The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-23
MORMONS VERY ACTIVE.
AN UNUSUAL DISPLAY OF ZEAL IN
MISSION WORK JUST NOW.

Thirteen hundred Mormon Elders snid to Ne
Engaged In Misstonary Sork-Ten Thou
sasd Converts Abroad Cintuaed Tor Last
OF the Activity at Present.
SALT LAKE CITY. May 17.-Thirtocn hundred
Mormon elders are engaged in missionary work
beyond the boundaries Of Utah. II is tho boast
of the Mormons that no other church organize
ton can show similar activity, and that in no
other church organization can such zeal DO
found. These Mormon elders are not working
In comfortable surroundings, aided and sup
ported by a missionary fund. They generally
work in inhospitable regions, without purse or
scrip. supported only by their faith.
II is part Of the teaching of n Mormon that no
must stand ready to respond to the call Of the
Church and go unquestioning wherever ho may
he sont. To disobey is to become. ostracised.
Nearly all the educated Mormons who have ar
rived at middle age have done work in mission
airy fields somewhere in this country or across
the seas. The brightest young men are sent out
TO preach the gospel as the Saints believe 1t, and
few refuse to obey when ordered away.
Last fall, during the excitement Of the State
elections. when the question Of selecting n
United States Senator was causing no little
trouble within the Mormon Church, a very
prominent young Mormon who was boldly
advocating the cause Of Moses Thatcher, re
Gently deposed from the Church for insubordina-
tion. received an order to proceed forthwith to
Scotland to do missionary work. 10th as he
was to leave, he knew that II would never do to
decline. Another young Mormon of one Of the
leading families of the church showed evidences
that he was thinking strongly of taking to
wife q young Gcntile. He received orders to
proceed to the Sandwich Islands to aid the elders
already there, and II his Gentle lady love
wants to marry him she must wait
tvy0 yeara until hfa n,iauioD haa haap
completed. It is by this method Of sending mis-.
sionaries out into the world that the leaders Of
the Mormon Church hope to hold their people
true to the doctrines as taught by Joseph Smith.
No matter where the Mormon settlement may
be located, whether in Utah or in some outlying
territory In the mountain region, from British
America to Mexico, this call Of the Church ia an
imperative one, always to be expected. and
never to be declined. There are times when a
Mormon thus called may be able to set up a
plea SO strong that the order'to 60 forth may be
delayed, but 1t Is seldom, IL ever, recalled when
once issued.
In order that q Mormon may be prepared for
his work as missionary he must be we'll informed
upon the doctrines and covenants Of the Church.
No other body Of religious people, probably. is
30 well drilled in doctrine and rules as are the
Mormons. From earliest infancy they are in
structed in the articles of faith and are required
to memorize the rules and doctrines Of the
Church. until every Mormon is q walking ency-
clopedia Of Church history and the revelations
Of their prophet. In their regular services at
home every man is required to take a part in
public worship until he becomes a speaker able
to stand and talk without embarrassment. In
their Sunday schools the children are required
to give Rotations, commit to memory certain
writings Of Church authorities. and read and re-
read from the books of the Church until they
are thoroughly grounded in the faith and are
able to expound 1t to the GENTLE world.
In explanation Of the present activity Of the
Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints in
mission work, they say that at no previous time
in tho history Of Mormonism has such a spirit
of liberation been shown toward the Saints, and
they are seeking to improve the favorable OPP
portunity. The blind and ~fanatical believer in
Mormonism will tell you that it is because the
second coming Of Christ is close at hand and the
leaders Of the Church have been inspired to in
time; shall arrive. There is another class Of peo-
pie, including both Mormons and Gentiles, who
mons ssS sn are mo, nOw ' doing Es missionary %ny 70 work Ran y that that
the Mormon leaders fear that their sway will
much . Dover Nv Hn unless n sn thew .%ey secure ~rr eg new ,svt r.cr%its
from the densely, ignorant and superstition peo-
R1e to Thom Mqrmonism appeals strongly;
s.s%. il Is s + III ' " SsSs e ID. III S ShsEssi IN e r.
Younger Fenerstioa and the Church Is seeking
to protect it's own flock by causing the brightest
hoping that the missionaries may become con.
verted to the faith themselves.
the missionaries that the cause was never in a
more prosperous condition, Converts are re-
p pfieisl r 1rp% e msde To laf the aa ia,y eseys tsoe ANNUAL Tnf
Conference of the Church. held in this city in
April; shows that 10000 converts were added to
the Church during the year through the work of
the Mormon elders abroad. In the United States
the work has gone forward. 1t is claimed that
been added to the Church than in all the Euro
pean Mormon missions. Before the close OF tho
States $50 Sunday schools will be organized.
In the Eastern States the elders cali for more
can attend to. Al. the leading cities Of this
country now have Mormon missionaries at work.
s snfth %h spfssd tS Rossi Fospe shf ST m staeTs Of se tasct to
the sale OF books and the newspapers. The work
Il carried on in the Mountain States adjoining
Utah and thus many Saints who have wandered
OF into the mountains are brought back within
tho fold and urged to renew their fellowship.
in m no EdrSRe sweden sRs MGr and d PGh oIlsnd. In ' Gspmsny
the Mormons are making good progress, and In
the past, the police are now not so rigid and are
not disposed to interfere, with the meetings of
where Mormon missions are not IN existence Is
Turkey. The recent Armenian massacres have
che eilfseU sre most W sstra .afTe; to I he M .s,a = 81 c ins da-
and missionaries are TO be found in every settle
ment OF any size bet ween Alaska and Van
Dieman's Land. South America and Mexico
have not been worked much yet, but the Nor
mon leaders have lately minated that they arc
looking to that field for a future permanent
home OF Mormonism.
Some OF the letters sent home from foreign
missionaries show that the trials OF the elders
are many, though in other places they are kindly
among the Maori OF New Zealand, says:
"A short time ago / visited the Kings village
to gain audience with him and to ask permission
TO hold meetings with him and his people. l
xQaQ pTaAfaI hy tHn anrianf fnlIV taftanad ma
tiSess Who politely informed me that The King
would be IN attendance shortly. After a brief
chat with these heralds Mahuta was announced.
I arose to meet him and was greeted in the
Maori fashion. with the exception OF the 'honDi.
nose rub. King Mahuta is a good-looking man.
apparently well versed and acquainted with
both European. and Maori etiquette. is ~intelli-
gent. but a little reserved. Hois not tattooed.
Is of fairly light complexion for a Maori, weighs
iasS.. II lsI bei P%GSatndsi f fpiaDd Il d 1ws f fest ,sn
IN which made known my desire;
being that there was no suitable house at pres
ent, but the one now building would doubtless
H.. go A. 81 nh- Tl-- nal,-l