The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-27

Minneapolis, May 26-It took the gem
eral assembly of the Presbyterian
/ church longer to decide today when the
nineteenth century ends than it took
! to pass the resolutions against Con-
| gresham Roberts and in favor of an
anti-polygamy amendment 10 the ma
! tional constitution. These resolutions.
which represent the matured thought of
/ the Presbyterians of the United States
after many months of consideration, So
exactly expressed the sentiment of
every commissioner that they were
adopted without even a single support
| ing speech.
The commissioners generally feel that
in calling for the expulsion of Roberts
and for the adoption of an amendment
to the national constitution defining
legal marriage to be monogamic, they
have started a movement which VIII
be taken uD all over the country, and
Will reach eventual success. The adopt
ed resolutions were originally written
by the Rev. William Paden of Salt
Lake City, but We're modified and ex-
panded by the committee on bills and
overtures, though not essentially.
AS for the end of the nineteenth GEN.
tury, one of the representatives spoke
of next year as the opening of the new
century.
Upon objection, and after a little de-
year is the last of this century.
Presbyterians viii henceforth get
along without this exciting topic of dis
cussion.
The Roberts resolutions adopted by
the assembly are as follows:
The Roberts Resolutions.
Whereas, The election of Brigham
II. Roberts of Utah. an avowed polyga-
mist, to the house of representatives of
the fifty-sixth congress, has called the
attention of the country TO the fact that
the Mormon leaders are still living in
polygamouS relations. in violation OF
their oaths and pledges. and in def
ance of the public sentiment and laws
of the country, as well as in defiance OF
the laws and constitution of the state
of Utah; and
Whereas, The teachings and prac-
tice of polygamy is demOralizing to So
ciety, and destructive of the funda-
mental principles upon which our free
institutions and our Christian civiliza-
-:c-- rest; and
Whereas, In view of the past history
of the contest over the practice of
polygamy, the house of representatives
cannot permit the said Brigham H.
Roberts to have voice in it's councils
without, in effect. sanctioning the prac-
tice of polygamy; and.
Whereas, The pOlygamouS element
is the dominant power in Utah, making
it impossible to eXterminate polyga-
nous cohabitation without the assist
ance Of the national government,
Ask For His Expulsion.
This general assembly, representing
22S presbyteries, over 1000 ministers
and 5000 local churches. with 1000 600
communicates, and about 100000 ad-
herents, does hereby most respectfully
and most earnestly call upon every
in the Fifty-Sixth con-
gress to use his utmost endeavor and
to exhaust all honorable means to Sc
cure the prompt expulsion of the said
Brigham II. Roberts of Utah from the
house of representatives. in accordance
with the provision of the national con-
stitution in article l, section 3, para
graph >, which reads as follows: Each
house (of congreSs) may determine the
rules of its proceedings, punish its
members for disOrderly behavior, and.
with the concurrence of two-thirds, ex-
pei member
This assembly does also hereby most
and most earnestly call
upon every member of the senate and
house of representatives to use his ut
most endeavor and to exhaust all hon
Orable means to secure action by the
congress. proposing an
amendment to the national constitu-
ton, and submitting the same to the
legislatures of the several states, de-
fining legal marriage to be mOnogamic.
and making polygamy and polygamous
under whatsoever guise
)r pretense. a crime against the United
States. punishable by severe penalties.
including disfranchisement and dis
qualification to vote or to hold office
If honor of emOlument under the United
States or any state or territory thereof.
Adopt Constitutional Amendment
This assembly urges upon every
lualified voter in our various local
churches throughout the land to use
MS utmost endeavor and TO exhaust all
means to make known TO the
of his district. and the
senator's of his state, the earnest desire
If their constituents for the expulsion
If the said Brigham H. Roberts, and
he adoption of constitutional amend
nent which will effectually put a stop
% the practice of polygamy within the
borders of our beloved land, and TO as
;ure the said senator's and representa-
i've of the moral support and hearty
cooperation of every good citizen in
heir efforts to deliver the nation from
he disgrace and curse of polygamy."