Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-27
OUT AFTER Mr.. ROBERTS
Baltimore olergymen Takes the Warpath
Against Utah Congressman.
They VIII Get Up n Petition Agaius,
His Taking His Seat in
the House.

~ Baltimore, ND, dispatch of yesterday
says: Local ministers representing all de-
nominations are manifesting deep interest
in the case of Brigham H. Roberts of Utah,
and propose to aid in preventing the repre-
sentative-eiect from taking his seat They
intend to get up a petition signed by every
clergyman here protesting against his adj
mission.
One of the most influential ministers here.
the Rev. L. NJ. Zimmerman of Christ
Church, discussing the case today, said:
I'VE must remember that the strength of
the nation lies in the home life and all will
have to admit that every barrier should he
thrown about the family that would tend TO
elevate and ennoble its life. This is a Chris
tan nation, and one that duly recognizes
the SacrednesS of home.
Now, ii Mr.. Roberts can fall in line with
this righteous conception of the family life
then We bid him welcome but unless he in
tends by practice and precept, to be Amer
lean and Christian, then L emphatically say
No" as regards his taking a seat in
Congress. and every honest American wo-
man and every thoughtful man viii say
.Amen-"
Penftentfary Recommended.
President Mckinley's former pastor. the
Rev. Dr. Hugh Johnson, now pastor of the
First Methodist Episcopal Church of this
city, said:
IF Mr.. Roberts has three wives and lives
with them in open violation of the laws of
the United States and in braZen defiance of
all that is good and moral, persists in out
raging Christian civilization with his polyg
amous acts, l say the penitentiary is the
proper place for Representative Brigham H.
Roberts.
'Polygamy is a shame to the people, a
menace to civilization and crime under the
common and national law. The point in ques-
ton has nothing to do with the Mormon
faith, but with its practices; that is the
grievance against which the government
must guard.
IF Mr.. Roberts be recognized in our ma
tonal Congress it will be recognizing both
polygamy and bigamy, and as he stands
representative of practices entirely foreign
to our social laws to all Christian institu-
lions, l urge that he be cast OUT
The Rev DIR. Henry NJ. Wharton, pastor
of Brantly Baptist Church, and the leading
Baptist minister in this state said: "All
laws OF man are founded on the law of God.
A polygamist or bigamist is plainly a law
breaker, and no lawbreaker should be a
lawmaker. If Roberts has two or three
wives he is wrong morally and legally and
should by no means be received into Con-
gress.
For crime which may not be magnified
to the extent of Mr.. Roberts transgression
the people of Kentucky refused to return
W. Breckenridge to Congress- an exam
pie worthy Of emulation in every state In
the Union.
The question of Roberts and polygamy
coming into Congress must be met here and
now and forever settled. Americas fair
name must not be blotted by the presence
of bigamist in our national body of law
Makers
Prosecution Advised.
The Rev. Oliver Huckel of the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church said: 1T
seems to me that the case involves a point
of law. If it be really true that Represent
ative-elect Brigham H. Roberts of Utah has
married three women, he has. first of ALL
violated the statute governing marriage in
this country, and / would ask il he cannot
be arraigned in his native state why not
prlns MIN to w ash1ngton and prosecute him
for bigamy?
There is law in this land against polyg-
amy, and bigamy has long been constituted
a crime, and the question at which / halt is
How can a criminal be eligible to office?
one thing is certain. If he be seated in
Congress he will surely be ostracised by all
self-respecting society"
The Rev. Anthony Bilkovsky, pastor of
Guilford Avenue Universalist Church, said:
Roberts is morally unqualified for the posi-
uon and, considered from a legal point of
view, he is liable to prosecution. Moral and
Christian sentiment should override legal
and political technicalities, and Roberts
should never be allowed any nearer the
House of Representatives than he is at
present.
Rabbi Henry Schneeberger of Mccullough
Street Synagogue, one of the largest in this
city, said: "Polygamy is practice that be-
longs to the ages of barbarism, and its re-
vival in any form in America should not he
countenanced or tolerated. believe the
Hebrew Church will support me in the
statement that Mr.. Roberts should be
barred out of Congress.
The Rev. E S. Todd, pastor of Straw
bridge Methodist Episcopal Church, said:
Brigham H. Roberts, the Mormon polyea-
mist, will certainly not be allowed to take a
seat in Congress. The Methodist Church of
the United States will be a unit in protest
Ing against this insult to Christianity"