The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-31

and foreign elements Of the city. There
are three regularly organized Norman
churches here; $4,000 year is expended
by the Norman church 10 extend 1t
prestige in Chicago. and q quarter Of a
million dollars to make converts among
the people of the surrounding district.
When Brigham H Roberts founded
the first Church OF Latter-Day Saints in
Chicago ne spent a year here as sort
Of penance inflicted by the church at
Salt Lake city for his having entred po-
ntics and made a canvass for Congress
without first having sought and obtained
permission from the church.
Roberts was, in consequence OF this
misdemeanor. defeated by his own party.
the church setting itself against him and
working for his defeat; not because Of
antagonism, because Roberts is popular
among the Mormons, but because the
rules OF the church are the first laws
that Mormons must respect
Roberts later apologized to the Presi-
dent o; the Council and the Elders and
was thereupon ordered out on mission
airy work for one year.
He selected Chicago as the field for
his operation because It was an es-
pecially fertile one on account OF its
OF nearly 200.0 coo in the slums and the lib
eral attitude of the people here toward
all sorts of new religious sects.
Roberts preached Mormonism here for
six months in 1894 and 1898. and the main
Mormon Church at Wicker Park Hall,
was founded through his efforts.
People in Chicago speak OF these
churches as the ''reorganized church"
but their elders still stoutly declare for
polygamy, and state that no man can
expect to become a saint in the hereaf-
ter who has not lived with more than
one wife on earth.
They also assert that Mormonism still
embraces polygamy as. stanchly as evr.
and that it is the law alone which for
birs its practice.
Healing by the laying on OF hands"
IS also practiced by the Mormon elders
here, and they not only claim to have
made many marvellous cures here. but
promise converts to be able to confer
this powtr on them.
The elders have ceased shipping con-
verts to Utah, and state that it Is now
their intention and preference to have
proselytes remain and work for the ex-
tension of the I.ater-Day Saints re-
ligion in their own district, the object
being to establish chain of Mormon
churches all over the country.
One OF the bitterest tnemies 70 Nor
monism is the Rev. ]. F. Loba, OF the
T7irc+ C,oDcraoa +ioro1 C,I,,,rob Of TvapS
ton. His father was approached by the
representatives Of the Salt Lake Church
at his pleasant home in Switzerland
They were simple, religious people, and
glowing colors the beauties of their
religion and its happy home in Utah.
Mr.. Loba and his wife became con-
verts and journeyed to Utah.
Nothing had been mentioned to them
about the polygamous stain in the new
faith Mr.. Loba advanced and became
a high officer in the church. when he
was approached by the council and com
manded to take another wife. This ht
| refused to do. After that Mr. Loba
| learned many unexpected secrets about
I'the religion he had accepted, and also
| noticed that those who did not believe
and follow all Of it's precepts mysterious
| ly disappeared. He therefore left hi.
children in the care Of friends and h,
/ and his wife journeyed TO Kansas to es
! cape the wrath of the Mormon elders
Subsequently both died from exposure
/ suffered during their escape
The Rev. ]. F. Loba was one of the
4 children, who eventually made his es
cape from Utah, filled with hatred fol
| the whole Mormon sect.