associations will do what they ca
t to obtain signatures. With cordial co
operation and concerted action of tn
| Christian women of our land, we ma
r confidently hope that the great sin c
e polygamy may be abolished.