The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14
MORMON CHURCH FACTIONS.
Differences of Views Between the
PatriHrchS and the Young Folks.
lFrnm u - Orlcans Times- d

From the New Orleans Times Democracy
Yes. / believe it is true that the Nor
mons are buying IMMENSE tracts Of land
for colonies in MeXico" said visitor
! from Salt Lake City, at one of the hotels,
and mark this prediction: The next
twelve months Will see the beginning OF
a great religious exodus unparalleled in
the history of the country. The situation
of the Mormon Church. in Utah at pres
ent is very peculiar, he continued, and
not at all understood by the outside
world To state the case briefly, il has
gradually divided itself into two distinct
faCUonS-the young and the old. The
young element comprises the present
generation-men and women born in Utah,
after the hardships of the original settle
ment were all over. AS a rule they are
well educated and progressive, and they
form the present leaders of business and
social life. The other faction is made up
| Of the patriarchs and their followers, who
hold sternly 20 tho Old traditions iuciud-
| ing pOiygamy.
THE Younger people. with modern ideas
Of home life, have never favored plural
marriage. and the truth is, they gave
quiet support TO the legislation that now
makes ii crime, but the elders insisted
on retaining II rs an institution having dt-
vine sanction. and they have been secretly
practcins it ever since. Even from this
rough outline Of the situation, the speak
er went on, 1t may be easily understood
how these two antagoniSTiC elements have
driftcd further and further apart, and
are now on the brink OF a definite SchiSm.
OF course the patriarchs are few numeri-
cally, but they absolutely control the ma
cbnerY of the church and its immense
1 holdings are vested in them, personally.
Their followers are the country people,
who still stick to the old forms and Gus
toms, and when the split comes il win di-
vide the Mormon population about equally
, in half 7 am sure. from what | have
seen ana heard. that the plan of break
ing away and forming a new settlement
elsewhere has been taking shape among
the elders for n number of years past
Their idca is 10 preserve the old Mormon
Church intact, and they are shrewd
enough To- see that il can't be done in
Utah.
1T is a very significant fact that since
1895 none of the c0nrc~ts t1ey ere con-
tiuGahy recruiting abroad have been
brought into f1e State. b1t without OK
ceptiOn they lave Deed temporarily iucat-
cd IN Texas and Axiom near the Eexi-
can frontier. These newcomers are from
the European tc2sdut classes ard .lFt. ,iISt
the material wanted ~ establishing
a patri2Ttiliul government. According 10
reports, the church gents have buUght
enough land in northern Mexico 20 make
. small rrlnciDdlity. ard I'm convinced
that the migration will e2in in the near
future There viii be nothing abrupt or
viii be a steady drift anu before il at
tracts any great 1tie:tioit the original
primitive MOm@1lsm of .ioC smith the
prophet. viii he fully rchabilitated be-
NoHu The Rio ,zraude. a. 18th EOlNgaby en-
doTl1ent houses. danites, tithss and all
its other engaging features. ~ FAR as in
reference Toy the Mexican GoVernUe ut
IS concerned. ] suppose tEal WAS fully ar
ranged before any lind was iIOUisnt.