The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-15
MORMONISM.
Elder Snow Speaks on The Status
Of PoIygamy in Utah.
Elder Whitaker Says Mission Of MOTmcns
Is 10 Ennghien The World.

Elder f. II. Snow OF Utah spoke last
evening. at Eagle hall, Westminster
street on THE Status Of Polygamy i'm
Utah." while in the afternoon Elder
John NJ. Whitaker, also of Utah, spoke,
at the same place. on "Mormonism;
What IT Is; Why Opposed"
Elder Snow said in substance that
the status of polygamy or plural mar
riage in Utah. both past and present,is
very much misunderstood by the Am
erican people. To the multitude, Nor
monism signifies polygamy, and as peo-
pie abhor polygamy, they fall into the
error of thinking Mormonism Is obnox-
ious. They think plural marriage was
the superstruoture upon which the re-
ligious system was built, whereas. it
was only an incident to their belief in
the marriage relation. Although plural
marriage was taught from the earliest
history OF the church and publicly
practiced it. and they were generally
the best ana most prominent families
of the church. The practice of plural
marriage was restricted TO men and
women of the highest moral excellence.
1t was never intended TO be universal,
and was never a cardinal principle or
the church.
For the past ten years, however, the
plural marriages have ceased in the
Mormon church, the civilization of the
United States was against II. The So
cial evil was preferable. The Mormon
people Notwithstanding all assertions
TO the contrary, are welded 10 Ameri-
can institutions and are taught TO up
hold the constitutional law OF the land.
They believe the nti-pOlygamy laws
to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL They contested
n the courts these laws of Congress un-
III the supreme Court declared the law
constitutional During the last six
MON Ms the United states has been
swept like a hurricane with storm OF
anti Mormonism The storm bureau. as
usual. has It's seat beyond the confines
Of the Rocky Mountains Upon Con-
gresham Roberts Is centred the wrath
OF the disappointed politician an' the
missionary for Utah. Ministers OF the
Gospel have left their callings and
played the nart Of spies. The state has
been searched from one end 10 another.
but not a single case Of plural marriage
has been discovered not an iota OF evil
dence 10 support tne cnAfBeS Whlcn
have been made
II must be patent 90 al honest mon
thar no church would attempt TO say
20 a man that he should cease 60 DO his
duty by the wives whom he married
by he sanction and rites OF holy
church yet no one IS encouraged TO
break oven the law which denies him
this privilege. hu, on the contrary does
so unon hts own responsibility.
Elder Whitaker seid n pant " was
The mission Of the Mormon people 20
enlphten the world IN an the great
truths ehat make for righteousness,
union and neace. He argue that Nor
monism teaches that mans snlrit Is he
0ffaurinG ~ Cod that a. lived with the
Tsfhcr IN the eternal worlds and there
learned NJ the n'on OF redemption com
ing 10 earth OF its own vol't'on to in
crease In mower and knowledge Tie
further said that Normonism seeks the
develorrert Of an those attributes that
r-ate for perfection. teaching that
which Christ tauvht and ndorniug tho
lives Of those who followed its tonpfs
IN conclusion ho dw-r upou the hannv
conditions which faith AMI tho prac-
tire OF It's teachings bring about