Evening star., 1900-12-10
SOCIAL REFORM LEAGUE
MEETING UNDER ITS AUSPICES HELD
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
to the Constitution Pro-
hibitfng Polygamy Advocated by
Speakers-ResOlutiO Adopted.

Speakers-ResOlutiOn Adopted.
DR.. Josiah Strong, president of the So
| cial Reform League of New York presided
at mass meeting held yesterday after
| noon at First Congregational Church under
the auspices of the Woman's Interdenomi-
| hatlonai Union. The meeting was called
In the interests of the proposed anne ndment
| to the national Constitution prohibiting
polygamy in the United States and the
| territory under the Jurisdiction of this gov
! ernment. There was a large attendance
and a marked unanimity of opinion and
| thought.
Dr. Strong delivered the opening address,
| during which he called attention to the
| fact that mass meeting had been held in
| the same church about a year ago to op-
pose the seating Of Roberts OF Utah In the
| House OF Representatives. A petition was
sent to Congress from the meeting its con-
| tents covering the Roberts case and also
ASKING the enactment Of law prohibiting
| Dolygamy in all the states and territories.
Inc purpose OF the meeting yesterday after
| noon. DR.. Strong said was to interest the
general public in the need of legislation
along the lines indicated. In concluding, he
SAID: Years ago we realized that we had
| with us twin relics OF barbarism slavery
and polygamy. Let the twins lie side by
! side The thirteenth amendment did away
| with slavery. There can be no filter SUBJ
1ect Tor the sixteenth amendment than the
plohfbltion OF polygamy. Now is the ac-
cepted time for us to strike at the evil"
a letter from former Senator George F.
Edmunds addressed to Mrs. Darwin r.
James, president of the Interdenominational
learn,' wrote Mr.. Edmunds, that you and
your associates are endeavoring to per-
suade Congress to propose to the states an
amendment to the national Constitution
prohibiting polygamy. Until within a year
or two. I was of the opinion that such
an amendment was unnecessary, inasmuch
as this offense was particularly repugnant
to the moral sense and social instincts Of
the people of every state and was punish
able as a crime by the law of all the states.
Under existing circums stances, however,
and looking to the indefinite future, l have
come to the conclusion that 1t is much
safer, and. perhaps, indispensable in re-
spect OF some portions OF our country on
this continent, as well as in respect of
other portions of the globe to which our
dominion has been extended that such
amendment Covering nothing else) ought
to be adopted. and / wish you every sue
cess in promoting 1t.
Address by DIR. Elliot.
Dr. Sarah ]. Elliot of Moab, Utah, who
for seven years has been engaged in mis-
sionary work among the Mormons OF that
state, was introduced. She said that until
| recently she had not believed that a con-
stitutional amendment was necessary to
counteract the baneful effects of the prac-
| tice Of polygamy, but that instead Of be-
coming more obsolete under the anti-polyg-
amy laws of the state it was gradually
gaining in favor At the present time, she
declared, there is growing up a generation
which Is taught that poygamy was Of d.
vine origin Dr. Elliot stated that the laws
of the state OF Utah positively prohibit
polygamy, yet they are utterly disregarded.
In the courts Of Utah, she said. it was gen.
orally the custom of the states attorney to
ofr,on 70 Chn eyn1 xuyftN
violation of the anti-polygamy laws, on the
ground that prosecution of such violators
OF those laws was against the sentiment OF
the community" She said that either the
state must be obliged to enforce it's own
laws or a constitutional amendment must
be adopted to check the practice of polyg-
amy not only in Utah, but also in neigh
boring states. which have already become
affected by the practice.
In Behalf of the Churches.
Rev. DR.. Heisse Of this city spoke on be-
half Of the Methodist Episcopal churches.
declaring that he believed in the purity OF
the home and was in hearty accord with
the movement.
Rev. George N. Luccock. representing the
Presbyterian churches. spoke briefly. He
tod Of his personal knowledge of Mormon
customs and beliefs, having made three
trips to Utah. He assured the union OF
hearty cooperation. Miss Lydia Hughes
rendered a solo, after which Rev. F. d.
Power spoke on behalf Of the Christian
churches. DR.. Strong read a letter from
Bishop Satterlee of the Protestant Episco-
pal Church, expressing hearty sympathy
with the object for which the union is striv-
Resolutions Adopted.
Rev. L. B. Wilson. on behalf Of the Wo-
mans Interdenomirational Union. then in
troduced resolutions which were adopted by
a rising vote. They set forth that 1.-The
l,ni~
NOUS practices since statehood was given to
Utah, and are everywhere jusufying these
acts of bad faith by the persistent circula-
ton. under the authority Of their church. Of
the book of so-called doctrines and cove.
nants, wherein the practice OF polygamy Is
entoined by an alleged divine revelation;
and the neighboring states OF Idaho. Wyo-
ming, Colorado and Nevada and the terri
tories Of Arizona and New Mexico are al
ready inocculated with the virus of this
evil which is bound to spread into other
states unless 1t Is speedily checked"
1t Is is further recited that the political
influence of the Mormon leaders is not only
sufTicien. to prevent the enactment of anti
polygamy laws in the state Of Idaho. which
came into the Union pledged by Its consn-
tuition to prohibit polygamy. but even to
prevent the enforcement OF existing laws In
Utah and the other neighboring states,
therefore we earnestly urge Congress to
take prompt action in submitting to the
several states constitutional amendment
forever prohibiting the practice of polyga-
my and polygamous cohabitation in the
United States and in all places subject to
their jurisdiction.
''That as step toward this we urge the
judiciary committee of the House Of Rep
resentatives, before whom the bill is pend
ing for the submission of an amendment
prohibiting polygamy and polygamous CO.
habitation and providing for the disfran-
chisement of those who persist in these
practices, to give these important measures
their immediate attention, SO as to get their
report upon the calendar in time to assure
their consideration during the pending ses-
son"
to the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives and to the chairman Of the judiciary
committee.
GIVES AMERICA CREDIT.