The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-15
POLYGAMY
IS NOT DEAD.
Still PraCtiCed by Prom
inent MOrmOnS.
POWER OF THE CHURCH.
Moral Means the Only Agency For
Combating Growth.
REV. CHAS. r. BLISS DISCOURSE.

Boston, Nov. 15.-Rev. Charles r. Bliss.
financial agent OF the Salt Lake college,
Utah. spoke last evening in Somerviile
on the Present Attitude of Mormon
ISM He said that the American peo-
pie misconceive the nature and UNDER
rate the power OF Mormonism Ihe
position taken by many that polygamy
Is dead is not true. IL is still practced
by men prominent In the church. ana
is generally accepted by the Mormon
people as true doctrine. As recently
as Oct. 20. a president I'm the Mormon
church published In the Provo Enquirer
over his own name-Edward Partridge
1.-The following statement: The prin-
eiple OF plurality of wives was given by
revelation from God to Joseph Smith
and was practiced by divine command
ment, but the principle was rejected by
the government Of the United States.
and such pressure was brought TO bear
upon it's practice that. after much suf-
ferng, the Lord moved upon his servant,
Wilford Woodruff. to proclaim the dis
continuance OF the practice. No one
need think that God has changed his
mind as TO the truth of the principle.
The same paper gravely discusses in an
other issue. the question whether, If
Utah should choose to change its s>con-
stitution, legalizing polygamy, the gov
ernment would have the right to inter-
fere.
President Partridge comedies IL 10 be
his belief that God is n polygamous be-
ing. loving a female companion" and
that Christ was also a polygamist. This
polygamous principle" enters into the
very warp and woof of his religious con-
victIons. Unquestionably all the other
Norman leaders share these convictions
with him. They result from the en-
phatic and incessant teachings Of the
last so years. and IL is a very serious
question whether with such men po-
lygamy ever can be be dead. Religious
convictions do not die SO easily They re-
appear when least expected. and hence
IL Is easily explained that. even while
the leaders are saying ''polygamy is
dead" they are confronted constantly
with facts that prove IL is not. The
country need not be surprised II within
very few years an agitation should
be commenced in Utah 60 expunge from
the state constitution all articles pro-
hibiting polygamy.
That the Mormon church is steadily
seeking TO re-estab.lsh it's power is evil
dent from many facts. II was charged
And apparently proved at the close of
the last session of the legislature that
a committee OF the church had been ap-
pointed 10 supervise proposed laws in
the interest OF the church and by secret
influence over it's members In the legis-
lature prevent the passage Of such laws
as were obnoxious. and that proposed
laws were defeated By their Interference.
Last year the church forbade it's mem
bers 10 accept nomination 10 public
Office without the consent OF their eccle-
siastical supericrs. Recently the papers
have published the statement that the
president, Wiford Woodruff has. by
the authority of God instructed Nor
mons 10 vote as Mormons So marked
Is the reactiorary drift that an intelli-
gent observer oil public affairs now liv-
ing in Utah has recently said that in his
opinion statehood has greatly retarded
progress in Utah.
Undo ubtedly the only means now left
the country 10 shape Mormon affairs
are moral means The time for legls-
lation has passed. Utah is the arbter
of her own destiny SO far as laws are
concerned, bat the christian church,
school and college are more powerful
than statutes. and these can and ought
TO be rnt,i.'-,'f.F 80 .h~t etoto