The times., 1898-12-16
2HH EVIL OF POLYGAMY
The Christian Citizenship Con.
vention AdjOnrns.
IN FAVOR OF EXPANSION
Mrs. Belva Lockwood Stirs Up Dis
scnsiOn-Opfnions on Representa-
tive-Eiect Roberts-Thc Remarks
of Anthony Comstock - Future
Meetings to BE Held in This City.

Three meetings of the Christian Citizen
ship Convention were held yesterday. As
many of the delegates were at the Capito.
opposing the Alaska liquor bill. the at.
tendance at the morning meeting wa.
small. The morning session was opened
by devotional exercises conducted by the
Rev. ]. Fred Heisse Mrs. E. b. Ingalls,
spoke on the anti-cigarette laws in the
various States. The menace of Mormon
ism. the leading topic of the morning. was
presented by Gen. John Eaton and Mrs
Katherine Jones.
Gen. Eaton gave an outline of the re-
ligious belief of the Mormons and the
evils of polygamy. He said that a dis
grace would be shouldered by Congress II
Brigham II. Roberts, the polygamist. be
admitted TO the House OF Representa-
tives. Mrs. Jones told of the growth of
Mormonism during the last year and tine
manner in which the missionaries of that
faith made converts to their religion She
said that 10000 persons had been convert
ed. and that the total increase in the
number of Mormons in Utah would num-
Der 21.co0 The Rev. DR.. Lewis protested
against the election of Mr.. Roberts. He
said that he represented all the Protest.
ant churches of Plain1eld. Mass, and ne
wanted the assistance OF the delegates OF
the various societies in bringing the mat
ter before Congress.
Dr. Wills, of Philadelphia, rose to ask
the voice of the convention in regard 10
the opinion Of the policy OF expansion.
He wanted to be able to inform the con-
ference which is TO be held in this city
during the coming week. Apparentiy,the
delegates Were in favor of expansion in
the widest sense with the exception OF
Mrs Belva Lockwood, who claimed that
tthe United States had no right to the
Philippines. as it had literally stolen
them. Mrs Lockwood's views in refer
ence to the legality of the election OF Mr..
Roberts caused some friction and much
comment. She asserted that there was
no law whereby he might be unseated,
and that he might as we'll be left alone.
as one person in the House OF Represent
atives could do but little harm Her crit
icism of the speakers who found fault
was rather strong. and sne left the nan,
after a talk with Mrs. White.
\ delegate from New Jersey moved
that the members OF the convention go
before their respective senator's and con-
gressmen and make personal plea for
the removal OF Mr.. Roberts. His sugses-
tion met with the favor or delegate
from North Carolina, and these two gen.
tlemen promised TO go to the Capitol and
hold a personal conference with their
senators.
Mrs. Clinton Smith presided at the aft
ernoon session. The Rev. Teunis Hamlin
conducted the devotional services. Major
George \. Hilton addressed the meeting
on citizenship From Bible Point Of
View
Mrs. Mary II. Hunt. who for some time
has been in the corridors of the Capitol
endeavoring to persuade the members OF
I Congress TO consider the moral side OF
question in making a government for the
people, gave many of her experiences and
told how much she had accomplished.
She said that she found the best manner
of inducing the members of Congress TO
take an interest in moral questions was
through the sentiment of the people.
Anthony Comstock spoke of the need Of
better legal quarantine against the trans
mission of evils. He argued that the
courts have decided that there is no limit
to the power of the State in protecting
the peoples health and morals and If it
was not done it was the fault of the State
rather than of the Government. He then
told of his twenty years experience in
the work of reform.
Practical Feierations of Moral Forces
was the theme discussed by the Rev. Wal
ter Laidlaw, the Rev. ]. B. Davidson, and
the Rev. Wilbur Crafts. Rev. Laidlaw
spoke of the work accomplished by the
federation OF the churches in lower New
York, and pointed to many instances of
good that had been brought about by 1t.
The Rev. Wilbur Crafts then called for
vote by ballot upon the following ques-
tions: On the Ellis bill, to abolish liquor
selling in army canteens; on the Hepburn
bill, TO exclude pictures and descriptions
of prize fights from the mails; whether
prohibition should be given a further trial
| at Alaska; whether the polygamist elected
to Congress from Utah should be exc,ud-
ed. The vote showed that the convention
was of one voice and in favor of the bills.
The evening session was presided over
| by the Hon. Henry W. Blair, who also
| made the closing speech. The Divine
Guidance in National History" was dis
coursed upon by the Rev. Walter II.
Brooks. Following DR.. Brooks's speech,
| Prof W. Edwin Priest delivered lecture
| upon Spain and Her Lost Colonies" Mrs.
| Mary w. Hunt closed the program with
an admirable address on Our Duties to
Childhood in Our New Islands,
After Mrs. Hunts speech the matter OF
| continuing the federation was taken up
| 1t was unanimously voted that these con-
ventions should be held annually and in
| Washington.
Anthony Comstock and the Rev DR.
| Crafts will appear before the Judiciary
| Committee of the House of Representa-
| tives today and be heard by that body
| regarding their views in reference TO tn,
| anti-gambline hill