Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-12
MORMON CONVERTS.
INTERVIEWS WITH LATE PaossLYres.
The Men Want More Liberty and the Women
do as their Husbands
Desire.

NEw YoRK, September 1.-THE Guioa
steamer Nevada, which arrived yesterday
from Liverpool, brought in her stssrags
6S2 Mormon converts, who are to settle In
Utah. They are under the care OF Mr. r.
F. Gross, who Is assisted BY tweaty.ssys1
Mormon elders, all OF whom left Salt Lake
City about two years ago as missionaries 10
Europe. About 400 Of the party are Scan
dinavians, and the remainder come from
Switzerland, Germany and the British Isles.
The majority OF the converts are In fami.
lies, but there is also q number OF single
men and women. The converts, - Q rule,
are OF better class than have arrived for
many years. The heads Of families are all
moderately supplied with money, with
which they intend to purchase land and
culturists, but the single men are mostly
expert mechanics.
In conversation with . reporter, Mr..
Gross said: The missionaries who return
TO America 10 day left Salt Lake City about
two years ago with but little money in their
pockets under orders to return with -
many desirable people from the Old World
rs they could convert TO the Mormon faith.
consider that We have worked we'll. We
have people with us from almost every
psrt OF Europe, and are quite wealthy all
sober and industrious and firm believers"
Did you find much difficulty In gather
ing people inquired the reporter.
How Converts are ObtaiseS.
what is that Gathering did you ssyI
Young man, We do not gather these peo'
pie Shaking his head In an indignant
manner, he continued: They come 10 us.
We have lived among them, have explain.
ed our religion to them, aud th.y have
asked us IL take them 20 our home In
Ut,h. They have paid their own passass
money. none OF them receiving any assis-
tsncs from Ms. Many Of them have been
converts TO our great faith for many years
In their own homes, and have at last deter
mined 10 visit the great centre OF our re.
ligi0p."
"But they could not enjoy plurality Of
viv's in the old country
NO one said they c>uld," replied Ne.
Gross NO one said they wished 10 do %.
Young man. you have an altogether
Erroneous Idea Of Mermoniss.
n is not on The doctrine OF q plurality Of
wives that our faith In founded. Only our
wealthiest people are allowed 10 marry
more than one woman. People come 10 Us
10 enjoy our liberty, our peaceful mode Of
living and our happy union. They come
10 US because il 10 the only true religiou.
You will find very few people In Utah with
more than one wife and fewer still with
more than two. Those who have more
than one are able TO support their wives Ia
luxury
At this point In the conversation prst.
ty, fresh looking young English girl, With
a pink complexion and brown eyes, ap-
preached Mr.. Gross, and lightly touching
him upon the shoulder, murmured, "Hus-
band and sank into his arms. For .
moment Mr.. CROSS face was invisible.
After q few moments his head reappe.. -.
several hearty kisses were imprinted on
the womans cheeks, and turning proudly
TO the reporter, he said: "My wife, young
man, who has travelled ell the distance
from Salt Lake City alone 10 meet her re-
turning husband" and, turning again 70
the young woman, who stood blushingly
by his side, he kissed her again and again.
Mrs. Gross Is apparently about twenty-five
years old, while her husband is fully forty-
i've. She was fashiopably attired In . neat
fitting black silk dress and q jannty little
bonnet Of many co!ors sat on the back OF
her head.
HIS OsIy wife
nave you WOT6 W h1ke
young man p asked Mr.. Gross. approach.
ing the reporter, who had retired 10 . dis
tsnce.
"ls she the latest addition ty your hous,.
bold2' Gked the reporter. timidly.
What do you mean, sirr'
"ls she your only wifeT'
'She 10 my latest wife. my only wife
and tie only one I shall ever have"
And Dir. Gross joined his fellow mission.
Ari's.
The reporter found young woman about
bag on the deck Of the vessel. She was an
English girl and bad evidently spent much
Of her time In the open air, - hss
face was q brown NJ berry. She said that
her name was Julia Saunders, and that she
was going TO Utah TO join her parents sud
hro'her, who bad lived there for about
three Year,.
why Is II that you did not socomp,ny
them asked the reporter.
"W-ll. wasn't a going 10 join no ~.
ligiUn where I hsd 10 be second 10
Any Hssbssd's wife.
Thst was at first, but now Just know how
when size went over that I would never be
wife 10 any man who had other wives.
end 80 The let me stay over with some
friends. But I'm sorry didn't 70 With
EN-. lob. mo brother, has . place Of his
own, and be says II come over he viii sss
will never marry Q ma1 with another
wife. The man who was staying at my
friends house ts'd everything was pesos
ard happiness In Utah, and Bob says %
too. 30 I'm going 70 Bob MOVIE
why They Len KaGisna.
Another woman, accompanied By her
husband and three children, told the 70.
porter thst she bad Joined the Mormoes
because her husband believed In the faith.
The husband said hs hsd become Q oonvsTt
because he believed IL Hu the only fsllg.
ion. I'VE have liberty, union, hsppipsss
and every thing" said he we are oar
own masters In Utah, no one 70 govern ~,
save our Prophet, and be 10 one OF u.s."
A single man. carpentsr By occupatioo.
said he had Joined bscsuse be he'd besu
told that religious liberty could Be enjoyed,
but above ell tbat because hs would have
no severe laws 70 OBEY. He knew bat lit
tie about the religion, but ~ long - hs di1
not haye 10 bow 10 . queen and obey tbe
dictates Of . body OF men Who laid down
harsh laws be wG content 70 b MORMON.
Others In the party we're enthudAssie
over the prospect Of enjoying hbsrty srd
living hspptiy With . people where tssrs
we're no difsrences, either religions o.
The party viii start for Salt LAks City b.
the New York. Lake Erfs and Wsstsss
railroad, Q special train having ben chls.
ts~~H L. thsir scroxn n. "A dAifr1