Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-20
WEDNESDAY,
NO 275.
ANTI.POLYGAMT.

sive w tn the flight of time, the women of
Salt Lake opposed to it, outraged beyond
| measure by a recent instance Of il, in
which it was established through judicial
proceedings that the Mormon Church as
sen,ed to the poygamous intermarriage
on one and the same dav, of John Miles,
Caroline Owen, Emily Spencer and Julia
Spencer, all less than twenty five years of
age, have at length addressed themselves
to the task OF setting bounds to its further
advance, if possible.
| In pursuance of this intention, they as
sembled in mass meeting Nov. 7th, 1873,
and adopted the following Address to Mrs.
Hayes and the Women OF the U. S.:
To Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes and The
Women Of The United States:
1t is more than thirty years since polyg.
amy was planted on the shores of the
Great Salt Lake.
During these years, Congress has utter
| ly failed to enact efficient or enforce exist
| ing laws for the abolition of this great
crime; and we believe that more of these
unlawful aud unhal.owed allowan-
ces have been consummated the past
year than ever before in the history of
the Mormon Church.
| Endowment 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
contracted in these Endowment Houses,
an institution no Gentle is permitted to
enter, where the brotherhood and sister
hood are bound by oaths so strong that
even Apostates will not reveal them, and
| to maintain which, witnesses on the wit
/ 81, kav
| selves, and on the jury violate all consid-
| erations of oath and duty. Considering
| all our surroundings, polygamy has never
taken such degrading and debasing form
in an nation or among any people, above
the conditions OF savages, as in Utah. 1t
is degrading to man ana woman. a curse
to children and destruction TO the sacred
relations of family, upon which the civil
lization of nations depends; and tht re
are things that cannot be repeated or prin-
ted that reduce the system to the lowest
| form of indecency.
| That it should be practiced in the name
and under the cloak of religion; that an
Apostle, IL poygamist with four acknowl-
edged wives, Is permitted to sit in Con-
| gress, only adds to the enormity OF the
crime and makes it more revolving to our
common Christian principles.
| Our Legislature is composed almost en-
tirely OF polygamists and members of the
Mormon priesthood, and they have thrown
around polygamy every possible legisla-
tive safeguard in their power, and the
right of dover has been abolished to
break down the distinction between lawful
wife and concubine.
| The Mormons are rapidly extending
| their settlements into Arizona. Idaho, New
Mexico and Wyoming; they have the bal
ance OF power in two Territories, and are,
without doubt. plotting for it in others.
| We call upon the Christian women of
the United States to join US in urging Con-
gress TO empower its courts to arrest the
further progress of this evil. and to delay
the adnittance of Utah into the Union
| until this is accomplished, and we ask you
to circulate aud publish our appeal in or
der to arouse public sentiment, which
should be against an abomination that pc
| culiarly oppresses and stigmatizes woman.
| 1t is our purpose to ask names to a petit
ton designed for Congress, and we hope
also that every minister of the Gospel will
commend il TO the women of his congre-
| CATION, and that all Christian associations
will do what they can to obtain sigma
lures.
| With the cordial cooperation and con-
| celted action OF the Christian women of
our land. we may confidently hope that
the great sin of polygamy will be abol
ished.
They also adopted form of Petition to
Congress praying for effective legislation
tor the suppression of polygamy, and ap-
pointed committee OF their number to
mail copy of the above Address and of
the form OF Petition to Congress. to every
clergyman in the Union, with the urgent
request that they cause the matter to be
presented to their congregations, the petit
tioms to be circulated for signatures, and
when signed, forwarded to their respec-
Tive Congressman.