The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-03-14
Bothersome Mormon Women.

SALT LAKE, March 1.-Many of the
older and more conservative Mormons are
disposed to grumble because the whole.
sale proselyting now in progress is bring
ing into Zion hundreds of men and NO.
men who are thought to be too worldly
for association with the saints. The old
timers hold that in the case of women, in
particular, great circumspection is needed
and that it would be better to have fewer
converts than to be annoyed by the scan
dalous performance and the stiff necked.
ness of so many who, clearly enough, do
not have the good of Mormondon at
heart. One or two of the elders have
yentured to hint as much as this is in
their sermons, but it is in private conver.
sation that most of the complainings are
heard.
A few days ago great scandal was
created by the elopement OF three of the
wives of prominent Mormon with one
man, reckless fellow, who had been
brakeman on the railroad. All of these
women we're new corners, and had been
sealed to the elder only recently. The
brakeman had been noticed about the
premises occupied by one Of the wives,
but he was supposed to be a relative, who
thought we'll of Mormonism, his move
ments caused no suspicion. When it was
discovered that the three new wives had
taken their departure there was doleful
wailipg and guashing Of teeth, particu.
larly on the part of the elder wives, for
the eacapade proved the assertion, which
many OF them had been making, that the
eagerness of proselytes to secure recruits
was bringing into the fold 7ery.andesi.
rable class of women. To make the
matter more offensive, two of the women
left letters to their lord reyiling him. and
one of them said in her note that she
never intended to stay more than few
months, anyway. When last heard of
the brakeman and his three companions
were en- route to Tacoma, where it was
announced that he intended to make one
of the women his wife.
Besides several other cases ofelopement
the peace of Zion has been broken of late
by numerous exhibitions Of temper on
the part of newly received wives. Obe.
dieuce by women is fundamental pre-.
cept in Mormondon. and no truly reli-
gious woman, whether the first or twen
tieth wife, ever thinks of questioning the
will of her master. 1t may be imagined
then with what awe the performances of
some Of the younger women are viewed,
more particularly when it is understood
that in some cases the newcomers have
locked their houses against their hus'
bands, have smashed washboads on their
heads, and have set other wives by the
ears over triAing matters. Fe" of these
scandals have reached the newspapers,
but that they exist and are increasing in
number is evident to the most casual OBJ.
server.
More than one.half the recruits now
coming into Mormondon are from various
American States, and it is against this
policy of enlistments that the more con.
servative of the saints are now protesting.
The average American bred woman
comes, it has been found, without sufi.
Gent religious bias. She is prepared to
believe as much as she is compelled to,
provided she likes her situation. Failing
to find things TO her satisfaction, the ter
rors of the bishops, the avenging angels
and the judgment are nothing to her.
While the church is increasing its num-
bers ip this manner, it is believed by
many that it is introducing an intracta-
BILE element which may weaken the organ.
ization more than any other cause that
has yet manifested itself.