The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-29
THE LAND OF MORMONS
DIR. SARAH j. ELLIOTT SAYS POLYG-
AMY STILL FLOURIsHES.
She Represents the WOmen's Mission
Board Of the Presbyterian
Church.

the Presbyterian Church, explaining the
conditions that exist in Utah under the in
fiuences of Mormonism, spoke at Taberna-
Gle Church last night DR.. Elliott has spent
several years in Utah studying Mormonism
and founded day school in a county where
polygamy fourishes. She spoke principally
of the work of women among the Mormon
people.
DIR. Elliott went to Utah for her health.
but also improved the opportunity of teach
ing the Christian religion and doing what
she could to assist in lifting the people,
women especially. above the plane of po-
lygamy. She said she first found out what
the Mormons believed The leading fea-
ture of their religion is that women are
taught that souls float in the air and the
salvation OF these souls Is to furnish them
bodies. The belief of the men falls short
of nothing but heathenism, they think
they will become gods, and the per-
lection of that god depends upon the num-
Der of wives they have and the souls they
save. The more wives and children the
greater the god. Upon this faith hinges
their whole religion.
The speaker said the women of Utah
nature. Where the older ones were con-
cerned about their condition and their faces
showed the marks of suffering, the young
er women are unconcerned and contend
that they are living upon higher plane of
civilization than their sisters in the Chris
tan churches. This condition, DIR. Elliott
said, IS more dangerous than it ever was
before. as the women are becoming used
to it and have no regard for monogamy.
POLYGAMY EXISTS.
While Utah has been admitted to state
hood and polygamy has been apparently
eliminated, she says il still exists. There
are secret marriages in the church, al
| though no records are made on the county
records and to what extent she says, is I'M
known, but the plural wife system is still
| there. She says since Utah was admitted
| to statehood, more than 1900 children have
been born under this system, although 1t is
supposed to have been abolished. The wom-
| en- have reached that abnormal condition
where they are not willing to adopt GUS
| toms Of other States and this makes mat
| ters more difficult to remedy by legislation
The women have the right of franchise
and hold office the same as men. They arc
also educated, some in professional lines
| and this clears up the question of how q
man supports many wives. They are
| self-sustaining. Having voice in the max
ing of laws. and their disposition being te
| cling to Mormonism, complexities the
| problem. DIR. Elliott says tn,
| prosecuting attorneys are nearly al
| Mormons, and she quoted one
when prosecuting case as saying the
| sentiment of that county was not In har
| mony with the law and therefore the de-
| PENDANT was dismissed. She said the onl,
remedy is a constitutional amendment fol
| Utah making provision for the enforce
| ment of the law. She advised the women Il
| take this matter up and where there ar,
| organizations of any kind, religious OF
| otherwise, 10 adopt resolutions against
| polygamy and forward them TO theil
| representatives in Congress. In this man
Der she said the fight can successfully b.
| made.
The Roberts case received part of he
| attention.
TRIBUTE TO lands.
in mentioning this she paid a high trib
ute to Representative Lands for the figh
he made against seating the Utah repre-
sentative in Congress, and said Indian;
should be proud of the fact that one o
her representatives was foremost in lead
| ing that laudable crusade. When Robert
was elected, she said the Mormons elaine
| it was the fulfllment of the prophecy o
| Brigham Young, who once said the voic
of the Mormon would be heard in the hall
OF Congress. Roberts helped to frame tn
| Constitution of Utah, she said, and In
serted the plural marriage restriction
clause, explaining TO those who objecte
that 1t would be removed in a few year
| but was necessary at that time TO admi
the Territory TO statehood. The order the
went out 70 temporarily suspend plura
marriage. She said Roberts had violate
the law himself and that daily violation
are seen in all parts of the State
One of the delusions the women labo
under. DR.. Elliott explained, Is the beau
ties of plural marriage" She said: IVY
will take. for instance. a man who he
| n vision and is told that he must TAX
another wife. lie asks woman TO MARI
him and she consents Then he goes [
get the consent of his wife She tells hir
she viii think OF IL over night, and tn
next day announces she Is willing for he
husband TO bring another wife into he
| home. She prepares the wedding feas
herself When her husband comes wit
| his new wife, she takes her baby In he
| arms and goes into another room. He
suffering there is untold, but she think
| she is making her husband a god an
| is saving more souls She develops TIL
self-sacrifice. which is the highest al
tainment OF the Mormon women. The
when she dies. her husband viii stand owe
her grave and say she was good woman
| she gave me forty wives Il"
| The subject OF the day schools. DIR. f
| lott said, is of much concern. Whe
Utah was admitted TO statehood there wa
schools WOULD suffice. Now the genti
teachers are being gradually driven OF
| and replaced with Mormons. who teac
| the old religion TO the young. For tn
| reason. she says. II Is essential that I'll
churches maintain the day schools for n