The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-10
congress URGED TO ACT
Resolutions Favoring Legislation
Against PoIygamy.

An Amendment to- the Constitution
Endorsed by the Tntcrtlrnominn-
tionnl Jnion-Prorninent Ministers
! address the Mnss Meeting nt the
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL Church.
Resolutions calling upon Congress to
/ give immediate attention TO amending the
! Constitution in order TO prohibit forever
the practice of polygamy in the United
States or in territory under its domain
were adopted at a mass meeting held un-
! der the auspices of the Wonicn's Inter
denominational Union, yesterday afternoon.
/ at the First Congregational Church, cor
ner of Tenth and G Streets northwest.
The meeting was we'll attended, and was
presided over by DR.. Josiah Strong, Presi-
! dent of the Social Reform League. of New
York. DR.. Sarah J. Elliot. who for NUMBER
of years has been missionary in Utah, was
| one of the speakers. Prominent ministers
! representing various denominations were
present, and in brief addresses. heartily
/
movement were received from ex-senator
Edmunds, author OF the law which regu-
lated polygamy during the territorial days
| of Utah. and from Bishop Satterlee.
In opening the meeting yesterday after
noon DR.. Strong briefly spoke of the pur-
| pose OF the meeting. and pointed out the
! necessity for concerted action at the pres
/ ent time and also the necessity for the
amendment itself
a letter from ex-senator Edmunds was
read in which he said that while at one
| time he did not regard the amendment OF
| the Constitution necessity. for the rea-
/ son that polygamy was revolving to the
| moral natures of the residents of nearly
| all the States, he now thought that the
| passage OF an amendment was necessity
TO preserve intact the present character
! istics of the American people, not only in
the United States. but in all possessions
under its jurisdiction.
| in concluding DR.. Strong 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 thir
| teenth amendment did away with slavery
| There can be no filter subject for the six
teenth amendment than tie prohibition of
| polygamy. Now is the accepted time for
| US to strike at the evil"
| Dr. Sarah J. Elliot. who for seven years
| has been u missionary among the Nor
mons of Utah and who during that time
has made careful study of their religion,
was then introduced. DR. Elliot said that
until recently she had not believed that a
constitutional amendment was necessary
to counteract the baneful effects OF the
practice of polygamy, but that instead OF
becoming more obsolete under the anti
| polygamy laws Of the State, it was grad
uaily gaining in favor. At the present
time, the speaker said. there was growing
up generation which is taught that
polygamy was of divine origin. The laws
of the State of Utah positively prohibit
| polygamy. yet they are utterly disregard
ed. In the courts of Utah. DR.. Elliot said.
it was generally the custom Of the States
Attorney to refuse to prosecute persons
| charged with violation of the anti-polyg-
amy laws on the ground that prosecution
of such violators Of those laws was
against the sentiment OF the commuri-
| ty" She said that either the State must
| be Obliged to enforce its own laws or
| constitutional amendment must be adopt
! ed 10 check the practice of polygamy not
only in Utah, but also in neighboring
States which have already become affect
! ed by the practice.
Rev Dr. Heiss. representing tie Meth
| OClSI IDuiti, naS tHth ih.io
duced and said:
Il believe in the purity of the home,
which is directly affected by the question
under discussion / speak for the lI.0U0
travelling ministers Of the Methodist
Church. its 1000 permanent ministers,
TIE two and 4 half millions of members,
the colleges and schools, and the journal
ism of this great Church, all Of whom be-
lieye in the purity of the home and who
! ft,fc
ment."
Rev. DR.. George " Luccock, represent
ing the Presbyterian Church. was intro
duced and spoke briefly and told of three
visits he had made to Utah and of the
feeling he found existing there. He said
the Mcrnons were bringing their children
up to believe that polygamy was OF di-
vine origin and it would before many
years flourish with the full consent of the
United States. He thought the only way
to offset this growing strength was to
fight hard against polygamy at the pres
ent time.
Miss Lydia Hughes rendered solo and
then Rev. f. Z. Powers OF the Christian
Church spoke concerning the movement.
He said that he was in full sympathy
with the idea, but wished it was broader
and fuller in its scope and that the
amendment could govern the whole ques-
1
upon the latter subject and pointed out
the defects in the laws bearing upon it.
DR.. Strong then read letter from Bish
op Satter!ee. in which he expressed re-
grets at his enforced absence from the
meeting and expressed hearty sympathy
with the object for which the union was
striving, Mr.. De Reimer then rendered a
solo.
ON behalf of the Women's Interdenomi-
national Union DR.. l.. p. Wilson then pre-
sented the resolutions drafted by that Or
ganization. They are as follows:
Whereas Tie Mormon leaders have resumed their
roIyramo,Ls practices since statehood WIS given
Il, I-tail and everywhere justifyihg these acts
hy the persistent circulation under the authority
Of their church Of the book OF so-called doc.
i,5lygamy is cnioincd by alleged divine rcye!a-
whereas the rcigiboring States Of Idaho Wyom-
;,ig Colorado, and Nevada, and Territories OF
A-.zona and New Mexico, are already inoculatcd
with the virus Of this evil which is bound to
spread into Other states Unless speediiy cfeckcd
and
Whereas the political influence Of The Mormon
leaders is not only sufficient TO prevent the enact
ment of ant ti-poyramy laws in the state OF Idaho.
which came into the Union pledged by its con-
stitutiou to prohibit polygamy, but even to pre-
vent the onfort oment Of existing laws IN Utah
and other ncgiboring States; he it hereby
Resolved. first. That We earnestly urge Con-
gress to take prompt action IN submitting 10
thc States a constitutional 'nendineHt forever
proll biting the practice of pol,clny and poly
s,arnoliS cohllitalion in the United States and in
all place. subject to its iurisdicti0n Second, That
as a step toward this end we urge that the
judiciary Committee. before whom bills are pend
ing for the submission Of an amendment rrovid-
ing !or the disfraIrh;sfmcnt Of those who persist