Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-25

Hesident Outstder.
The following article was refused by
the Boston Globe. and has been sent
to the "News' for publication
10 the Editor.
During the past few weeks there has
been written and published In all parts
OF the country many articles on the
subject Of polygnmy among the Latter
day Saints or Mormons. For some
time have felt II my duty 10 give the
world n few facts on this subject. Aa
! am not. nor ever have. been NOR
mon." ! feel that can do 20 In fair
and unbiased manner. Having resided
here among this people tn. past four
years, I have learned. By personal OBJ
reryation and study. much OF the teach
Ing and practices Of this people.
This valley II one OF the most beau
tifui nnd thrifty places on the globe.
and IN Inhabited by about $1,000 people.
10 per cent of whom are so-callcd "Mor-
mons" During my residence I have
had much 90 do with the general pub
lie both IN business and socially. hence
what shall say here II known by me
o. be the truth.
The people are one of the most pro-
Rrrsaive. virtuoua. industrious and
thrifty classes of citizens II has ever
been my privilege 10 live among. and
! was born and lived In New England
TN | was past % years OF age. There
II no place on the globe where brother
~ love and Kind assistance In times OF
need are prncticcd 10 a greater extent
than among these people. The members
Of the faith are encouraged to give n
1.-THE ~ their Increase To the support
~ the church. This tithlnR IL used
To defray the necessary expenses OF the
church aud to supply the wants Of the
ta.aR unI nAaIN IhAE.s - nina
houscs In this part Of the country,
but the poor Of each ward are cared
for by those In charge Of the different
branches Of the church.
cliquea and clans nrc unknown and
the poor stand lust ns hlgh IN the
community. socially and religiourly. nn
the rich.
Having been closely connected with
these people. and also having studied
TO some extent the belief and teachings
81 the Lnttcr-dny Saints. I am pre-
pared TO say that their faith VIII COM
pare favorahly with that OF the Meth
odlsta, prcHbytcrian-. or any OF the
numerous other denominations and re-
lirlous scots. They bcllevc,in UOd the
Father. His Son Jesus Christ ana the
Holy Ghost. these being three distinct
persons. They also believe ana teach
repentance and baptism for the rcmlH-
rion ~ sins by Enumeration.
Internationally Utah IN the third State
In the Union. and the rO.cnlled Nor
mons" nre far In advance ~ our other
citizens. as class. IN this. Thrift.
virtue honor. are all taught 10 be ~
the highest Importance and no class
of people under the sun possess these
attributes to n fuller extent than do
the "MormonH."
The Illblc teaches that In oilon times
such men ~ David ana solomon prnc-
ticcd plural marriage. yet they were
not damned By the Lord for II; M IL
was with this people, folygamy was
deemed TO be In keeping with the teach.
inga ~ the bible and n very few ~
the people entered into plural mar
riageH, and families were reared. The
offHprlngn OF these people are ar dear
20 them as are the children of any
father and mother, After while II
was declared by the government TO be
a crime for "a man TO have more than
one wife at a time. and the church OF
Jesus Christ az I.atter-day Saints, In
compliance with the law, issued n
manifesto against further polygamouH
marriages. since that time II IN safe
to state that no plural marriages have
been nOiemnlzed In or by the sanction
Of the Church. In fact, u N against
the laws OF the state and the rules of
the church To enter Into plural mar
ringe, The state Imposes a punish
ment OF i've years In jail and a hnc Of
$500 for tho crime. Most ~ this ngitn
tlon about polygnmy comes from ctnnks
and fanatics OF other religious dcnomi-
nations, who deem II a sin for man
20 believe differently from them on
matters Of religion, n these good 90
people know OF ~ many cases OF polyg-
amy. why do they not bring them 10
light and furnish evidence TO CONVEX
thcmf
The election OF II. II. Roberts to Con-
rress II the immediate cause Tor lhlH
yoluminouH outburst of Islander. The
Mormon" church ia said 10 have de.
sired his election and 60 have worked
10 that end. Now. am In position
10 know that the Church 81 the Lat,
ter.day Saints II not In politics, ana
does not try officially 10 further any
one for oifire. Mr., Roberts was elect.
ed to Congress- nR q Democrat ana not
az a Mormon" II II a fact that Ne
received the largest majoritieH In the
districts whore the percentage OF Nor
mon" votes was smallest, lie was
elected by the people. To 10 sure, Ml,
Roberts has been engaged In religious
work 10 q great extent for q number
Of years. but ~ II Just TO say that the
Church OF his choice II running politics
In Utah any more than II N 10 say
the same OF any other church, one OF
whose Influential members happens 4.
he elected TO some public oiiiceF
answer No.
Again ask. Would II be right and
honorable for the men who have "
times past taken plural wives, 20 now
turn part Of them with their families
out into the world unprotected Again
! answer, No. .,
GEO. l.. MARION.
Richmond, Cache Co., Utah