, 1880-11-07
TIE EpBcoPAL; CHURCH AND PoLYeAmY

THE EPnC0PAL. CHURCH AND P0LYGAmY,
The recent session Of the Protestant Epis-
copal Convention was held in New York
during the most exciting period OF the pol
ical campaign, and did not therefore attract
that general attention which its Importance
merited. There were several subjects dis
| cussed, however, which ought not to be lost
sight of, and one of these was polyEamy,-
the most disgraceful blot left upon our Ma
tional escutcheon since the extinction Of
slavery. The resolution, which was passed,
while temperate in its tone, was dignified
and firm, and ought to commend itself to the
attention Of the country, not only because
polygamy is an evil in itself, but because It
continues to be practlced In defiance OF the
act of Congress forbidding it, under very Sc
rious penalties, and Of the decision OF the
Supreme Court affirming the econstltutionality
OF the law. The resolution provided *'tlat
while there are peculiar difficulties i'll the exc
cution of this law, owing to religious fanati-
cism, doubtless oftentlmes sincere, BY which
the institution Of po1ygamy is upheld, and
especially to the fact that the interests OF
many innocent persons are unnappily in-
volved, 1t is still the duty Of every Christian
and citizen of this land to use his influence
in aid Of the United States Government i'll
bringing about as speedily as possible n
lnerciful but firm enforcement of the law In
regard to polygamy Or bigamy In the terri
tory Of the United States.'
The Episcopal Convention has done a
timely service in recalling the attention of
the people Of this country to this great evil,
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offered with impunity by the Mormons, be-
cause there has been no time In the his
tory Of the Mormon Church when
it has made more desperate efforts as
a propaganda, both III this country
and abroad. The Mormon agents are
quietly bHt busily at work in the Territories
Of this country, In Great Britain, and in
many of the States Of Northern Europe, and
are making many converts among the igno-
rant and superstitious, to whom the Mormon
doctrines seem to appeal with a strong fasci-
nation. ". P. Letchworth, q New York
gentleman who has been Investigating Eu-
ropean systems Of charity, in the COURSE Of
Ills mission several times encountered the
Mormon agents, who were very successful
in securing recruits. He writes that he met
them in various places, and that while he
was in Copenhagen, i'll August last, he saw
500 converts embark on steamer for Hull,
ell route to this country, nearly all Of them
from Sweden. They appeared to be respecta-
BILE but very simple and superstitious peo-
pIe, and they were huddled together On
the steamer very much as coolies
are. lie also observed the same
thing in some parts Of Great Britain, and III
no part Of Europe was there any opposition
to the emigration, except III Germany,
where the authorities had peremptorily Or.
dered the Mormon agents to leave the coun-
try, He writes: son the I'd Of August, a.
Mormon agent, who was carrying OIL his work
in Prussia, teleEraphed from Kiel to tho
American Consul at Hamburg that he had
been ordered to leave the country forthwith.
and asked protection as an American citizen
The matter having been referred to Minister
White at Berlin, it was by Ills direction in-
yestigated, but lie wisely decided not to in-
terfere."
It will be seen that the resolution Of the
Convention is in no sense premature or ILL.,
considered. While it Is entirely free from
any taint OF fanatieism and Is couched in
very moderate terms, it is none the less vital
~ important In its suggestions, and deserv
ing of serious aud practical consideration
Every good citizen should respond to the ap-
peal, and should call upon the Government
to enforce its laws, and enforce them immedl-
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