Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-06-14

|
G Mormon elders, who have
sought converts to Mormonism in
kitchens and at basement entrances.
Great numbers of pa nphlets have been
distributed by these elders among the
women who are included in the army
of domestic help. A careful investi-
cation has been made among the
agencies, and particularly among those
which act for women that come to this
country from Protestant Europe. The
result seems clearly to establish the
fact long known to many housekeep-
ers, that many Swedish, Norwegian,
Danish, German and English women
have deserted housework and gone to
Utah. The exact number of pros
elytes cannot be given, OF course, but
those who have been in position to
study the matter, declare that a very
large proportion of the unmarried
Protestant female domestic servants
have been converted to Mormonism m
and taken out West.
Recently such an exodus of this
kind occurred in Chicago that the
newspapers of that city declared that
there was famine of house servants
and no relief could be obtained. Vari-
GUS reasons were assigned and some
of them were plausible enough, but
what is believed to be the real one
was not mentioned. The elders of
the Mormon Church might have ex-
planned the matter, for scores of
young women went out to Utah from
Chicago at one time. The conversion
of these servants has gone on quietly
and been managed with skill. In
fact, no generals of modern times
have carried on campaigns in the field
with greater ability, tact and energy
than have these elders who have gath
cred their recruits from the kitchens
of the land, and left the country with
them secretly and silently.
Occasionally mistress has come
upon pamphlet relating to religious
matters, generally printed on poor
paper, IN poorer type and rarely clean
or attractive, in makeup. The major
ity of these pamphlets have had such
titles as ga Friendly Discussion upon
Religious Subjects" the seeming
harmlessness of which has not tempt
ed investigation-sometimest tracts
entitled "a Voice of Warning and In
struction to all People," has been
seen in the hands of servants, but be-
yond an occasional discovery of this
kind, people generally have been in
utter ignorance of the work being
done in the cities among servant girls
by agents of the Mormon Church. One
observing woman who successfully
hired three Swedes, and received
from all the same explanation, that
they were about to be married, was
amazed to notice that the same man
proved to be the admirer of two of her
cooks. The fact dawned upon her
when he was seen in conversation
/ with the third servant. He passed as
a brother to the third, bnt succeeded
! in inducing her to give up her place.
| Unconscious, and concerned more for
the comfort of her family than the
welfare of the help she engaged, she
did not investigate the reasons given
her for their leaving, nor did she seek
TO dissuade girl from marrying if
this reason was made the pretext for
departure.
One clever woman who happened to
be in the basement of her house alone
one afternoon answered summons to
the street door and there saw young
man whose appearance was that OF a
countryman, and whose manner
showed a restraint born of mex
| perience in his business. The wom-
ans kitchen apron led him to con.
! clude that he was talking with the
cook, and he whisperingly asked her
# she would read a little book he
would lend her, and let him come and
talk with her about it sometime?
Thereupon he handed to her a volume
of 200 pages, pocket size, and bound
in vivid red CLOTH It looked harmless
enough, as did the begrimed pamphlet
he also gave her. The man eagerly
inquired when he might call, and was
| told to come back one week later. He
did so, and was met before reaching
the basement bell by member of the
household who warned him to leave
and return no more. Even after an
examination of the book, which proved
, to be one on the faith and doctrine of
the Church of the Latter Day Saints,
she did not realize that her caller was
a Mormon elder, nor did she suspect
! that one of his denomination might
have converted her last cook, who
was young and strong woman, not
! long from Sweden.
Another housekeeper discovered in
the mail box circular advising the
reader to send to a certain address
for books, tracts and sermons, and
asking the reader to get the book of
Mormon, which could be had for q
nominal sum, at an address given.
Handing the circular to her servant
see noticed that the latter recognized
the subject and hastily put it not into
the fire but into the coal box. Sub
sequently this same woman found an
other printed document in her kitchen,
giving a glowing description of the
Salt Lake Temple, and of Salt Lake
City. A poor illustration of the temple
adorned the circular.
Countless complaints have been