The Washington times., 1901-12-09
MORMON ELDERS HEAR
ANTI-P0LYGAMY TALK.
ATTEND DENUNCTATORY MEETING.
Declare Statements Regarding the
Continuance of Dual Marriages
uutrue-proroscd Constitu-
tional Amendment.

Three Mormon elders sat Throughout
the meeting held at the First Congrcga
tional Church yesterday afternoon. in the
interest of the constitutional amendment
against polygamy. as it exists in Utah
and listened to an open and sweeping de
nuncieticn of what was held to be one o.
the principal tenets Of their faith. at The
hands of eminent divines.
The elders were Albert Z. Miller, Pres
ident of the Northwest Virginia Confer
ence of the church of Jesus Christ of Lat
I ter Day Saints: Ambrose Shurtz. Of Es-
! calante, Utah, ana Joseph b. Harper, OF
! Murray. Utah. The elders We're accom-
1 panied to the meeting by Senator Fred
| Dubois. of Idaho.
Mr.. CIemensOn's Address.
The principal speaker at the meeting
was Rev. y. L. Clemenson. pastor OF the
Presbyterian Church. at Logan, Utah. who
came from Mormon family. and las
spent all Of his life in Utah In his
opening remarks. he declared that there
was never a time when polygamy was as
safe as at the present time. when shelter
cd behind State supremacy in the domain
of Utah. He also read The manifesto by
which the practice Of pOlyeamy was sus-
pended, ana contrasted IT with the reyela-
tiOn in the hook OF doctrines and cove
nants. which commands polygamy.
This movement against polygamy. de-
clared Mr. Clemenson, lis interdenomi-
national No appeal is made to political
parties, as We wish TO avoid politics. II
is by no means sectarian, as il is not an
effort 10 suppress or oppose the Mormon
Church as a religious body, as this would
be entirely foreign to American senti-
ment. We are simply an intcrdenomina-
tional council for Christian and patriotic
service, looking toward the suppression
OF a criric which the present laws Of the
United states do not affect.
Utah Law Not Enforced.
Congress itself does not and cannot ar
feet polygamy. The law making polygamy
crime is only operative in the Terrific
ries Of the United States, but not within
the boundaries of any State in the Union
There would be no need TO amend the
Federal Constitution if the State Of Utah
would enforce its laws against polygamy;
but it will not. Therefore the aim of this
council is TO secure an amendment to the
Federal Constitution so rs TO enable Con
gress to legislate on this subject md cd
NIT of the Federal courts having jurlsdic-
ton over it."
Rev. DR.. Nichols. OF St Louis. a mem
Der of the revision committee of the
Presbyterian Church. which is in session
at the Church of the Covenant. presided
at the meeting. Short addresses were
made by Rev. Dr. Wilson Of the Methodist
Church Rev. Or Power Of the Christian
Church and Rev. Or. Fish Of the Presby-
90 ---t,g 4 81
polygamy and voiced the sympathy of
themselves and the members of their re-
spective Congregations in the movement
10 have the Federal Constitution amend
ed so as to make polygamy a crime. The
following resolutions as read by Rev. Dr..
Fish. were unanimously adopted:
Resolutions Adopted.
Whereas We believe that polygamy
as taught by the Church of the Latter
Day Saints is still part of thsir be-
lief and practice, and that the laws
Of the state Of Utah as administered
by the government OF that State are
Inadequate TO suppress it; and
Whereas there Is no way by which
this offence can be reached as through
the Constitution OF the United States:
Therefore be It
heartily endorses the amendment 10
the Constitution prohibiting polygamy
within the domain of the United
States. and urges the passage OF this
bill by the Congress now in session"
Bishop SsttcrIee's Letter.
letter from the Rt Rev Henry Y.
satterlee. Bishop Of the Protestant Fl is
copaI Diocese OF Washington. was read
by the Rev. Dr. Nichols, in which he ex-
pressed regret at not being able 10 be
present at the meeting. and earnestly
hoping that the amendment 20 the Federal
Constitution looking toward the prohibit
tion of polygamy would be carried, as Il
was in direct line with American t-sdi-
tions.
Elder Miller was seen last evening. and
said that polygamy never was tenet Of
The Mormon faith, and that it is not en-
Draccd in the thirteen articles Of faith
II the Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter
Day Saints.
No Opportunity 10 Reply.
AS to the resolutions passed at the
meeting held at tue First ConErega tional |
Church, said Mr. Miller. they we're in
reduced and adopted without an oppor- |
unity being afforded for discussion Had |
such an opportunity been afforded / most |
would have made statement |
Jf The condition ia Utah.
AT ST George Utah for example,
where polygamy formerly nourished there
are but seven out OF 300 families. where
exists ard In every instance
the plural marriages were entered into
prior to the issuance of the manifesto.
The youngest OF these seven polygamists
is ntty-ilye while the oldest is ninety
four years Of age.
THE Church of Iesus Christ OF the Lat
ter Day Saints has never asked the polys-
smists to break their contracts. but I can
say with all truth that there has never
occurred a plural marriage In Utah sincc
the manifesto was Issued