New-York tribune., 1901-06-24
BRONX WAR on HORIZONS.
CHURCHES UP IN ARMS - WARNINGS
SENT TO TWENTY CONGREGATIONS.

There can be little doubt that the publicity
which has attended the conversion OF Mrs. Blair
and Miss Lizzie Dickinson 10 the Mormon faith
has considerably interfered with the further sue
cess OF the missionaries in obtaining converts to
that faith In The Bronx.
4 vreful canvass above the Harlem River re-
yea The fact that the entire churchgoing popu-
latior irrespective Of denomination. is UP in
arms against Mormonism. and IT is safe 10 say
that any attempt TO gain converts through the
church societies as in the of Mrs Blair
and Miss Dickinson will meet with repulse.
The Christian Endeavor Society. at a meeting
OF which Mrs Blair and Miss Dickinson publicly
announced their conversion. is organized in this
city In six districts. over each Of which there Is
a president The district above the Harlem
River Is known as the sixth district and II
comprises in it's membership about twenty socie-
ties attached 10 as many different churches. To
each of these societies a letter has been ad-
dressed detailing the attempt of the Mormon
elders TO gain converts al the meetings of the
Endeavorers and offering word OF warning
against these missionaries.
The headquarters Of the Mormons in Harlem
,s situated in One-hundred- and twenty y-hfth-st.
over the river in The Bronx the work OF the
elders has not met with much success ap-
narentlv The procedure seems to have been to
tak, the streets nearest the river and make
house 10 house canvass; then, when that has
been done to take the next street north and so
on. The missionary frankly states his errand.
and will talk about the Mormon faith If per
nitted: If not permission is asked 10 leave
some of the Norman literature, and this is
usually accorded.
The pastor of the Port Morris Congregational
Church in East OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES fifth
81 the church at which the elders made the
mis- eli 1rih
IS the Rev. Claude NJ. Severance. Mr.. Sew
arance Yesterday made statement in which he
said:
The pastor OF the Port Morris congregational
Church welcomes everybody. He does not
however throw open the pulpit TO unevangeiical
preaching. He does not permit Norman inva-
sion to go unnoticed. He does believe in pro
tecting himself and the members from subtle
attacks of religious enemies
when the president of the Christian Endeavor
cocietv and the secretary, announced them
selves publicly as converts to the Mormon faith
the pastor, having been in the vicinity so short
time. felt II unwlse 10 enter any protest What-
ever 70 their action.
However. when he was asked point blank for
his views on Mormonism he gave them can
didIv As a native of Vermont. he stated that
the state had been so ashamed OF Joseph Smith
that she had raised up Senator EdmuHds TO
overthrow his work. Whatever was declared,
referred IN the AIormonism that our nation has
sets its heel upon The intelligence of the United
States and the religious consciousness OF the ma
tion have long since branded Mormonism as an
octopus an enemy TO the public welfare. As
suming that the president of the society, before
receiving baptism would he made aware of pub
lie opinion the subject, the pastor prayed in
her home that she might be guided into the true
pathway eventually.
The pastor would like to declare that he con-
siders Mormons outside the pale Of Christendom
and unworthy place in any nation because of
their false doctrines and binding practices. 1t
Was only fitting that in the pastors prayer the
twelve visiting brothers and sisters from Beth
any Presbyterian Church and all present should
be made aware OF the presence of five avowed
Mormons.
The Port Morris Congregational Church will
admit the entire missionary corps of fourteen
hundred members. If they come to hear the
Gospel Of Jesus Christ but they will not be al
lowed TO take up time which belongs TO orthodox
believers Only three visits have ever been
made: twice they came to entertainments which
could not have been without a purpose and the
last occasion when five came to the Chris
tian Endeavor meeting on June o. and one elder
speaking to those assembled.
There was no meeting at the hail. at No 15l
West -hundred-and-twenty -ffth-st last
night, nor could 1t be found that there was any
other public meeting Of Mormon sympathizers
in Harlem or The Bronx.