Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-17
THE MORMON ABOMINATIONs.
POIygamY Severely Criticized by the
Missionary COmmIttee-The Gov
ernment Responsible for It.


Bishops Warren and Foss presided at the
session of the General Missionary Commit
tee. On q call for an appropriation of
IS, $50 for mission work in Utah, an inter
esting discussion on polygamY sprang up
and was carried on for over two hours, and
In which Bishop Wiley, Drs. Buckley, Olin
and others participated. "The great abomi-
nation" was handled unspsringly by some
of the speakers. Bishop Wiley opened the
discussion by giving some reasons why so
large an amount Of money was asked for a
mission that has only eight stations and as
many ministers and 131 members, 20 proba-
tiOners and congregations, averaging in the
aggregate only 600, and 5S5 Sunday and 257
day scholars. The amount asked Is s., 900
more than was granted year ago, but the
Bishop wanted 50. 900 to plant new schools
in towns not now occupied, as well as to
maintain those that are already established.
The Bishop insisted that something must
be done soon with the great evil
of polygamy, and there is moth
ing to hinder the government from
handling it If the politicians would not in
terfere and would for awhile become states
men. The system could be completely
wiped out at the next session of Congress,
without revolution or disturbance. But this,
one of our greatest Territories, the Bishop
said, is territory of sin with this abomina-
kingdom on earth If he has 1t anywhere.
There are In Utah $4,000 females, 40, 600 of
whom are manageable and are well mar
ried. The other 10000 can be got into the
mission schools and the power aud influence
of Mormonism over them be broken. They
are American born girls, and after they
leave the mission schools they will net
enter polygamous relations. All other
branches of the Christian Church have
81 H. - 81 l.
the Presbyterians last year used $40, 900
there and built twenty schools. The Con
gregstiOnalists invested $50, 900, and are
planting schools in Salt Lake City. The
Methodist Episcopal Church spent ST, 200
there last year. DIR. Olin saw no reason why
the politicians should interfere as long as
the churches go on in this way building
schools and meeting houses, but he had no
faith in this way Of working. What is most
needed is to get the politicians converted
The Mormons are shrewd fellows. They
are the only power In this country that can
defy the government, and the churches
should hold the government responsible for
this abomination. PolYgamy is not an in
vention by Joe Smith or Brigham Young
1t has antiquity on its side. These men
were the product of our institutions, and
their manipulation of foreigners has made
Mormonism and Utah what they are. DR..
Olin opposed the appropriation of one cent
to this Territory.
DIR. Buckley believed that little could be
done by the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Utah, and yet it Is highly important that
the church should stay there. The politi-
clans won't touch polygamy, and it can't be
abolished but by force. The Mormons be-
lieve 1t to be Of divine origin, and the worst
Mormon is combination of ignorance, su-
perstition aud dishonesty. Orson Pratt was
a debater Of no mean order, as DR.. New
man found to his great embarrassment-a
good Greek scholar and logician. Method
ism was better off in Utah twelve years ago
than it is to-day. Nothing seriously is being
done religiouslV in Utah at this time, but
the church is bound to stay in Sodom even
II its righteous soul is vexed day by day with
the filthy denominations of the place, until
the angel of the Lord bids 1t fee for its life
The church only legitimatizes the Mormon
children by taking them into its schools un-
less 1t can make converts of them also. All
those children, excepting the offspring of
the first wives, are illegitimate. Nearly
every Mormon woman who becomes a
Methodist brings her daughters with her,
as OrsOn Pratt's wife did, but the poIygam-
GUS wives rarely enter the church. Ann
Eliza, Brigham Young's eighteenth W.T., It
is true, became a Methodist. Int fl Is NOT
quite certain that the profits of the lecture
platform were not stronger motives in her
case than the desire to follow Christ. There
are two Mormons made every year for the
one converted to Christ. The COMMITTEES ap-
propriated S., 900 for the old work in Utah
and 81 600 for new schools.
The missions in Montana received S9, ,OOO
OF which s., 500 is for Indian work in the
Territory and $500 for school at Fort Ben
ton. The Methodist Episcopal Church has
more agencies in the Indian Territory than
any other church in the land, and vet only
two Of its agents have failed to maintain
their integrity. The government will hand
over to the church the schools at Forts Peck
and Hall If the latter will supply teachers,
and will pay 500 year for boarding
scholars and $50 year for day scholars.
Gen. Grant, it was said, was the first to let
In the light on the Indian problem, West
Nebraska missions received 81, 1865 and New
Mexico $l1, 800. $4,000 of which is to be
spent discretionally if needed.