New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02
MORMONISM'S GROWTH.
ITS STUDENTS AT HARVARD AND JOHNS
HOPKINS.
From The Boston Transcript.

v. n.
the United Society OF Christian Endeavor
spoke TO his neighbors in Auburndale. SundaS
evening about his recent trip across the conti-
nent to attend a series Of Christian EnGeaNo'
conventions and the chief incident Of his ad
dress was his description OF the condIuon OF
Mormonism as he found It, Mermonlsm Is nol
a declining faith, as most OF the people III tn'
East would suppose from the fact that polys
my is now unlawful and the Gentiles are hlllns
up Utah rapidly. on the contrary. the organ
cation is spreading. Il IS aggressive, ana mas
missionaries who are full Of enthusiasm and
are ready to die for their religion, the same a.
missionaries Of other faiths. As an evidence o.
the aggressive nature OF MormOnism and its at
tcUpt To meet modern conditions Or. Ciarh
said that he was informed out there that they
have SIX Norman students in Harvard. sixteen
in Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore
while in Pratt Institute in Brooklyn a sys
tematiC effort was made by MormOhs 10 MAKE
prOselytCs until ii was discovered and stopped
by the authorities Of the institute. They have
missionaries in many places IN TINS country
especially in the South, while DR. clark gave y
as a matter of his own knowledge that there
have been Mormon missionaries on the Atlantic
steamers every time he has crossed the ocean
going or coming They pushing out rapidly
and are a great missionary church.
one particular reason why they are able tt
do this is because they have system or uthes
Every member OF the Mormon Church must give
10 the Church every year tenth OF his income
Thus il is that though the people as rule are
not rich. they have an immense fund Tor me
prosecution of missions and for their church
expenses The MOrmons accept this condlu"T
readily and ike up % their hnanclal oblsaIoi'
o. tn church.
The Mormon people are doubtless sincere IL
their faith as a rule though they are led oj
shreUd prophets and bishops who very
capable men and sharp m worldly matters. Dr
Clark spoke of Congressman II. =. ItuntilS
who is one OF their leading men in religious
matters. He was described as a straightfor'
ward. open-hearted and aboveboard man as
a man who is clean and honest re undouD-
eddy has q firm belief in the infaihiiity o. The
liza. nh Srrnrf hA b
prophet. Or. Clark attended meeting or IN
young people Of the Mormon Church at Whicf
Congressman Roberts spoke. The Congress
man dWelt upon the Peace conference at Inc
Hague for il was Peace SUNDAY. and tht
MOrm0ns took Up the idea and observed thu
day the same the GentilpS did. Mr.. Roberts
said that the Peace Conference would mo-
amount 10 anything practical and he justified
his position by reading from prophecy made II
1890 by Joseph Smith. in which he predicted th'
rebellion Of South Carolina. and described suct
d condition OF conflict in the years to come tina
Mr. Roberts felt sure that the conference a
The Hague will be fruitless. He had mucl
confidence in the accuracy Of the prophecy as D.
IL had been guaranteed 10 be a direct divine
communication.
Congressman Roberts is the originator anC
present head 81 the young peoples organiza
tion of the Mormon Church corresponding q
the Christian Endeavor movement. The nam
OF the society is the Mutual Improvement So
ciety Of the Latter Day Saints. and its purpos,i
correspond some what To the purposes Of TIT
given the compliment (which ne regarded a:
rather doubtful OF being called I = II 3. Rob
erts Of the Christian EndeavOr movement II
was invited 10 speak 10 the Mormon yours
people from the same platform with Congress
man Roberts. but he declined the invitation
The W-ighty reason in his mind was that. il h
should DO So then il would lead 10 the commen
that Christianity and Norm uism were not 81
very different. afte~ all. for they We're So nearly
alike in essentials that a r@pres -ntatiye OF thi
one felt sufficient fellowship 10 speak on th'
d ltf ff her attended
meeting and heard Congressman Roberts speak
~. Clark spoke of the dangers Of Mormon
ism 10 this country. 1t IS not polygamy whici
is he most dangerous part 0i their creed El
a new reVelat.o % has been decided that pOlvg
amy is not an essential part Of their body o.
doctrines But they teach the absolute su
prcmacy Of the religious power over the civil
power ard they hold that special revelations
are not ended but that the Mormon prophets
may receive new dispensation from HeaveI
at any time Thus they can vary their doc
trnes as hey please and can adapt themselve'
20 circumstances. The new revelation tina
poyeamy - not a fundamental nart ~ Nor
monsm was received immediately after the pas
sage Of the law against il by Congress Blu
that viii not prevent a further revelation a
any time when II may be- convenient that ths
former dIspenSatlou IN this respect has been Pc
stored and that polygamy IS "A part ~ thru
creed. The doctrine Of plural wives had grea
effect upon the women. for they had been taugh
that they would rOr get - heaven unless they
were sealed as the Wife from first mp 10 any
other number. OF some Mormon. The womei
believed this doctrine absolutely. In the maiI
the N0rmons have fun confidence in their r.
ligi0n. but Dr. Clark said that some Of theil
leaders are not ar all Of that class. and he men
toned one q their prophets having notori
ously made a fortune cut % his position. Thu
danger OF Mormonism 20 this country. above al
other things. is in its teachings that the -Ior
mons are 20 support their church and leaders
before they d. our civil authorities The com
mauds Of the leaders come with the force II
divine revelation and u is therefore ln th'
D.. .ss. 49, r.fa,
ton agatnst the authority Of the civil laws.