Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-07
RELIGION Debating LAW.


ceedings before the House committee
on the Judiciary, at the seat Of govern
ment. for the consideration Of the pro-
posed constitutional amendment In
reference TO polygamy, We find the fol-
lowing:
THE Rev. DIR. Teunis S. Hamlin said
that no argument in behalf OF the con-
stItutional amendment seemed neces-
sary. He spoke Of the unanlmity Of
opinion Of all denominations upon this
subject"
That appears TO be the position taken
by the sectarian advocates Of the move
npnt. II shows the spirit In which the
agitation has been conducted, which re-
suited in the recent action Of the House
of Representatives on the exclusion
proposition. All that appears to be
necessary in order to influence the law
making power OF the nation, is TO make
sure that the religious sects Of the
country unite in demanding II.
We have heard for many years great
deal OF a so-called "unlon Of Church
and State" whenever "Mormonism"
has been under consideration. The en-
tire separation Of religion and politics
has been strongly advocated, whenever
II was thought that the Mormon peo-
pie were in any way influenced by their
Church leaders In political affairs our
Investigations on this subject have led
us TO the conviction that there is a
thousand-fold more reason for objection
to sectarian interference in govern
mental affairs, than can be nationally
offered against anything that has oc-
CURED among the Mormon people.
In the quotation from the remarks Of
DR.. Hamlin. we find the very essence
Of the animus in the present case. All
the denominations, which are usually
engaged in theological controversies
and sectarian disputes, are united In
demanding legislation which they
Imagine viii affect, injurlously. a re-
ligious system that they regard as their
common foe. This unity OF feeling be-
tween those religious bodies is deemed
sufficient as reason why Congress
shall take action In the direction they
desire. No argument 10 support II
seems TO be necessary, according to the
avowal OF the Rev. spokesman.
The same speaker made the state
ment that he had been told by gem
leman from South Carolina, that there
had been fifteen hundred Mormon"
converts In that State and ten thousand
In the South. That appears to be the
great disturbing factor among the var
ious contendlng churches. Whether
the figures quoted are correct or not,
the success Of the Mormon" mission
aries angers the preachers whose eff
forts in proselyting are chiefly failures.
The falling OF In their church attend
ance and the lack OF increase in menu
bership are the subject OF numerous
comments and lamentations. This
spurs the sectaries TO anlmosity against
the successful promulgators Of a des-
pissed faith. and hence the combined de-
mand upon the law-maklng power by
the churches endeavoring to dictate ma
tIonal legislation.
The plea under which they make this
attempt at directing the action Of Con-
gress, Is that the Mormon" Church is
systematically propagating the doc
trine OF polygamy despite all denials"
This Is a falsehood for which. perhaps.
& number OF the speakers before the
judiciary committee are not directly re-
sponsibe, They say they have been told
this by persons engaged in missionary
work in the West" We have no doubt
that they have been so informed. But II
called upon for specific cases Of this
systematic teaching, they would utter
ly fall 20 present one authentic In
stance. II is positively untrue, no mat
ter by whom II Is asserted, that any
Mormon" missionary is authorized TO
preach or advocate polygamy. The
Church positively forbids its ministers
to do anything OF thekind.
IT, as is supposed the Mormon" |
Church was engaged IN resisting the
movement for constitutional amend |
ment against polygamy there would be |
able counsel, no doubt. 10 question the |
witnesses before the committee, TO |
elicit how much they actually know on
iae subject OF their testimony. and show
how utterly without foundation are the
rumors which they have adopted as
verltable facts. But this Church hav-
Ing formally and authorltatlvely de-
clared against further plural marriages.
and the State OF Utah having effectively
legislated against them, providing hea-
Wy penalties against polygamous prac-
tices, the passage Of the amendment
which 50 many religious people imagine
would stop the spread Of "Mormonism,"
Is Of very little consequence IN its bear
ing upon the peculiar institution"
Therefore the Mormon" Church Is
taking no active steps in that diree-
tlon.
The idea that federal administration
OF laws against polygamy VIII have any
effect upon the spread OF "Mormonlsm,"
Is utterly fallacious and springs from a
misconceptlon Of the whole matter.
"Mormonlsm" Is far more likely 70
spread abroad and prevail In the world