Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-14
Mormonisms Growing Menace.

Mormonism's Growing Menace.
At the time when PclyGamist Rob
erts. tho representative from Utah.
was denied admission t. Congress a
wave Of righteous wrath against Nor
monism swept over TIC country and
there was every indication that prompt
congressional action would he taken
toward surprising pnlygamy in the
United States. Congress WAS asked Ia
proval a constitutional amendment
prohibiting polygamy. but the pres
sure Of other business was great and
the matter went over. The same III
gent request Will be made of the Con-
grrss to meet in December. ana il is
sincerely to 30 hoped that il viii iind
time to give the proposed amendment
the serious attention which il de
serves.
II is not to be denied that Mo- mon
ism is rapidly spreading. It's mis-
sionarie3 are active. not only in all
parts of this land. but owe: the seas.
Only few weeks ago. "A female con-
vnrts from western Maine left Pc: tland
for Utah in charge of a party Of Nor
mon missionaries. From Japan
comes the report that much opposition
is being aroused 10y the work of the
Mormon missionaries Who openly
preach th- doctrine If polygamy.
Among the lower classes Of European
countries it is notorious that they have
drawn "leat many converts who
have been brought to Utah
Concerning the strength Of The MGR
mon church few facts have been gen
orally known. The latest and probably
the most accurate :tItement To this
effect was made last week by "Apcstl-"
C,awson at the serenty-seccnl semi
annual Mormon confcrcrc, in salt
Lake City. lie spoke as fu!iows con-
corning II" membership ard the or
gani2ation of the church, though his
average reader To-day there are
II stakes in the Mormon church. II
foreign missions, 2G0, 000 souls in thu
stakes of Zion ana 10000 in the mis-
sions, a total Of 10000. $1,000 children
under eight years of age: the first
presidency and l. apostles, 800 patri-
"a -i..cI
10000 elders making a total Of 36.'4i;
1900 priests. 1900 teachers. 5000 dea-
cons. a total of %. 100, constituting the
lesser priesthood. or grand total Of 81.
IA bearing the priesthood of God
Connected with the auxiliary associd-
lions Of the church are 80, $50 members
OF the Relief Society 10000 officers ana
teachers in Sunday-schOOls and loco
childr en-. % 900 in the Y. NJ Nj. I. a. ami
d 600 in the y l.. +. !. A.: 1860 officers
and 81 ,9SS children in the primary as
ISOLATION. about 1000 belonging to the
religious classes of the church, the
total of those belonging to the auxiliary
associations reaching 6i,20i."
Considering that Mormonism was
founded only in 1880 and showed no
real growth until it was transpldnted
TO Utah in 1871. this growth is very re-
rarl;able Probably no sect has had
50 large proportional gain. II shows
how fast the seeds Of error lipen when
cast on fertile ground and also demon
stratcs the vast extent OF the problem
10 be solved No intelligent person
C1n doubt the purpose of Mormonism
10 practice plural marriages openly
when it has the power. The recent
agitation to be sure has caused this
practice to be suspended or concealed
to a considerable degree, but it has not
killed it, Not only in Utah are the
MormonS really in power, counting the
women who have been given the ballot,
but the sect is fast spreading and
gaining power in several Of the nelSh-
boring states Every year increases
the difficulty in dealing with them.
Congress must act, and it will act II
the people earnestly insist in their
demand.
An exchange wants to know why.